Actress, singer, philanthropist, autism activist, wife and mom, Holly Robinson Peete, puts on a new hat—that of reality star. This spring, the Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper actress, who is married to former NFL quarterback and sports commentator Rodney Peete, is showing us how she juggles those many hats on her OWN network reality show For Peete’s Sake. The show follows the family of six, which include children RJ, Ryan, Robinson and Roman, through the fun but chaotic endeavors of family life. BMWK was able to catch up with Robinson Peete to ask her about her show and her thoughts on parenting.
What will we see on your reality show For Peete’s Sake?
For Peete’s Sake is about how we stay together, how we keep it right, how we connect and really navigating all the other elements of our lives.
How does your family differ from the other reality shows that also claim to tout a family focus?
I think probably how we parent and the connection we have as a family; and how my kids are essentially raised in Hollywood under the spotlight, but they are not very Hollywood kids. They have a different attitude toward life that I think is kind of refreshing. When you see other reality families who have grown up out here, it’s a little bit different. We are a typical American family, and we happen to be of color.
I think the energy about us is a little different and refreshing. I told somebody yesterday that we are sort of like Run’s House meets Blackish. We have the Run’s House kind of family, working things out. And then we are sort of in the neighborhood where not a lot of people look like us. And so we navigate that.
A lot of modern-day parents struggle with social media and the role it plays in their kids lives. As a celebrity, whose children are probably more exposed on the Internet, how do you negotiate that as a parent?
I know all the social media channels, and I follow [my children on whatever their on]. I’m kind of a bit of a helicopter mom with them because I think it is really important to know what they are putting out there.
When we were growing up, I didn’t know anything about a brand or social media exposure. We didn’t have these things because these kids are growing up with this now. And there are different rules to life.
So as a parent, it’s so hard to keep up, but we constantly try to stay on them. But that said, I think they are so socially responsible. Every now and then, I think a cuss word will come through and I’ll be like, “Delete that! uh-uh, you’re not using that word.”
But in the end, they have to be who they are, it’s about their own personal brand. Whether they are on a reality show or not, social media is sort of like every kid’s real time reality project. It is just a different time to be parenting. But I’m very impressed with how they have been able to model their own personal social media. No incidents so far.
Check out Holly Robinson Peete and her family Saturdays on the Own Network. Also check out our 2016 Standard Awards, which honor the Peete’s for their exemplary marriage.
BMWK, how do you parent in a modern world?