For all their critics, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez gave mothers everywhere a boost last week when they spoke with surprising candour about their parental experiences.

Beyonce went on the record admitting that she definitely wants more kids, while a usually poker-faced J-Lo revealed how she suffered with “baby blues” following the birth of her twins.

Of course, deeply personal celebrity revelations are by no means rare. After all, they live in a world where personal lives and careers are now unavoidably interwoven with publicity.

But now and then it’s important to push aside any scepticism we may have about ‘hidden motivations’ and see these insights as the truly positive disclosures they are.

On the face of it, superstar Beyonce is doing what every other celebrity mum does and easing her way back into the bosom of the press with snippets about her early parenting experiences.

However, looking at it another way, Beyonce’s candid revelation that she’s keen to have more children, and feels wholly fulfilled by the experience, is very refreshing.

How many women feel reluctant to make their plans for other children public? There is a real stigma attached to being honest about your parental aspirations at work for example, where it is often perceived as in conflict with professional development.

By talking about her plans in public, with enthusiasm and affection, she is making clear how uninhibited motherhood can be. It’s not a time to tuck yourself away, out of sight and out of mind, but is something to be embraced, discussed and aspire to, completely apart from your professional goals.

Similarly J-Lo, who continues to enjoy a successful, busy career, has been no less refreshing by talking about her vulnerability as a mother.

Actually admitting how you feel in those early few days after giving birth is really difficult for most mums, at what is supposed to be a time of elation, happiness and overflowing love for your newborn.

But J-Lo tells us that – like so many mums – she felt very sad and depressed, and also that her babies didn’t love her. We may snub this as a PR exercise, but admitting this to anyone – let alone a newspaper – deserves applause and should be an example to mums everywhere.