Jillian Michaels has had a lot of roles in her life, but the one that is the most important to her is most definitely her role as a mom. The television personality and fitness expert might come across as one of the toughest, strongest women in the business, but when it comes to her kids, you can expect to see her melt or go weak in the knees. That’s because no matter how many workouts she does per week or how hard she works out, she always finds parenting to be the most challenging job in her life. It’s without a doubt that a lot of moms would agree with her, right?

With that being said, there are a lot of things that fans simply don’t know about Jillian and the way she parents at home. Believe it or not, she’s nothing like what you see on television or in her workout videos. In fact, she takes a very relaxed approach to her children. And while there are still many things that she’s learning on her end, here are 20 ways that Jillian Michaels raises her kids.

20 She Doesn’t Pretend To Be Perfect

Jillian Michaels might be a perfectionist when it comes to her work, but she doesn’t pretend to be perfect, at least when it comes to her parenting. She knows that there are plenty of ups and downs that come with the role. That’s why she’s very honest with her fans. She shares the good, but she also shares the bad. On her social media accounts, the fitness gal often tells her fans tidbits about her parenting fails, but also loves to share just how much she loves her two children: Lukensia Michaels Rhoades and Phoenix Michaels Rhoades. Being a mom is her most rewarding job to date.

19 Yes, Her Kids Have Screen Time

As much as she likes to stay organized and in control, even Jillian needs a little break from parenting once in a while. She doesn’t hide the fact that she gives her kids screen time, especially when the going gets rough. When asked what kid product she can’t live without, Jillian told Parenting, “The iPad. I'm so gross. I know. My-two-year old has an iPad. But it's so great because she can watch shows on it, read books on it, put her pictures and her music on it, and she learns from the apps we download. It's like ten different toys in one AND it's portable.”

18 She Doesn’t Like To Brag

If there is one thing that Jillian doesn’t understand about parenting, it’s how some people take their ‘bragging rights’ seriously. That’s just one thing that Jillian refuses to do, as she likes to keep things real. Jillian told S. Mommy in an interview, “I see many parents brag about their kids and how exceptional they are at something. How they said their first word at seven months, walked at nine months, potty trained at one year, blah blah blah. Then they get older and it’s “they won this award, they can read by four, they already got their black belt by nine. It never ends.”

17 She Doesn’t Have High Expectations

When it comes to her kids, Jillian doesn’t have high expectations from them. Jillian told S. Mommy, “I look at my kids and they are normal kids. They aren’t exceptional as in, any better than your average kid, at this stage in their lives and I couldn’t care less. I wasn’t exceptional at any point either and I am just fine. My kids hit all the benchmarks at the average time and in some cases they may have been behind in a few, but I know that they will be just fine while unraveling the challenges of life at their own pace.”

16 Her Most Embarrassing Mom Moment

We’ve all had pretty embarrassing moments both in public or in the privacy of our own homes, right? Well, Jillian Michaels is no different. The fitness enthusiast once admitted that she experienced some of the toughest parenting experiences that you can imagine. And yes, this has happened to the majority of parents out there, too. Jillian told Parenting Magazine, “Having my son poop, pee, and puke on me in a 10-minute time period. I know this is par for the motherhood course, but as a new mom I found it a bit [too much].”

15 She Won’t Ever Yell At Her Kids

We’ve said it before and we will say it again: Jillian Michaels is one television personality who sure does love to do a lot of screaming. But that’s all part of her day job, and we get it. But at home, it’s a different story. Jillian has said that she will never, ever yell at her own two kids. It’s just not part of her DNA to raise her voice at little human beings. Instead, she prefers to take a more affirmative approach to parenting. She won’t yell at them but at the same time, she will use a stern voice to make it clear that she means business.

14 Lazy Doesn’t Exist

In Jillian Michael’s world, there is one word that doesn’t exist in her vocabulary: lazy. She’s not lazy when it comes to her health and she’s certainly not a lazy parent, either. She says that some people just use the word as an excuse. She also thinks it’s the root of a much bigger problem in a person’s life. Jillian said (via Brainy Quotes): “Lazy doesn't exist. Lazy is a symptom of something else. The person who can't get up off their butt is just a person who's not happy with their lives. It's usually a pervasive lack of self-worth or a feeling of helplessness.”

13 She Says Parenting ‘Isn’t For Sissies’

Anyone who has followed Jillian Michaels’ story knows that she is one celebrity who is tough as nails. We’ve seen her yell at reality television contestants. We’ve seen her get tough with her workouts. And yes, we’ve even seen her scream at carbs. But when it comes to parenting, Jillian admits that it’s an entirely different ball game. And it’s one that she’s still trying to adjust to. There are even times in which she gets thrown curveballs and has to deal with it. Jillian once said (via Brainy Quotes): “Parenting is not for sissies. You have to sacrifice and grow up.”

12 She Won’t Feed Her Kids McDonald's

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Seeing just how much fitness and health is important to her, Jillian makes sure that her children also maintain and live a healthy lifestyle, too. That means there’s no McDonalds Happy Meals in their future. Sure, everyone is allowed a special meal here and there but Jillian knows that health and happiness begin at home. That’s why she’s committed to making sure that her children have well-balanced meals throughout the day. Now, that doesn’t mean they don’t indulge in a little popcorn during movie nights on the weekends. There’s just a good chance that the popcorn might be on the healthy, organic side!

