Colombian Pop Star, Shakira, Talks Motherhood & More in New Interview

The Colombian pop singer and mum of two boys, Milan, 2, and Sasha, 9 months, spilled on what kind of mum she is, influence of motherhood on her career, and more in an exclusive interview with Yahoo Parenting.

Read excerpts:

On what kind of mum she is

“I’m sometimes a tiger mom, sometimes a worried mom. And sometimes I’m a guilty mom.”

On the influence of motherhood on her career

“I’ve dialed back on performing. I haven’t made any new music [in the past two years] because I want to be there before [sons Milan and Sasha] go to school. I’m loving this time of my life raising them. I’ve already made so much music, it’s time to take a small break.”

On limiting children’s screen time

“I think there are so many apps out there that teach kids and provide interaction, and that’s good. Some are very instrumental and shouldn’t be prohibited. But there has to be a balance. A child can’t spend all day with his iPad because he’ll miss out on things that help his development: building, reaching, playing, getting messy. These are important to help a child grow.”

On giving back

“I established the Barefoot Foundation when I was 18, and we’ve since built schools, helped eliminate malnutrition, disbanded gangs, brought in fresh water, and paved roads. But it hasn’t been a path of roses. We realized that many of the kids never received early nutritional care, and I stumbled across studies that showed how focusing on early child development improved equality and eliminated violence. That’s why I promote these initiatives now.”