The Rules of a Supermodel: This Is Why Heidi Klum’s Unique Parenting Style Has Left Her in Seal’s Bad Books

From 2005 until 2012, Heidi Klum and Seal were the ultimate power couple. Many thought that the German supermodel and the British singer were an unlikely pair when they first got together, but they soon won fans over with their deep and intense love – and their family. Seal adopted Heidi’s daughter from a previous relationship, and together they welcomed three children over the course of their marriage.

Today, Heidi and Seal try to co-parent Leni (18), Henry (17), Johan (15), and Lou (13) together. And while they try to keep things respectful between them for the sake of their kids, there’s no doubt about the fact that they have faced their struggles over the years. After all, they have totally different parenting styles. And it seems as though some of Heidi’s household rules and actions don’t fly where Seal is concerned.

Heidi Let Their Daughters Wear Heels When They Were As Young as Four Years Old

While it’s not uncommon for children to play dress-up, Heidi Klum found herself in hot water in 2014 when it seemed as though these dress-up shenanigans made their way out of her house. She was spotted staggering into a restaurant with her daughters Leni and Lou, who were 10 and four at the time. And the little girls were both wearing high heels.

This wasn’t the last time her daughters were spotted wearing high heels, and critics were quick to call out the mom for being irresponsible. However, Heidi snapped back at critics in an interview with Elle: “If we go to a restaurant, they like to get dressed up. It’s fun for them. So what if they hobble on their little heels for 20 steps from the car to the restaurant? As long as they’re good kids and they get good grades, they can wear what they want.”

The Supermodel Called Her Sons “Sexy” in a Controversial Magazine Interview

While there’s no doubt about the fact that most parents believe that their kids are the best things since sliced bread, many fans of Heidi Klum found it hard to defend the model when she started talking about her sons in an interview with People. Fans were eager to learn more about her secretive teenage sons, but couldn’t believe it when she called them “sexy.”

Even Heidi herself knew that her comments were strange. She stated that “My boys are very sexy. They’re very young and I probably shouldn’t say that, that they’re sexy.” She also noted that she believes her sons will be “fending off the ladies” as the years go by, but fans couldn’t get past the “creepy” fact that she called her teenage sons sexy.

This Mom Had Strict Rules When It Came to Her Daughter’s Modeling Career

Today, 18-year-old Leni Klum is making her own waves in the modeling world, while still following in the wake of her supermodel mom. And while fans have been blown away by her beauty for many years, it seems as though Heidi had very strict rules when it came to Leni. The youngster confessed to Extra that “Ever since 11 or 12 years old I’ve been begging her and then finally I turned 16 and she said that I could finally start modeling.”

It seems as though if Leni had her way then she would have started modeling much earlier, but Heidi didn’t want her daughter being exposed to such an industry too early. Heidi explained herself that “I always thought she was too young. We always decided to keep the children out of the public eye. But she’s driving a car now, she’s 16, so I figured if you can do that, you can also model now if this is what you wish to do.”

Heidi Calls Her Children Every Two Hours To Check on Them, But Seal is More Chilled

Seal is rarely seen in public with his children, and you won’t ever spot photos of them on social media. Because of this, fans have come to the conclusion that he’s an extremely relaxed and laid-back parent… until his ex-wife. While talking to James Corden on The Late Late Show, Heidi Klum confessed to calling her kids every two hours to check on them.

On the talk show, she talked about her daughter Leni moving to New York to start college: “She just moved in, and I call her. Normally she picks up, but then three, four hours I don’t hear anything. And already, my head is going ‘Where is she? What is she doing? Why is she not answering?'” She also joked that “I want the number of the roommate, so I can bug the roommate if she doesn’t pick up.”

Heidi Has Been Accused of Posting Inappropriate Photos of Her Children Online

Everyone has the right to post whatever they want on their social media accounts, but many people believe that celebrities should be mindful of what they’re posting. It’s easy for things online to be taken the wrong way, and it’s easy for their photos to be taken and used for illicit purposes. In fact, Heidi Klum has been accused of posting inappropriate photos of her children online – especially this photo of a young Leni.

