Christina Aguilera: Women Can Do It All, Men Can't

For Christina Aguilera, there is nothing like the power of a woman.

“Every woman has the ability or the drive to do it all and have it all. Men aren’t as strong and capable as we are,” the songstress, 29, notes in the December issue of Redbook. “We’re machines.”

However, following her recent separation from husband Jordan Bratman, Aguilera — who has filed for divorce — admits even she had trouble coping with it all, including raising 2½-year-old son Max Liron.

“It’s not easy and there have been a lot of tears and sadness. It’s impossible to redefine yourself and your life overnight,” she reveals.

“Thankfully, I have my mom and a small group of close friends who are there for me 24/7 and whom I can trust and depend on. On days when it feels impossible to even get out of bed, much less function as a mother, their support and encouragement have kept me moving forward.”

Among that circle of trust? Close friend and fellow mom Nicole Richie. “To watch her as a mother only skyrockets the respect I have for her,” Richie shares. “She is the woman who’s recording until 4 a.m. and up at 7 to be with her son.”

Fortunately, Aguilera’s “cyclical” lifestyle keeps her motivated and looking toward the future. “First it’s album time, then it’s touring time. I go through phases, so we roll with the punches,” she says of her of schedule.

And according to the multi-tasking mama, Max is along for the ride every step of the way! “You know, this is what the cards have in store for Max. We put it into his brain early on that he’s a traveling guy. He adapts well when we go from hotel to hotel,” the Burlesque star explains.

“Thankfully, I have Max to keep me on a sane path. His needs and happiness are my top priorities, and my biggest concern is to protect him and make him feel safe.”

— Anya Leon