Bethesda Centre is slated to close on May 31, 2012, unless it can raise $1.5 million dollars to bridge a funding shortfall and establish a five-year endowment fund for the home.

“As a teen, I was pregnant with Justin, alone and scared,” said Pattie. “Bethesda gave me the help I needed during that time and the skills to care for Justin as well. I want to make sure that other babies in the London area have a chance to survive and to achieve their dreams. It is so important to me that we save this home, since there is nothing else like Bethesda Centre around London, and without it, I don’t know where either of us would be today.”

The Bethesda Centre offers accommodations, counseling and support to teenage girls during their pregnancy and after the birth of their babies.  The home also includes an independent living program for parenting teenagers, as well as a childcare center.  Teenagers are provided a range of services, from learning parenting and life skills, to prenatal and postnatal care, education and counseling.

The campaign has raised more than $115,000 toward the $1.5 million goal in the two weeks since the effort launched.  To join with Pattie to Save Bethesda by May 31, please visit the Save Bethesda web site atwww.SaveBethesda.org.

Anyone who wants to help Pattie and Justin’s efforts to save Bethesda Centre can go to www.SaveBethesda.org. They also can show their support by liking the Help Save Bethesda Facebook page and sharing it with friends.

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If you have a talented child actor and you decide to encourage them to follow their dream, then your role as CEO becomes even more important. You will be making both business and personal decisions that will affect your family’s journey into this business we call ‘show.’

I know moms who are very nervous about their children being in show business. All of you have read about famous show biz kids not living a normal life and ending up in trouble. The sensationalized stories take precedence over the kids who do lead normal lives, never get into trouble and remain in the business as adults. All my kids from my shows have made the right choices.

I am often asked why the kids I work with never get into trouble during the run of my shows or when a series ends. My answer? I train the parents! Parents, you need to know the show will end. Your child is not the family breadwinner. It is your responsibility to build a solid, normal foundation for your child.

Tia and Tamera Mowry of “Sister, Sister” and stars of their own reality show on the Style Network, had no preferential treatment growing up in front of the camera. I trained their mother to maintain a normal lifestyle: making their beds, vacuuming, taking out the trash, etc.

Dylan and Cole Sprouse, stars of the “Suite Life” franchise, were the first Disney Channel kids to attend college. One of my roles as an Executive Producer is to create a family-type environment on set.

Mom, it is your job as CEO to insure a normal life for your child.  Remember, success is not permanent!

Written by HMB Special Contributor Irene Dreayer, Creator of  The Dray Way and Executive Producer of the Suite Life Franchise, amongst many others.  Irene has developed and executive produced hit children’s television programs for more than 20 years.

Watch these videos for more information:

Mom & Dad You Are the CEO!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ31Zl9KovI&feature=plcp

Success is Not Permanent  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH5f3Y6_mMk&feature=plcp

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Click for larger picture

For those not yet in the know, the UCLA Family Commons is a wellness facility dedicated to creating healthier families and stronger communities throughout the Los Angeles Westside area. As a non-profit organization founded by one of the country’s leading scientists at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, all of their programs are grounded in the latest research on parent and child development. Since opening their doors in Santa Monica two years ago, they have had over 3,000 parents and children enrolled in a wide array of programs including: Mommy & Me Music and Yoga classes, Martial Arts, Youth Mindfulness, Social Skills, Parent Coaching, Summer Camps and much more.

As they continue to grow, their mission to strengthen families and the community is more apparent than ever. They have been working with local schools, and countless administrators to deliver workshops and coaching session to parents and educators regularly. Additionally, they are aligning pediatricians and local businesses for our community-centric, affiliate and endorsement program. Tuesday May 8, 2012 is a special event recognizing and applauding the  individual and collective voices of top Mom Bloggers in the Los Angeles area. This event will be both a meet and greet, and an open discussion.  L.A. Mom Bloggers will be present , explaining what prompted them to begin writing & sharing, how we choose our content, and if there are any topics we’re collectively looking to tackle moing forward. There is seating for roughly 40-50 guests to attend. Details below: During the dates of May 7th through May 13th the UCLA Family Commons is hosting “Mother’s Week” with a wide array of great events, activities, giveaways, and presenters and the Mom Blog Summit is Tuesday, May 8th | 6 – 8 PM FREE to the registered Public!

UCLA Commons presents the Mother’s Week – Mom Blog Summit! Joined by an amazing group of women who represent new media as voices of our community, this event will provide a platform to introduce some of the best local mom bloggers (Tracy Bobbitt of Hollywood Mom Blog, Alexandra Anderson Bower of BeverlyHillsMom.com, Gina of TheTwinCoach.com; Laura of MomAngeles.com, Rachel Pitzel of ClubMomme.com, and Ashley Fauset of SilverlakeMom.com) and to discuss their roles in addressing topics relevant to parents and women.

This free event is open to the public – come learn about the bloggers, ask questions and find out about what the latest buzz is in the blog world!  While you enjoy the discussion, your children can enjoy supervised free-play and activities here at our center! Special gift giveaways from Miakel Bishay Salon, and amazing refreshments will be provided by local bakeshop Nothing Bundt Cakes – but to get your slice of cake and reserve your seat, register now because space is limited!

FEATURED BLOGGERS

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I’d love for you to check out my guest post over on Jen & Barb Mom Life who have teamed up with Coca-Cola to bring their show that answers the question, “What techniques you employ to encourage your children’s passions?”

Follow the ladies on FACEBOOK at https://www.facebook.com/MomLife

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Anderson Cooper hosts veteran pageant girls as well as Toddlers & Tiaras' star, Alana, (Honey Boo Boo Child) Thompson (third from left) and all their mothers to discuss the controversial methods these moms use to motivate their children.

You’ve seen the recent onslaught of casting calls: “Non-Union Documentary Needs L.A. Moms,” “Villainous Stage Moms Wanted!” “My Talented Kid,” “Casting Opinionated Mothers of Child Actors,” “Do You Think Your Child is a Superstar?” and even one for the ultimately delusional parents, “YES, I Think My Child is a Super Star!”  But instead of hitting the SEND button on our email replies to this latest casting trend, seasoned Hollywood Moms are snickering in unison in our private chat groups, message boards, face book posts, tweets and asking each other in acting classes and audition waiting rooms, “What in the world are these people thinking?”

It would appear that “THEY” are thinking in terms of cold, hard cash and we have the success of TLC’s Toddlers & Tiaras and the new Lifetime series Dance Moms (now at 2.5 million viewers) to thank for this latest casting phenomenon. I’ll be the first to admit my daughter and I have watched T&T with our mouths agape and our nervous laughter filling every corner of the room. Cliche’ yes, but it really is like watching a train wreck – you see it coming and yet absolutely can’t look away, all while knowing the results will be identical, week after week. Some go so far as to call these shows tantamount to child abuse.