In 2020, Heidi celebrated her daughter’s 16th birthday by posting this throwback photo… but it didn’t go down well in the comments section. Many believe the photo to be too revealing of such a young girl, and they believe that such photos should remain private, rather than placed in the public sphere. Comments from fans ranged from “sick” to “creepy picture. Hollyweirdos.”

The Supermodel Is Happy To Have Lingerie Photoshoots With Her Kids

As a model herself, Heidi Klum is obviously extremely proud of her 18-year-old daughter Leni for following in her footsteps. However, a mother-daughter campaign featuring Heidi and Leni in October 2022 didn’t sit well with fans. That’s because this wasn’t any normal photoshoot. It was a lingerie photoshoot for the Italian brand Intimissimi, where both mom and daughter posed in skimpy lingerie and heels.

The photoshoot was instantly hit with criticism, so much so that Heidi turned off the commenting section on her Instagram post about the campaign. Critics were still able to comment on the brand’s own Instagram post, though, with them writing things like “Sexualizing your daughter the moment they turn legal is weird,” and “I like to think I’m progressive in these things but mom and daughter in lingerie in the same video shoot is just a bit ick.”

Heidi Filed an Emergency Motion To Take Their Kids Away From Seal

During their divorce proceedings, Heidi and Seal remained relatively amicable. This allowed them to agree on having joint custody of their children – but then the pandemic threw a spanner in the works in 2020. During this time, Heidi needed to travel to Germany to film season 16 of Germany’s Next Top Model, but Seal did not immediately agree for Heidi to take the kids with her because of the rising Covid-19 cases.

As a result, Heidi was forced to file an emergency motion that would allow her to take her children across the world with her during her contractual obligations. A week after this motion was filed, the former couple reached an agreement that meant Heidi could take them. However, their were conditions in place, and Heidi had to agree to give Seal extended time with their children upon their return.

Despite Protestations, Heidi Continues To Post Revealing Pictures of Herself Online

As one of the most famous models in the world, there’s no doubt about the fact that Heidi Klum is used to having her pictures posted everywhere. She’s also extremely active on social media, regularly posting updates on her day alongside many, many selfies. However, her posts have become so revealing that even her kids have had to step in and ask… “really?”

Heidi has spoken out about her kids embarrassment over her social media profile, stating that they often “nudge” her about her revealing posts. Nevertheless, she’s confessed that “I’m definitely more open with my body and I’m an outgoing person. I am from Germany and, you know, I don’t always tend to wear the most clothes, so sometimes they will give me a nudge and be like, ‘Mom, really?’ But I’m like, ‘ Yeah, really. This is who I am. I do me, you do you!”

Heidi Lets Their Kids Stay Up Way Past 11pm Every Day During the Week

All of Heidi and Seal’s kids are now in their teenage years and are all still in education – whether that’s high school or college. But she caused a stir in 2020 when she revealed that all of her children stay up until way past 11 pm every day during the week, despite the fact that many critics believe that’s way too late for kids to stay up. However, Heidi had a good reason for the late nights.

During this time, the family was actually living temporarily in Germany while Heidi filmed Germany’s Next Top Model. But in order for the kids to keep up with their schoolwork, they had to stay on their Los Angeles schools’ time zones. Heidi confessed that “it’s definitely hard for them because they are doing school in a different time zone. Again — thank you so much to the teachers, the schools around the world.”

The Model Caused Outrage When She Broke Lockdown Rules To Fix Her Hair

During the height of the pandemic, parents around the world were forced to listen to the rules and stay inside as per their government’s request. And while this was also supposed to be the case for Heidi Klum in the United States, the model angered fans when she posted about breaking the rules on social media. And it was all because she wanted to get her roots touched up.

To make matters worse, Heidi seemed to be making fun of the rules as she posed in fishnet stockings and stilettos, while her hairstylist “protected” herself with an umbrella. She wrote on Instagram that “Dahhling we found a way!😷😷 Social distancing highlights.” But fans weren’t quite as impressed, with many writing back with a simple, “Is this a joke?”

Heidi Only Has Two Rules in Her House, and She Expects Their Kids To Follow Them

While some parents are real sticklers for rules in their house, it seems as though Heidi Klum only has two rules that her kids have to obey. However, some moms and dads have hit back against the supermodel, as they don’t believe these rules to be sufficient. After all, “Rule No. 1 is always to look cool” and “Rule No. 2 is don’t forget about rule No. 1.”

