Kelly Clarkson has revealed the reason she won’t be giving her kids access social media as long as they’re living under her roof.
There are pros and cons to being online – a world that Clarkson is all too familiar with, as she explains the reasoning behind not letting her children have social media account until they reach the legal adult age of 18.
The singer shares two children, River Rose, nine, and Remington Alexander, seven, with ex Brandon Blackstock.
In an interview with People, she explained: “That can be really hard on kids in general but especially kids with parents in the public eye.
“For that reason, she said, ‘So I have informed them they’re not allowed to, under my room, ever have [it]’.”
The 41-year-old co-parents her two kids with her ex-husband, but revealed that despite her best efforts, time spent with the children isn’t equally split between them, saying: “My daughter was like, ‘Well, what if Dad lets me go on social media?’”
She then quipped her response: “I’m like, ‘Well, you’re there four days a month. Enjoy that’.”
Although Clarkson shared that ‘as of now’ her and her ex-husband are on the same page when it comes to social media.
Clarkson revealed that co-parenting has been one of the biggest challenges she’s faced in life, for both her and the children.
She explained: “In the beginning there’s so much emotion and trauma involved, but as time passes, the easier it gets.”
“It’s hard enough when you’re married and come from two different backgrounds and ways to discipline and education,” Clarkson added. “Doing that in different households can be tough.”
Clarkson and Blackstock were married for almost seven years before she filed for divorce in 2020, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’.
The singer agreed in the court proceedings to give her ex a one-time payment of $1.3 million, and was also ordered to pay him monthly child support payments of $45,601.
She said on her show that while she never expected to be a single mother, she think she does a ‘pretty good job’ given the circumstances.
“I’m definitely not a helicopter mom, I love the fact that they’re independent, But I’m adamant about my schedule, making sure I’m there as much as I can be,” Clarkson admitted.
“There’s no perfect parent – I’m definitely screwing up my children somehow! – but I’m doing my best.”
Topics: Celebrity, Kelly Clarkson, Social Media, Parenting
Kelly Clarkson admits she smacks her children when she needs to bring them into line
Featured Image Credit: NBC. Newscom / Alamy Stock Photo
Kelly Clarkson has admitted that she smacks her children to discipline them.
The former American Idol contestant revealed that she has no problem with a little corporal punishment if they need to be brought into line.
While speaking to Atlanta Radio station 94.1, the singer shared: “I’m not above a spanking, which people aren’t necessarily into.
“I don’t mean hitting her hard, I just mean a spanking.”
She added that she didn’t just spank her children out of the blue.
It comes with a warning.
“I’m like, ‘Hi, I’m gonna spank you on your bottom if you don’t stop right now. Like, this is ridiculous’,” she said.
The ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ singer said that her parents enforced spanking when she misbehaved, and she ‘turned out fine’.
However, the talk show host noted that corporal punishment isn’t for every parent.
“That’s a tricky thing, when you’re out in public, because then people are like, they think that’s wrong or something, but I find nothing wrong with a spanking,” she added.
While enforcing physical punishment has been a contentious issue among parents over recent years, the UK government weighed in after rejecting calls to ban smacking last month.
Many took issue with the decision not to specify the form of child abuse as an illegal act in the country.
Physical punishment against children is banned in Wales, Scotland and Jersey.
The NSPCC and Barnardo’s Children charities have said England must follow in their footsteps, as per BBC News.
According to the outlet, while the government confirmed it wouldn’t change its stance, a Department for Education spokesperson said they ‘do not condone any violence towards children and has clear laws in place to prevent it’.
But many advocates are now speaking out against the government’s decision.
NSPCC chief executive Sir Peter Wanless said: “It cannot be right that in this country it is illegal to hit an adult, but equal protection is not given to a child.
“We need put the wellbeing of children first and bring an end to this legal anomaly.”
According to an NBC News report, in the US, corporal punishment is legal in every state except for Jersey and Iowa.
However, just like in the UK, if physical punishment is implemented, it must be ‘reasonable’ or ‘not excessive’.
A 2016 study by the University of Texas and the University of Michigan looked at the long-term effects of physically disciplined children.
The research found that smacked children were ‘associated with more aggression, more anti-social behaviour, more externalising problems, more internalising problems, more mental health problems, and more negative relationships with parents’.