Katherine Heigl is sharing what life has been like with her husband, three kids – Naleigh, 12, Adalaide, 8, and Joshua, 4 – and their many pets amid the pandemic. The star of Netflix’s new series Firefly Lane shared some of the conversations she’s had with her daughters about their adoptions, as well as why she’s decided not to have any more children.
“They do have more questions as they get older,” the 42-year-old mom told Parents of her daughters. “We have said to them, this is your story. We don’t have any information about your biological fathers, but we do have a bit about your biological mothers. If you guys want to talk more about them, you can have as much or as little information as you want. Tell us what you’re comfortable with knowing.”
Although having famous parents might sound cool, Katherine’s kids are constantly fielding comments about their mom and dad’s celebrity statuses. “The other day, Adalaide came home from school and acted out what she heard from her friends. Like, ‘Omigosh, your dad’s music! Your mom’s movies!’ She’s like, yeah, I know,” she said. “My parents are famous, I got it. And for Naleigh, I think it’s a little bit embarrassing. But the nice thing is that we’ve been a part of this community for 12 years, and our kids get to see us live just like everybody else, away from the hoopla and the paparazzi.”
“Before the pandemic, I thought that we needed one more child to complete this home.”
Katherine’s also pretty strict when it comes to giving her kids cell phones, noting that she has concerns about social media use. “[Naleigh’s] only one of two kids in her grade who doesn’t have their own phone,” she said. “So she’s been sneaking my iPad and creating TikTok videos without my permission. I know she thinks I’m being a tyrant, but I worry about the effect of social media on kids her age. I watched The Social Dilemma. So I’m like, ‘Go ahead and hate me. I’m trying to save you!'”
After social distancing for a year, Katherine has changed her mind about having more kids. “Before the pandemic, I thought that we needed one more child to complete this home,” she shared. “I wasn’t sure if we would go the foster-care route or adoption or maybe another pregnancy. But now I have completely changed my mind. I am very content with my three!”
While adding another child to the family appears to be off the table, Katherine is open to adding more pets to her household and said she could see them fostering one more dog. “There’s one sweet old girl now at the shelter named Olive who was used for breeding and then abandoned. I’d love to let her live out her last couple of years here on a soft bed. I just have to convince Josh.”
