The actress split with ex-husband Ryan Philippe five years ago and confessed that she didn't realise how scared she was about being a single mother to their kids, Ava, 12, and Deacon, eight.
But having married Hollywood agent Jim Toth earlier this year, the 35-year-old said that it feels great to be in a secure relationship again.
'I feel so much relief,' she told Marie Claire. 'I don't think I recognised how anxious I was about being a single parent. It was really, really stressful. It's not easy on anybody.
'It's really traumatic. Now I feel a great sense of relief and an incredible amount of support from my husband.'
'You know, somebody close to me once said, 'Oh, no man will ever accept your children'. And I just thought it was the most horrifying thing someone has ever said to me in my entire life. I was determined to find somebody who would make that not true. And I got lucky. I did. I got very lucky, and he's wonderful. And so wonderful with the children. I'm very blessed.'