Ashlee Simpson-Wentz 'Humbled' by Marriage, Motherhood

Courtesy Women’s Health

Nothing reshuffles priorities quite like motherhood, and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz wouldn’t have it any other way. Proud to be a “really young mom” to Bronx Mowgli, turning 1 this week — her first child with husband Pete Wentz – the 25-year-old actress and singer tells the December issue of Women’s Health that career now comes second to family.

“Pete and Bronx come first,” she explains. “It has humbled me.”

“I believe in letting life happen. There’s good, there’s bad, and then there’s great. If you learn from those things, you grow. I’ve really done a lot for 25, and there’s still a lot to come.”

There were no jitters about pregnancy, a state of being Ashlee says she never felt compelled to “second-guess.” Quite the opposite, being an expectant mother was “the most calm I’d ever been in my life,” she reveals.

That sense of serenity extended to her approach to shedding the 50 pounds she gained while pregnant, something which — by her own account — happened with relative ease, with the help of a personal trainer. “I wasn’t in a rush to get back to this body for anyone else,” she insists. “It was more like, ‘I wanna look good [for me]. I wanna feel good.’”

Her secret weapon? Baby boy himself! “[I do] Bronx Pilates,” she explains. “And these [points to her biceps] are from holding him. He’s in my arms all the time.”

While exercise might have come naturally to Ashlee, diet was another matter entirely, and a home-delivery meal service often left her feeling unsatisfied. “It was hard, because I’m an eater,” she admits. “If I want a grilled cheese sandwich, I’ll eat a grilled cheese sandwich.”

Proclaiming that she “likes curves” — noting that she “had E’s!” during the five months she breastfed her son — and “what defines sexy is not someone’s weight,” Ashlee is quick to point out that her husband accepts her for who she is, no matter the size.

“Pete isn’t worried about stretch marks. He always makes me feel sexy.”

Source: Women’s Health, December issue

– Missy

Comments

I am glad that she is enjoying the whole wonderful experience.

- RaisingChild on November 16th, 2009

I wouldn’t consider her a ‘really young mom’ at all.

- J on November 16th, 2009

I dont consider her to be really young either. I was 21 with my first and 24 with my 2nd and never considered myself to be really young either. Really young to be is 19 and under or around that age.

- Holly on November 16th, 2009

Not a person I would expect to be on the cover of Women’s Health. I think she is thin, beautiful, etc….. But not the picture of ‘health’ for this magazine cover.

- Melissa on November 17th, 2009

Melissa- She looks healthy to me.

- CelebBabyLover on November 17th, 2009

what do you mean she had E’s? what are E’s??

- Emily on November 17th, 2009

I believe she means an “E” cup size. I got up to an E during my pregnancy and was an F when my milk came in.

- Morgan on November 17th, 2009

I think she considered herself really young.. probably in that she was unprepared and perhaps not really trying. I also don’t consider 25 “really young” to become a mother.. but it’s definitely not old either.

- Lis on November 17th, 2009

Emily, I think E’s meant her boobs.

- Jessicad on November 17th, 2009

E cup breasts I presume.

- francesca on November 17th, 2009

Emily, Ashlee was referring to her cup size when she said she had E’s. I also agree that Ash, isn’t too thin to be on women’s health mag. I’d be willing to bet that she has a normal bmi, I think people are just so used to seeing sooo many people overweight, that when we see someone who is thin, we jump to say they are too thin. I really adire Ashlee’s whole perspective on weight, especially when she’s forced to defend Jessica. It’s rude and inappropriate to comment on someone’s weight whether thick or thin…

- Jessica on November 17th, 2009

i think that, compared to many in hollywood, 25 is “a really young mom.” the vast majority of celebs her age are barely in a committed relationship, much less married with a kid.

- noam on November 17th, 2009

Thats true noam but just as a woman 25 is not young to be a mom. The national average is 24 years to be a first time mom so she is just average.

- Holly on November 17th, 2009

I agree with Jessica. Being thinner than the average American doesn’t mean she’s too thin! I do think the “really young mom” comment was strange, because she’s not that young at all (though at 25, I still feel like I’m too young to be a mother!)

- B.J. on November 17th, 2009

I don’t think it’s rude to comment on someone’s weight when that’s all they talk about. And weight is all that most Hollywood moms talk about. But I am tired of them saying that they love curves when it is so obvious that they do everything in their power to get rid of them. As for the young mom thing, she IS a young mom when you take into consideration her community. Most celebrities are older when they have children so she feels young compared to them.

