Drew Barrymore's parents were 'total hippies'

Actress Drew Barrymore says her parents were "total hippies" and had "no work ethic" when she was growing up so she had to learn herself how to balance her career and family life.

"My parents were both total hippies. They had no work ethic. But I've had to really figure out how it works with children because they come first, so it's been a shift for me, but a very easy shift," Barrymore told HELLO! magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"I've put films aside for a while as my kids grow up. My choice to work less, for me feels like no sacrifice at all. I've worked my entire life and I wouldn't trade time with my children. Film was a really good springboard for me to do things I really wanted to do in life," the 40-year-old added.

And despite going off to film "Miss You Already" only five months after 19-month-old daughter Frankie was born, the actress said it was worth doing.

"I'm so relieved I did it. It's better than I ever hoped."

Meanwhile, the "Sweet Home Alabama" actress says she is still "trying to figure out" how to be a parent but loves having her eldest daughter Olive help out in the kitchen.

She said: "She loves helping ... but if she burns herself, someone will say, 'You are the biggest a****le, why did you let her near a stove?' I'm just trying to figure this all out."