Let me tell you about Mariska Hargitay, the amazing actress who plays Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU. Not only is she a talented actress, but she’s also a devoted mom to her three kids with her husband Peter Hermann.

It all started with their son August, who was born in 2006 after a tough pregnancy. Now, he’s a full-fledged teenager who loves going on family vacations to exciting places like Kenya. Mariska sometimes feels like she’s missing out on things because of her career, but she’s a pro at balancing work and motherhood.

In 2011, Mariska and Peter decided to expand their family by adopting their daughter Amaya from Africa. The mother-daughter duo share a love for Taylor Swift and even went to one of her concerts together. Just a little while later, they adopted a premature son named Andrew, after a dear friend who passed away.

Despite the ups and downs, Mariska finds pure joy in the chaos of motherhood. She sees her family as her greatest blessing. Even as she celebrates 25 years on SVU, her son has no idea how big of a deal she is on TV—he just sees her as a cool cop mom.

Mariska’s story is a beautiful blend of career success and family love. She’s proof that you can have it all, with a little bit of hard work and a whole lot of love. Cheers to Mariska and her beautiful family!