This future star had a difficult upbringing because of her mother, who traded her for a few hundred bucks and was a chronic drinker. She overcame everything, had a successful profession, and is now a mother of three daughters.
Some Historical Details Regarding the Actress
Demi Gene Guynes is her birth name, and she was born on November 11, 1962. After just two months of marriage, her mother Virginia King was abandoned by her birth father, Air Force Airman Charles Harmon Sr.
Her parents had split up by the time this future celebrity was born. Her mother remarried Dan Guynes, a newspaper advertising salesperson, when she was three months old. Their frequent employment changes caused them to have to move multiple times, as her stepfather did.
She had two eye surgeries at the age of twelve to treat severe strabismus. She also experienced kidney disease, and when she was thirteen, she learned the truth about her biological father. She moved in with her grandma while still a teenager, leaving her mother behind.
Before enrolling in acting school, Demi Moore joined with the Elite Modeling Agency and enrolled at Fairfax High School, which she left in her junior year. She married musician Freddy Moore in 1981, adopting his last name for the duration of her successful creative career, which coincided, fortunately, with her breakthrough year.
She started acting in 1981, first in “General Hospital” and then in the movie “Choices.” After that, she acted in films such “No Small Affair” and “Blame It on Rio” from 1984. She began to gain notoriety in 1985 after starring in “St. Elmo’s Fire.”
With “About Last Night,” Demi experienced a favorable career turning point the following year. Jerry Zucker’s 1990 romantic fantasy thriller “Ghost” is her most popular film, nevertheless. With performances in “A Few Good Men,” “Indecent Proposal,” and “Disclosure,” the actress rose to the A-list.
She rose to the top of Hollywood’s pay scale in 1995 because to her performance in “Striptease.” She had a successful career, but her marriage to Freddy was short-lived—it lasted barely five years.
She rose to the top of Hollywood’s pay scale in 1995 because to her performance in “Striptease.” She had a successful career, but her marriage to Freddy was short-lived—it lasted barely five years.
She wed Bruce Willis in 1987, and the two went on to become one of the most well-known pairs until their divorce in 2000. Tallulah Belle, Scout LaRue, and Rumer Glenn were the couple’s three offspring. In 2005, following her divorce from Bruce, she entered into her third marriage.
2013 saw the dissolution of the star’s marriage to Ashton Kutcher. Demi disclosed that she miscarried in the sixth month of her pregnancy, albeit she did not go on to have children with the younger actor.
On September 24, 2019, Demi released her candid autobiography. Her difficult upbringing, the challenges she overcame, and her resiliency were all detailed in the book “Inside Out.” One topic covered in her autobiography, which became an instant number-one New York Times bestseller, was her challenging upbringing.
The bond between Demi and her mother
The actress discussed her childhood in the book, revealing that her parents struggled with alcoholism and that she was reared in a home where there were arguments, infidelity, and frequent moves. Demi’s mother tried suicide when she was just 12 years old, and Demi had to save her from an overdose.
With her father holding her lips open, Demi had to remove the medications her mother had attempted to consume. That was only one of countless incidents like it. When she discovered her parents’ marriage license when she was thirteen, she came to the conclusion that Dan Guynes, the man she had known as her father, was not actually her biological father.
Her mother had lied to her when she had inquired if Dan was her father. Demi asked her Texas-based aunt when she was there, and eventually she invited her biological father to stay. Virginia never intended for her daughter to be aware of her biological father.
Demi realized that her mother had felt protective, but she also felt deceived by everyone but herself. Virginia took her out to clubs as a teenager, hoping that men would notice them. Her mother firing her at the age of fifteen was another extremely traumatic incident that permanently defined her adolescence. It is said that Virginia traded her to a friend who then sexually assaulted her.
The actress mentioned that the man disclosed the $500 he had provided her adolescent mother to be with her when she spoke with Diane Sawyer of “Good Morning America” about her memoir. She doesn’t think her mother sold her, despite the fact that it was a terrible experience.
She did, however, accuse her mother of placing her in danger and allowing a male to access her body. She was aware that Virginia was unable to keep her safe, though. Later on, Demi had children of her own and found it difficult to raise them well.
What Kind of Mother Did Demi Play?
