From supermodel to supermom, Heidi Klum seems able to do it all. Now the beautiful Project Runway host is set to tackle a new project as the host of Lifetime’s Seriously Funny Kids, which debuts on February 1, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
The multi-talented mom tells Celebrity Baby Scoop all about her new project and her own hilarious kids Leni, 6, Henry, 5, Johan, 4, and Lou, 1 – and shares the secret to her very happy marriage.
CBS: You’re getting set to host the new reality show Seriously Funny Kids. How different is it working with kids?
HK: “It is very challenging working with kids, even though I have four of my own. My kids know me and they know their limits but the kids I work with aren’t mine and it takes a while to figure out who they are. Sometimes I can talk with them for an hour and nothing funny happens! I don’t have a script for them so with this project I’ve learned to be opened minded and go with the flow. All in all they all just really innocent and wonderful. Working on Seriously Funny Kids is a totally new experience for me; now I have an audience and I’m not a professional host in this area. I look back at videos of Bill Cosby and the kids were so well behaved! Today’s kids are different I think because of the computer and they definitely talk back more. I was so quiet as a kid; I would have gotten in so much trouble! But it’s a different time now.”
CBS: You have four adorable children- what are some of the funny things they say/do?
HK: “My kids are so funny! They are definitely their own people. I just shaved Henry’s head because he wants to look like Daddy and Kobe Bryant. He is really his own little creature- I loved his blond-tipped hair but he wanted it off. So Daddy video tapped it while I cut it really short and then I got the clippers out and buzzed it off! He loves and Leni thought it was absolutely hilarious. However, Johan loves his long hair and thought he was nuts! It’s in a Ziploc bag now. That was such a fun family night- there’s never a boring moment at our house!”
CBS: What are some of the favorite things you like to do with your kids?
HK: “I try to be a kid with them. I don’t take myself too seriously. I try to understand where they are coming from. We try to have fun as a family. I always loved that about my parents- they let me do fun things. Be wild and crazy! Get dirty! You have to give them a certain amount of freedom to be themselves. My house is not a museum- we play and live in it. We always do arts and crafts and we paint. We have a beautiful garden and we go outside every day. I like that they’re active and I like to change it up; I want to keep it level as too much of the computer is bad, but the computer is necessary too- it’s the way of the world now. Leni is into Ballet and the boys karate; we have an art teacher come out every week and inspires them into wonderful projects! I try and make things into memories, like welcome home signs for Daddy, and they do that for me too. They are being taught that you have to participate within the family- it’s not just about them individually.”
CBS: What sort of mom are you?
HK: “When we are around the children we really make an effort to be appropriate. For example, we don’t curse around them. I trying to teach them to be proper and have manners. I’m no saint, but we really want them to grow up and be respectful and appropriate.”
CBS: You and your husband seem so in love- what’s your secret?
HK: “I believe you have to marry someone that you think is really hot and sexy! The other night we met out for dinner and arrived in separate cars. I was waiting for him and when he finally walked in, I was like, ‘that’s my man!!!’ I still get butterflies! I also think we work on being hot for each other; exercising and eating right. I want to look good for him. I think it’s really important.”
CBS: How do you and Seal find the time with kids and busy work schedules to spend time alone?
HK: “You have to do it! It’s the same with everything in life- you have to make choices; you have to. We love our kids but we love each other too so we run off and do grown up things- talk about grown up things. You can’t just talk about missing teeth or poop all the time! We talk about vacations and what’s troubling each other- you have to do those things. You have to steal time away together.”
CBS: What is your best advice for expecting parents?
HK: “Before you have kids you have to really know your whole world is about to completely change. You are responsible for them and you need to really clear on that. Try to see it from the kid’s side; you have to understand them. If you’ve got 20 emails to get through the emails can wait. If your child hasn’t seen you all day you have to understand they need you- you’re all they’ve got!”
CBS: How do you look so gorgeous after 4 kids?! What is your secret?
HK: “Believe me, I have my bad days too. But, I’ve always been fit. It has to do with my job. Early on in my career I learned how to cook healthy for myself and eat right. I gained 45 pounds with each pregnancy and had 9 pound kids! But, I was fit before I got pregnant so I went back pretty easily. I didn’t use pregnancy as an excuse to eat jugs of Haagen Dazs and I breast feed each of them for 8 months- that really helps too. And I moved around- a lot! However, getting older is different and your metabolism changes. I believe that you are what you eat and I choose to eat healthy. My brain after all these years is just trained that way. Again, it’s all about choices in life.”
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OMG, I can’t wait to see Henry shaved!!!
I also was hoping for a photo of Henry’s bald head.
Lou is 1, you typed Leni twice.
I think the links from the main page are broken. It kept telling me page not found. In order to read the article I had to click one of the pictures and then click article from there. Great interview though.
the more interviews I read from Heidi, the more I love her!
Heidi’s thinking is awsome!!!! LOVE U HEIDI!!<3
I love Heidi, she is my absolute favorite celebrity mom! She’s is so real and down to earth! Wonderful interview