Apparently, Heidi’s son Henry takes these rules extremely seriously: “Henry changes clothes 10 times a day and he wants to be very cool. I mean, he would wear a T-shirt and then he will wear a tie just around his neck, knotted, and then a belt over the shirt… I’m like, ‘Really? You want to put the belt over your T-shirt and the tie around your neck?’ And he’s like, ‘Yes, mom. I’m cool.’”

Heidi Klum Refuses To Use a Microwave To Heat Up Family’s Meals

When you’re a parent, microwaves can be the savior you never really knew you needed. You can heat up everything from the coffee that went cold to leftover food, and this appliance is often a staple in family homes. However, you won’t ever find a microwave in Heidi Klum’s house. She refuses to use one – especially around her children.

Although Heidi has not explained why she won’t use a microwave, she’s not the only celebrity who has publicly denounced this common household appliance. In fact, more and more celebrity parents like Kourtney Kardashian and Michael Strahan are choosing to avoid using microwaves altogether.

She Makes Their Kids Grow and Harvest the Organic Fruit and Vegetables They Eat

As someone famous for her beauty and her body, it should come as no surprise to learn that Heidi Klum monitors what she eats. And while she explained on The Kardashians that she loves a pizza as much as the next person, when she cooks at home she only uses the freshest and most organic ingredients. And her kids do, too. In fact, they grow and harvest them themselves.

In their old house, Heidi designated an area in her plot to grow a huge garden filled with potatoes, herbs, lettuce, beans, and squash. And while it’s not known whether she has continued this tradition in her new house, she did state that it was “nice for the kids to see what they could actually grow and eat their own things.”

Heidi Rarely Lets Her Kids Eat Candy, or Any Kind of Sweet Treat

Kids seem to love candy and sugar. They’ll do anything for their parents to give them a candy bar or a cookie, but a lot of them also develop this sweet tooth from their parents. And as Heidi Klum doesn’t really eat much sugar, it seems as though her kids also don’t eat much sugar. In fact, they rarely ask for candy.

While Heidi doesn’t have an outright rule that her kids have candy, they don’t have it often because they don’t ask for it often. Klum has explained that, instead, they will have “honey with yogurt and brown sugar on oatmeal, and they can even occasionally have Cocoa Puffs for breakfast. I don’t want to be mean; I want them to have fun, too.

Heidi Prefers Not To Make Plans or Schedules for Their Children

While Seal seems to have set schedules when it comes to seeing his children, Heidi has explained that she doesn’t follow this same strict procedure. While she honors the days and times that her children are seeing their father, Heidi prefers to stay spontaneous when it’s her time to look after their kids.

The model has explained that “I try to create a healthy balance in my life between juggling a thousand things and not having to do anything at all. We have days where every hour can be scheduled. And then we have days where we let the children be the boss of the day. It’s fun when you don’t know where the day will go, and it teaches the kids to be spontaneous. Sometimes you have to plan not to make a plan.”

This Mom Refuses To Share Her Kids’ Faces on Social Media, Unless They Let Her

Heidi and Seal may not agree on certain parenting rules, but it seems as though there is one rule that they wholeheartedly agree on. In an attempt to keep their children’s lives as normal and as private as possible, the former couple does not share their kids’ faces on social media. Seal doesn’t put his kids on Instagram at all, while Heidi makes an effort to hide their faces with face masks or emojis.

In 2017, Heidi told the hosts on Live with Kelly and Ryan that “My oldest daughter [Leni] is 13 and she wants me to post her face and I always say, ‘No, you’re not allowed to.’ Whenever she’s in it, it has to be from the back or [hiding her face.] It’s different when we do it – I feel like we’re grown-ups – but I want to try and keep them children as long as possible.” Now that she’s 18, Leni has her own Instagram account.

She Tries To Force Her Kids To Get Involved in Her Over-the-Top Halloween Antics

Today, Heidi Klum has many strings to her bow. While many people remember her impressive modeling career, there are others who are more impressed with her hosting and talent show competition judging. But Heidi is also known for something else; her love of Halloween. Heidi goes all out for this holiday and often dons prosthetics and visual effects makeup to bring her vision to life.

