'Naked Mom' Brooke Burke on Juggling Career and Blended Family
It's no cake walk being Brooke Burke, the vivacious co-host (and past winner) of 'Dancing With the Stars.' In her new memoir, 'The Naked Mom,' the star gets intimate with the details of her complicated, and hectic, family life. While to outside observers, Burke's life may seem like a picture of bliss, she says it's "not easy" steering a blended family of four kids with fiance David Charvet, while juggling a nonstop TV schedule along with other business ventures.
"People think my life is balanced and perfect and so easy and everybody's so happy," she tells
PopEater. "We are happy because we're a family and we believe in love, but it's hard. It's really hard."
In our full chat, Burke talks about hooking up with Charvet 18 years ago, her humbling flaws and why balance is a myth. She also dishes on her 'Dancing' experience including overcoming a dislike of Derek Hough and her full-throated support of Kate Gosselin and Bristol Palin.
You address the ups and downs of making a blended family work. You even write about friction between David and your oldest daughter, Neriah.
It's tough. I have to tell you the process of writing this book was very scary. I spent a lot of time thinking what do I share, what do I not share, and then I realized how many people are raising a blended family, how many people get a divorce and think life is going to be instantly better and they're never going to have to deal with a lot of these problems. The truth of the matter is when you go through a life change like that, a whole new set of problems come along. Being really able to be uncensored as a celebrity and say, you know, I'm going to share my private life, I'm going to show what it's really like because I think there's a lot to learn from community healing, that's why I
blog.
What's the hardest thing about motherhood (Neriah and Sierra with ex-husband Garth Fisher and Shaya and Rain with 'Baywatch' alum Charvet)?
Not losing your sense of self in the process. You can still have goals and priorities outside of your family. You can still be 100 percent committed to your family. I've accomplished more as a mother than any other time in my life and it's about remembering that you matter. Committing to taking care of yourself and your partner just as well as you take care of your children. I think that's the ultimate challenge, and it's easier said than done, but it's possible.
David is French and adorable. Double jackpot.
He's very passionate. He has an incredible palette. I love that he's well traveled. My commitment this year is to learn French. He has a lot of flavor, and it's very sexy and exciting.
You're 39 now, but you guys had a one night stand when you were 21.
We had an affair in Mexico, and we had an on-again, off-again relationship for quite some time with the exception of my marriage. It was the right guy at the wrong time. It was meant to be, but it took us probably 15 years to figure it out. We were supposed to be together, but we defied the odds to be sure.
Didn't you and David almost split up?
I think we have a pretty amazing special relationship. The reason I shared that was to show there are ups and downs. It's an ongoing challenge and relationships take work. We've known each other since we were 21 years old, and when it's good it's amazing and when it's bad we work through it. It certainly isn't picture perfect.
I will say, you come off as a little scary when you lose your temper. I felt bad for David.
I get that. (Laughs.) He definitely got more than he bargained for. But it's also about getting to know yourself and learning how to deal with those characteristics, too. I think learning about yourself, recognizing your flaws, being open enough and being humble enough to say you know what, this is not a good thing about me, I need to work on that.
One thing is for certain: This book is honest.
Well that was my commitment really, I wanted to do it that way 100 percent so people can really understand and relate and hopefully give themselves a break because we've all been through it.
Why do you say that balance is a myth.
People asked me for a long time to write about that. I used to believe in that, and at this point in my life I'm like, 'It's just bull.' If I strived for that every day, I would be just completely disappointed because raising a blended family is super hard and challenging. Juggling life and career, there are very few days when I get everything done that I need to get done. I'm just kind of making it up as I go along right now; I'm doing the best I can. This whole balance thing, everybody thinks it's this perfect life, I manage it all and it looks so glamorous; it's not the reality of what really goes on. I think balance is way too much to strive for.
You and dance partner Derek Hough did not like each other in the beginning of your winning run during season seven of 'Dancing.'
It's like being thrown into a prearranged marriage with someone you don't know. You're in their arms for three months. Derek and I are very close and obviously we accomplished the impossible, and we worked it out. But there were so many life lessons I learned. I learned so much as a woman challenging myself to do things I never thought I could do, pushing my body and pushing myself mentally and emotionally. Also understanding compassionately what my partner was going through as well. It's an amazing dynamic on 'Dancing with the Stars,' for the pros and the celebrities. The pros go through a lot as well. It was quite a life changing experience.
