Besides the fact that we are both moms and were born on August 16th, there is very, very little I have in common with Madonna.
At least that’s what I thought before I caught a snippet of an interview the “Material Girl” just did with NBC’s “Rock Center.”
Unlike Madonna I am not an international entertainment superstar, I don’t have arms that look like Rambo’s and I wholeheartedly oppose yoga as a way to add balance to my life.
However, I recently discovered that when it comes to parenting, we have this in common: We would rather be dead than see our children smoke cigarettes.
Okay, maybe, I’m the one who would prefer death to watching my daughter destroy herself with cancer sticks, but Madonna doesn’t seem too far behind.
In the “Rock Center” interview, the iconic singer told Harry Smith that she cringed when she saw a photo of her 15-year-old daughter, Lourdes, sucking on a cigarette.
“(I) wasn’t very happy,” Madonna said.
The single mother of four also admitted that she is somewhat of a pushover when it comes to disciplining her children, especially Lourdes.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’m as tough as I should be. I think I need to be maybe tougher. It’s hard — every day is a negotiation. But cigarette smoking I’m not very fond of — for anyone.”
Of course, that hasn’t stopped the Grammy Award-winner from lighting up in her latest music video.
When Smith pointed out that fact, Madonna fired back with this retort: “I don’t smoke. That’s just an accessory, Harry. There’s a difference. (Lourdes) smoked that cigarette before I did that video!”
The singer turned actress turned children’s book author, who is also mom to sons Rocco, age 12, and David, age 8, as well as 7-year-old daughter Mercy James, claims that despite her fame and fortune, she is just a “normal” parent and her kids are subject to the same nagging as other children.
“I come home and say, ‘Have you done your homework?’ and ‘Why are you wearing that?’ and ‘Why did you say that?’ and ‘What are you eating that for?'”
She also told the world via Harry Smith that being a mom comes with unique challenges.
“To be a single mother of four and to work as much as I do, with my life in a kind of metaphorical fish bowl, it’s pretty challenging. But so far I’ve survived with sanity and humor intact.”
And a whole lot of help from a legion of nannies and other household staff.
I’m still waiting to hear if Madonna punished Lourdes for smoking or how she plans to deter her oldest child from lighting up again.
Though I’m not holding my breath.