Rod Stewart opens up on being 'several different fathers' to 8 kids: 'Treat all of them as individuals'

vt-author-image

By Nika Shakhnazarova

Article saved!Article saved!

Rod Stewart has opened up about what it's like to be the father of eight children.

The 76-year-old says he caters his parenting style to each of his kids as he's learned to adapt his method of parenting to fit each child.

The British rocker shares two sons, Alastair and Aiden, now 15 and 10 respectively, with wife Penny Lancaster, whom he wed in 2007.

Additionally, Stewart has daughter Sarah, 58, whom he and ex-girlfriend Susannah Boffey placed for adoption as teens; son Sean, 41, and daughter Kimberly, 42, with ex-wife Alana Stewart; daughter Ruby, 34, with ex-girlfriend Kelly Emberg; and daughter Renee, 29, and Liam, 27, with ex-wife Rachel Hunter.

 wp-image-1263134807
Credit: Matt Crossick / Alamy

The singer told People: "I have to be several different fathers because of the different age groups of my kids. You really have to treat all of them as individuals with individual problems.

"For instance, my 15-year-old is dating girls, so I had to give him a sex lesson. I just told him what he should and shouldn't do, but he's on top of it. He was like, 'Dad, I've got the internet. I know everything.'"

He went on: "All the [older] kids went through their little bad period of drinking too much and dabbling in drugs - except for Liam; I don't think he ever did - but they all came out on the other side. As a dad, I've learned to listen and not blow my top."

As for the key to his 14-year marriage, Stewart says intimacy has been crucial.

 wp-image-1263134806
Credit: Sipa US / Alamy

"I'm not talking about sex, but a kiss and a cuddle and a hold," he explains. "Penny and I do that every morning. We hug each other - sometimes in bed, sometimes out of bed, all throughout the day. It's a wonderful relationship. Lucky geezer, aren't I? I couldn't ask for anything better," says Stewart.

"What makes me happiest now is seeing all my kids and my wife with big smiles on their faces."

Elsewhere in the interview, the rocker told People that he learned that firsthand when he married his first wife Alana Stewart at age 34 in 1979. Even though he thought he was ready, he says he "wasn't."

 wp-image-1263134808
Credit: REUTERS / Alamy

"When I told my dad I was getting married, he said, 'You're far too young,'" Stewart recalls. "He was right. I still had a lot of living, partying, drinking, and shagging to do."

Stewart and Alana ultimately divorced in 1984. Six years later, the London native found love again with model Rachel Hunter.

"When I got married a second time to Rachel [at 45], I really thought she was the one  - but I got that wrong," he says.

Hunter left Stewart in 1999 after nine years of marriage. Just days later, he met his current wife, model Penny Lancaster.

Featured image credit: REUTERS / Alamy