In Hollywood, where long acting careers are as elusive as lasting marriages, Lori Loughlin is an anomaly. Not only does her three-decade career keep getting hotter, but she and her husband, designer Mossimo Giannulli, have been happily married since 1997. How does she do it? With a little help from family dinner every night in her very "full house."
Q: What about your children makes you laugh?
A: It's the small things my kids do that make me laugh. I get a kick out of watching my daughters act silly while playing a game or taking over the kitchen.
Q: What is your favorite family ritual?
A: Growing up, I always sat down with my family for dinner. Now that I have my own children, I make sure that we share dinner together every night. I love to cook, and my kids are old enough to help out in the kitchen—from helping to mixing the ingredients to setting the table. In fact, people can visit Barilla Piccolini's PiccoliniSmiles.com and share their favorite mealtime moments for a chance to win $25,000 toward their child's education.
Q: What was your most frazzled mom moment?
A: I find that whenever I leave the house with my daughters, I always need to take a million different things, and there are times when I get to our destination and realize that I forgot the most important thing. One time, I was the "snack mom" for my daughter's class, and when I got there, I realized I'd left the snack on the kitchen counter at home.
Q: What parenting issue do you and your partner disagree most about?
A: Bedtime. I tend to be more diligent about a set bedtime, but my husband is more easygoing.
Q: What is your parenting role: good cop or bad cop?
A: I can be firm when I need to be and take charge when the occasion calls for it, but I am also flexible.
Q: What do you wish you had done before you had children?
A: Like many people, I wish I had done more traveling. There are many parts of the world I would love to see and hope to visit once my children are grown and independent.
Q: What is a typical Saturday morning in your house like?
A: When my kids don't have Saturday-morning activities, our morning ritual is very laid back. The girls play in their rooms and then come to the kitchen for some delicious homemade pancakes.
Q: What was your mom or dad most right about?
A: Everything.
WHAT'S YOUR...
...guiltiest pleasure?
Shoes.
...ideal getaway?
Bahamas, or anyplace with beautiful beaches and warm weather.
...favorite clothing item?
Shoes.
...current reading material?
I just finished The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
What's your preference:
...chocolate or cheese?
Cheese.
...cook at home or eat takeout?
Definitely cook at home!
...coddle your tot or let him cry it out?
Depends on the situation—I think the circumstance dictates if you coddle or let her cry.
