Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, believes in joint parenting

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, 48, and Andrew Edward, Duke of York, 47, have proved that divorce doesn’t have to come in the way of raising their daughters Princesses Beatrice, 19, and Eugenie, 17.  The pair made a decision to put their daughters first and they stand by that today.

Beatrice and Eugenie and the whole family are growing up beautifully well. Andrew and I believe in joint parenting. I’m a mum, I’m a good mum, and that’s the best thing I’ve done. Seeing your children grow into really good examples of good manners, smiling, kindness and compassion is huge.

Raising children in this day and time isn’t easy and Sarah credits being strict with her daughters for her success.

The most important thing is to be the best role model you can be. One of the things my children know is when I say no, I mean it. They always say, ‘You’ve made mistakes yourself, haven’t you, mom?’ But the real truth is that my girls have been brought up with really strong boundaries from me. I believe very strongly in manners, kindness and in listening.

Nobody listens anymore. What I do with my girls is I go in, shut the door, turn the telephone off, turn the TV off and say, ‘Let’s talk.’ They go, ‘Nah, nah, nah.’ Then I say, ‘I’m listening, you talk.’ It’s about listening.

Source: OK! Magazine

Comments

Do they all still live in the same house? I always found that very interesting, but I imagine it was also very good for the girls. But what will happen to those living arrangements once the girls move into their own homes?

- Mama Llama on February 2nd, 2008

Actually it’s Andrew Albert Christian Edward, I can still remember Sarah in an interview before her wedding saying how she’d remember the order of his names as Andrew ACE.

- Nicole on February 2nd, 2008

Lovely comments!

- Melanie on February 3rd, 2008

She is a very good mom and I think came into her own, if that makes sense. She was very honest in admitting that she wasn’t into the very early baby stage – and it was certainly very scandelous when she left Beatrice age 6 weeks for 6 weeks while she toured with Andrew, especially when Diana had fought so hard to bring her babies and then son’s with her on long trips, a first for the Royal family. But Fergie went from not enjoying the early baby stage (she said she dreaded breastfeeding etc although I believe did do it for the first few weeks), really came into enjoying motherhood a great deal when her girls became toddlers and got older. She is a very hands on mum, her girls were the first not to be sent to boarding school at 8 years of age (even William and Harry were) and she even said no when they to to 11 – another time when many children in the UK are sent to boarding schools.
I think her and Andrew have handled the divorce like grown ups, especially Andrew as her cheating was captured by the paps. Definately an example of putting your children first.
They have shared a house on an estate (which I used to live very near to), although she now spends a great deal of time in the US.

- Starlet on February 3rd, 2008

Yes you are right Nicole. I’ve never heard Prince Andrew referred to as Andrew Edward before. Normally it is just Prince Andrew or Prince Andrew, Duke of York. But congrats to them for maintaining a family unit and a special friendship. If only the press could stop targeting them for petty things simply to sell newspapers!

- Annie.M. on February 3rd, 2008

Although at her wedding, she mixed up his names and said Andrew Edward Albert Christian or something like that

But yes, his name is Andrew Albert Christian Edward

- Lynsey on February 3rd, 2008