At the recent Bonds Baby Search held at Doncaster Westfield Shopping Centre in Melbourne, SAHM was lucky enough to get the chance to interview the supremely elegant Antonia Kidman. The epitome of all things “Mum”,  Antonia exudes class as she manages the challenges that living in the public eye presents. Media gare and scrutiny, a very public divorce in 2005 and the demands of her growing family do not seem to faze this award-winning TV show host, producer, author and on-line columnist. She now lives in Singapore with husband Craig and the “tribe”, Sybella, Lucia, Hamish, James, Nicholas and baby Alexander; but visits Australia regularly and managed a minute to answer some of Stay At Home Mum’s hard-hitting questions from our readers.

How Do You Travel With Six Kids?

“I have my systems and processes in place. It can be chaos but I manage the family like directing traffic. It is intense right now and I really feel it, but I know this time will pass. The older children are responsible enough to pack and organise themselves so I really only have to muster the younger ones; but I’ll admit I limit travel with the whole family as much as possible!”

With So Many Kids, Do You Ever Sleep?

“I don’t get a huge amount now, but I do manage to break up some of the feeds. I am quite firm but kind when it comes to sleep patterns, and my husband is very good with the babies. And yes, he does get up at night!”

Do You Miss Australia?

“Less so now. I do miss my family and my house, but I come and visit my folks quite often. I still need my Mum; she is very calm and my Dad is a very hands-on Grandfather”

Do You Get Any Time For Yourself?

“Yes, I like time for me and I love my life. I study, I’m doing a long-distance Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Writing and History and I have just released a second co-authored book, The Simple Things. I don’t get alot of time to myself, but what I do, I make the most of.”

How Do You Deal With Mealtimes?

“I keep meals simple and easy. With 6 kids ranging in age from 14years to 2 months old, you can’t go gourmet every night!”

Antonia co-wrote a book on fussy eaters in 2009, encouraging parents to adopt a healthier approach to food, moving past pickiness and reinforcing to children the importance of food’s role in making kids happier, healthier and stronger.

What Are Your Views on Discipline?

“With my kids, I have to be firm and they have to do what I say or ask. There is no room for them not to do as they are told and I don’t want to ask them again and again. I explain clearly that I don’t want to be the person that yells. It’s not a negative thing, it’s a good thing. I parent very much by example, just how my parents parented, but I’m alot firmer than they were. After all, I have six, they only had two!

Any Final Tricks of the Trade?

“Children like organisation and order. The more you allow them that responsibility and independence, the easier it gets.

Just remind yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed that this time is just a phase. You need to have reasonable expectations that everything won’t be wonderful all the time!”

Check out the Bonds Baby Search 2013 website.

To celebrate the Bonds Baby Search 2013, Bonds are offering a $250 Gift Voucher.  Enter below!  Competition ends Monday 11th March 2013 at midnight and the winner will be notified via email in accordance with Facebook Rules and Regulations.  Good luck everyone!

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