From the looks of the multitude on “Mom-related” casting calls, my household isn’t the only one watching. T&T star Alana “Honey BooBoo Child” Thompson and her mother June Shannon have become a staple not just on Toddlers but on talk and news television in general thanks to their backwoods caffeine-concoction that BooBoo dubbed GoGo Juice (Seems lil’ Alana likes saying words twice ya’ll).  From Dr. Drew to Dr. Phil to Anderson Cooper to CNN’s Showbiz Tonight – every realm of media is cashing in on this cow.

Reality's littlest star - Eden Wood with Mom Mickie Wood

Even T&T alumni Eden Wood (who retired from pageants at the age of 6 – what took her so long?) has landed her own reality television show “Eden’s World,” on LOGO TV, which will document her NYC quest to become “a star,” with mom, manager and publicist in tow. Fair warning – Eden’s mother Mickie actually utters the fateful phrase, “My baby is going to be the next Super Star!” in the promo clip.  I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.

When Anderson Cooper hosted several of the more notorious pageant moms on his talk show recently, the episode description read: “For the first time ever, the moms from the hit TLC show, “Toddlers & Tiaras,” are getting a pageant-style makeover. Complete with costumes and makeup, these moms will now experience firsthand what their daughters endure every time they are forced to compete. Will these mothers feel differently after walking in their daughters’ shoes?”

Momager Kris Kardashian makes the life of a Hollywood Mom look glamourous.

Oh Anderson, why? Why give one more second of attention to this growing trend of exalting the worst of the breed?  And speaking of negative attention, don’t even get me started on the documentary that aired on Showtime last night, “The Hollywood Complex,” inspired by the antics of residents in the short-term, fully-furnished apartments adjacent to Warner Brothers and Universal Studios, and I’m equally appalled by the footage I watched on HLN in which Alana “Boo Boo Child” Thompson is clearly under the weather but forced to sit on HLN’s set while her mom June defends having her young daughter perform in a bar to the show’s host.

We should have seen it coming years ago when Hollywood Mom Kris Kardashian made it look so glamourous, phoning in momager demands from her multi-million dollar home in gated Hidden Hills, while simultaneously running two retail stores and raising umpteen soon-to-be-reality-famous-kids.  This is not the norm people, nor is the common myth that all aspiring child actors and their parents hail from double-wide trailers located somewhere off I-287, in Dallas, until they ripen like fruit and are shipped via a magical pipeline to the folks at Disney. It’s all urban legend, folklore and rumor. Don’t buy into it.

So what are the real Hollywood Moms all about? Since television doesn’t have it right, I’ll tell you myself: Hollywood Moms love their kids and helps them pursue their dreams of performing (acting, signing, dancing) whether it be on stage, on camera, or in the backyard. A Hollywood Mom is equally inclined to assist her children with a number of non-acting pursuits like swimming, soccer, golf, chess, tennis, horse-back riding, debate team, stamp-collecting – you name it – but you’re not likely to hear about that on the nightly news.

Over the course of our journey in this community, we’ve encountered many intelligent parents who work just as diligently for their children’s education, socialization and extracurricular activities as they do for their acting careers. They run the gamut of types, ages, nationalities, ethnicities and social classes.  Professions of Hollywood Moms vary greatly as well; consultants, restauranteurs, photographers, music execs, marketing and PR professionals, police officers, bartenders, child advocates, fitness gurus, comedians, writers, lawyers, medical professionals, ex-military and more.

The majority of these moms (and dads) are protective, strict, involved, caring and devoted to a fault. Are they competitive? We probably have our fair share of Type-A’s in the Hollywood Mom crowd. Nutty? Sure, it happens. Poor Judgement?  A handful. Star-obsessed? I’ve heard the rumors but, just like the elusive Big Foot, I haven’t met one yet.

Over the past year I’ve been approached by numerous production companies to take Hollywood Mom Blog on the reality journey, and this onslaught of crazy casting calls and the sensationalism of the entertainment industry’s “fringe” element actual motivates me more than ever to do so, to get the truth out about the many balanced, professional, successful kids and families in this industry.  But until that time, it would appear that the “Hot Mess” is currently Reality Hollywood’s “Hot Commodity,” and will be the public’s perception of  Hollywood Moms for years to come.

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Hollywood Mom Pattie Mallette has written an autobiography with A. J. Gregory, backed by Christian publisher Revel.

As a young woman and a single mom, she fought hard to rise above her painful past of abuse, shame, and poverty. Pattie hopes to encourage troubled youth, struggling single moms, and the broken-hearted through her story. She continues to expand her outreach to young women and youth (including her nearly 1 million followers on Twitter) while overseeing the management of Justin and his team.

Now Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, has acquired world rights to a memoir by Pattie Mallette, mother of pop music sensation Justin Bieber. Mallette will share her inspiring personal story for the first time in Nowhere but Up: The Story of Justin Bieber’s Mom. The book is slated for release on September 18, 2012.

In Nowhere but Up, written in collaboration with A. J. Gregory, Mallette shares heartbreaking details about the trauma, abuse, and addiction that marked her early childhood and young adult years. She reflects on a desperate search for love and acceptance that led to teenage rebellion and a suicide attempt at seventeen. And she recounts the remarkable way her life finally turned around when she found herself pregnant and facing an uncertain future as a single mom.

“Pattie’s story is a powerful example of courage and determination that will inspire anyone who has faced struggles in life,” says Jennifer Leep, editorial director for Revell. “She’s living proof that even in the darkest of places, there is always room for hope.”

Today, as the mother of an internationally celebrated recording artist, Mallette finds herself with unique opportunities to speak to women and teen girls facing the same challenges she herself has overcome. She hopes her story will give them the courage to take positive steps toward a brighter future. “I want them to see that no matter how desperate their circumstances may be, they can have hope for a better future,” says Mallette.

Mallette will support the release of Nowhere but Up with national media appearances and speaking engagements throughout the United States and Canada. She plans to donate a portion of the book’s proceeds to charity.

Follow her on Twitter (@PattieMallette)

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In a separate interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Justin Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun gives insight as to how Mom and Dad Beiber are handling Justin’s phenomenal success:

“They both handle it differently. I think they both love their son.  His dad is in Canada and his mom is with us [most of the time]. I think his dad misses him a lot because he doesn’t get to see Justin as much.

“I think his mother — she and I ave talked about this — at times, she struggles with how protective we have to be of him. With people saying anything they want about her son and making up rumors about all of us and our relationship with each other, it’s frustrating at times because we know what it is. We ignore all that stuff. But I also think, and she’s said this in interviews, that she feels safer with him living this life because it’s structured and we know where he is all the time. She feels that if they were still in Stratford, Ontario, he’d be getting himself into a lot of trouble.”

When asked whether Justin was aware of the temporary nature of being a pop star, Braun replied:

“Justin doesn’t study the people who made it. He studies the people who haven’t. He hears all the naysayers about how he’s going to disappear so he likes to look up people who used to be the so-called Justin Biebers before him and didn’t go anywhere.  He wants to see why they didn’t go anywhere. The general feeling we get is that it had nothing to do with their talent and everything to do with their personal life. Like the kids fall into drugs and destroy their own trajectory.  I think by watching that, he’s very conscious of it. He’s a smart kid. He knows the talent he has.  He realizes that if he grows up to be a good man, he’s going to be able to handle the pressures that come with a position like this.”