Since they were babies, Heidi has also tried to force her kids to get involved in her over-the-top celebrations. However, she’s confessed that they “couldn’t care less.” She went on to say that “I was hoping that I would pass this on even to my kids, but out of four, there’s only one that really is going for it and that’s Lou.”

Heidi Reportedly Had an Affair With Their Family Bodyguard

It’s no secret that celebrity parents have the means to spend more money on protecting their children. More and more celebrities are opting to hire bodyguards to keep their kids and their whole family safe, and Heidi Klum is no different. In 2012, rumors began to surface that Heidi was allegedly having an affair with her family’s bodyguard of four years, Martin Kirsten.

When responding to the allegations, Heidi stated that Martin had “been with our family for the last four years. He’s cared for our four children and helped us tremendously. I trust him with my children’s life.” Rumors of this affair weren’t helped when Heidi and Martin started a relationship after her marriage to Seal came to an end.

The Talent Show Host Has Been Accused of Fat Shaming in the Past

In today’s society, parents are being encouraged to teach children that everyone is equal no matter their race, gender, size, or even their age. That’s why fans of Heidi Klum were upset in 2020 when she was accused of fat shaming on international television. Yes, her reaction to a dancer on America’s Got Talent had many questioning how she was raising her own kids.

During the 15th season, 19-year-old Amanda LaCount wanted to break the stereotype of “skinny” dancers and showcase a plus-size body on the show. While she wowed almost all of the judges, Heidi pressed her buzzer – leading social media to criticize the mom for fat-shaming. One viewer wrote to Heidi on Twitter, writing “Wow. Fat-shaming a young girl on #agt. You are old enough to know better!”

Heidi’s Family Rule for Dinner Time Can’t Ever Be Broken

Most parents will know that as children get older, it can be harder to communicate with them. They become distant and engrossed with their phones and game consoles, they spend more time with their friends, and they get overwhelmed by hormones. That’s why Heidi has a very important rule for dinner time in her household… They all have to be 100% present.

Heidi has confessed that her nightly dinners are “important” and that she leaves her phone in her purse to avoid any distractions. “They’re important. It’s about sitting around casually and just talking, whether it’s about school or using it as a time to teach children about social media or the world we’re living in. I try to do my best. But then, every mom does.”

Heidi Raises Their Kids To Be Considerate and Polite, With Impeccable Manners

Although we’re sure Seal has a few problems when it comes to his ex-wife’s parenting methods, it seems as though he has Heidi to thank for having considerate and polite kids. The model has stated that she’s incredibly proud of raising children who have manners and who say “please” and “thank you” without pushing them, but she has confessed that it’s taken a while.

During an interview, the supermodel said that “I’m very happy when I see them just doing it by themselves because it takes a few years. For the longest time, you just sound like a broken record, bt you have to be consistent when teaching kids.” And it seems as though her consistency paid off, because so far there have been nothing but nice things said about her daughter, Leni Klum.

The Model Had To Bribe Her Kids With Money To Eat Healthy Food

Heidi Klum is someone who loves to eat healthily, and that’s not hard to understand. As a model who watches what she eats in order to maintain her figure, it makes sense that she wants to pass this same healthy lifestyle down to her children. But we all know what kids can be like, and it seems as though Heidi and Seal’s kids were originally pretty skeptical about her healthy smoothies.

In fact, the only way she could get her kids to eat this healthy food was to bribe them with money. The model stated that “For the first 2 years when I was making fruit and vegetable smoothies for them, I would line their piggy banks up on the table and pay them each a quarter for finishing. But I haven’t bribed them in years, and now it’s just a part of their lifestyle.”

Heidi Tries To Keep Their Kids Out of Their Co-Parenting Struggles

Divorced couples often struggle to parent their children after their marriage comes to an end, and it seems as though Heidi and Seal are no different. Both of them have been open and honest about their difficulties in co-parenting over the years, but it seems as though Heidi tries to keep their difficulties away from the children. After all, she doesn’t want them to be involved in the drama.

Speaking to Style magazine, Heidi stated that co-parenting with Seal “could be easier sometimes, but everyone is healthy and that’s the most important thing. Everything else can be figured out… Sometimes it’s just talking things out, you know? I never really had that before… Before I always had to make all the decisions, do all the planning for everyone.”