Sophie Ellis Bextor has opened up about her parenting philosophy, offering a rare glimpse into life as a mother of five.
In a new chat with The Telegraph, the 46-year-old singer explained why she has chosen not to impose rigid rules at home, instead leaning into communication and trust.
“I’m a communicator,” Sophie shared.
“I often ask them, ‘What would you do if you were the parent in this situation?’ We’re big on talking about stuff – we don’t have fixed rules about anything [but they] self-regulate.”
For those unversed, Sophie shares kids, Sonny, 21, Kit, 14, Ray, 11, Jesse, seven, and Mickey, four, with her husband, Richard Jones.
She went on to clarify that while she avoids strict rule-setting, boundaries still play an important role in her household.
“I have boundaries. I want all of us to have a moral compass. Kindness is a big thing. Also freedom,” she explained.
“The world is all about what you dial up and what to dial down – there’s a lot going on for the boys with schools and exams.”
She added that home is meant to be a refuge, and stated, “I want home to be a place where they can feel good, safe and supported by their siblings. So I’m quite firm around the edges of all that because I really value it.”