To read the entire article with Scooter Braun, in The Hollywood Reporter click here.

For Rolling Stone Magazine’s entire list of Best Hollywood Moms in the Biz – click here!

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The Minors

If you’re watching American Idol this season then you no doubt tuned in for the emotional train wreck event known as “Groups,” when the individual contestants are forced to partner up with the competition and make beautiful, harmonious music together.  One of those singing groups,“The Minors,” is a quintet made up of 15- and 16-year-olds whose mothers, as required by law, are on set with them day and night.   The group includes: Keonna Evans, 16; Jalen Harris, 15; Sarina-Joi Crowe 15; Felix Ramsey, 15; and Deandre Brackensick, 16. I found it refreshing to watch the moms of the minors work together harmoniously as they “directed” their cooperative and talented children through a Glee-like rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love.”

The Stage Mamas

However not everyone got the warm fuzzys watching the stage moms in action and jealously reared it’s ugly head amongst some of the “over 18″ contestants, most notably a competing group who was set to perform the same Queen song as The Minors.  The lead singer of the second group seemed particularly peeved and charged that the stage moms coaching was an unfair advantage. But seriously, although it may have been unfair, the whining over it was much more obnoxious than the offense itself.

The best part of the night was watching the mamas jump up and down enthusiastically as their teen songbirds blew the judges away with a near-perfect performance. Judge Jennifer Lopez even went so far as to say, “They just gave the performance of their life right there!”

How the stage moms relate to each other as the competition gets more fierce may be the true “show” to watch this season.

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As Justin’s fame rises, do your responsibilities as a mom change at all?
Mallette: The responsibilities change somewhat, and I have to adapt as a mom. For instance, I can’t ground him if he misbehaves. I have to be creative – taking away privileges like computers and phones. My bottom line responsibilities are to keep him safe and grounded. That means I need to discipline him when he needs it – in whatever way works.

How does it feel as a mom to see your son achieve so much success and accomplish his dreams?
Mallette: I am so proud, and so happy for him. As a mom, it’s amazing and emotional to watch your child achieve his dreams and such a high level of success. Anyone would be thrilled to be in his position. I burst with joy for him. Of course, there are concerns; but for him, I am thrilled.

As we begin a new year, what is something you wish for Justin?
Mallette: For 2011, I want Justin to continue to follow his dreams, to continue to shoot for the moon. I don’t want him to think that anything is unachievable.

Each mom is kind of programmed to worry about her kids. What are your biggest concerns for Justin?
Mallette: Because he has so many people catering to him, my biggest concern is keeping him grounded. I remind him constantly that he is no better than anyone else. My worry is that he might mistake all the manufactured things around him for reality.

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Terry McMillan’s tweets:

“The Smith children already act like child stars. There’s an arrogance in their demeanor and behavior. I find it incredibly sad. It feels like the Smith children are being pimped and exploited. Or, they’re already hungry for fame. What about 4th grade?

A lot of A-list movie stars shield their children from the Hollywood-world until they were old enough to decide. Look at those who didn’t.
Look at Lindsay. Phoenix. To name but a few. They miss out on childhood. It’s more important than fame.

Willow Smith Spread in February's Vanity Fair

Okay. I’ve said enough about the Smith children. I’m not debating about them. It’s just my opinion. People can justify anything, though.
In 4th grade my son came home complaining that the kids in his school said I was famous and rich. I told him that was not true.

That some of my books were popular but not everybody liked them. That we could afford a vacation. “Oh” he said, and went back & repeated it.
I wanted him to think of me as his mother. He didn’t read any of my novels until he was 15. He only read 26 pages. Was bored.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everybody. I raised my son. I’m not wasting another minute worrying about how Will & Jada are raising their kids.
P.S. I loved the Karate Kid. I am not getting started on the lack of diversity in film this afternoon. The Smith children was enough discourse for one day.”

There was a huge backlash in response to this so an apology was soon tweeted.

“I apologize for using the word pimp and exploit in referring to the Smith children. It was insensitive of me and wrong.
Twitter is not the best forum to express some things. I didn’t know folks would take my opinion so personally.”

What do you think? Is McMillan right?  And whether she is or not, did she use her “outside” voice in the wrong forum?

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Well, it was fun while it lasted!  Miley Cyrus, the star of the huge television commercial success “Hannah Montana,” is now officially an adult, turning 18 years old today, November 23, 2010.  For better or worse, I can’t recall another television child actor in the last decade who has penetrated pop culture and the public consciousness more so than Miley Cyrus.

On Sunday at the American Music Awards, seemingly unhindered by her parents recent separation, Miley told Access Hollywood when asked about her birthday plans,“I’m going out dancing later — we rented out a space so all my friends can come.  Me and my mom actually have choreography for the night later — everyone loves when we dance in unison.”

She went on to say that she and Momager Tish Cyrus are known for playing Xbox 360’s dance video game, Kinect. “My mom, she beats me at that game!” Miley said. “She had 600,000 points yesterday, I had 300,000. She is such a good dancer — she really gets it.”

Miley: “There’s one [move] where you do like, the fist pump. You ‘Jersey Shore’ it for a second!  We got a bunch of moves going on. Everyone goes wild when me and my mom have choreography, so it’s going to be good.

In addition to Miley’s Momager Dance Routine, the now 18 year old  says that the entire month of November is a birthday celebration for her.  “I have a birthday month,” Miley tells Access Hollywood. “I do the whole month of November. Thanksgiving, cake – [it’s] all about me on Thanksgiving!”

Guests at her birthday celebration after the AMA’s on Sunday were Demi Moore, Rumer Willis, John Mayer, Kelly Osbourne, Kyle Massey and Ke$ha.

Here’s a look back at Miley’s transformation through the years:

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Demi Lovato and Mom Dianna in happier times

Update to our initial post on Demi Lovato leaving tour and checking into rehab.

According to People.com, on most of her nights off, Demi invites her band, dancers and her parents to dinner. On the night in question, she broke off with a very small group after the meal. The following day, tour managers and Lovato’s stepfather, Eddie De La Garza, questioned the group’s “conduct,” as there were reports that the group had been partying.

Tour management got wind of this and talked with all the people involved, including Demi.  Subsequently Demi was under the impression that someone on tour had told on her and believed that person to be a young, female dancer, now identified as Alex Welch aka BGirl Shorty (pictured below). Lovato then confronted the young dancer while the group was onboard a plane later that same day.  Allegedly an altercation ensued which was one-sided, became physical and was brief. It is rumored that Lovato punched Welch in the eye.

As a result of her behavior Demi Lovato chose to take steps to get necessary help by entering rehab.

