Olivia Wilde and fiance Jason Sudeikis became parents to son Otis back in April, and since then her priorities have dramatically changed. While co-hosting the International Women’s Media Foundation‘s 25th Anniversary Courage in Journalism Awards earlier this week, the former House actress and Her star opened up about motherhood.

“The amazing thing about becoming a parent is that you will never again be your own first priority,” she said. “The gift of motherhood is the selflessness that it introduces you to, and I think that’s really freeing. And in terms of being a storyteller, I think it allows you to put yourself in other people’s shoes…the empathy that it slugs you with, being a mother. And I think it makes you a better storyteller.”

“I guess I just take my place in the world a little bit more seriously being a mother…I hope I can tell stories that somehow benefit the world that Otis will grow up in,” she added.

Olivia Wilde did admit that she and Jason Sudeikis don’t get the kind of sleep they were once accustomed to.

“We’re getting there,” she said, optimistically.

As practically every parent of a child under three knows, having a baby changes everything–especially between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. Sleep sometimes becomes a forgotten entity.

Olivia Wilde shared that son Otis is doing “amazing.”

“He’s amazing in every way,” she said. “He’s a very sweet person.”

Wilde’s mother, Leslie Cockburn, is an investigative journalist and Olivia’s personal hero.

“She taught me the importance of speaking truth to power, to being unintimidated by people telling you to give up,” Olivia Wilde explained. “So in terms of my own career, her example of perseverance has been very helpful.”

Her mom and her choice of careers made co-hosting the Women in Media event even more special for Olivia.

All the reasons why @OliviaWilde is, well, wild about being a mom http://t.co/KKQ9NQLngf pic.twitter.com/n2Zqy9d0SX

— People magazine (@peoplemag) October 30, 2014

“My mom was the first person to really introduce me to what it means to really dedicate yourself to your profession, and about self sacrifice. And I think being a mother in a very dangerous profession is even harder, and she knew that she was risking her life, and yet we grew up just admiring that type of passion and bravery,” she added.

Olivia Wilde seems very grounded in her role as a mother. She and Jason Sudeikis will likely raise a very confident and secure child. And since both of little Otis’s parents remain in the media spotlight, it will mean fans get to watch their little boy grow.