Kelly Rowland Shares What Christmas Looks like With a 1-Year-Old + What’s on HER Wish List
Kelly Rowland has played many different roles in our pop culture-loving lives. We’ve basically always known her as a singer and forever member of arguably the world’s hottest girl group (sorry, Spice Girls), Destiny’s Child, and have been tuning in to see her weekly on Empire this season. Soon she’ll be mentoring young women as they form a new girl group on the upcoming docu-series Chasing Destiny. But her most important role at home is in full force right now as she gears up to celebrate the holidays with one-year-old son Titan and her husband Tim Witherspoon.
This season isn’t just hustle and bustle with no time to enjoy it for the new(ish) mom. The self-labeled “Captain Christmas,” who is working with multi-brand rewards program Plenti on their “35 Days of Plenti Holiday” promotion, talked with Brit + Co about gearing up for the holidays with her young son, shared her gift-giving strategy and dished on why she wants this time of year to feel like a movie (um, can relate).
Brit + Co: How are you getting ready for the holidays, especially with your one-year-old in tow?
Kelly: My husband and I are starting to do a lot of online shopping because we are just getting back into the swing of everything with having our son. I know I’ve been really particular about what gigs I go out for. I am just trying to learn how to balance being a wife, being a mom. The holidays couldn’t have come at a better time because it will be the first Christmas Titan will understand. But right now he doesn’t want to help me with the tree. He doesn’t like the way it feels!
I put our tree up and we’ve gotten so many different popcorns and hot chocolates from people already. We don’t like to snack a lot because we like to keep everything pretty clean and healthy around here, but come the 20th I am completely going HAM with food — I’m so excited! Titan will definitely take on that tradition as well. He’ll be tasting cookies and having hot chocolate and everything with us.
B+C: Are you a big cook?
Kelly: I like to do a lot of baking around the holidays. It’s so nice to walk into a house and just smell something in the air. The tree is lit, there is a Christmas movie on. I am completely Captain Christmas!
B+C: What traditions do you plan to do with Titan?
Kelly: We’ll probably make some traditions this year. We like to go to Phoenix with my husband’s family. Everybody is going to spend the night at my husband’s mom’s house, all the kids will wake up and open their presents and we’ll have breakfast. We just really want to make it something. And I think we will take my nieces to The Nutcracker this year, the two who are old enough to go. We’ll go look at lights. I really like for Christmas to feel like a TV show or a movie!
B+C: Will you be doing any crafts for the holidays?
Kelly: I think we’re gonna try to make a gingerbread house with my nieces on Christmas Day and maybe bake cookies with them as well.
B+C: What is your gift-giving strategy?
Kelly: I like to start with my family and friends that are out of town. I only buy gifts for kids nowadays because adults have everything, but I’ll probably get them a little something. I like to start with the kids: my nieces, my nephews, my Godkids. Especially if they’re out of town so I can get it shipped to them, and then I take care of everybody that I’ll see on Christmas day.
B+C: What is on your gift list?
Kelly: There is this beautiful Celine blouse that’s actually on sale! I told my husband. It’s the most beautiful blouse. It’s the only thing that I want. I do not spend money on myself in the month of December. It’s all about giving.
(Photos courtesy @kellyrowland, Michael Simon Dave Kotinsky/Getty)