Contrary to several reports in the media, Actress Ashley Greene (Twilight), who is dating Lovato’s ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas, played no role in this incident nor did the Joe or any of the Jonas Brothers.

In other news, Bang Showbiz is reporting that Demi Lovato’s family members are upset by Demi’s estranged father Patrick’s comments about her checking into rehab.  He allegedly stated that the pressures of being a child star “was one of the things I worried about when she signed with Disney.”  In an interview with the Los Angeles Times Patrick Lovato was quoted as saying: “I kept those emotions to myself because Dianna was so excited, I didn’t want to burst anyone’s bubble.  But always in the back of my mind, I was concerned. Because at that young age, it’s really hard. She worked 300 out of 365 days touring, and then of course when you get back into town, you’ve got all the promotional stuff. I’m sure she sees the things she missed out on, schoolmates and things.”

Welch is a member of the dance troupe Beat Freaks, which were the runners-up on season 3 of America's Best Dance Crew. She's currently on the Jonas Brothers tour.

Demi, 18, revealed in a prior interview that she hadn’t spoken to her birth father Patrick for two years, stating “When somebody lets you down after you’ve been the only one there for them. I had to cut off all connection. It was hurting me too much.”  Patrick has since claimed he was misquoted about his daughter and would neither blame Disney or Dianna for Demi’s situation.  Patrick and Demi’s mother Dianna divorced in 1994 and Demi’s immediate family insists Patrick Lovato knows nothing about Demi and he has allegedly been warned by her representatives to stop talking.

Demi’s uncle Francisco Lovato, presumably the brother of Patrick, spoke to TooFab.com reporting that he saw signs of exhaustion in his niece when he met up with her at a concert last summer.

“I personally think it has a lot to do with pushing these kids.  I saw Demi in August, I went to one of her concerts with The Jonas Brothers outside of Sacramento, and she totally rocked it out, and did a great show, there was great energy.  She was in good spirits it seemed, but [sic] the one thing I said to her was ‘Demi, you’re working hard, and I know people love your talent, and you’re busting it out,’ but then she turned around and looked at me with a major look of seriousness, and she said to me, ‘Look, I work really hard.’”

Lovato’s Attorney Jamie Young has told the New York Post newspaper: “No one speaks for Demi except for her designated representatives.

Disney wishes Demi Lovato well via a public statement which reads: “We support Demi’s decision to put her health first and we send her our best wishes.”

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Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus have issued the statement:
“As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family. We are trying to work through some personal matters. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.”

Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus have been married 17 years and both had been married previously. Billy has one child from a previous relationship, Tish has two kids, Trace and Brandi, from a previous marriage whom Billy Ray adopted as his own. Together they are the parents Miley Ray, 17; Braison, 16; and Noah, 10. Billy Ray is seeking joint custody.

Billy Ray split with first wife, Cindy Smith, in 1991 and married Tish (Leticia) Finley in 1992.

Between them they have 5 kids: 3 of them together including Miley Cyrus.

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Lindsay Lohan

According to Perez Hilton, professionals at the Betty Ford Center are reportedly advising patient Lindsay Lohan to cut her mother, Dina Lohan, out of her professional life, so that they can try to establish a more normal parent/child relationship. A number of former child stars retain their parents as managers long after the age of 18 and as we reported earlier this year, usually to less than desirable results.

A inside source explains:

“Dina needs to no longer act as her manager, or work for her daughter in any capacity. Lindsay needs Dina to simply be her mother. Lindsay’s treatment team at Betty Ford has emphasized this to Lindsay, very, very strongly. Lindsay feels the financial burden of taking care of her entire family. It’s enormous pressure for any person in their twenties, let alone someone that is battling with addiction. Lindsay and Dina don’t have a normal mother-and-daughter dynamic because of the length of time that Dina has worked for Lindsay. She isn’t strong enough to tell Dina that she doesn’t want her to work for her anymore. It’s partly because it has been the norm for so long and Lindsay doesn’t know what her career would look like without her mom’s involvement. Lindsay wants to get back to work, with the view, the sooner the better. However, her treatment team is asking that she commit to at least another 45 days of treatment. Lindsay has done several 30 day rehab stints and almost every time, she has relapsed. We really believe that the longer she stays at Betty Ford, the better for her odds of success.”

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Blake Lively, a 23-year-old actress best known as Upper East Side princess Serena Van Der Woodsen on the television hit Gossip Girl,

Blake expresses her gratitude that mom has kept business and family separate.  Elaine “stayed out [of my career].  All my siblings were in this business [sic] but she was like, ‘No, I don’t think business and family mix.’” Blake’s big break came in her junior year of highschool when she won a role in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.”

“I think that’s so remarkable because so many mothers just love to get in and be a part of it and the financial benefits. They take a commission of your money, and I think you should be able to give them what you want rather than be obliged to pay your mother. It just seems really strange, like rent.”

Blake’s father Ernie Lively (Criminal Minds) and siblings (Eric Lively, Lori Lively, Jason Lively and Robyn Lively) are all actors. Blake’s parents encouraged all their children to follow in their footsteps, but Lively declined for many years until she was “forced” to go to her first audition in her late teens.

“Because my family was in the business, acting was the last thing I wanted to go into. I worked my whole life to get into university, then went to an audition in my junior year because my brother made me. And once I did it I realized I loved acting.”

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Photo by Jennings Paige

I’ve known Challen Cates for almost two decades now but until our interview last week the most I could tell you about her is that she is from Virginia, is a talented actress and as you can see in these amazing accompanying photographs taken by Jennings Paige – She Never Ages.  Just like the character Mrs. Knight she plays on Nickelodeon’s break out hit “Big Time Rush,” I’ve learned there is much more to Challen than meets the eye. Television Star? Yes. But she also proudly plays the real roles of wife, mother and advocate for the prevention of childhood sexual abuse. Oh, and she’s really funny too.

HMB: Looking at your body of work, I’d said your acting background is varied, some prime time TV guest spots, independent film roles, even producing. What attracted you to the role of Mrs. Knight?

CC:  I was actually watching a competing show and I said to my husband, ” I’d like to play the mom on a show like this,” et voila that’s exactly what happened.  Be careful what you wish for, right?!   I love comedy and I really love working on a broad comedy.  Mrs. Knight is such a cool and trusting mom and she’s a single mom.  I have an incredible amount of respect for single mothers so it is an honor to play one.

HMB: Did you have any hesitations about becoming a series regular or was it more like a dream come true?

CC: This really is a perfect job for me at this point in my life. It’s great that I am working on a show that shoots 15 minutes from my house and a show that my kids like to watch! However, I am an actor and as much as I love playing Mrs. Knight there are also other roles that I want to experience. I love playing against type. Anything that involves totally losing myself in a character that is a departure from me.

HMB: What process did you go through to get the role on “Big Time Rush?”

