Kylie Kelsey knows a thing or two about the nitty-gritty of parenting. Kylie, who is a mother of three daughters, Wyatt (4), Elliott (2), and Bennett (11 months), has turned to her husband, NFL star Jason Kelce, for support and to be her constant companion. I'm trying to stay calm. Kylie often seems very calm and relaxed, but as she says, “We're all just figuring it out as we go.” I admit that I lose my shit sometimes.
Kylie chats with Scary Mommy over Zoom, talks about her marriage to the “ultimate girl dad,” her dream Super Bowl dessert spread (Kylie partnered with luxury chocolate maker Lindt ahead of the big game), and a trip to Disney He shared his best tips and more. for his parents.
scary mom: You recently visited Disney World with your family, and when asked for your top recommendation for the trip, you answered, “Have Mama Kelce.” Other than that, since not everyone can have Mama Kelce, what is your best advice for parents when planning a trip?
Kylie Kelsey: So, another tip I thought of after the fact, especially when going to Disney, was to make sure all the kids were seated and strapped in at some point.
It was so nice to see them wanting to go out and walk around and have fun in different ways and use up their energy, right? That's really important. But for safety reasons, I think we need the ability to say something like, “Everyone, please take a seat!” Let's move! It was super, super important.
SM: And it's a good nap spot, right?
KK: An excellent nap spot. My youngest son hit it a few times.
SM: I actually had the pleasure of chatting with your mother-in-law last week! And she said that she actually learned a lot about parenting from you.
KK: That's it! That's very kind.
SM: She said it was wonderful to see her daughters take a deep breath and calm down. Do you have any parenting advice you would give new parents?
KK: I think it's about sharing a revelation that Jason and I had when we became parents. Isn't that what you think when you grow up and think your parents know everything? This is how they understood this. They know how the world works. They have all the information and they come to find out. No one knows what they're doing. Not a single person.
We'll resolve this as we go along. And, hopefully, you become a very well-rounded human being who is kind, considerate, and has all the most important things you want to have.
SM: It's like a big secret, isn't it? Suddenly you're a parent and you think, “Why didn't anyone tell me you guys were just having a hard time?”
KK: absolutely. That's exactly right.
SM: You probably know where you'll be for this year's Super Bowl, but if you're planning a party at home, what are your most popular snacks and popular desserts?
KK: Lindor Truffles hit the nail on the head with this one. We've always planned salty snacks, right? I'm eating tomato pie as usual. Chicken wings are her husband's favorite food, so he always eats them.
Sometimes I use sliders to make it a little fancier. Usually it involves at least one dip. But other than that, I think it's the desserts that tend to get forgotten. Because you're just sitting down and eating a snack. However, I think Lindor truffles are an absolutely perfect addition since they are available in multiple flavors.
SM: Switch gears! You are the mother of her three children under the age of five. You're very zen and laid back and seem unfazed by most things, whether it's Jason's acting or whatever. Are there any restrictions for Kylie? With three young children and an extremely extroverted husband, how do you ensure that you never get bored?
KK: Let me tell you, it's not crying, right? That's whining. It's like sticking a fork in your ear, so sometimes you literally have to be like, “Jason, I want you to tag me here.”
I found it Bluey is a really good example. First, it's a terrible example of parenting. Because the kids are always dialed in and at the same time Chili is saying, “I need 10 minutes.” It's like, “Girl, me too!”
Just like two days ago, all three of the girls had candy, even the youngest, and they were waiting in line for me to open it. And I thought, “Dad is sitting there.” But that’s how moms work, right? It's like, “I know your mom will open it.” Dad may take a while, but Mom can open it right now. ”
As much as the girls say, “Mama, mama, mama, mama!” I often say, “Hey, J, can you tag me here?'' It takes about five minutes. ' And he goes, 'Oh, of course.' Then I came downstairs and everyone was much better off than when I left.
The important thing is to recognize it, but sometimes we don't. Sometimes I scream so loud that my neighbors can hear me. That's okay too.
SM: So sometimes I get fed up.
KK: 1000% — everyone agrees.
SM: Speaking of Jason, the world considers him to be the “ultimate girl dad.” What do you like most about him as a father?
KK: Every time I see him interact with girls, I think, “This is amazing.” I know my relationship with my father, and I still have a very close relationship with him. So it's so beautiful to see my daughters foster that relationship with Jason and Jason being an active partner in nurturing that relationship.
I think there are some things he does very well. Specifically, feeding them food that I can't talk them into eating. It's like I leave the room thinking, “I can't feed them this dinner,” and then I come back and all of a sudden they shove a forkful of fried rice in my face. And I said, “I don't need to know how you did it, but I love you.”
He's just a fun dad – like building slides in the living room. He builds a fort. He's very hands-on, like pushing the kids up on the couch. If you were a mom, you'd think, “Someone's going to get hurt!”
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
