Like A Boss

Dancing duo Allison Holker and Stephen “tWitch” Boss share on each other’s parenting styles and their excitement for growing their family.

“We are quite literally the yin and yang. One’s struggle is the other’s strength.”

MINI | What do you love most about fatherhood?

STEPHEN BOSS | I love seeing life through my kids eyes. The perspective. The discoveries. The excitement about life is so infectious. Also, I love being there to be a father for my kids. My kids already have a different household than I had when I was their age.

MINI | What do you think is the greatest challenge of parenting?

STEPHEN BOSS | The kids and the world are both ever evolving and, more often than not, on their own individual trajectories. So the challenge becomes how do we create a respectful kind, driven, yet autonomous person.

MINI | What surprised you most about fatherhood?

STEPHEN BOSS | How it seems that I had built in paternal instincts. Before becoming a parent, I worried how I will know which cry is which, how I will know how to protect my kids, how to find a regular sleep pattern again... but the moment I held them, all of those worries went away.

MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry?

STEPHEN BOSS | My greatest worry is making decisions that push [our] kids away from us. I guess that’s one of the greatest challenges of parenting as well is finding the balance of letting your kids know that you are their number one fan, supporter, and friend, but at the same time, we still need to establish structure and boundaries.

MINI | What makes Allison a great mom?

STEPHEN BOSS | Allison is an incredible mother! I know that because there is never a time where she is not willing and able to do anything to make sure that our kids are prepared for life, happy, and driven to succeed. As the kids needs and lives develop and evolve, Allison‘s motherly love only continues to multiply exponentially.

MINI | What traits do you hope your kids inherit from Allison?

STEPHEN BOSS | Aside from her stunning beauty, her drive and tenacity. There is not a problem to date that Allison could not solve.

MINI | What is most important to you in raising your kids?

STEPHEN BOSS | It’s important to me that they feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Growing up can have extremely challenging times, but I think having those three tools can help tremendously.

MINI | What were your first thoughts when you learned you were expecting a baby girl?

STEPHEN BOSS | Sheer joy and elation. Then the reality set in that I need to learn to do hair! Haha everyday ponytail for the win.

MINI | What makes you two a great team when it comes to parenting?

STEPHEN BOSS | We are quite literally the yin and yang. The ebb and flow. One’s struggle is the other’s strength. And having the trust in each other to know that we always have the family’s best interest at heart.

MINI | If you could give your kids one piece of advice, what would it be?

STEPHEN BOSS | Be you to the 100th percentile. There are so many things in ads trying to convince us that we are lacking something, but you aren’t. You are complete. You are whole. You are amazing just as you are. I mean, come on, your mom is a super hero for goodness sake. Always remember that!

MINI | What do you love most about motherhood?

ALLISON HOLKER | Seeing the growth in my children each and every single day. There are so many incredible moments that make you so proud as a mother: my baby learning to walk, when my son put on his pants by himself for the first time, the first time my daughter brought home her report card from school and she had all high marks; she was so proud of herself. Those are the things that make parenting so rewarding. Plus, all the times that we just get to laugh or giggle together and enjoy the simple joys of life like smiling and looking at the sun.

MINI | What do you think is the greatest challenge of motherhood?

ALLISON HOLKER | I think for any parent the hardest thing to find is balance of time. I absolutely adore my career, I absolutely adore my husband and I adore my children, while I [also] enjoy having time to myself once in a while. But in just 24 hours a day, trying to figure out how to fit all that in is hard, so both my husband and I try to keep open communication with each other and make sure that we’re doing our best to try to maintain a healthy lifestyle for ourselves and every single person in our family. With that being said, it’s also very important to remind yourself that, as parents, we’re doing everything we can and that is more than anyone could ever ask for.

MINI | What surprised you most about motherhood?

ALLISON HOLKER | What surprised me most about motherhood is what I’ve always heard from my own mother: that there is almost a sixth sense a mother has. You can sense and feel so much from your children, that we know how they are feeling without them having to say anything. It’s an incredible feeling to be that connected.

MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry?

ALLISON HOLKER | I’m not sure I would call it worry that I have as a parent but something that I’ve always wanted to accomplish while being a parent is making sure that my kids have all the knowledge and keys that they need to find their very own success. I have always wanted my kids to know that if they dream big enough and work hard enough that dream can become their reality. I want them to be as prepared as they can be to succeed in their own adult lives while maintaining a creative, fun love of living their best life.

MINI | How has this pregnancy been different from your previous two?

ALLISON HOLKER | It’s definitely busier when you’re pregnant with two other children, running around with all of their activities and school. But this pregnancy has also felt different because I get to share the experience with my kids. They are very active in asking questions about the baby, trying to help me around the house, and checking in on my health. Seeing the care and concern from my children has warmed my heart.

MINI | What were your first thoughts when you learned you were expecting a baby girl?

ALLISON HOLKER | So happy! I have always just wanted to have a healthy baby, but after finding out that it was a baby girl, I have to admit, I was very excited to add another little girl to our family.

MINI | What have you loved about watching Stephen become a dad?

ALLISON HOLKER | He takes every obstacle on headfirst with so much love and light and has found a beautiful way of encouraging and teaching our kids responsibility, sincerity, and dedication, all in one. He is an incredible father. I couldn’t be more grateful for him. He is a true example of a great family man.

MINI | What traits do you hope your kids inherit from Stephen?

ALLISON HOLKER | There are so many traits to pick from: his love, his genuine kindness, and his dedication to his craft and family. Stephen has a way of brightening up every room he walks into and it’s his genuine love and open heart that make people feel so warm and safe when they are with him. That is a rare gift.

MINI | What makes you two a great team when it comes to parenting?

ALLISON HOLKER | We balance each other, yet we always have each other’s back. If Stephen says something to our children, I one hundred percent stand at his side and vice versa. We are together in this thing called parenting and our children can feel that we are a team.

MINI | If you could give your kids one piece of advice, what would it be?

ALLISON HOLKER | Never settle. You are destined for greatness. Live your best life, with a grateful, happy, and humble heart!