CC:  Besides the obvious sexual favors?  Just kidding.  Oddly enough, it happened through normal channels.  I didn’t know anyone involved with the project.  No nepotism.  I just auditioned and got the part.  As an actor, you go on so many auditions.  Sometimes you walk out of the room feeling great and sometimes not so great.  This time is just felt right.  I was completely at ease with the character, even though we have different backgrounds and lifestyles.  I think Mrs Knight and I approach life in much the same way–with a healthy sense of humor to get you through the day.

Challen Cates with Husband Aaron MacPherson, son Colton and daughter Jasper. Photo by by Jennings Paige

HMB: Every actress has to ask herself when the right time is to go from ingenue to more mature roles. Is this the first time you’ve played a mom?

CC: Ha! Moving from ingenue to mature roles wasn’t something that I decided, it was sort of decided for me. But really, aren’t mature role more interesting and multi-faceted!
I’ve been playing a mom for a long time. I’m just better at it now because I have real experience to draw from. And honestly, I think that having children has made me a better person and a much better actor.

HMB: When the show debuted, it was a huge ratings score for Nickelodeon garnering more than 6 million viewers, making it the top premiere in Nick’s history. How rewarding was that for you and the other cast members? Did it put any unexpected pressure on you to continue that kind of ratings success?

CC: We are all very excited that the show came out of the gate with such a bang. The ratings continue to perform incredibly well and we are all very proud of the show. And of course there is pressure to keep the fans in our new season. The creator of the show is Scott Fellows and I think he is sort of the John Hughes of television. He just speaks kid. I guess it helps that he is a father of 4. He really understands kids, their language, their humor. As long as he can continue to tap into that wavelength I think the show will continue to be a success.

Kendall Schmidt and Ciaro Bravo

HMB: What is the biggest challenge of playing mom to Kendall Schmidt and Ciara Bravo?

CC: Um well it is probably that Kendall is so cute and funny it’s hard not to break down and laugh in the middle of a scene. And that Ciara is so darn cute I just want to scoop her up and squeeze her! She is also so sweet and innocent that I feel a natural maternal instinct to protect her. My own kids are only 2 and 5 so I am learning a lot about teenagers!

HMB: Your character is hilarious. I read a description online that Katie (Ciaro Bravo) is “always shown to have more tricks up her sleeve than her mother, who is portrayed as being very naive with regard to Hollywood machinations.” What’s your take on your character? Do you think she’s really that naive?

CC:  Scott and I discussed this and we agreed that Katie gets her antics from her mother but Mrs. Knight just can’t see that.  I mean seriously, this is the mother who attacked another mother at an audition, dressed up in a chef’s uniform to get an autograph for her daughter, knocked the maintenance man out with a frying pan, and pretended to be a hotel manager so that her kids could stay in Los Angeles.  I love it and I can’t wait to do more shenanigans.  Mrs. Knight does come from a more innocent place and perhaps she wants to hang on to some of that naivety because she wants her kids to be happy, and like every mother, hopes that they won’t grow up too fast.

HMB: Admittedly, this is me being an armchair writer/director but I would love to see Mrs. Knight have a larger role and more of a good cop/bad cop relationship with Gustavo Rocque (Stephen Kramer Glickman) who plays the boys manager, sort of reminiscent of the relationship Mrs. Partridge (Shirley Jones)  had with Reuben Kincaid (Dave Madden) in “The Partridge Family.” It would be a kick to see more of Katie and Gustavo play off each other too. Any chance of this happening?

CC: Will you please call the show and pitch your ideas?! It would be great to go toe to toe with Gustavo. I don’t think he has a clue how fierce a mother can be when protecting her cubs. Right?! Katie is great with him and of course it’s hilarious because she is such a little peanut. I think that in the future there will definitely be more interaction between family and business. Watch out Mr. Rocque. And Griffin too!

HMB: Speaking of Shirley Jones, how does it feel to tackle the iconic role of “Mom of the Band?” How would you like to see your character develop?

CC: I love it!  I just wish I could sing like Shirley Jones.  I would like to see Mrs. Knight take a bigger interest in Kendall’s (and the guys) future as a musician and singer and in Katie’s future as an entrepreneur.   I would also like to see Mrs. Knight be more involved in Kendall’s personal relationships as well.  Heck, I’d like to see Mrs. Knight have a first name!

Photo by Jennings Paige

HMB: I love the fact that your family and the other boys are all transplants and end up living in a hip version of the Oakwood Apartments.  Have you or any of the cast members ever stayed in the Oakwoods during your own acting careers?

CC: I almost moved into the Oakwood when I first moved to LA but at the last minute I stumbled onto a beautiful apartment on Crescent Heights in West Hollywood. The drawback was I shared the apartment and bathroom with two testonterone laden young guys. And apparently it’s come full circle!

HMB: How has life changed for you since Big Time Rush? Do kids recognize you wherever you go?

CC: Yeah I get recognized when I’m with my kids on the playground and at Colton’s preschool. Some of his friends are huge fans of the show which totally ups my cool factor. It’s hilarious. I love kids who are fans of the show. I especially love it when they know more about the show than I do. They can recite my dialogue, sing the songs, and correct me on the minute details of the show.

HMB: And an obvious questions, are the boys swarmed with fans?

CC: Oh gosh, yes they are all swarmed with fans and are getting an enormous amount of attention which all seems to be evenly distributed. Kids (and adults) love to tell me who their favorite guy is and I have to say it is very even. It was obviously great casting because there is a btr boy for everyone. The guys are all amazing and they are handling fame beautifully. They are all very close with their real parents which I think really helps keep them grounded.

HMB: You’re a mother and wife in real life also. How do you balance that with your shooting schedule?

CC: I am a mom in real life to my son Colton who is 5 and my daughter Jasper who is 2. My schedule on the show varies so we take it one week at a time. Every night Aaron (Challen’s husband) and I discuss our plans for the next day so that we can make sure that everyone is covered. It can get pretty tricky since both of us are actors and Aaron is also an acting coach (www.aaronmcphersonstudio.com). My kids have a wonderful nanny who helps us when Aaron or I can’t be there. Even when I’m not working on the show I am still running around this crazy city going to auditions and working on other projects. Sometimes I take the kids with me to auditions, especially commercial and voice over auditions. We just make it work out and we try our best to make it a fun adventure.

HMB: What do your kids think of their mom starring on Big Time Rush?

CC: Colton and Jasper just think it is completely normal. Colton says things like, “How was work today mom? Are you going to see Kendall today?” They love to come and visit me on set. They love the cast and crew and the awesome sets. They are also big fans of the show and the music. I love that it is actually a show they can watch. Nothing horrible happens to me on Big Time Rush. Thank goodness!

Challen Cates with Husband Aaron, son Colton and daughter Jasper. Photo by by Jennings Paige

HMB: Do you think either of your kids have the acting gene? How would you handle it if they asked to become child actors?

CC: I don’t know. It’s too soon to really know. At this point Colton seems like a director and Jasper is my little comedienne.  It is just such a hard profession. It is hard emotionally. The rejection is brutal and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. However, if they decide they want to be actors, we will do everything we can to support their decision and give them the encouragement and help they need.

