The world was first introduced to Kristin Cavallari when she appeared on the reality TV shows Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and The Hills. She was portrayed as a bit of a villain, although that’s not really who she is, and she has since told Parents, "People don't know the real me.” So, who is she?

Cavallari’s life is very different now, compared to when she first gained fame in 2004. She’s married to retired football quarterback Jay Cutler, and together they share three children — and raising them is her first priority (she also won’t be putting on old tapes of her reality TV debut for them any time soon).

Cavallari and Cutler didn’t take the traditional root when they started their family, and their first child was born before they made it down the aisle, but it’s a decision she doesn’t regret. In fact, motherhood has been one of the most beautiful experiences for Cavallari, and she has really come into her own. She’s happy, she doesn’t care about her naysayers, and her entire world has changed since becoming a mama. Below are 20 pictures of Kristin Cavallari, before and after she became a mother, and how her life was altered from that moment on.

20 Kristin Is Raising Her Kids With A Great Man, And They Didn’t Wait For Marriage To Start Their Family

Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler didn’t start their family by following a traditional timeline, meaning, they didn’t wait to get married before having kids (although they are married now). The couple had their first child, a son named Camden Jack, in 2012, and married the following year, in 2013.

Several years later, and two more children added to their brood, the couple still appears to be going strong, and their decision to start a family before their wedding is not something Cavallari regrets. “We weren’t ready to get married then [after their engagement] and so we put everything on hold [and] ended up having the baby before,” she told The Bump. “Everything happens for a reason and it all works out how it’s supposed to.”

19 She Can Regularly Be Seen On Outings With Her Little Ones

Kristin Cavallari is a working mom, but she also appears to make time for her children and has been photographed in public with them multiple times. She takes them on her errands but also spends quality time with her brood. And she’s managed to juggle all of her work-related commitments and motherhood, telling The Bump, “I’m very, very blessed that I’m able to work from home.”

There have been times when she has had to take her kids with her to shoots though, and in the same interview, she recalled a moment when she was breastfeeding her son, Camden, and trying to do a photo shoot for her shoe line.

18 Marriage With Kids Is Hard Work, And Kristin And Jay Go To Therapy

Kristin Cavallari has praised Jay Cutler for being a wonderful father to their children, and they still seem to be happy together as a couple. But relationships take work, and having children changes the dynamics in a relationship and Cavallari is refreshingly honest about how she and her husband attend couple’s therapy.

"I'm not ashamed to say that Jay and I consistently go to therapy because it's been extremely beneficial for our relationship,” she told Parents. “For example, when you're fighting you should never place blame on your partner by saying, 'you do this' or 'you do that.' You should say how those actions make you feel. It goes a long way."

17 She Has Praised Jay For Being A ‘Great Dad’ (And Spoken About How Their Relationship Has Changed)

Being a parent is no easy job (it’s also one that never seems to stop) but raising a child solo is even more challenging, luckily for Kristin Cavallari, she has a loving partner who is willing to pick up the slack. She has praised her husband, Jay Cutler, for being a “great dad,” and shared these thoughts in an interview with FitPregnancy.

Speaking of how becoming parents changed her relationship with Jay, she said, “It's cute to see Jay as such a great dad! We're excited to do this while we're young. Then when the kids go to college, we can travel and do whatever we want.”

16 She’s Made It Clear That Being A Mom Is Her Priority

If you were to take a look at Kristin Cavallari’s résumé, it would show that she is a woman who has tried her hand at many things; she's a reality TV star, designer of accessories and jewelry, and she’s partnered with Chi. Laundry for a footwear range. But of the many things she has done, motherhood is her first priority, and she is careful to make time for her family.

“Maybe when the kids are in school full time and Jay’s done with football it might change, but right now they’re my priority,” she told Bella NYC of having to turn down some work opportunities.

Speaking of family, she has also told FitPregnancy that she can’t stand to be away from home. "I don't want to miss anything," she said, adding that she really dislikes "being away even for a day."

15 Her Life Is So Different From When She Was On MTV (And She Loves It)

Kristin Cavallari may have first gained fame because she appeared on two reality TV shows, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and The Hills, but they didn’t paint her in the best light — Parents notes how she was portrayed as Lauren Conrad’s nemesis. But do people really know who Cavallari is? She thinks not, telling the publication, "People don't know the real me.”

