Theron, 38, was recently honoured for her philanthropic work at Variety's Power of Women luncheon, reported E! online.
"It's definitely different, because you start thinking about the legacy that you want to leave behind for your child... I want him to be proud of me in a way that's authentic.
"That he could look at what I've done with my life and think that in an authentic way that was meaningful," she said.
The actress also got emotional while accepting her Power of Women award and talking about her own mother.