- ecl on November 17th, 2009

Ashlee Simpson considers herself a ‘really young mom’ at 25 probably because of her extremely narrow exposure to the average person in H’Wood. She is very much of average age.

I noticed that she touts her ‘relatively’ young motherhood like a massive badge of honour (I guess she did beat her sister to it). It is something to be proud of, having and raising a young child, that is.

But, honestly, she is doing what most women do at about that same age with much fewer resources and pats on the back.

- Ava on November 17th, 2009

It’s an odd thing to mention since she isn’t a teen mom, but I do have to point out that she became pregnant at 23, which IS on the young end for sure. That is probably what she is thinking about when she says she’s a young mom. She did not GET pregnant at 25. I got pregnant at 22 and gave birth at 23. Now I am 25 and I do consider myself a young mom, lol! Most moms I meet deliver their first at 27 or later in my experience.

- becca on November 17th, 2009

I am 26 year old and I consider myself a young mom! I love Ashlee, so happy for her!

- Kaylee on November 17th, 2009

I was 20 when I got pregnant and had her at 21 and I didnt even feel all that young. I knew I was on the young side but not super young.

- Holly on November 17th, 2009

I had my little boy when I was 19, I am glad that I’m enjoying this wonderful experience like her. PROUD TO BE A MOM!

- maia on November 17th, 2009

I had my first son at 19 (got pregnant at 18) and I know I was young but I didn’t feel particularly young. My second son was born when I was 22 and many people I knew had kids and it was normal so I definitely didn’t feel young then. I’ve just turned 24 and would love to welcome another child within the next two years but at that point there’s no way I’d think of myself as a young mom with that baby. But that’s because of my environment. I’m happy to see that Ashlee is so happy.

- Ivonne on November 17th, 2009

1 already. It’s like she gave birth 3 months ago, where does the time go!

- suburbanmummyuk on November 18th, 2009

I wonder if I would’ve been considered old having had my first baby when I was 26 years old. My second one when I was 31 years old. I don’t consider having been old and I certainly don’t think Ashlee is too young. She’s at an acceptable age for becoming a Mommy….I do think she looks wonderful having shed many pounds of that maternity flab that we’re left with after giving birth. Keep up the good work Ashlee and enjoy your toddler as he grows because soon enough he’ll be asking for the car keys and taking off to college to start his own young adult life.

- TinaC on November 18th, 2009

Ashley is very young to be a mom, I certainly hope my daughter doesn’t get pregnant at 24!!
Should’nt young women have goals of going to college, getting a good career,making a good home and being with your husband for atleast a few years before making the decision of children!!
I think 27,28 is a good age to start a family..early 20′s is just to immature yet!!!!!!

- teresa on November 19th, 2009

I have to agree with Teresa. I had mine that young. 20, 24. Looking back I was so not ready. Just too immature. At the time of course I thought I had it down, was totally ready. I so was not. I wish I had waited, done college and all.

- Stacy on November 19th, 2009

Teresa that is a very rude statement! I posted before about older women being rude and snubbing us young moms and you are a perfect example. Yes I was 20 when I got pregnant but do you know what… I did finish college! I finished at 23 and I am thinking about getting my masters as well. As for a career not all of us want to be working women. I had planned from day one on being a stay at home mom. So what would you do if your ADULT 24 year old got pregnant?

- Holly on November 19th, 2009

She is too cute! She seems so happy as Pete’s wife and a mother and many of his comments (most recently blaming her for his band’s negative press) seem less positive. Everytime I see a pic of her with Bronx or Pete she seems so happy and just besotted with her husband and son and so rarely in Hollywood do you see that kind of genuine happiness. I hope it works out for her, she seems like such a sweet person.

- Mary-Helen on November 19th, 2009

Holly, It is the young moms like you that respond back and make us look bad! Why are we young moms so defensive?? I was a young mom too at 19 but finsihed all of my degrees yet I completely agree with Teresa. I was way too young but love my child and was glad I stayed on task to finish my goals. There are too many young girls having children before obtaining goals…… it’s just the truth.

- Mitta on November 20th, 2009

Holly- I agree! There is no one “right age” to have a baby. Everyone’s different, and what works for one person may not work for another person. To put it another way, what’s right for one person may not be what’s right for another.

- CelebBabyLover on November 20th, 2009

Yes but Ashley is a 24 year old women and its not right for people to judge her for having a child at that age.