"The hard times I went through are what led me to my life now," she continued. "I was a mess as a teen! I was kind of wild and really unhappy." But she’s happy now, and she’s also developed a thick skin when it comes to her naysayers. “I’m so confident at what I’m doing as a mom that I don’t care,” she told People.

14 She Feels She Has Come A Long Way From The Woman She Was 10 Years Ago

Many people were first introduced to Kristin Cavallari thanks to her appearances on MTV reality TV shows. The first, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, started in 2004, and the spin-off, The Hills, first aired in 2006 (finally ending in 2010). It’s been 15 years since Cavallari first appeared on our TV screens, and a lot has changed since then, something which she admitted to FitPregnancy.

“I love the suburbs. I'm so much happier living out of LA! It's difficult to live a normal life in Los Angeles with the paparazzi,” she said. “As great a job you might do as a parent, your kids can't have a normal life with cameras in their faces.”

13 When It Comes To Raising Kids, She Definitely Doesn’t Have All The Answers

You may think that after becoming a mom for the third time, Kristin Cavallari would feel like a bit of a seasoned pro, but she’s the first to admit that motherhood is complicated and she definitely doesn’t have all the answers.

In an interview with Bella NYC, she confessed as much, telling the publication, “I’d be lying if I said I had it all figured out – I don’t. None of us have all the answers; we’re just trying to live our lives and do the best we can.” But despite not having everything figured out, she values the time she spends with her family and enjoys “talking and connecting” with her children.

12 She’s A Dedicated Mom, Who Understands Each Child Is Different

Perhaps one of the reasons that Kristin Cavallari doesn’t feel as though she’s got all the answers to motherhood is because she realizes that parenting techniques differ, depending on the child. What may work well for one child, can have a completely different result on the other, because no two people (and therefore children) are the same.

Cavallari is a mom to two sons, Camden and Jaxon, and a daughter, Saylor, each with their own unique personalities. "Every child is completely different,” she told Parents. “My two boys are opposites. Camden was such an easy baby. Jaxon is more of our ... wild child, but he's also a mama's boy. Our little girl will have her own personality. I know I can't change who they are. It's important to let kids be themselves and to let them make mistakes. Self-discovery goes a long way."

11 Motherhood Changed Her Life, And She Really Came Into Her Own

In some ways, Kristin Cavallari’s life has changed tremendously, in others, it’s pretty similar to how it used to be (considering she is now a reality TV star again). But one thing we do know about her is that since becoming a mother, she feels complete, as though she is doing exactly what she should be doing with her life.

“I really feel like I’m finally in a place where this is what I’m supposed to be doing, this is what I’m meant for,” she told Today.

“This is where I’m the happiest. I felt like I really came into my own when I became a mom. My entire world changed.”

10 She Understands That Being A Mom Is All About Listening To Your Gut Instinct

There are moments in motherhood where a mom feels as though life couldn’t get any better, but with these high moments, there are also low ones. There are times when parents feel as though they are failing, and second-guess every decision they make, and the advice they receive from others can feel overwhelming. Kristin Cavallari has realized that as a parent, one of the best things to do is trust your instincts.

"You should accept advice. It's helpful to listen to other moms' experiences just for peace of mind. But ultimately no one knows what your baby needs better than you,” she told Parents.

9 Now That She’s A Mom, Making Time For Herself Is Impossible...

Before becoming a parent, you may have enjoyed sleeping late or laying on the sofa in your pajamas all day and binge-watching Netflix, but once there are little ones in the picture, it’s a lot harder to find time to have a sit-down meal, let alone a day to yourself. Kristin Cavallari is all too familiar with this, telling Modeliste Magazine (via People), “I think just trying to make time for yourself is very hard. Especially now that I have three [kids], finding that time can be very difficult.”

Not having time for yourself is challenging, but there is a major upside to being a mom, and that is all the love. “There’s just so much more love in your life. I finally feel like I have a real identity,” Cavallari said of how her life has changed now she’s a mama.

8 ...But She’s Become A Total Pro At Time Management

Moms are sort of like superwoman in their abilities to juggle work commitments and still run their household. But it’s not always possible to do everything, and despite being able to manage her time, Kristin Cavallari has declined job offers.

She has also admitted to Today that she is still searching for a balance. “I’ve become a pro at managing my time. I think that’s the most important thing,” she said. “And now because my family is my priority, I only say yes to things I absolutely love and want to be part of, and that I have time for. I’ve talked about doing a clothing line and to be honest, I don’t have time for it, and so I’ve passed on it…”

7 Being Able To Find A Balance Between Being A Mom And Working Is A Tough Task

Kristin Cavallari’s children are all pretty close in age, and while this is lovely for them to have siblings which double as best friends, it’s also been hard work.

