Today, I am excited to bring you an exclusive interview with a celebrity husband and wife on parenthood! Alysia Reiner and David Alan Basche share how becoming parents has changed them. These two stay busy as actors but they parent with the rest of us!
Alysia Reiner and David Alan Basche On Parenting
Alysia Reiner, is an award-winning actress, producer environmental activist and mother (of adorable two-year-old Livia) who has appeared in feature films such as “Sideways,” “The Vicious Kind” and “Arranged.” This summer, Alysia is filming “Backwards,” an indie film, with James Van Der Beek, David Alan Basche (who she also happens to be married to) and a talented cast. When she’s not busy on-set, Alysia is an environmental activist and a champion for green living and positive parenting. She’s been featured on Best for Babes and Celebrity Baby Scoop on breastfeeding and motherhood, among other popular parenting sites. Alysia Reiner is well known for her role of Natalie “Fig” Figueroa in the Netflix comedy drama series Orange Is the New Black.
David Alan Basche is currently acting on “The Exes” on TVLand. David was recently seen kicking down doors all over New York as Terrence Stamp’s assistant in the Matt Damon film “The Adjustment Bureau.” His next movie is “Real Steel,” the Spielberg/Zemeckis film with Hugh Jackman. It is directed by Shawn Levy and due out in November. And yes, that was David giving Carrie and Big advice on having children (or not!) in “Sex And The City 2.” David Alan Basche also played six different characters in the Law & Order franchise!
How has being a parent changed your life?
Alysia- “My capacity for love and my compassion (and lets call a spade a spade, what I really mean is a regular waterworks of tears on a daily basis) has increased beyond measure. I will never forget when my mom told me having a child is like having your heart outside your body. It’s true beyond measure.
I love and am beyond grateful for Liv, David, my friends, family and fans who cheerlead and support me. I am learning how to stay calm in the eye of a storm that is a 2 year old temper tantrum. How to have patience when she asks something 100 times, how to listen and be heard, and whatever I eat she wants to eat so I wanna make sure it is awesome healthy stuff for all of us. And here is a biggie: How not to take my daughter’s feelings personally. This is something I REALLY NEEDED TO LEARN.”
David- “As a new Dad, I’m proud to say I just follow my wife’s lead. So far most of the changes have made me a much better man. I’m learning to be more patient. I’m learning to communicate more clearly. Furthermore, I’m becoming more present and I’m staying healthier (gotta be able to throw Livia in the air repeatedly).”
What is your favorite part about being a parent?
Alysia- “The endless giggles that turn into hiccups and snuggles that turn into naps. So many magic moments that you see in movies or hear about as a kid, and then you actually experience and feel them, and it’s beyond words. And my sense of WONDER & IMAGINATION – Its funny David & I’s production company is 2 wonder full to be limited, 2 people full of wonder basically, but wow my experience of WONDER as we see the world again and hear the WHYs daily has expanded beyond belief.”
David- “I love that I now get to see the world through a new set of eyes, that so many little things I’ve taken for granted for years now – butterflies, fountains, puddles, ice cream – are suddenly exciting again.”
What is the most challenging part of being a parent?
Alysia- “Patience with everything, including myself not being the perfect parent. Seeing and healing parts of yourself you didn’t know about and may not like, breathing, and TIME MANAGEMENT.”
David- “Learning how to manage time in a new way! I have to schedule quality time with Alysia, a night out, dinner and a show, or just a drink at Red Rooster to talk and catch up. Sounds simple, but when you’re juggling parenting and career it gets tricky!”
How do you think being a celebrity parent is different from being a regular every day parent?
Alysia- “As David mentioned, I think the privacy issue is big. And how to juggle when we are both working – especially on separate coasts. When our family is separated it’s rough, and rougher when it’s last minute, which happens with work sometimes. It’s a strange life not knowing where you will be next week – a job can take you anywhere at anytime! But we Skype a ton, make videos and songs for each other, try to keep lots of routine no matter where we are so Liv feels super safe and secure, and with all that love, anything is possible.”
David- “Certainly we’ve had to be aware of not wanting too many images of Livia in the press. We try to maintain HER privacy even if we’ve signed off on giving up some of OURS. And right now we’re dealing with both parents working but each on separate coasts. Plus, movies and TV work can be all-consuming. We have to remember not to get caught up in what I call “the Hollywood Bulls#@t” and just come home and make Liv giggle!”
Thanks Alysia Reiner and David Alan Basche for sharing their parenting joys and challenges with us! I always think it is so interesting to learn how becoming a parent changes people’s lives.
Related Posts:
From Tots To Teens, Growing Up Is A Journey For Children And Parents