Joel Madden Shows He's a Happy Family Man

Sara De Boer/Startraks

Forget clubbing or fronting Good Charlotte — the most fun thing in Joel Madden‘s life right now is being a dad.

“I love kids, I love working with kids, I love being around kids,” he told PEOPLE at the Noble Awards in Beverly Hills on Sunday.

And daughter Harlow Winter Kate, 21 months, enjoys being a big sister to 5-week-old Sparrow James Midnight, who was born to Joel, 30, and Nicole Richie on September 9th.

“[Harlow] loves it. She’s so happy, she’s just psyched,” he said. “She totally gets it. It fit in perfectly there — hasn’t been a hitch.”

In fact, it’s even easier than the first time round.

“Well, one, it’s a boy — so you’re not as precious,” he said, “so he’s going to be a little tougher.”

But Sunday night, it was all about the award Joel was receiving for his work with The Art of Elysium – though it was more important to him that it was presented to him by his children’s mother and her father, Lionel Richie, while his twin brother, Benji, watched.

“They are just as much a part of it,” he said. “Nicole does just as much as I do with Art of Elysium and all the charities we work with. And so does Benj — Benj actually does more then I do, and he plays the guitar better then I do, so he is a little more entertaining for the kids.”

– Michelle Ward and Michael Y. Park

Comments

“Well, one, it’s a boy — so you’re not as precious,”

I would like to know what he actually meant by this comment, because I’m sure he did not mean what I read

- ash on October 19th, 2009

ash- I think what he meant was that having already been a father of a girl he won’t worry so much this time around because 1.he’s a boy and 2. those first time worries are gone and you already know what its like

- Micheley on October 19th, 2009

When I was pregnant my husband wouldn’t even let me buy stuffed animals until we found out we were having a girl….He didn’t want his son playing what “dolls” as he called it. We also has very macho ideas on how even infant boys are dressed. I think that’s what Joel meant. Even though he’s from Baltimore, there are still plenty of Macho-Rednecks up here…it’s more a part of the South than you think…..

- Sherri on October 19th, 2009

“Well, one, it’s a boy — so you’re not as precious,” he said, “so he’s going to be a little tougher.”

Very annoyingly immature statement imo. If you can roughouse with a boy, you can roughouse with a girl. Also interesting how Joel seems intent on “toughening up” the son he gave such a precious name to. Sparrows aren’t exactly the toughest birds in the air :p

- Lauren on October 19th, 2009

ok thanks for clearing that up

i wasnt saying it to be mean because i KNEW there was no way he meant it they way i read it, so i was confused

- ash on October 19th, 2009

Ash, he goes on to say that “he’s going to be a little tougher.” He doesn’t mean that Sparrow is any less precious than Harlow, it’s just that Sparrow’s a boy. My dad’s always been rougher with my brothers because they’re “boys”. Eh, it is what it is.

- J.D. on October 19th, 2009

LOL, he can say that now but just wait until they’re ten and eleven and Harlow’s kicking the stuffing out of her brother! Boys are not always tougher than their sisters.

- Lea on October 19th, 2009

For those of you who this “bugs”, I really don’t think he meant anything by it all. Sometimes people just take things too literally. He doesn’t mean his son isn’t ‘precious’ in his own way…it’s just a typical way for fathers to talk about their children–they tend to be more protective with daughters than sons when speaking. It doesn’t mean that their actions follow along with that but I think it’s a pretty natural thing. Nothing to get upset or mad about.

- Melanie on October 19th, 2009

I can’t wait to see new family pictures with baby Sparrow, and sweet little Harlow!! come on Joel and Nicole, release a pic already!! LOL!

- Hugo on October 19th, 2009

Well with a name like Sparrow, Joel better start teaching him to box now!

- Georgina on October 19th, 2009

I’m more annoyed by the awful grammar.

- Kurishii on October 19th, 2009

I got his comment and it didn’t bother me much!

- JMO on October 19th, 2009

I wonder if Sparrow will make his debut in PEOPLE magazine like his big sister did.

- CelebBabyLover on October 20th, 2009