HMB: What other projects are you involved with or have slated for the near future?

CC: I did a feature called Foosteps which should be coming out soon. I play a mom in that as well but it’s a chilling thriller and definitely not something my kids can watch. I am actively reading scripts because I would love to produce another feature but it really comes down to finding the right material.

Challen also works closely with the charity Darkness 2 Light, the world’s leading non-profit working to prevent child sexual abuse.

CC: I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and so it is a cause that is very close to my heart. One is 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused. We need to increase awareness and educate adults and children in how to prevent childhood sexual abuse.

ABOUT the Darkness to Light Organization

In 2000, Anne Lee, Darkness to Light’s President/CEO, developed and implemented a strategy for a non-profit primary prevention program with the mission of reducing the incidence of child sexual abuse through public awareness and education. With tremendous community support, over $100,000 was raised and an award-winning Darkness to Light media campaign was developed and launched in June of 2001. Darkness to Light’s public awareness campaign seeks to raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse. Their ads are a “call to action” encouraging adults to call or go online for free materials that educate adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Darkness to Light is also actively educating adults through its newest initiative, Stewards of Children, a sexual abuse prevention training program that provides frontline training for organizations and corporations that serve children and youth.

Love these Pictures? Photographer Jennings Paige can be reached at jenningspaige@yahoo.com

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R&B superstar Ashanti’s mother Tina Douglas recently told FOXNews.com that there is a reason for the momager and popager trend, “This is a tough business. It is dog-eat-dog and very competitive, but when you surround yourself with people who love you and support you, then you can’t lose.”

So whose parents are on payroll even after they’ve become legal adults?
Ashanti and her momager, Tina Douglas.

Jessica Simpson, 27, employs her father Joe as her manager, her best friend CaCee Cobb as her assistant and childhood pal Mike Alexander as her personal trainer.

Papa Joe Simpson also manages his daughter, pop-star and actress, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz.

Beyonce’s mom served as stylist for her daughter’s R&B group Destiny’s Child and her dad managed the trio.

Usher’s mother also serves as his manager.

While having family members on your team may be a great option for some young performers, it becomes a bumpy road for others.

• For instance, what happens when the child becomes the primary or sole bread winner for the parents?

Or perhaps the bread winner for an entire family as was the case with Macaulay Culkin? Christopher “Kit” Culkin, father and ex-manager of former child super star Macaulay Culkin, notoriously lived off the “Home Alone” actor’s assets and that was the least of his reported offenses. Kit Culkin also had a reputation for signing Macaulay up for movies without his son’s permission, being notoriously difficult to work with and allegedly verbally and physically intimidating his then young son.

In 2000, country singer LeAnn Rimes sued her own father, Wilbur Rimes, and his co-manager, Lyle Walker, for embezzling at least $7 million from her empire. Though Rimes and her father are no longer estranged and the case was settled out of court, one might wonder if a child could ever recover from such betrayal.

Dr. Pamela Hain-Koenigsburg, a psychologist in Baltimore, MD also told Fox News, “A parent, you would hope, would be protective of their child and her assets and say, ‘This money should last you a lifetime. I just want you to be successful and have a good life with it,’” said Dr. Pamela Hain-Koenigsburg, a psychologist from Baltimore.

Another danger in playing manager is that parents end up hyper-sexualizing their own children, which is the most obvious conflict of parental interest.

Joe Simpson, a former church minister, has come under fire for vamping up his daughters Jessica and Ashlee.

Teri Shields, the former momager of Brooke Shields, famously marketed her gorgeous daughter as Brooke Shields and Co. and was criticized for encouraging her then-underage daughter to play a child prostitute and appear in sexually implicit ads for Calvin Klein Jeans as a teen and for nude photos at 10 years old that were commissioned by Teri herself as “promotional tools.”  Thankfully there is no way those images would ever be produced in today’s protective social climate.

“I used to look at Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson and wonder ‘How do you let your child dress like that?’” Hain-Koenigsburg told Fox News. “As the parent of a girl, I wonder how you could sex a child up like that and throw her out to the world.”  Fox News reports that Hain-Koenigsburg has been particularly troubled by the recent case of Lindsay Lohan, whose oft-imprisoned father demanded that ex-wife Dina split the earnings she’s made by managing their various children.  “Her [Lindsay's] situation is so terrible,” she said, adding that she thinks Lohan would have been better off if her parents just remained parents. “When that kind of situation happens, who do you go to and who do you trust?”

That being said, the majority of parents do not equate the duties of being a child performers manager with financial or sexual exploitation, and make concerted efforts that this is not the case. “Celebrities are vulnerable, so it makes sense that they would yearn to have someone close to them there at all times,” said Bonnie Low-Kramen who acts as personal assistant to actress Olympia Dukakis. “It has to be a very special relationship for it to work.  I know Olympia, and my business relationship is first and foremost, and we have that boundary. [A parent and child] would have to [set] some ground rules, because it’s likened to going into business with someone. It changes the whole relationship.”

And then there’s the sticky issue of payroll…

“The child has to pay the parent a salary — there is something tricky about that,” Low-Kramen tells Fox News. “I think celebrities welcome the ability to separate the business from the personal.”

But Hain-Koenigsburg said that if a parent’s motivation is genuine, employing him or her might be the best thing for a star.  “Nobody will look out for your interests the way a parent would.”  Ashanti’s momager Tina Douglas shares with FOX that other managers ”have approached me in a negative way, saying that I can’t manage Ashanti because I’m her mom and I’m ‘emotional.’ But that emotion is what helped get her to where she is today.”

Source: Fox News, FOXNews.com, Google.com

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RadarOnline reports that Dina Lohan, the momager of tabloid staple and former child star Lindsay Lohan, claims that a  Carvel ice cream shop employee reported her to the police after she used daughter Ali Lohan‘s free ice cream card.  (Carvel states that the card was issued to Lindsay Lohan.) Dina went to a Carvel ice cream store in East Meadow, New York, to pick up a birthday ice cream cake for her son Cody’s 14th birthday party and wanted to use a special Carvel “Black” card which she believed guarantees her and her family “free ice cream for 75 years.”  However, when Dina went to the ice cream store, she didn’t have her own card and instead used her daughter Ali’s card. “I didn’t think it be [sic] a problem,” Dina told RadarOnline.

Dina alleges that the Carvel employee grabbed her arm, took her Black Card and “held it hostage.” She further claims that the employee called the police who then sent over a police helicopter.

If this is true, about the police helicopter, all I can say is that people in Long Island take their ice cream very seriously. Very. Seriously. Or maybe they just hate the Lohan family.

The employee eventually returned the card, but refused to give Dina Lohan a free cake. Dina states that “it just shows how we get treated so much worse than regular people.” She says, “Just wait until Lindsay and Ali hear about this [...] when Ali gets back, I’m going to bring her in everyday to this store–and you can print that!”

