Denise Richards on teaching by example

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) Apr 2nd 2008 4:01PM

Categories: Just For Moms, Just For Dads, Celeb Kids, Celeb Parenting, That's Entertainment, Sex

Denise Richards says that she made the decision to include her two young daughters in her new reality show after considering what people would say about her. "I'm in a no-win situation," she explains. "If I don't have my children in my show, then people will say 'Well, she's really not a hands-on mom.' If I do have my children, people are saying that I'm exploiting them. And I think there's plenty of reality shows with families, where you don't watch them - at least I never did - and think they really exploited their kids."

While Richards may have no qualms about exposing four-year-old Sam and two-year -old Lola to the television viewing public, she is concerned about what they are exposed to. She recognizes how her own attitude about her body can impact how her girls learn to feel about themselves. "I'll never talk about weight around them," she tells Shape magazine. "And they'll never hear me say, 'Mommy's feeling fat today.' That kind of attitude just makes young girls grow up to be dissatisfied with their bodies."

I agree with Richards and applaud her for her efforts. Girls do take cues from their mothers when forming ideas about themselves. However, I have to wonder what she is teaching them by making the life-changing decision to put them on television based on concerns about what 'people' will say about her.

Whether or not having their lives on public display will ultimately be harmful to Sam and Lola remains to be seen. But there is at least one person who hopes you won't see it. After losing a court battle to keep his daughters off the small screen, ex-husband Charlie Sheen is now calling for a boycott of the show.

Denise Richards(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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Comments (43)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

ame s 4-02-2008 @ 5:47PM

I find much amusement in Two and a Half Men. I honestly couldn't care less about the daily life of Denise. Does that count as boycotting?

crzyfish 4-04-2008 @ 11:31PM

The reason she doesn't say mommy looks fat is because --HELLO she isnt't. Let her get depressed and pack on about 30 or more pounds, then we'll see if she doesn't mention weight around the kids.

Brenda 4-03-2008 @ 10:19AM

I don't think she made the decisionto have the girls on the show because of what people will say. I thought her statement was more along the lines of, "People will criticize me regardless of the decision I make, so I'm going with the one that works best for me."

As for Charlie Sheen, he can kiss my wide butt.

lisa 4-04-2008 @ 8:33PM

denise is full of crap! she says she will never talk about the bad things her ex has done, but she's the one that started talking about charlie accusing him of horrible, disgusting things! he chose to keep his mouth shut until it got to be too much. the only reason she is doing a reality show is because she SUCKS as an actress and can't get any other job and network bigwigs know she'll be good for comedy! her life is laughable and so is she!

Casey 4-04-2008 @ 8:35PM

Maybe, instead, she should teach her girls not to sleep with married men like Richie Sambora and respect a friendship better than that.

katyamh 4-04-2008 @ 8:37PM

Who would really think poorly of her for protecting her kids from possible exploitation (she admits that that is a possibility)? Being a hands-on mom has absolutely nothing to do with putting them on TV. And what anybody says, particularly random gossipers (the American media and its followers) should be her last concern. How shallow.

Stephanie 4-04-2008 @ 8:50PM

Lisa - The only one who SUCKS at anything is YOU Biotch!

cowboy33760 4-04-2008 @ 10:45PM

Woooow you seem really tuff !!!!!!!!!!

muchado 4-04-2008 @ 8:53PM

Denise Richards is much ado about nothing. Who cares how she spends her day? Reality shows are built around narcissistic Hollywood no matter how you cut it.

Jodee 4-04-2008 @ 8:54PM

Another stupid reality show about a celebrity that nobody cares about anyway.

catsmeow 4-04-2008 @ 8:55PM

Putting children on a reality TV show would be total insanity. Does Denise remember Ozzy Osborn & his family? Gene Simmon's family isn't much better. I hope Charlie really fights her on this & doesn't allow it.

isisaquaria 4-04-2008 @ 10:59PM

He tried and the judge sided with her--

chris 4-04-2008 @ 8:59PM

The flaw in Denise's statement that people will disagree with her decision to have the kids in the show or not is based on the premise that she HAD to do the show. No one is forcing her to do a reality show; to participate in the show or not participate in the show is where the real decision is. When making the decision to do or not do the show, Denise should have been thinking what was in the best interest of the children; if she had then the decision would have become clear to her.

Linda Giffen 4-04-2008 @ 9:22PM

Celebrities do reality shows for exposure, money, attention and sympathy. I love Two And A Half Men and watch it in syndication everyday. Denise who?

mike wahner 4-04-2008 @ 9:39PM

I like Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen and their movies.I think their television series are also great.In spite of the fact that they can't live together,doesn't mean they can't be great parents,share in their kid's lives and have a successful careers.I say to both of them,I hope their star shines bright in Hollywood for a long long time.

bobby 6-08-2008 @ 1:47PM

If television wasn't 50% garbage why would this matter? Shirley Temple & Macaulay Culkin did ok. A tad sensitive, aren't we?

Peggy 4-04-2008 @ 11:16PM

You really thought McCauley did OK???
I think you haven't heard about his life in ages then. He's a wreck like most of the child stars out there- and his family- especially his Father was/is a nightmare....

Dee 4-04-2008 @ 9:52PM

Hmmmm reality show for Denise huh? Is this going to be about stabbing your best friend in the back by sleeping with her husband,while she uses the media to defame her husband while divorcing him. Not to mention she is a no talent wanna be actress who's only claim to fame is the lesbo scenes with Neve Campbell. I guess desperate people do desperate things! Not to worry Charlie...I will not be watching this show.