Life beyond the world of tennis can often be more intriguing for the athletes, and Kim Clijsters exemplifies this transition seamlessly. As a seasoned professional in the realm of tennis, the 40-year-old star made the decision to retire from the sport in 2022, redirecting her focus towards her family and endeavors beyond the athletic arena. Navigating the realms of motherhood presents its own set of challenges, yet Clijsters adeptly manages these responsibilities with finesse. Her insights on this aspect were recently shared in a podcast conversation with the esteemed tennis icon, Andy Roddick.
In a recent podcast discussion, Kim Clijsters delved into the nuances of parenting, shedding light on the joys and trials of raising her eldest daughter, Jada, who is on the cusp of turning 16. She touched upon Jada’s newfound excitement of obtaining her driver’s permit and her burgeoning interests. Furthermore, Clijsters disclosed anecdotes about her daughter’s high school experiences, including her interactions with a boyfriend, showcasing the family’s candid and humorous approach to such topics. Despite her husband’s American background, Clijsters harmoniously blends both American and European parenting styles to foster a cohesive family environment.
Kim Clijsters candidly shared, “Jada is about to turn 16. She’s got her driver’s permit and stuff so we’re going through that you know start driving and she’s excited about that. She has a boyfriend and which is you know, I don’t know we kind of start my husband and we have a discussion of the European parents which is you know things are more open and outspoken and then the American side of the family where you talk about a lot of those kind of things and so we’ve had so pretty funny conversations in our household recently but she’s doing well,” during her engaging conversation with Andy Roddick.
Moreover, Clijsters extended her narrative to encompass insights into her other children’s lives. With two sons of her own, she also mentioned two additional Belgian children who are part of her household. Jack, her eldest son at 10, exhibits a passion for basketball and theater, while Blake, the younger sibling, is described as occasionally clumsy but endearing. The presence of the two Belgian children completes their close-knit family of seven members.
Reflecting on her family dynamics, Clijsters shared, “So life is good for her and then we have two boys. Jack is 10. He is playing basketball. Also like he is into theatre. And then we have Blake, the youngest. Everything he touches or he tries to do the nicest things for us he wants to set a table, he wants it and he ends up something always breaks or he’ll spill something like it everything we couldn’t change, but just clumsy and yeah so we have two kids from Belgium with us so we have five kids,” encapsulating the essence of their bustling household.
Kim Clijsters’ narrative underscores her journey of embracing motherhood and the delightful tapestry of her family life, characterized by love, laughter, and shared moments of joy.