Madonna On Her Parenting Skills: 'I Need To Be A Tougher Mom'

Madonna, the self-proclaimed mother of reinvention says there are a few people who only get to know one version of her personality -- her kids. Last night, the superstar, who also happens to be a single mother of four, told Rock Center's Harry Smith that she's like any other mom who asks "have you done your homework?" and "why are you wearing that?" And though she's strident, the singer says honestly, "I think I need to be tougher."

Recently, Madge's 15-year-old daughter, Lourdes, was photographed smoking a cigarette. There was speculation that she picked the habit up from mom, Madonna confirms, "she didn't get that from me." She told Smith that she was not very happy when that photograph surfaced. "I don't approve of anyone smoking, especially my daughter," she said.

As for whether it's hard to be Madonna, she says her life is a "metaphorical fish bowl." It's challenging, she says, but she's survived so far.

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Comments

[85Percent]

06:30 PM on 04/23/2012

My kids both started smoking as teenagers. I thought all the anti-smoking studies they had in elementary school and not growing up around anyone who smoked would keep them from smoking. WRONG! Peer pressure beats all the setting of examples and all the early education posssible. I wish I had kept up the anti-smoking lesson, preaching it every day, and talking about resisting peer pressure.

One thing I always did say, and that was that teenagers are the only ones dumb enough to start smoking. Almost no one picks up smoking as an adult.

[Redv14]

10:55 AM on 04/23/2012

I like Madonna and think she is probably a good mom to her children. Her daughter is like most kids her age who do things their parents don't approve of.

[OtayPanky]

01:38 AM on 04/23/2012

The good news here is that Dennis "the worm" Rodman is newly single.

[Mailman]

08:45 AM on 04/22/2012

Madonna got some much karma coming her way it's unbelievable. Look at all the stuff she done and how do you tell your kid to behave when there's video of you doing everything under the sun?

[peachpage01]

02:24 PM on 04/20/2012

She's lucky that's all her daughter is doing (that she knows of that is). Madonna, hardly the poster girl for mother of the year can expect all sorts of fun and frolics from her teen. Pot calling the kettle black is all this is. Wait until Lourdes starts prancing (or falling down) in 6 inch heels and S&M garb, like mommy dearest.

[leskataus]

01:01 AM on 04/20/2012

Madonna's been photographed doing the same thing. Chances are that her daughter learned it by watching her.

[lightbulb10]

06:07 PM on 04/19/2012

She reminds me of my chiropractor, actually.

[kiksadi50]

12:48 PM on 04/19/2012

help her get contraception and sex education, let her wear silly clothes and stay out late with her friends sober dancing, but lock her in a dudgeon until she gives up cig. I started smoking @15. Quit @38, I'm now 60 & I've just been diagnosed with c.o.p.d. (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) & can only use 50% of my lung capacity without the aid of inhalers. Tar and nicotine, second hand smoke, have long, long, term effects, that we are just beginning to diagnose. 75% of people who smoked a pk. of cig. a day for 10 yrs.or more, after quitting, will remain at high risk to develop lung cancer, emphysema or related copd symptoms (like severe allergies) later in life. I gained 10 lbs. when I quit and it was the healthiest 10lbs I ever gained.