Following the release of her book, Demi appeared on numerous TV shows where she discussed her difficult upbringing and bond with her mother. She recalled that she had taken up the role of caring for her mother following Dan and Virginia’s separation.
Because her mother was an alcoholic at the time, taking care of her was difficult. Demi’s stepfather, who was 37 at the time, killed himself two years after she and her mother split up. Only his suicide made Virginia’s alcoholism worse.
Demi severed her relationship with her mother in 1990 when she left a paid rehabilitation stay. But the actress made amends with Virginia prior to her 1998 cancer death.
Tallulah, the star’s daughter, also had a tense connection with her mother, similar to how the actress felt about her own mother. The difficult connection between Tallulah and Demi started after the actress was wed to Ashton.
The mother-daughter duo struggled to communicate with each other. Tallulah felt abandoned because the actress struggled with addiction and was reliant on Ashton.
Tallulah felt even more abandoned after Rumer and Scout moved out. She thought the actress had forgotten about her and had stopped loving her. Tallulah admitted that she hadn’t spoken to Demi in almost three years in a Mother’s Day 2020 Instagram post, and the occasion made it even more painful for her.
But Tallulah had “a metamorphosis of inward self-reflection,” and her capacity for forgiveness made their separation possible to end. Now that she and her well-known mother have made amends, Demi plays a vital role in her life.
She often pondered the kind of relationship she would have had with a 26-year-old Demi had they crossed paths back then. Tallulah assumed they would have laughed a lot, but she said that she now “revel[ed] in all that” her mother has taught and is teaching her.
“I see where you came from and what this day means for you.”
She affectionately ended her statement by praising her mother’s every flaw and saying that she loved the actress “eternally.” Demi had her kids look over the book’s draft and make suggestions, but none of them made any changes.
Scout expressed her pride in the actress for having at last done some introspection after spending so much time in survival mode. According to the star’s daughter, Demi’s memoir demonstrated how at ease and secure she is in her own skin.
Nonetheless, the book brought up some awkward memories for the three siblings, who have also battled with substance abuse and difficulties related to their bodies. Scout acknowledged that they were challenged by the book since their mother tried to share the most vulnerable aspects of her life, which also happened to be the most painful for their daughter.
The book provided Rumer with additional in-depth information about their mother’s past. She believed that while kids thought their parents were gods, as they got older, they realized they were simply regular humans.
Demi and her kids are closer than ever these days. Because of their intimacy, they were placed in quarantine together during the coronavirus outbreak. Bruce together with his spouse and kids were part of the family. They demonstrated their unity as a blended family in a statement from February 2023, when they supported Bruce in his battle against his 2022 aphasia diagnosis.
I Asked My Husband for Money for Office Clothes After Maternity Leave — He Replied, ‘Get a Job as a Cleaner, You Don’t Need Fancy Clothes There’
Sometimes, life hands you lemons in the form of a careless husband. When mine suggested I become a cleaner instead of buying new work clothes, I took his advice. But I did it with a twist he never saw coming.
The worst part about betrayal? It always comes from someone you trust.
I went on maternity leave a year ago, completely devoting myself to our son, Ethan.
A woman holding her baby | Source: Pexels
Late-night feedings, endless diaper changes, keeping our house together, making sure Tyler always had a hot meal waiting after work… I did it all.
And honestly? I didn’t mind. Being a mom was challenging but rewarding in ways my office job never was.
The tiny smiles and the first giggles… they just filled my heart with joy I can never explain in words.
A toddler sitting on the floor | Source: Pexels
But after a year, it was time for me to go back to work. I was actually excited. I missed adult conversations that didn’t revolve around baby food. I missed feeling like more than just a mom.
Except, there was a problem.
“Tyler, none of my work clothes fit anymore,” I said one evening while folding laundry. Ethan was finally down for the night, and Tyler was sitting on the couch.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
A man sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
I sighed, holding up a pencil skirt that used to be my go-to office staple. “I mean, my body changed after having your child. I’ve tried everything in my closet, and nothing fits right anymore.”
“So? Just wear something else.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t have anything else. I need to buy a few new outfits for the office.” I sat beside him on the couch. “I was hoping we could use some of our savings for that.”
That’s when he gave me the look that made me feel like I was asking for something out of this world.