11 She Doesn’t Like Specific Food Plans

With the above being said, Jillian Michaels is most definitely not a fan of specific meal plans. If there is something that you never want to do, it’s utter the word ‘keto’ in her presence, otherwise, prepare to get an earful. If there is one thing that Jillian will teach her kids, it’s that balance is key to everything, whether it’s the food you eat, the way you take care of your health, and of course, your own happiness. Jillian once told People Magazine, “You don’t eat processed sugar, you don’t eat processed grains, and to make a very long story short: avoid the keto meal plan. Common sense. Balanced meal plans [are] key.”

10 Her Kids Won’t Ever Be Couch Potatoes

When you’ve got someone like Jillian Michaels as a mom, there is no way on this planet that you will ever turn into a couch potato. She would rather eat processed carbs than allow that to happen. Jillian says that working out helps her feel better, and it helps her children feel better, too. Jillian once told Shape Magazine, “Whenever I’ve had a rough day, I like to pour my frustrations into my workouts. Being a strong woman in a man’s world can make one want to knock a few people out, and this has always been the healthy outlet for the release of that aggression. After a workout like that, I feel so Zen and focused and ready to take on the world again from a calmer, cooler, more confident place.”

9 She Doesn’t Want Her Kids Judging Other People

A few years back Jillian made the mistake of saying that women should always put themselves first. The fitness guru feels as though she was wrong by saying that. Jillian wants to turn her wrongs into rights and teach her kids not to judge other people. She also admits that she sees things differently now. Looking back at her comments, Jillian told Parenting Magazine, “As a person who was always on my own for so many years I truly thought I could find a way to have it all. That said, I was a fool. With anything amazing will come sacrifice. And that's ok.”

8 She Doesn’t Focus On Appearances

Jillian might get a lot of attention with the way she looks, but it’s not the most important detail of her life. As a parent, Jillian doesn’t want to focus on appearances. Jillian shared this advice with Parenting Magazine: “The most important thing a parent can do is NOT make an issue of their child’s appearance. Kids interpret this as a form of criticism and often [act out] by eating even more. The best thing to do is lead by example by keeping yourself fit and healthy. Make efforts to get the whole family healthy so it's not about singling [one] little one out.”

7 She’s A Red Carpet Mom

While there are a lot of celebrity moms who prefer to keep their private lives private, Jillian Michaels is not one of them. She knows that being a public figure comes with the territory. That’s why she often brings along her daughter and her son to her red carpet events. Now, Jillian is not trying to push them into the spotlight. Instead, she’s just showing her kids that being a celebrity is part of her day job. It might not be ‘normal’ to the outside world, but Jillian does her best to bring as much normalcy as she can to her children’s lives.

6 She Takes Charity Work Seriously With Her Kids

Jillian might be in the business of helping people reach their desired appearance (and optimal health levels), but she is also in the business of making the world a better place. In fact, the television personality is one celebrity who takes her charity work rather seriously. Jillian works hard to help protect the rights and welfare of children around the world with her numerous global initiatives, especially now that she’s become a mom. Jillian doesn’t just talk the talk, but she also walks the walk, too. She also likes to take her children with her whenever there’s a charity event in or around the Los Angeles area.

5 Her Approach To The Media And Her Kids

Oftentimes many celebrity moms and dads grumble, hiss or show just how displeased they are whenever the paparazzi are following them in and around the Los Angeles area. Jillian Michaels is not one of them. As a matter of fact, she likes to smile and give the photographers a big wave whenever she sees them. This approach makes a lot of sense for both Jillian and her kids. If Lukensia and Phoenix see their mother relaxed and calm, then they too will feel relaxed and calm. The last thing that Jillian wants to do is turn a simple outing into an unwanted media circus.

4 She’s Not Afraid To Show Them Off On Social Media

Jillian appreciates all of the support that her fans have shown her throughout the years. That’s why she likes to interact with them on social media. Jillian isn’t shy when it comes to posting behind-the-scenes photos, especially ones that feature her kids. She’s proud of what she does and she’s also proud of who they are, just like so many other mothers out there. Just because she’s a television personality, Jillian doesn’t believe that’s a reason to act differently than other parents out there. If there’s a cute shot of her and Lukensia and Phoenix on her iPhone, you better believe that she will share it.

3 She Mixes Parenting With Fitness

A day doesn’t go by that Jillian doesn’t stay active. As a matter of fact, she says that she likes to mix parenting with fitness. With that being said, her entire family always stays on the move. Jillian is one person who can definitely attest to the notion that a happy family is a healthy family, and that’s why she’s made it her number one goal. Whether they are playing soccer, going to their gymnastics classes, or simply spending a day at the park, Lukensia and Phoenix live a very active lifestyle – and that’s the way Jillian plans on keeping it.

2 She's Always Wanted To Be A Mom

Jillian Michaels is a celebrity who has found plenty of success in her life. But if there was one element missing, it was being a mom and having a family of her own. No matter how good she felt in the gym or the satisfaction she got in helping people reach their goals, Jillian knew deep inside there was always something missing. Seeing other parents with their children triggered something in her. The mother of two once said (via Brainy Quotes): “Witnessing the bond between a parent and their little ones firsthand really brought home to me how much I was missing.”

1 Her Laidback Approach To Her Home Life

While a lot of people will say that parenting has no rhyme and it certainly has no reason, that’s not the case with Jillian. She likes to keep things in order and well organized at home. This way everyone thrives, including her children. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ‘off days,’ so to speak. She’s not raising robots, mind you. Jillian told Parenting, “We have a rhythm. There are still crazy days, and I wouldn't say it's easy, but I don't wake up feeling completely [like it's too much]. The kids are fun! And it is so amazing to watch them learn, grow and discover things.”

Source: brainyquotes.com, people, parenting