Busy Philipps’ 2 Kids: All About Birdie and Cricket

When she’s not acting, Busy Philipps is focused on being a mom to her two kids, Birdie and Cricket Silverstein, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Marc Silverstein.

The former couple — who announced their separation in 2022 — welcomed their first child, Birdie, in 2008. Their family grew again when Cricket was born in 2013.

Philipps has talked about trying to be “an incredibly communicative mom” even amidst her busy schedule. “It’s hard when you grow up and your mom is in the spotlight and you feel like you have to share your mom. Or people have an idea of who your mom is,” Philipps said on Today with Hoda & Jenna in 2024. “And it’s really important to me that they get me and also that they get to be themselves.”

Philipps has also opened up about what she hopes to pass on to Birdie and Cricket. In 2020, the White Chicks star told PEOPLE that she hoped to inspire her children to “live their lives in a way where they feel very empowered and free to be who they want to be in whatever way they want to be.”

And the actress’ older child is doing just that: In 2023, Philipps announced Birdie was preparing for her first year at boarding school. “I feel confident like Birdie’s such a strong individual. She’s such a smart, unique person that I feel really confident in her ability to succeed in whatever situation she’s in,” the Mean Girls star told PEOPLE, adding that the decision took “a lot of conversations” — and that she was “still in the process of dealing with it myself as a mom who, of course, just wants my babies to stay close to me.”

Here’s everything to know about Busy Philipps’ two kids, Birdie and Cricket.

Birdie Leigh Silverstein, 16

Philipps’ first child, Birdie Leigh Silverstein, was born on Aug. 13, 2008. When it came to picking her name, the actress and her then-husband were inspired by the former first lady Lady Bird Johnson.

During a 2010 interview on The Bonnie Hunt Show, Philipps said that she and Silverstein were listening to a radio show about Johnson when they first came up with the name. “My husband said, ‘Wow, what a cool woman and what an amazing name … it would be so cool to name a kid after her.’ ” Philipps wasn’t sure at first, but she knew it was the right fit once she gave birth.

Now that Birdie is older, the Mean Girls actress has talked about her personality. Busy told Mini magazine in 2016 that her older child was “very outgoing” and that she “will literally talk to anyone.”

Birdie also seems to be a budding activist. In 2021, Philipps celebrated Pride Month with an Instagram post praising Birdie, saying that her firstborn had gathered hundreds of unopened makeup and hygiene items that Philipps and other celebrities had received and donated them to the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Birdie’s charitable work came six months after Philipps revealed on her podcast that the then-12-year-old came out as gay and preferred they/them pronouns. In December 2023, Philipps told Page Six that Birdie “decided that her pronouns are she/her.”

Philipps’ firstborn isn’t afraid to sing her mom’s praises either. In 2017, Birdie dressed up as her mom for Halloween. Years later, in a 2022 Instagram post, the actress shared a photo from a Harry Styles concert and wrote in the caption, “Guess WHAT? Tonight, a lady asked Birdie, ‘Is your mom your best friend? And Birdie replied, ‘Yeah.’ ” She went on, “Birdie Leigh Silverstein, I couldn’t love you any more if I tried.”

Birdie may also be following in Philipps’ acting footsteps. In June 2022, she made her acting debut in season 2 of With Love, where she got to act alongside her mom.

A couple of years later, Philipps took Birdie to the New York City premiere of Mean Girls and revealed that she doesn’t identify as a “cool mom.”

“I think I’m cool, but my kids don’t think I’m cool. And I’m aware of that,” she told PEOPLE on the red carpet. “I also think I’m very clear on the fact that I’m their mother and not their friend, so that definitely makes me uncool.”

Cricket Pearl Silverstein, 11

Philipps and Silverstein had their second child, Cricket Pearl Silverstein, on July 2, 2013. Unlike Birdie, they waited until after Cricket’s birth to name her.

When her younger daughter was a few months old, Philipps opened up to PEOPLE about coming up with her name. After a week of indecision post-birth, Silverstein suggested Cricket, and Philipps was into it. She explained that the name really had to do with her new baby’s burgeoning personality.

“A lot of times your name dictates the kind of personality you have and [Marc’s] like, ‘Everyone likes Cricket, Cricket is just the greatest, happiest kid on the block, the coolest camp counselor,’ ” Philipps said. “He just had this whole narrative for what that name was.”

When Cricket was still a baby, in 2014, Philipps told PEOPLE she was already “a wild woman.” She said that while Birdie had always been a quiet baby who didn’t get into trouble, it was different with her second. “[With] Cricket, if it’s not nailed down it’s off the counter. She throws everything,” Philipps said. “She’s really going to give us a run for our money. I love her. I’m so in love with her crazy personality.”

In 2016, Philipps told Mini magazine that Cricket was a “zany, free spirit,” and that she loved to read just like her older sister.

In 2023, Philipps celebrated Cricket’s 10th birthday with a video tribute posted on Instagram. “My sweet wonderful incredible brilliant talented baby cricks. i love you more than i’ll ever be able to articulate,” she captioned the montage. “Happy 10th birthday, my heart that beats outside of my body.

The first time Cricket saw her mom act was when the actress portrayed Regina’s mom in the 2024 Mean Girls movie musical. In January of that year, Philipps shared on Today with Hoda & Jenna that her younger daughter had a confused reaction to her performance.

“She said, ‘This is weird.’ And so we talked about it the next day and I was like, ‘You know, Was that too much for you? Did you not like it?’ ” Philipps said. “And she’s like, ‘I don’t think I want to watch things you’re in. It was weird.’ And I was like, ‘I get it.’ And she’s like, ‘Luckily you’re not in the movie that much.’ ”