A close-up shot of a man’s face | Source: Midjourney
“Do you have any idea how much daycare is going to cost?” he asked. “Plus, all the baby expenses? Your job barely covers those costs as it is.”
“It’s just a few outfits, Tyler. I can’t exactly go back to work without clothes.”
That’s when he said it.
“Your job costs us a lot. Just get a job as a cleaner. You don’t need fancy clothes for that.”
I couldn’t believe his words.
Had he really just said that? This man whom I’d been making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for? The one whose laundry I’d been doing? Whose baby I’d been taking care of 24/7 while he continued his career without interruption?
A close-up shot of a woman’s face | Source: Midjourney
“A cleaner?” I repeated.
Tyler shrugged. “It’s practical. Better hours for childcare too.”
I had sacrificed my body, my sleep, and my career momentum for our family. And now, when I needed something basic to continue moving forward, he couldn’t even be bothered to support me.
Instead of yelling at him, I just smiled and said, “You’re right, babe. I’ll figure something out.”
And I did.
But not in the way he expected.
A man in his house | Source: Midjourney
I wasn’t about to beg for basic respect or a few new shirts.
Instead, I followed his suggestion and got a job as a cleaner.
But not just anywhere.
I applied at his office.
Tyler works at a prestigious corporate law firm downtown. When I discovered they needed part-time cleaning staff through a job listing online, it felt like the universe was handing me exactly what I needed.
A woman looking for a job on her laptop | Source: Pexels
Within a week, I was hired for the evening shift, which worked perfectly with our childcare situation. My mother was more than happy to watch Ethan for a few hours in the evening, especially when I explained what I was doing. She never did like Tyler much.
The best part? Tyler had no idea.
He assumed I was taking night classes to “improve my skills,” as I’d vaguely mentioned. He never asked for details, which was another sign of how little he actually cared about my aspirations.
A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
For three weeks, I worked the cleaning shift, making sure to avoid the floor where Tyler’s office was located. I needed to pick the right moment.
The perfect opportunity presented itself when I learned through office gossip that Tyler would be hosting an important client meeting on Wednesday evening.
The cleaning schedule had me on his floor that night, and I made no requests to change it.
Documents on a table | Source: Midjourney
When Wednesday arrived, I walked into his office in my gray uniform, hair pulled back in a simple ponytail and wearing minimal makeup.
I pushed my cleaning cart deliberately, the squeaky wheel announcing my presence before I even reached his door.
Tyler was in the middle of presenting something to a group of five people seated around his conference table when I entered to empty the trash bins. I kept my head down initially, methodically going about my work, but I could feel the moment his eyes landed on me.
The confident flow of his presentation stuttered to a halt mid-sentence.
A man standing in a meeting room | Source: Midjourney
“And the quarterly projections show—” His voice cracked. “The projections show that… I’m sorry, excuse me for a second.”
I continued working, moving to the bin beside his desk, feeling his stare burning into my back.
“Marilyn?” he finally spoke up. “What are you doing here?”
I turned and smiled politely. “Oh, hello, sir. I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting.”
The blood drained from his face so quickly I thought he might pass out. Meanwhile, the clients and his colleagues looked between us in confusion.
Men sitting in an office | Source: Pexels
Then, one of his coworkers, who had seen me at company events before, spoke up. “Wait, this is your wife? What’s she doing here?”
Tyler stammered. “I… I don’t know. Marilyn, what are you doing?”
I maintained my composure, standing straight with dignity despite the uniform. “Oh, I just took my husband’s wonderful advice! He suggested that since my old job was too costly with childcare and professional clothing, being a cleaner would be more practical. No dress code to worry about. To be honest, it’s actually been quite educational.”
The room fell silent.
Every eye turned to Tyler, whose face had now gone from pale to flushed with embarrassment.
A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
His boss, Mr. Calloway, raised an eyebrow. “Your husband told you to be a cleaner instead of continuing your career?”
I shrugged with an innocent smile. “Well, he said my previous job was too expensive because I needed new clothes after having our baby. He thought this would be a better fit for me.”
Mr. Calloway’s expression hardened as he looked at Tyler.
An angry man | Source: Midjourney
The atmosphere in the room had completely changed.
“Marilyn, can we discuss this at home?” Tyler whispered. “Now isn’t the time.”
