Dorit Kemsley | Maintaining Family Connections | The Breakdown with Bethany
It’s no secret it has been harder than ever to maintain family connections. Even if you live close to one another, the pandemic has made spending time with extended family members a rather challenging task. But thanks to technology–and some helpful tips from one of our favorite housewives–staying connected in 2022 is easier than it has been in the past. (This post contains some Amazon affiliate links.)
I chatted with Dorit Kemsley, mom of two, entrepreneur, and one of the stars of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills about her New Year’s resolutions, and how she is planning on taking time out for her family this year. I even shared with her one of my all-time favorite Housewives moments of hers, which was a totally relatable moment for moms out there!
Check out the episode below and be sure to tell us your favorite part!
Dorit Kemsley Talks Family Connections
Dorit on New Year’s Resolutions
Bethany Braun-Silva:
Hi, and welcome back to another episode of the Breakdown with Bethany. I’m Bethany Braun-Silva and if you are a Bravo fanatic like I am, you’re going to be so excited about my guest today. Dorit Kemsley is a loving mom of two, a busy entrepreneur, and of course, one of the stars of the hit show, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She’s going to be talking to us today about her New Year’s resolutions and how she keeps her family connections strong all year long. You’re not going to want to miss this one, so keep watching to check it out.
Dorit Kemsley:
Hi Bethany.
Bethany Braun-Silva:
Hi Dorit. Thank you so much for chatting with me today. I’m really excited.
Dorit Kemsley:
Me too Bethany. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I’m excited to be here.
Bethany Braun-Silva:
Of course, and happy new year. I know it’s been a rough couple of years for us all, especially with us raising little ones, but we’re almost halfway through January and I’m wondering what are your New Year’s resolutions for 2022?
Dorit Kemsley:
My New Year’s resolutions this year, they’re easy. I am resolving to spend more time building connections with extended family all year long. Really the emphasis and the focus for me is family, family, family, which is not only an easy resolution, but it’s a warm and fuzzy one.
Maintaining Family Connections
Bethany Braun-Silva:
Yeah. I love that. I think that really is such a great way to go into, start the new year off after what we’ve gone through the past few years. But so how do you plan on doing that? Because I know some of us are still facing some challenges with seeing family in person or whether you have family that lives on separate coasts or in another country. So how can extended family stay connected in 2022?
Dorit Kemsley:
So, my parents live out of state. They live on the East Coast. I just recently purchased this amazing device, Amazon Glow, which it’s an interactive projector and video calling device. And it allows kids to play games, read, draw, and they’ve been able to connect and play with my parents who are out of state. And they’re having a blast. Even though my parents are miles apart, they feel like they’re in the same room playing together.
Bethany Braun-Silva:
And that’s kind of nice. Do you feel like it gives you a little break too? Even though your parents aren’t there in person, sort of your kids are under the watchful eye of their grandparents. Maybe you can go and take a shower or do something for yourself.
Dorit Kemsley:
Oh, absolutely. And my kids are really close to their grandparents, so this is really lovely for them. And I would say if I wasn’t enjoying watching them enjoy it so much, I’d probably take more time for myself. But it’s just been so fun watching them discover this together and seeing them play and really enjoy it and stay connected that I’ve been a proud spectator.
Bethany Braun-Silva:
I love that. I love that. Those really are precious memories.
Dorit Kemsley:
They are.
Family Connections Mom-Style on TV
Bethany Braun-Silva:
And so you’re obviously a fan favorite on one of the hottest TV shows that ever existed. I know you can’t tell us much, but I’m also curious what has that experience been like? And I have to share a quick anecdote with you because I think it was your first season. I think there was a scene where you were struggling with a car seat and the kids, you’re trying to get them to the park and it just kind of all fell apart. And I was like, okay, I love this woman because this is such a relatable moment for moms. So tell us, what has it been like filming with your kids so little and now they’re a little bit older. Tell us all about it.
Dorit Kemsley:
So, I mean, really my kids, I mean, Phoenix was about three months old when I started and Jagger was the young age of two. So my kids almost don’t know any different, to be honest. And I think for me, the experience as a whole has been really wonderful. It’s helped me grow and it’s challenged me in ways where you’re putting it all out there. And especially as a mom, you have those moments like that and then you have millions of people that are watching it and seeing it.
Dorit Kemsley:
But overall I feel really privileged and grateful to be a part of such a wonderful, successful show, and I’ve built such great relationships. I also love that being a mom is so important to me. And so having those moments with my children, even when the cameras are on, I mean, that’s real life. That’s what I’m dealing with and I think all moms can relate to that. So that’s really a special part of it for me.
New in 2022
Bethany Braun-Silva:
Yeah, for sure. And so I’m also curious because it’s a brand new year. What are you working on? What can we expect from you?
Dorit Kemsley:
Well, I mean, listen, I’m always looking for exciting new ventures. I’ve got another small drop with Nektaria, the Luxe bridal brand that I dropped a collection with last year. And my husband and I are also opening up a real estate agency in London, which will be very exciting. He’s kind of driving the ship there. It’s his return to real estate, but I’m always involved in everything and you’d be surprised how much you can do from afar. So we’ve got a lot of exciting ventures coming up in 2022.
Words for Burned-Out Moms
Bethany Braun-Silva:
That’s awesome. And then we are a show for moms. So I have to ask. This year, other than maintaining those important family connections, what is your advice for moms who are maybe feeling a little bit burnt out? Like they can’t believe they have to go through this again. So what advice do you have for us?
Dorit Kemsley:
First of all, I hear you. I totally feel you. Sometimes it’s challenging and it’s difficult, but it’s trying to find new creative ways to stimulate your children and enjoy it. Because sometimes we get into a monotonous routine and try to find the inspiration to whether it’s bake something, or arts and crafts. I try to find new, interesting ways to interact and be with the kids and see that excitement in them. And by extension, you always feel that joy.
Dorit Kemsley:
I do think Amazon Glow, it’s a wonderful device that I found is brought a lot of joy to my kids. My husband just had COVID and he was isolated in the house and my kids were able to play games and draw and interact with him with the interactive projector. And so they stay connected with their daddy, even though he was isolated for 10 days. So there are a lot of ways in which you can entertain your children. Amazon Glow is one of those that I’ve just recently purchased. So I think it’s at the forefront and it’s a great way for moms to entertain their kids and allow them to stay connected to family, whether they’re in-state or out of state, any extended family.
Bethany Braun-Silva:
That’s so great. All right. So where can we go to find more information either about you or about the device?
Dorit Kemsley:
So you can go to amazon.com/glow to find out how you can add Amazon Glow to your family. And now it comes with a year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus, which is a digital content subscription, which allows you access to thousands of books, games, puzzles. It’s really wonderful. So go to amazon.com/glow to find out how you can add that to your family.
Bethany Braun-Silva:
That’s great. Thank you so much, Dorit, and happy new year.
Dorit Kemsley:
Thank you. Happy new year.
Listen to this episode as a podcast:
She was previously the Senior Editor of Big Apple Parent Magazine and has written for OK! Magazine, Hollywood Life, Mom.com, and CafeMom. She is a graduate of New York University, but her proudest accomplishment is being a mom to Elias and Jake who make life (and work) endlessly fun!
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