CARVEL’S VERSION OF EVENTS:

In their own statement to the press today, Carvel Ice Cream said the following:

“As part of Carvel’s 75^th Anniversary celebration last year, we issued 75 Black Cards to celebrities.  These cards were issued in the celebrity’s name and require the card holder to be present at the time of use. Many celebrities have enjoyed their cards at our Carvel Ice Cream shoppes and have shared their excitement with being included in the celebration.”

(Editor: Please note that the following verbiage is clearly printed on the Black Card in question:)

Carvel's Chocolate Mascot, Fudgie the Whale

“Unfortunately, the Lohan family has been abusing the card.   While the card was issued in Lindsay’s name only, her extended family has repeatedly used the card without her present.   At first, we graciously honored their requests while explaining that the Black Card was not a carte blanc for unlimited Carvel Ice Cream for the extended Lohan family and friends.  After more than six months of numerous and large orders for ice cream, we finally had to cut off the card and take it back.  Dina Lohan reacted badly and called the police to have her card returned.  The police responded and did return the card to Dina with instructions not to use it again. This is an unfortunate situation where certain people feel entitled to use a celebrity’s name for their own purposes.  We regret that the Lohan family is upset and hope this matter is put behind us quickly.”

Rest assured, it will only be a matter of minutes before we spy “Team Carvel” and “Team Lohan” t-shirts adorning teens at the local mall, although my money is on the former boasting better sales.  Let’s just hope we can forgo the obligatory rubber bracelets emblazoned with “What Would Tom Carvel Do?” or worse yet, “What Would Fudgie Do?”

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Celebrity parents gathered in Beverly Hills this past weekend in support of their friend and fellow celebrity parent, Kathy Ireland who hosted a Mother’s Day reception at Geary’s, a leading retailer of fine luxury gifts, in honor of the launch of her new jewelry line produced by Elan Luxury Collections.  The collection includes diamond-studded hoops designed to hang straight without an uncomfortable swing effect, artful crucifixes [pictured on Kathy below], dinner rings and a variety of bangles and bridal items which provides Ireland’s customer with high quality items at a variety of price levels, which begin under $200 but expand to several thousand.

Among Ireland’s guests were the original real life and television momager, Shirley Jones, her husband Marty Ingels, Ed Begley Jr. with wife Rachelle, and Tony Dovolani of “Dancing with the Stars.” HMB Contributor Diana Marcketta had the opportunity to glean parenting tips from each of them, beginning with Shirley Jones who raised a pack of devilish Cassidy boys in the city of Angels.  When it comes to parenting in the fast-moving world of Hollywood there are no easy answers, say several of entertainment’s leading moms and dads, but some solid, hard rules can be helpful.

The original Hollywood Mom, Shirley Jones (left), attends Kathy Ireland's celebrity-studded Mother's Day Event at upscale gift shop, Geary's of Beverly Hills. Photo: Diana Marcketta for HMB

Shirley Jones, the “television” mother of the 1970′s sitcom “The Partridge Family” and the real-life mom of three sons (former “Hardy Boys” teen idol Shaun Cassidy and brothers Ryan and Patrick) and one stepson (David Cassidy, former teen star of “The Patridge Family”), was in attendance with husband, comedian Marty Ingels.

Having grown up in a community of 800  in rural Pennsylvania, Jones, whose own decades-long acting career began on Broadway and then led directly to the silver screen in “South Pacific” and “Oklahoma,” says she worked diligently to instill the same kind of small-town values in her children. In fact, she took the role on “The Partridge Family” so she could be home with her children.   The father of Jones’ children was the late Jack Cassidy – an highly-renowned actor who died in 1976.   She divorced Cassidy in 1974, two years prior to his death, and later married Marty Ingels [pictured above].

Jones recalls that the family originally moved to Beverly Hills because, at the time, the school district was one of the best in the country.   What she didn’t anticipate was the peer pressure her sons would experience living in such an upscale community. Shirley immediately felt challenged by the material demands and expectations of her sons.  “They would say, ‘That kid has a Rolls-Royce. Why can’t I have a Rolls-Royce?’” says Jones, “I said ‘You can have a car, but you have to pay half [and] I’ll pay half’,” said Jones.  “Then I would tell them to go down to [local grocery stores] Von’s or Ralph’s and get a job boxing groceries. At least, they could do that to earn some money.”

With a houseful of boys – stepson David Cassidy, sons Shaun Cassidy, Patrick Cassidy and Ryan Cassidy – Jones endured her share of teen-age antics.  “I had a list of rules for each of them written on yellow legal paper stuck to the refrigerator,” says Jones. “So that any time I was out-of-town, or working late, there was no doubt what the rules were.  No girls spending the night,” says Jones of some of yellow, legal pad, written rules. “No screwing girls in the car parked in the garage.”  And despite Jones’ pleas, each of them followed the family tradition, pursuing careers in show business.

“I begged Shaun not to go into show business. I pleaded with him to go to college,” says Jones of her oldest son. “But [into show business] he went, right after his brother David.”  Ryan and Patrick are also involved in the entertainment industry. In fact, Jones was so vigilant in her pleas for her oldest to get a regular job, Shawn reminded her of it immediately following his very first performance at Madison Square Garden.  While Jones waited with several family members in an alley way for her son following the performance, she recounts, “He pulled up next to me [in his limousine], rolled down the window, and said, ‘Now do you think I should be boxing groceries?’” says Jones. “[Then] he rolled up the window, and drove away.”  Jones says the best advice she could give any parent is to be vigilant about knowing what’s going on in their children’s lives.  “You have to stay on top of them,” says Jones.

Ed Begley & wife, Rachelle Carson at Kathy Ireland's Mothers Day Celebration at Geary's Beverly Hills. Photo: Diana Marcketta for HMB

TV actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr. and his wife Rachelle Carson, who star in Discovery’s Planet Green series, “Living with Ed,” share similar parenting views with Jones.  “We try to spend as much time as possible together as a family,” Begley says of life with their 10-year-old daughter, Hayden Carson. “You can’t let life get in the way of being with your children. There’s always social networking. There’s always that email to send out. You know how it goes, ‘Just a minute, let me send this out,’ and then 10 minutes later, you’re still at the computer. You simply have to walk away and be really there with your child.”

Begley says he makes sure his schedule gives him lots of time at home with his family.  “When I’m there, I’m really there with her,” Begley says of parenting Hayden. Begley and his wife monitor their daughter’s behavior, as well as her friends’ behavior.  “You want to make sure your kid is hanging out with the right crowd,” says Begley.

Being active with your child is also an important part of being a parent today, says Begley. The distraction of television, the Internet and in some cases cell phones, makes children sedentary, says Begley.  “Participate with them,” he suggests. “I’ll go riding bikes with [Hayden] or go swimming, or maybe it’s not a sport I’m into, but she’s into it.  Just as long as they’re staying active and you’re staying active with them. I think that’s important.”  Begley says because of he and his wife’s environmentalism, his daughter has also had the added benefit of experiencing a garden and understanding where food comes from.

