Celebrity Baby Blog /

Ziggy Marley Says Kids Are Interested in Nature

Johnny Black

In a new interview with the LA Times, father of five Ziggy Marley reveals his secret for snoozing well into the afternoon. ”Usually I wake up early and sometimes I make them breakfast, sometimes my wife [Orly] makes them breakfast and I can go back to sleep,” he admits. During those early morning hours, Ziggy says that whenever possible Daniel, 19, Justice, 17, Zuri, 13, Judah Victoria, 4, and Gideon Robert Nesta, 2, turn off the television and instead explore the great outdoors. “Outside is very interesting,” he notes. “There’s a whole world there.”

“They show interest in nature…They love to see the trees and the moon and the sun and the stars. They know a lot of things. My little son is always asking questions: ‘What is that? What is that?’ That’s a butterfly, that’s a snail. They’re very interested.”

Next up for the reggae star is a possible children’s book. “I’ve been writing some stories, working on some stories for kids,” he says. “Give me a couple more years.” Noting that with parenthood “you have to do it bad to do it really wrong,” Ziggy adds:

“It’s a natural thing about it — that you want to give love. You want to do the best thing for your children.”

Ziggy’s first children’s album — Family Time — is available now.

Source: LA Times

Soap Star Kelley Menighan Hensley's Household: 'Controlled Chaos'

Nikki Nelson/WENN

As the World Turns’ Kelley Menighan Hensley‘s household of five can be described in two words —”controlled chaos.” The 42-year-old tries her hardest to keep children Sophie May, 10, Spencer James, 7, and Georgia ‘Gigi’ Grace, 22 months, along with husband, actor Jon Hensley, in line. “I’m the stricter disciplinarian in the house and Jon is the slacker when it comes to that. If Jon and I ever argue, it’s about that,” she explains. In fact, Kelley is so strict that sometimes her kids question her about it! “Spencer was mad at me one day and he said, ‘All you care about is manners. Manners, manners, manners.’ I said, ‘Someday when you’re invited to a princess’ house for dinner, you’ll know how to behave.’ And he looks at me like I’m out of my mind.”

The As the World Turns star is happy with her life and even more thrilled at how Sophie and Spencer adjusted to having a little sister. It turns out that Gigi is “the common denominator between the two of them that really brings them together.” Kelley notes that she “never saw the jealousy thing” towards Gigi; Sophie and Spencer “just love her and she loves them.” Gigi adores her siblings so much that “she screams for them because I don’t get her at night anymore.” Kelley will go and check on her youngest, “but I’m like, ‘I’m not getting you — sleep through the night.’” However, Spencer doesn’t like mom’s methods!

“Spencer used to come running out with his hands on his hips and say, ‘What kind of mother are you? Can’t you hear your child screaming?’ I’m like, ‘Spencer, I’m doing her a favor. I’m teaching her to sleep.’”

Teaching her children to count their blessings is something Kelley takes pride in teaching as well. The actress lies down with her kids at night, calling it “my favorite one-on-one time with each child.” “We just talk about the day,” she explains. “I’ve made it a point since they were old enough to say prayers to talk about what they’re grateful for.” She believes that the kids “get it” and that “they’re at an age where they understand how blessed they are. They have a healthy body and mind and a roof over their heads.” To help her trio understand how fortunate they are in their lives, Kelley has “exposed them to all these different charities I work for … all these sick children that we raise money for and they’re truly a part of it. I think as a result, they will continue to do it as they grow older. I believe that’s one of the best gifts you can give you kids.”

Source: Soap Opera Digest, May 12th issue

– Angela

Trisha Yearwood Says Step-Daughters Have 'Varied Taste in Music'

Mark Sullivan/Getty

With Trisha Yearwood for a step-mom and Garth Brooks for a dad, there is no shortage of country star power on hand for Garth’s three daughters Taylor, 16, August, 15, and Allie, 12 ½. Still, the couple don’t allow their own musical tastes to dictate the preferences of the girls. “It’s probably kind of odd for our children to be in a house with two country artists,” Trisha notes, “but we’ve never said this is what you need to listen to because this is what we do.”

As a result, Taylor, August and Allie — Garth’s children with ex-wife Sandy Mahl — have developed ”real varied taste in music,” Trisha reveals, adding:

“They love Taylor Swift of course, but I still love it when we’re in the car and an old country song comes on the radio and they know it. It makes me happy.”

The author of Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen: Recipes from My Family to Yours, Trisha says that family meals remain a priority but with three busy girls all living under the same roof, it’s “sometimes hard to eat together.”

“It’s more like, ‘Here’s what’s going on today, who can make dinner?’ But we really eat home a lot and enjoy eating home cooked meals.”

Source: PARADE

– Missy