Misty Copeland.Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty
Afterquietly welcoming her first childJackson last year, the ballet star, 40, spoke to PEOPLE during “the longest [time] I’ve been away from him” as she appeared at an event honoring Jerry Moss on Saturday at the Music Center in Los Angeles.
“It’s been incredible. Today was really difficult, leaving him,” she says, adding: “It’s only been nine months, but it’s the best job I’ve ever had.”
Crediting “patience” as her most important parenting tool, Copeland explains, “I think I had patience, but even more so, just to be flexible and have patience.”
The athlete, who made history in 2015 as thefirst Black woman promoted to principal dancerat the American Ballet Theatre, also expressed her eagerness to return to the stage after getting back into performance shape.
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“I haven’t yet done it, so we’ll see. I’m still dipping my toes back in and trying to get back in shape,” she says. “But I’m excited to have that experience, after creating another human being. I can’t wait to see what it feels like to step back on the stage.”
TheTime100 honoree revealed exclusively to PEOPLE in July that she and husbandOlu Evanshad welcomed their first child three months before. “I’m on maternity leave right now,” she said at the time.
RELATED VIDEO: Famed Ballerina Misty Copeland on Having Kids: ‘I’d Love To…I Come From a Big Family!’
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After 10 years together, Copelandtied the knotwith Evans, a corporate attorney, in July 2016. She previouslyannounced their engagementin the September 2015 issue ofEssence.
source: people.com