“She’s not afraid of worms. She’s never afraid of worms in the garden, “ says Begley, who taught his daughter Hayden about worm’s role in the supplying needed nitrogen for the garden soil’s benefit. “She knows that food doesn’t come on the Safeway bus nor grown on the Von’s tree.”

Tony Dovolani at Kathy Ireland's Geary's Mother's DAy Event Photo: Diana Marcketta for HMB

Tony Dovolani of Dancing with The Stars and father of three says life moves in the fast lane in Hollywood, not just for adults but for kids as well.  “There is a lot of peer pressure to having everything now,” says Dovolani, who lives in Connecticut with his wife and children when not shooting ABC’s hit dance show. “I don’t understand why they don’t want to experience life. Life is a wonderful experience. Experience life as it comes. It doesn’t all have to be now.”

He’s often shocked by teenage girls’ desire to have breast augmentations and lip-pumping injections, and to seek public attention.  “Everyone seems to be publicity hungry even if they’re no one,” he says. “It used to be that fame and notoriety came because it was talent-based. Now people want to be famous for being famous and for blogging about nothing. That influences our children, our teenagers, in a negative way,” he says.

Dovolani sincerely understands the concept of hard work. He came to the U.S. under political asylum when his family fled their home country of Kosovo. “We came here with nothing,” says Dovolani, whose father was formerly CEO of a large computer corporation in Kosovo. “But it was too dangerous for us to stay [in Kosovo]. We would not be alive today had we not come to the U.S., but we left everything behind to do that.”

Dovolani says he and his wife have long established a united front in parenting their children…even before his wife Lina became pregnant with their first child more than four years ago.  “In our house, the parents are the parents,” he says. “The children do not make the decisions. We do. If we have a disagreement about how something is to be done, we don’t share that in front of the children. We discuss it alone. We share each other’s views. Then when we speak to the children, we speak to them as one.”

Tony learned his communication skills from his own family.  “We never fight,” he says of his extended family. “We listen to each other’s views. We may not agree with each other. But instead of getting angry, my father will say, ‘Did you look at it this way?’ and then ask you to consider your opinion from another point of view.”  Dovolani additionally shares that he and his wife rely on the comfort and support of extended family that live nearby in New York.  But the most important relationship, Dovolani feels, in raising children is for parents to be supportive of one another. “It takes a team,” he says.  Dovolani will soon appear on the TV talk show “The Doctors” to share his views about parenting.

Kathy Ireland Photo: Diana Marcketta for HMB

More About Kathy Ireland:

When former supermodel Kathy Ireland, now 47, ended her famous career at 27 or 28, she was anxious to begin her own business.

“I had tried all throughout my modeling career to start my own business, “ says Ireland, who is founder and owner of the brand Kathy Ireland Home and Kathy Ireland Jewelry, both part of the multi-product marketing site KathyIreland.com. “But I kept failing. I tried one business after the other, and it failed.”

“When I ended my [modeling] career, I could dedicate myself to the business,” says Ireland, whose first success in launching the Kathy Ireland brand came in the design of socks for women.  “I was turned down time after time,” says Ireland. “They told me I was too dumb to do this, that this wasn’t the right product, that I didn’t know what I was doing, why did they need me, I heard everything. Then I hit my millionth sale in socks…a simple item that women need. Women bought it. I knew I had something.”

What Ireland found was that it was her connection with women, and her deep understanding of their needs as a working mother and wife herself that helped build her success, she says.

“KathyIreland.com is dedicated to finding solutions for the busy Mom,” says Ireland, who has more than 15,000 products to service her customer. “I listen to her, to my customer. She knows what she wants. She communicates to me what she wants, and I respond.”

Ireland reads through emails she receives daily from mothers like herself, who often manage a career, a family and marriage. She penned a book released in 2009, “Real Solutions for Busy Moms; Your Guide to Success and Sanity,” to provide guidance to a population of women whose daily schedules are often packed full of work, children and maintaining a home.  “It is heroic for a woman to make it into a store,” says Ireland of most mothers’ busy schedules, “I want them to have a wonderful experience when they do.”

Ireland says she began her business career as a child growing up in Santa Barbara with her sister, Mary. The two would gather rocks, paint them and sell them at a price of 5 cents or 10 cents as paperweights or interesting sculpture pieces.  Ireland says her sister made more money by selling her rocks at a higher price, but her own artfully painted rocks were more creatively designed with painted flowers and rainbows. For years, she says, her grandmother kept one of her painted rocks in her purse as a weapon should she be approached by unwanted strangers.  “That taught me a lesson in quality,” says Ireland. “That people will hold onto things that are well-designed of a high quality.”

Her own jewelry line, produced by Elan Luxury Collections, includes diamond-studded hoops, ingeniously designed to hang straight without an uncomfortable swing effect, artful crucifixes, dinner rings and a variety of bangles and bridal items  which provides Ireland’s customer with high quality items at a variety of price levels.

“At first, she, my customer, told me she wanted something that doesn’t have any fluff. Sometimes my customer tells me she needs a solution to traveling, and we find a solution for that. But now she’s ready for something more romantic with a little luxury, ” says Ireland. “We designed the jewelry line as a solution for people in love.”

Ireland says her days as an entrepreneur for KathyIreland.com vary.  “Sometimes it’s about design, sometimes it’s about human resources, sometimes it’s about distribution,” says Ireland, who worked to discern her own strengths and weaknesses in building her business. “I have strengths. I know what they are. I have my weaknesses too. They are many. So I built a business family to support the areas I was weak in and now I feel we have a very strong network. I have a very strong, supportive business family.”

Although Ireland, who gained notoriety for her appearances as the cover swimsuit model for Sports Illustrated is grateful for her modeling career, it’s business that has always been her passion.  “When you have a passion for something, it’s not work,” she says.

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Teen musician and heart throb Justin Bieber touched down in Auckland, NZ last night and was immediately surrounded by 500 crazed fans, which began a mini riot of sorts.

According to Justin’s Bieber’s twitter: “Finally got to New Zealand last night. The airport was crazy. Not happy that someone stole my hat and knocked down my mama. Come on people…” Yes, it’s true, Justin’s mother Pattie Mallette was knocked over by over zealous tweens trying to worship her offspring.

Later joking that he’s the “most dangerous creature” in the country, Justin told his twitter followers that he wants “to sign and take pics and meet my fans but if you are all pushing security won’t let me. Let’s keep it safe and have fun.”

The 16-year old’s mother had this to say about the incident “Thanks for all ur support!! I’m ok thank you!!! On my way to bungy jumping!!! Whoopeeeee ”

One can only assume she’s none the worse for wear if she’s now willing to jump off a cliff tied to a rubber rope.  Or, maybe she’s just had enough of Bieber Mania and this is her attempt to end it all.  All kidding aside, Mallette may qualify for “momager of the year” based on resilancy alone.  And for those of you concerned with the theft portion of this incident, Justin got his hat back too.

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