You wrote of your support for Kate Gosselin.
She was lovely and I really understood her.
Do you get why people don't like her?
I do. I think that people are so poorly perceived in the press.
What do you think of Bristol Palin making the finals?
I think it's easy to challenge any system on a reality show, but America voted for her to be there so she deserved to be there. I think the show is about dancing, but it's also about repeatability. And the truth of the matter is most people who were talking were not voting; they were just watching. But she was getting enough votes to keep her there. That being said I think she deserved it. She improved the most and she was the most challenged because she had no experience whatsoever in the limelight besides her mom.
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In all ways I can think of, she is a horrible disappointment to morality, and motherhood! PERIOD!
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She sounds like a woman with a giant ego, a lot of concern about herself.
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As I understand it, you are supposed to have children with your wife or husband, not your fiance or boyfriend or girlfriend. Look in the Bible.
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Back in the day Brooke sold a lot of posters of her in a swimsuit. If posters could talk...eh, then they wouldn't have sold so well. I have no stones to cast at her, though. Why do the rest of you carry your stones in your hands? Ye who have not sinned get ready to throw!
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I wonder if this woman ever considered juggling marriage. Good grief, some women are so stupid. What happens if this guy decides to walk? She doesn't have a legal leg to stand on.
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Years ago I thought Brooke was the most beautiful woman this world had to offer, and she still is HOT. You guys have no Idea how many times I have masturbated with Brooke as my focal point
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jim...........well ICK - thanks SO much for sharing that nasty little tidbit with all of us!!! EWWWWWWWWW
Doesn't say much about you does it? Pretty sad that a picture is all you have.
Sometimes all you need is a picture, there's also videos on the internet
I can't think of a single reason why someone would want to read this woman's book about herself. I made similar mistakes in my past, but I owned up to them, apologized, and made amends to those I hurt -- especially my "blended family." Her justifications tell me she is no one whose opinions or advice I would ever seek. I hope DWTS hires Samantha Harris back. Otherwise I will stop watching the show.
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To Jules,
That may be true but I actually read somewhere that she was still getting spousal support, possibly this was done in a pre-nup or she has a huge payment for child support which makes up for the lack of spousal support, either way, doesn't it seem unusual for her not to be married after having kids w/ David? (Not that she has to be, but it makes you wonder)
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How long can you be a fiancee? I mean after 2 kids together you either should already be married or ready to admit you will never marry.
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What a hero she is. Two children born without a marriage.
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This bimbo is another reason I will no longer watch the show! She was poor replacement for Samantha Harris. Now I know why she was so rude to Derek in one of the backstage interviews. Then again, rude seems to be what she does best given how she handled an interview with an investigator.
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Brooke Burke and her boyfriend are not setting a very fine example for our young people.
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Sounds like she tried to use one of those language translators and failed miserably, or maybe that's how she really sounds when she speaks.
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Why don't these people get married if they are going to have these kids! They aren't teenagers; they have jobs and money! Sure they love their kids, but that may not be enough. Have they ever thought that as the kids grow older, they don't want to be deemed "illegimate" or "outside marriage kids". It's so selfish! If you are poor or underprivileged and you are definitely not a celebrity, you are called a "name" for having more than one kid and not being married to the father. I think this name applies to Brooke!
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It is so sad that MARRIAGE is NOT one the things she is juggling in her "family". They are teaching their children that marriage isn't even part of the equation. No wonder the young people of this world think there is no such thing as immorality. If it feels good, do it. May God save the USA.
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Seriously, am I supposed to care? So sick of rich TV "personalities" writing a book! They have no clue about real life on a real budget! Try balancing a family and a crappy JOB in the real world. Why would you pop out two more kids and with a "boyfriend" yet! Boo fricken hoo!
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Nice looking family...I guess some things never change with media and images. I noticed that they had 2 kids out of wedlock but he was referred to as an ex-fiance instead of baby daddy...Some things will never change...Good Day...
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