Friday, September 26, 2008

Kelly Ripa


In a recent interview with WebMD magazine, actress Kelly Ripa reveals that her two sons with husband Mark Consuelos -- Michael Joseph, 11, and Joaquin Antonio, 5 -- are "forever happy" to see their mom. The same can't always be said for the couple's 7-year-old daughter Lola Grace, however! Noting that "girls do love to press your buttons," Kelly's own mom Esther Ripa feels that her daughter and granddaughter butt heads because they are "exactly the same." While Kelly admits that Lola "challenges" her, she's learned that by simply offering her daughter a choice, the friction can be lessened.
"With Lola, everything is up for debate. Everything is a conversation. First thing in the morning, it's a major discussion about what she's going to wear. I've learned to give her limited options: 'You can wear this or this.' That's what works best."
The 37-year-old Live With Regis and Kelly co-host says she's even had to set ground rules with Lola for when it's permissible to disagree with mom, and when it's time to just do as she's told. "This is New York," Kelly notes. "There could be a terrorist attack. And I can just see me having to debate with Lola about why we have to leave right this minute. I've literally had to say to her: 'Honey, if there's an emergency, you don't have the liberty to argue with Mommy, OK?"
The boys -- despite being described by their mom as "snuggly and cuddly" -- have had their moments as well. Michael screamed that he was being kidnapped once when Kelly tried to remove him from a toy store. "He took everything I'd taught him about what to do in that kind of situation and used it against me." Joaquin decided one night to hide under his bed long after his parents thought he'd already gone to sleep; the family searched their New York apartment frantically and were about to call 911 when he finally turned up. "I was shaking, I was so relieved -- and so angry, too!" Kelly recalls.
Click 'more' to read about Kelly's parenting philosophy and why she feels kids are "consistency junkies."

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