“Of course,” I replied cheerfully. “I wouldn’t want to interfere with your important meeting. I’ll just finish up here and be on my way. You gentlemen have a wonderful evening.”
As I pushed my cart toward the door, I heard Mr. Calloway say, “Let’s take a fifteen-minute break, shall we?”
That told me Tyler was in for an uncomfortable conversation.
A boss talking to an employee | Source: Midjourney
But I wasn’t done yet. This was just the beginning.
Over the following weeks, I made sure to be exceptionally diligent at my job. I always cleaned Tyler’s office last, timing it perfectly so his coworkers would still be around wrapping up their day.
I smiled sweetly whenever someone asked about my presence there, and I made a point of thanking Tyler loudly for his “amazing career advice” whenever we crossed paths.
Back-view shot of a woman working as a cleaner | Source: Midjourney
One day, Tyler tried to talk to me about it at home.
“This has gone on long enough,” he insisted. “You’ve made your point. This is embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing for whom?” I asked calmly. “I’m following your suggestion. I thought you’d be proud of me for being so practical.”
“You know I didn’t mean it like that,” he said. “It was just a comment. I was stressed about money.”
A man looking down | Source: Midjourney
“Funny how your ‘just comments’ always seem to minimize me and my needs,” I chuckled. “And funnier still how my stress about returning to work professionally wasn’t worth considering, but your stress about money justified belittling my career.”
At that point, Tyler didn’t know that I was having conversations while cleaning offices. Real conversations. With people who saw me as more than just “the cleaner” or “the mom.”
Specifically, Carol from HR had stopped me one evening to chat after finding me reading a legal brief I’d spotted on a desk.
A stack of papers on a desk | Source: Midjourney
After learning about my background in corporate communications and the circumstances that led me to cleaning, she was appalled.
“We actually have an opening in the marketing department,” she told me. “The pay is competitive, and the hours would work with your childcare situation. Would you be interested?”
I was more than interested. I was ready.
The final act in my plan came together at the next company event, where spouses were invited. Tyler had begged me not to attend, claiming we should “leave work at work,” but I insisted.
A man sitting with his head in his hands, worried about his image | Source: Midjourney
I arrived fashionably late, wearing a stunning new navy dress that I’d purchased with my first advance from my new marketing position that would start the following Monday. It was a position that paid significantly more than Tyler’s.
The look on his face when I walked in was worth every second of pushing that cleaning cart. He just stared at me with wide eyes as Carol from HR approached me with a glass of champagne.
A woman holding a glass of champagne | Source: Midjourney
“Everyone, I’d like to introduce our newest team member,” Carol announced to the small group near us. “Marilyn will be joining our marketing department on Monday as our new Communications Director. Some of you may have met her already in a different capacity.”
The smirks and raised eyebrows around the circle made it clear everyone understood exactly what “different capacity” meant. Tyler looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
Later that evening, Tyler cornered me by the drinks table.
“You planned this whole thing, didn’t you?” he hissed.
A man standing in a party | Source: Midjourney
I sipped my champagne calmly. “No, Tyler. You planned it when you decided I wasn’t worth a few new outfits to restart my career. I just adapted to the circumstances you created.”
“It was a joke,” he insisted, his voice desperate. “I was stressed. I didn’t mean for you to actually become a cleaner.”
“And I didn’t mean to discover that my husband values me so little,” I replied. “Yet here we are, both surprised by outcomes we didn’t expect.”
Over the following months, things changed dramatically between us.
An upset man | Source: Midjourney
Tyler’s position at the firm became increasingly uncomfortable as the story of his “career advice” to his wife became part of company lore. Meanwhile, my role expanded as my talents were recognized. The power dynamic in our marriage shifted noticeably.
Tyler tried to apologize repeatedly.
He bought me clothes, jewelry, and even a new car, but it didn’t work.
A man holding car keys | Source: Pexels
You see, the moment he made me feel like I wasn’t worth basic respect was the moment something fundamental broke between us.
Now, six months later, my closet is filled with clothes that fit the woman I’ve become.
Meanwhile, Tyler has lost his job. He’s apologized more times than I can count, but no amount of regret can erase the moment he made me feel small, the moment he dismissed my worth so easily.
And now, the choice is mine. Do I forgive him and give our marriage another chance? Or is it time to walk away for good?
What would you do?
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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