Melissa Joan Hart's Marriage Magic: Lunch Dates

A.M. Parks/iPhoto

No magic wand for former spellcaster Melissa Joan Hart: The onetime star of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch has to rule over her real-life family with old-fashioned mom moves.

“It’s a crazy house right now,” she told PEOPLE at Wednesday’s Lupus L.A. Bag Ladies Luncheon in Beverly Hills.

The mom of sons Mason, 3 ½, and Brady, 20 months, said that — what with a big move and her recent spin on Dancing With the Stars — it’s been a wilder ride than Halloween on a broomstick.

“We just moved to the East Coast, and with the show, I had to come back here,” she said. “I’ve spent a total of five weeks back at home, so we’re still living out of boxes, but the boys are lovin’ it. They’ve made friends, they’re running around wild and having fun. Daddy’s a little frazzled, but everything else is good.”

As it is, though, Melissa and husband of six years Mark Wilkerson can’t even find time for date nights.

“We actually prefer date lunches,” she said. “Date nights, we’re always tired, and we figure if the kids are in bed then we’re just wasting our time, so we really like lunches. We get the nanny to come over and we go out to lunch and have a blast.”

The chore-juggling pair have only seen one movie this year, but their choice couldn’t be more fitting. Said Melissa, “Pretty much the only one I think I’ve seen is Couples Retreat.”

– Michael Y. Park with reporting by Nina Tyler

Comments

She does have a good point that going out at night really defeats the purpose of getting a sitter b/c the kids are already asleep! Hopefully her marriage stays a priority. It’s hard with little kids, but ultimately what’s best for them.

- urbanadventurertales on November 22nd, 2009

She is my favorite celebrity,and ı like her family and adorable kids!

- pelin on November 22nd, 2009

She is so beautiful. Her 2 boys are gorgeous too! It’s just not that easy for most people to have lunch dates with their spouses. Most people work such long hours, often far apart from their spouses’ workplace. I often wish it was easier for most because lunch dates, as quick as they are, can be the glue to a solid marriage. Just small 1:1 time is essential. Good job Melissa on making your marriage first!

- jakesmamacita on November 22nd, 2009

I love this family! Melissa always seems so down to earth. Does anyone else remember her from “Clarissa explains it all”? I loved that show when I was a kid but they never seem to mention it, only Sabrina the teenage witch, that was a great show too!

- Amy in Oregon on November 22nd, 2009

I love her too! She is so down to earth.I loved her on Clarissa explains it all.

- Emily on November 22nd, 2009

LOL about the going out when the kids are asleep. I have said the same thing to my husband. I know it’s not easy for everyone to meet for lunch but for those who can it is a nice break in the day. My husband and I are trying to do it more often now that the kids are in school.

- kris on November 22nd, 2009

I don’t understand ANYTHING about this woman. First she proclaims that she has to move to the East coast to take care of her deathly ill cancer stricken mother and then almost immediatley goes back to LA to film “Dancing with the Stars” and now date night with her husband “is a waste of time because the children are sleeping” huh?! That’s the best time to be alone together, when you don’t really have to worry.
As somneone who lost her mother to cancer several years ago, I find her seemigly using her mother’s illness to promote her own celebrity on that show dispicable. The timing is dubious at best.

- Patrice on November 24th, 2009

Patrice I am pretty sure it was a benign brain tumor, not anything cancerous. I don’t recall her mentioning it being cancer, just that her mother was tested and it wasn’t.

Anyway my husband and I do stay at home date nights where we order in takeout, open a bottle of wine and get a movie on demand.

- Brandi on November 24th, 2009