Wendy Williams: I’m an ‘Old-Fashioned’ Mom
Talk show host Wendy Williams calls herself an “old-fashioned” mom. (Photo: Getty Images)
Wendy Williams has never shied away from saying what’s on her mind. Whether she’s weighing on hot topics on her talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, or sounding off during her recent stand up comedy tour, Williams’ fans love her for her honest approach. But aside from media mogul, author, and clothing designer, Williams is also mom to 15-year-old Kevin Jr. It’s a role she has spoken candidly about on her show, though she swears her son doesn’t tune in. In advance of the talk show’s season premiere on Monday, the self-described “old-fashioned mom” talked to Yahoo Parenting about her approach to motherhood, her controversial stance on public breastfeeding, and that time she told her audience that her son doesn’t like her anymore.
You’re known for your “tell it like it is” approach on your talk show. Is that your parenting approach, too? Or do you soften it for your son?
I’m a tell-it-like-it-is parent, but I don’t give my son more information than I feel he can handle. He’s very communicative with me and my husband, so he will double back and ask questions if he has them. So we tell him just what he needs to know, and then if he has questions, we know he’ll ask.
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Talk show host Wendy Williams with her son, Kevin Jr. (Photo: The Wendy Williams Show)
Are there any times when you’ve been particularly outspoken that your son has called you out for? Any that you regret because of it?
A year and a half ago I was talking about how Madonna and her son get along so well, and our sons are the same age. Out of nowhere – I think maybe I had my period or something — I said, “He likes his mom! I don’t think my son even likes me anymore!” I started crying! I don’t regret it, but it did start a dialogue. He said, ‘how could you say that? I love you.’ And I said, ‘It feels like you don’t like me. You’re mean to me.’ He doesn’t watch the talk show, but his friends and their moms and dads watch it and told him about what I said. It took a week for him to come to me about it, and he said ‘did you really say this?’ Then he said, ‘No, I do like you, mom.’ So actually, it was for the best.
Last year you spoke out against public breastfeeding…
Oh no.
I have to ask. Are you still uncomfortable with it? Do you regret speaking out, after all the backlash it caused?
I still feel the same way. I’m a mom. I breastfed for a moment myself, but I don’t want to see it. If we’re all at the Walmart, and there’s a bench in front, don’t breastfeed there. I don’t want to see it. Go to your car, turn on the air conditioning, and do it comfortably in there. And this has nothing to do with breastfeeding being sexualized. It’s such a personal moment. If you feel like you have to breastfeed, then pump and bottle and keep it moving.
Wendy Williams with her husband, Kevin Hunter. (Photo: Getty Images)
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How do you deal with your son seeing you in the headlines or on TV? Or when people speak out against you, like with the breastfeeding backlash? Do you try to shield him from it?
We haven’t had such a salacious headline situation in our family, though I never say never. But my son understands that headlines come with the job. As long as he knows who his father and I are and how we act, then he will only believe a piece of what he reads.
But how do you make sure he knows who you are? What do you do, as busy parents, to ensure he knows that?
Even with being busy, we’re a regular family. We are probably the most normal-abnormal celebrities people will ever meet. My husband and I are homebodies. After I finish the show, it’s not like I’m going to dinner with Sarah Jessica Parker or Dr. Oz. They are both lovely, but I’m 51 and at this point in my life, my priorities are in cement. Those priorities are myself, my family, and being at home. The superficiality of being a celebrity means nothing to me. Maybe it would have fifteen years ago, but it doesn’t today.
You mentioned that taking care of yourself is one of your top priorities. Do you think that should be true for all moms? How do you do that?
I think it’s more important for a mom to take care of herself than take care of her family. If she’s not good than nobody’s good. If I’m not good, then everybody in the family is going to pay. I have a large collection of robes and mumus and I love to sit in the house with them on, in front of the TV with my feet up on the couch, and just unplug. I don’t like company. Guests are few and far between in our home. Luckily my husband and son are the same way. We all like to unplug.
Any other advice for raising teenage boys?
Share often with your peers. I think that as mothers we try to pretend we’re all perfect and we’re not. Listmaking is also very important. I’m old-fashioned. I believe in planning your family meals on Sunday night, planning what you will grocery shop for ahead of time. I’m very organized. But I also have lots of help. My husband and I work together, so if I’m not home for dinner one night, he understands what I’m doing and why I’m doing it.
As for teenagers, my son’s a nice boy. He’s very mannerable. Everyone who meets him says he’s so respectful. He has his jerkish ways, but he doesn’t do anything to warrant full-blown punishment. Also, my husband and I only have one — one and done — so it’s really easy to keep tabs. He’s outnumbered.
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