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E! News Asia host Yvette King on staying sane with a pair of twins at home

Yvette King with her gorgeous girls, Valentina and Vivienne. (PHOTO: Yvette King)
Yvette King with her gorgeous girls, Valentina and Vivienne. (PHOTO: Yvette King)

When it comes to red carpet specials and getting the latest goss out of our favourite celebrities, you’ll be sure to catch Yvette King with a mic - as a regular face on E! News Asia TV channel and a former anchor at Fox Sports News.

The Korean-Australian entertainment journalist who is also a first-time parent to a pair of twins, Valentina and Vivienne (both 15 months old now!) - has temporarily hung her heels as the COVID-19 pandemic brought events and festivals to a standstill.

When Yahoo Lifestyle SEA caught up with her a week ago, King shared that she’s been busy at home adjusting to her new role as a mum amid the pandemic: “We have finally gotten the twins to sleep through the night and this is a huge game-changer! Entering this isolation period, the twins would wake up two to three times a night. We would cuddle them, carry them, give them milk as we would feel so heartbroken hearing them cry and in distress. Big mistake people!”

In this interview, she tells us what’s her routine like being at home with the girls, how she maintains her sanity, and keeping her skin flawless.

As a first-time mum, how do you keep your twins busy at home?

Gosh, they have changed so much in the past circuit breaker period, so to support their rapidly developing brains is a new challenge every week!

For example, just playing with building blocks isn't cutting it anymore - they want to explore! They're 15 months old now and learned to walk just recently so we've been encouraging a lot of that.

It's so hot in Singapore at the moment so hanging out in the blow-up pool on a regular basis is a must.

One tip for parents (and I pinched this from my mum by the way) is to section off their toys and put half of them away. Then reintroduce those toys as if they were new! Works like a charm.

What activities does the family do together? Do you have a daily routine?

We try not to be too rigid but we also have a framework to work with each day. The girls have outdoor activities after breakfast - typically a walk in the neighbourhood or Botanical Gardens and then again, another physical or stimulating activity after their nap in the afternoon. This could be pool time or another walk.

How do you maintain your sanity during this difficult period?

I have to share a major parenting win that came out of this time. We have finally gotten the twins to sleep through the night and this is a huge game-changer! Entering this isolation period, the twins would wake two to three times a night. We would cuddle them, carry them, give them milk as we would feel so heartbroken hearing them cry and in distress. Big mistake people!

Some nights we would be up from 2am to 5am. We were like zombies and it wasn't sustainable.

One night we cracked and tried the extinction sleep training method where babies learn to self-soothe. After three tough nights they now sleep like babies! So to answer your question, just having a full night's sleep is maintaining our sanity as far as we are concerned!

Have you been exercising at home? You're our #fitspo model and we're interested to know if you combine yoga with HIIT or anything like that.

Say what?! I'm your #fitspo model! I am literally LOL right now! So typically I would exercise four times a week - always HIIT or resistance classes. But I have to be real with you guys; I must admit I have fallen off the fitness wagon.

Kids are forever distracting; I'm not focused and I think I just need someone to kick my ass into gear! I've discovered I need a gym environment to motivate me.

We did have good intentions at the start of the Circuit Breaker period - we bought kettlebells, a Bosu etc., but while my husband still works out pretty regularly, I slowly couldn't be bothered anymore. I really am going to have my work cut out for me when I go back.

It's OKAY to cut some slack and admit parenting can be difficult amid this pandemic. Are there times when you feel like a bad parent?

All the time! I don't know what I'm doing! I'm a first-time parent... with twins! Right now we are just trying to get through every day the best we can. This time last year I had my mum living with us (she lives in Sydney, Australia) and she was such a comfort to have around - someone showing us the ropes.

Right now we do feel quite stretched but on the flip side of it, it is a really special time if you think about it. How many kids could say they had both parents at home, fully present in some of the most formative years of their lives? Sadly, not many including me. Anyway, for our family, we hope that all the love and attention they've gotten this year will have a lasting impact on them.

Fun fact: my first language was Korean as I spent my early days kicking it with my Korean grandparents while both my parents went straight back to work.

Aren't they adorable? Valentina and Vivienne. (PHOTO: Yvette King)
Aren't they adorable? Valentina and Vivienne. (PHOTO: Yvette King)

What is your advice to parents who are losing their patience at home?

I'm in the same boat! I would love some advice too (haha). Look, it's completely normal and human to feel frustrated at times when it feels like relentless parenting.

My hubby and I can really sense when the other is struggling so we try and allocate complete rest time when one parent can go off for a walk alone, or even go upstairs and watch a movie that’s free of interruption.

It's so important to have time out. Plus we also make sure we try and spend quality time together, just the two of us as well.

Have you been taking up any new lessons/skills? For example, online learning, gardening?

I wish I could say yes to this! I know some people are using this crazy time to better themselves, and my hat goes off to them... I'm totally jealous!

I wish I had the time and energy to harness this time into something productive. But my twins are my excuse. When I'm not with them, all I want to do is lie on the couch and watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians and eat chocolate in my sweats!

What is your beauty routine like at home?

So there is this one thing I have invested in - self-care! Usually, I wear heavy makeup for my hosting role with E! Entertainment, and while I am a beauty junkie and love a snatched look, it has been nice to just give my skin a rest.

Some of my favourite products are from Alexandr&Co - the Sericlear face wash is so creamy and lathers amazingly.

I am also obsessed with the Seriguard Moisturiser - it's a product that uses proteins from silk to hydrate and repair the skin. It has a gel consistency so it’s perfect for this humid weather.

I'm also completely into glycolic acid and retinol. Finally, as I can't go to the beautician I've been using a 3-Color LED Facial Mask from Lush Aesthetics. It's from Korea and uses light therapy to help stimulate collagen production and improve skin clarity. Both of which I desperately need now that I'm using my free time to eat chocolate and watch the Kardashians on the couch!

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Why family rituals are so important (and 8 ideas for how to incorporate them at home)