Important moment. Rosie O’Donnell isn’t afraid to give her daughter Chelsea O’Donnell some advice on motherhood following their estrangement. “I tell her it’s cool to ask for help, that’s the thing,” the 57-year-old told In Touch exclusively at Rosie’s Theater Kids Gala in New York City on Monday, November 18. “You know, she left at 18 [years old], when she was just becoming an adult, and I tell her it’s the parent’s job to usher you into adulthood, honey, so you robbed yourself of a lot of those wonderful opportunities and to count on your family and have them be there for you.”

The comedian — who shares Parker, 24, Chelsea, 22, Blake, 19, Vivienne, 16 with her first wife, Kelli Carpenter, along with Dakota, 6, with her late ex-wife, Michelle Rounds — couldn’t help but gush over her daughter and how far she has come in the past few years. “We rebuild a lot of things, and we’re all proud of her — how she’s made success and loves this baby so much,” Rosie said. “It’s kind of mellowed her out.”

Rosie O'Donnell So Proud Daughter Chelsea After Estrangement
Courtesy of Rosie O’Donnell/Instagram

In 2015, Chelsea ran away from home at 17 years old but was found safe and sound with her then-boyfriend a week later. However, she blamed the Hollywood star for kicking her out of the house and denied she was mentally ill. Then, in December 2018, Chelsea welcomed her first child — a daughter named Skylar Rose — with her boyfriend, Jacob Bourassa. But months before Chelsea gave birth, she made it clear that she was not on good terms with her mom. “I’ve always wanted a family, and I’m looking forward to it,” Chelsea told The Daily Mail in September 2018. “But Rosie will not be in my child’s life — and no, I do not feel sad about that, to be honest.”

Ultimately, the mother-daughter duo was able to move forward once she learned her daughter was pregnant, and they reconnected. Despite their ups and downs, it seems like Rosie and Chelsea are finally in a great place. “We go through some, you know, times and unmedicated mental illness is very difficult,” Rosie explained. “It’s difficult for the family, it’s difficult for those who love them. I have my own challenges with mental illness. I take medicines every single day, and I’m an advocate for my own mental health and I try to teach Chelsea by showing her that that’s required if you want to have wellness. So, we’re hopefully going to get there.”

Rosie O'Donnell So Proud Daughter Chelsea After Estrangement
Carolyn Contino/BEI/Shutterstock

While things are good in the kid department, the mom of five cleared the air on where things stand with her ex-fiancée, Elizabeth Rooney, right now. “We’re trying to work out what’s going on,” the TV personality told Us Weekly. “She’s a police officer, and she’s young and there’s a lot of attention on [us]. We’re just taking it slow.” Radar Online reported in October that Rosie and the 34-year-old split up after two years together.

We are hoping for the best!

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