- Holly on November 20th, 2009

Mary-Helen – The comment Pete made about Ashlee being “to blame” about negative press has been taken out of context by gossip sites. The original quote was in Kerrang! magazine and he was simply stating that the fact his “celebrity status” right now (including a marriage to another celebrity) makes some people think negatively about the band. He wasn’t blaming Ashlee at all, just the entire celebrity culture (:

- Megan on November 20th, 2009

Mitta maybe you feel like YOU were too young and should have waited, but you know what not all young moms feel that way. Its just wrong to announce that no one in their early 20s should have kids because they are too “immature” and need to finish college first. Not everyone has the same goals and expectations out of life. Theresa was very rude to say that she thinks early 20s is not an appropriate age and she is being very closed minded.

- Holly on November 20th, 2009

Ok I’m going to try and be as civil as I can be, but I have to say that through what I have been through (losing my daughter after an extremely hard pregnancy at a couple hours old at 42 weeks after an emergency c-section and the situation of how I got pregnant) have made me as mature as alot of “older” moms. I was 18 when I had my daughter and I still consider myself a mom. Even though she isn’t here to be with me, but I am still a mom.

Also I had an ectopic pregnancy earlier this year. This has made me grow up.

And I am now 19 and pregnant with my second child. I will be almost 20 when it is born. I think that there is no right or wrong age to have a baby. As long as you are mature, emotionally, physically, and financially ready you COULD be ready (not saying you are, but you MIGHT be). I am ready to be a mother. I want Abigail to have a little brother or sister. She would be 1 next month

Ashlee was young in her eyes. Possible? Yes. I don’t know. She was married, but yet she has had to grow up in Hollywood and sometimes the celebrities grow up late. If that makes sense?

- Jessi on November 21st, 2009

I forgot also will be finishing college online. I can do this with a baby.

- Jessi on November 21st, 2009

Jessi, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss and wish you the best with your baby-to-be. However, your use of the word “it” to describe your baby makes me cringe and shows a lack of maturity, IMO.

- Elle on November 22nd, 2009

Elle- Maybe she doesn’t know the baby’s gender and thus doesn’t know how else to refer to him/her.

- CelebBabyLover on November 23rd, 2009

Elle – Most women would refer to their unborn baby as “it” if they don’t know the sex yet. It’s a lot easier than repeatedly saying, “the baby.”

Jessi – I wish you the best of luck with your second child! You sound like you have a good plan for yourself, which shows a lot of maturity

Regarding Ashlee – I didn’t realize that 24/25 was a young age to have a baby. I had my daughter at 25, and am now 26. I’ve been with my husband for 7 years, married for 2 and a half, we own a home. I finished both college and grad school and worked in my chosen career for two years before we decided to have our daughter. I don’t feel “immature” at all. But, having said that, there are women my age who are VERY immature still. It all depends on the individual. There is no right age to have a baby because it will differ for everyone. I know plenty of women who I went to school with that I wouldn’t entrust a goldfish to, let alone a child. But, I also know of several who are very stable and are great mothers. As with everything in life, it’s a very personal decision.

- mrsh on November 23rd, 2009

Elle: How should I refer to the baby? I don’t know what it is. I just found out that I’m pregnant. Nor will I find out what it is until it is born. I could call it a fetus, but would that be more mature?

Mrsh: Thank you!

- Jessi on November 23rd, 2009

Elle: Also in the Robin Thicke and Patrick Patton (I believe those are the names) name post, they refer to their baby as “it”. They are quite a bit older than I am (not sure how much, but I know they aren’t in their early 20s). So is it really that immature to call their baby or mine it?

- Jessi on November 23rd, 2009

To me, 24 seems really young to be a mom, whatever the average age is. And when I say really young, I don’t mean too young. And Ashlee was 24 not 25 when she had Bronx, 23 when she got pregnant.

- Terri on November 23rd, 2009

I apologize for my use of the word “immature”, as I shouldn’t judge you personally. It just feels a little disrespectful for a baby to be called “it”, even if the gender is not yet known. When I was pregnant, I referred to my baby as “the baby” until I found out I was having a girl. To me, the word “it” is for an object, not a human. Maybe I’m just being sensitive and a bit nit-picky.

- Elle on November 25th, 2009

I know lots of people young and old who call baby “it” before they know the gender. It doesn’t mean immaturity just a difference in people.
I am pregnant and always call my baby “the baby” but yesterday found out I am having a little girl!

- Holly on November 25th, 2009

Elle: I understand, but it was easier to me to just say “it” instead of repeatedly typing out “the baby”.

Holly: Congratulations first of all! And second of all, I normally (if I’m talking about the baby) call the baby, “the baby”.

- Jessi on November 26th, 2009