In an interview with Personal Health News, Cavallari admitted she was utterly exhausted in the beginning of her second pregnancy. “The hardest part for me was those first few months when you are exhausted because I had a toddler to look after, so I couldn’t just get in bed and relax like I could with my first one,” she said. She knew she also had to work less so she didn’t have too much on her plate, and admitted, “I think learning to say no is one of the best things you can do for yourself while pregnant. You have to listen to your body and know when you need to take it easy.”

6 She’s A Mom To Three Kids (And No More Are On The Way)

Kristin Cavallari is a mom to three children and she has her hands full! She also has no intention of adding to her family, and in an interview with People, she shared the sweet reason why no more kids are on the way.

“I love having three kids. I especially love having two boys and a girl — we feel like a very complete family,” she said. “We’re good, we’re done.”

And one of the reasons she’s done having children is because she no longer wants to carry around a diaper bag. “All my kids have a little bit of independence, and we’re just in a really good place. I don’t want to go back to the diaper phase and all of that,” she confessed.

5 She Loves Rocking A Baby Bump (And Has Some Tips For Other Mamas Too)

Some women love being pregnant and they embrace everything about it, from the changing body shape to the maternity clothing, and Kristin Cavallari is one of those moms. When it comes to dressing her baby bump, she likes to put it on display, but still, remain comfortable, and her maternity looks have been enviable, which is perhaps why she shared her tips during an interview with Parents.

First, she loves dresses, especially those that tie above the bump, to give her a bit of shape. She added, “If I wear a more form-fitting dress, I might add a blazer or vest.” But her biggest tip is to ditch expensive jewelry and wears fake diamond earrings instead. “No one knows the difference, and if I lose one, I'm not going to be upset," she added.

4  She Really, Really Wanted To Have A Daughter

Kristin Cavallari had her first child, a son named Camden, in 2012, then she and Jay Cutler welcomed their second child, Jaxon in 2014, and although the mom was thrilled to have two boys, she really wanted a girl. And in 2016, with the birth of Saylor, her dreams came true; Cavallari finally got her girl.

“We just feel like such a complete family — I got my girl,” she told People.

She also feels that her sons will benefit from having a sister. "She's going to steal Jay's heart, which will in turn melt mine!” she told Parents, adding, "I'm excited for the boys to grow up with a sister. I think it will help them to better understand and respect women."

3 She’s Candid And Honest About Just How Hard It Is To Be A Parent

Kristin Cavallari’s comments on motherhood make it clear that she has really come into her own since becoming a mama. She loves her family and they are her first priority, no matter what, but that doesn’t mean she finds being a parent easy. In fact, she’s honest about just how hard it can be to raise children.

She told Today she wishes other parents were “a little bit more real” about the challenges of raising children. She continued, “I feel like it gets very competitive instead of just being like ‘Listen, this is what I went through and this sucks.’ It’s hard, and we’re all just doing the best job that we can, and so I wish people were just more open and honest about the struggles we all face as moms.”

2 She’s A Seasoned Mama Now, And Her Advice To Other Moms Is To ‘Just Breathe’

One of the best things about Kristin Cavallari (and why many people like her as a mom) is that she is so candid about motherhood. She is a bit of a pro when it comes to time management, and she always looks effortlessly chic and pulled together, but she has bad days, too, and she wants all moms to remember that ups and downs happen — all you need to do is breathe.

When asked what advice she would give to a new mom, she told Personal Health News it would be: “To just breathe during the hard moments because they are over so quickly and everything always ends up working out...”

1 Despite Initially Being Uninterested In Reality TV, She's Changed Her Mind And Gone Back To Her Roots

We know Kristin Cavallari was a reality TV star, but many people thought she had left that part of her life behind her, and she did, temporarily.

“We get reality show offers all the time, and we're like, no. Family is so sacred, why mess with that?” She admitted in an interview with FitPregnancy. But at some point, she clearly changed her mind and thought it would be a good idea to open her life up to the public again. In 2018, the E! Series, Very Cavallari aired and gave fans a glimpse into her life now as a mom, a wife, and a businesswoman.

Sources: The Bump, FitPregnancy, Bella NYC, Parents, People, Today, People, Personal Health News, E! News.