The 'easiest and hardest' part of marriage...

Earlier in the week, Nicole Richie sat down with Oprah and opened up about her 3-year marriage to former Good Charlotte rocker, Joel Madden.

The couple began dating in 2006 and became parents to daughter Harlow in January 2008 and son Sparrow in late 2009.

The #CandidlyNicole star revealed that negotiating their role as parents was ‘the easiest and hardest part’ of her marriage to Madden.

“We were partners from day one. And from the second we found out we were going to parents together, we looked at each other and we said, ‘Okay, both of our parents are divorced. We both have had ups and downs with our parents and we don’t really have a strong example of what a healthy family life is,”

“But, we’re recognising that now,” she continued, “So let’s work at it and let’s go through this together as a team.”

nicole-richie-joel-madden-instagram — Image-Instagram (@nicolerichie)

As a mother, Nicole says she tries to be open and compassionate, and regularly talks to other mums to work out “the best way to have a strong relationship with our kids.”

“There’s always room for improvement” the daughter of singer Lionel Richie said on Tuesday.

“My kids operate best when I let them have a voice. I really explain things to them, because really, kids want to be told the truth. They just do. They just want you to be truthful.”

What do you find the easiest/hardest about being a parent?

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.

48 Comments

- - mrsnaomiwalton@gmail.com said
  - 28 May 2015
    8:07 pm
The easiest part of parenting is having fun with my boy and as a family. The hardest part at the moment is functioning well on very little sleep.

- - priyachirag said
  - 30 Jan 2015
    2:51 am
The hardest part of being a parent is letting go and allowing them to be independent.

- - fizgig said
  - 27 Jan 2015
    10:25 pm
The easiest part is teaching them new things, and the Hardest part sometimes is letting them do the things you have taught them for themselves!

- - pakeko said
  - 23 Jan 2015
    8:12 pm
What a stunning woman, so many hard parts

- - mom94125 said
  - 02 Jan 2015
    4:53 pm
yeah i love her hair colour! it is pretty awesome

- - stepmom107932 said
  - 30 Dec 2014
    1:24 pm
Being a step parent is so much harder than being a birth parent but it is also the easier part aswel. You dont have to be pregnant or so dirty diapers and toilet training but you come in to a already formed relationship and dont always know how to fit in or what is expected but then your not expected to know everything or be prepared.

- - mom94125 said
  - 07 Dec 2014
    8:57 pm
nice story. i am so glad to see the rare celebrity couples that actually stay together.

- - mom56842 said
  - 26 Sep 2014
    9:02 am
Thanks for the story, enjoyed it and the key word is ‘partnership’

- - BellaB said
  - 31 Aug 2014
    2:57 pm
It sounds like they’re doing a good job of working together.

- - kazh said
  - 29 Aug 2014
    8:34 pm
Wise words, thanks for the article

- - ginoula5 said
  - 12 Aug 2014
    2:51 pm
I love Nichole, quirky, original and down to earth lady.

- - Happymum-2 said
  - 09 Aug 2014
    4:47 pm
the easiest part was falling in love, the hardest part was letting them go when they grew up
- memo replied
  
  10 Aug 2014 , 11:25 pm
  so true, especially when they first start driving on p plates!
- - mom71845 said
  - 01 Aug 2014
    10:06 am
Good read. THanks for sharing. Being a mum is hard especially with a husband and trying to balance it all.

- - curlytops said
  - 01 Aug 2014
    9:13 am
good on her. Honesty is the best policy.

- - trishoet said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    11:40 pm
Hardest part is agreeing with my partner on how to raise my daughter in some areas and the easiest part was both of us letting her become her own person

- - mom57522 said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    11:31 pm
Finding time to fit it all in.

- - crystalangela said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    9:02 pm
Isn’t she lovely.
Hope they stay together for a long time as they are a cute couple.

- - kjgarner said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    8:31 pm
Its good to be truthful to your kids I think too

- - mom61924 said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    8:13 pm
They are really down to earth parents, great couple too

- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    6:41 pm
I totally agree with Nicole I think with most things the truth is best and explain how things are in life not brush them off
- hopefullyheidi replied
  
  31 Jul 2014 , 9:23 pm
  Yes it better to be honest. Brushing off is so easy but honesty is better in the long run.