Heidi Klum in Marie Claire

Model Heidi Klum, 34, graces the cover of the latest issue of Marie Claire magazine. Inside, she discussed her postpartum look, choosing a preschool for Leni, getting Johan to walk, enjoying her family, having more children when she wanted to, and more.

Heidi and husband Seal are parents to Leni, 4, Henry, 2 ½, and Johan, 17 months.

Click below for the interview highlights.

On starting her family in her early 30s and having three kids in three years:

I look at some of my friends who have waited. Every year they say,’Maybe in two years. Maybe next year.’ A lot of them are a few yearsolder than me, and now it’s like, ‘I can’t get pregnant,’ or there areproblems in their relationships.

Some people are afraid, especially inthis industry, that if you are out of it, it’ll be hard to get back init. I didn’t care. I thought, ‘It’s my life, not yours.’ I was ready totake the chance and not get back into it if they decided they didn’twant me anymore.

On loving her rambunctious brood:

I always wanted to be a mom. At Thanksgiving, I have my parents there, I have screamingkids, I have a big fat turkey — 18 pounds — sitting in the middle; legsare being ripped off that thing, you know what I mean?

There’s life inthe house. I don’t want to be wondering about how skinny I am,wondering what I’m going to eat because I don’t want to gain and I wantto look hot and young, always and forever.

On people asking her about her postpartum look:

I always think, Look at how people were before they were pregnant. If you were a toned, healthy, energetic person, most likelyyou will be like that again. A lot ofpeople come to me, and they’re like, ‘Will I look like you after I havethe baby?’ And I say, ‘Well, how were you before?’ You can’t kidyourself.

On Seal as a dad:

I’m a little different in my head than he is. He takes his sweet old time. When he explains things to them, he explains them.

On choosing a preschool for Leni:

[We decided] the more permissive ones weren’t right [for us]. I’m all for expressing yourself, but you also have to clean up afteryourself.

On Johan being the youngest:

When Johan was attempting his first steps, Ikept telling him, ‘Johan, you’re the last one. The others walked whenthey were 1. Get cracking!’

Source: Marie Claire, June issue; Cover courtesy Marie Claire.

Comments

I think I love her.

She’s so level-headed, such a loving and fun-loving mom, and so obviously INVOLVED with her children (as you can see from her comments about actually thinking about what kind of preschool would suit her daughter rather than just subscribing to whatever the “hot” LA preschool is these days). And she’s right to deflect all our would-be envy at how incredible she looks post-partum to the fact that it was a priority to her before motherhood so likely to be something she works at afterwards. I know I get envious of these star-moms with the perfect postpartum bodies, but don’t actually intend to put in the work to get there! (I’m not including those who get a little “boost” from plastic surgery; if they can afford to do that, then fine; I can’t so I don’t feel I need to compare myself to that!)

- Carole on May 8th, 2008

I like when siblings are close in age. I’m not crazy about her look on the cover though. She is right about how you will look after the baby, a lot of people will comment oh why are so many celebrities skinny so quickly after giving birth, but you gotta remember most of them are very skinny or even underweight before getting pregnant and if they gain 25-30, that’s not that hard to lose, especially when your body is used to being fit. If your a bit overweight and don’t really work out in general and get pregnant, obviously it’s not gonna be as easy to lose as if you were 110 when you got pregnant. They also work out hard and watch what they eat, so it takes discpline too

- brooke on May 8th, 2008

We decided] the more permissive ones weren’t right [for us]. I’m all for expressing yourself, but you also have to clean up after yourself.

i love that… good to know leni won’t be another spoiled rotten celebutante… (smile)… i love heidi and her kids… she seems so “real” if that makes any sense…

- fay on May 8th, 2008

She looks good on that cover, and I do like her honesty. I’d much rather have the pre-school that would be just that, help in preparing my child for the future years in grade school and beyond.

I wish I could’ve seen Johan’s face or how he reacted when his mom coached him to walk. I can just picture him making a face and saying, “I have my own schedule for walking, Mommy!”

- FC on May 8th, 2008

Cute interview!! I love how Heidi is very involve in her childrens life and how she lets them express themselves!!

- Bren on May 8th, 2008

I really love Heidi. She is from the same small town outside of Cologne as my husband (Bergisch Gladbach). I guess we are a bit biased.

She has adapted to living in America so well. Her English is like my husband’s. I can’t detect an accent.

I love her and her family.

That girl always has something going. From her modeling, Project Runway, to her clothing and jewelry line, etc. It’s true, if the industry didn’t want her, she would find something else. She’s very enterprising.

- Christine on May 8th, 2008

I love this family and really get a great vibe from Heidi as a mom; she seems involved but grounded despite the Hollywood surroundings.

- Morgan on May 9th, 2008