Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez both brought children from prior marriages into the equation when they got engaged in 2019.
And during her appearance at Oprah Winfrey’s 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus tour in Inglewood on Saturday, Lopez discussed easing her kids into her relationship with the former major league baseball player.
The 50-year-old singer marveled at the ‘patience’ exhibited by Rodriguez towards her son Max, 12, who she described as ‘a beautiful boy, but ‘all over the place.’
Taking the time: Jennifer Lopez discussed ‘easing’ her kids into her relationship with fiance Alex Rodriguez during her appearance at Oprah Winfrey’s 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus tour in Inglewood, CA
Oprah asked Lopez if her and Rodriguez, who first started dating in 2017, ever formally introduced their ‘coupledom’ to their children.
‘No, I think they just started seeing him come around and little by little we kind of eased into it,’ said the On The Floor singer.
Lopez shares her 12-year-old twins, daughter Emme and son Max, with her ex-husband of nearly 10-years, singer Marc Anthony.
Rodriguez had daughter Ella, 11 and daughter Natasha, 15, with ex Cynthia Scurtis, who he divorced in 2008.
Patience: Lopez marveled at the patience Rodriguez had with her son Max, 12, during the interview with Winfrey that took place at The Forum; Rodriguez shared this photograph of himself, (L-R) his daughter Ella, 11, Lopez’s son Max, 12, Lopez’s daughter Emme, 12, and his daughter Natasha, 15
Memorable: ‘Max even said something. I remember this conversation with him, even though it’s like now, three years ago now. He said something like, “Alex is the only one who ever doesn’t ever get mad at me,’ recalled Lopez; Jennifer photographed with Oprah Winfrey during the Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus Tour held at The Forum in Inglewood
Jennifer continued: ‘And then we went on a family trip so all the kids could be together and that was like a big step for us and that we talked to them about. Like, I was like, “We’re going to go on a trip with Alex, you know, Alex and his girls. Do you like Alex?”‘
And to Lopez’s surprise, her twins did not just ‘like’ their soon-to-be stepdad, they ‘really liked him.’
‘It was like, no, they really, they really liked him,’ said Lopez.
Better than she hoped: When asking Max and Emme if they ‘liked’ Rodriguez, the twins admitted they did not just ‘like’ the former major league baseball player, they ‘really liked him’
Blended Family: ‘And then we went on a family trip so all the kids could be together and that was like a big step for us and that we talked to them about,’ said Lopez of the groups first family trip; Rodriguez shared this photo of the entire squad on Emme and Max’s birthday on Sunday
The mother of two then recalled a remark made by son Max that gave her a clue as to just how well their families would eventually blend.
‘Max even said something. I remember this conversation with him, even though it’s like now, three years ago now. He said something like, “Alex is the only one who ever doesn’t ever get mad at me.’
Lopez explained that ‘Max is the one who always gets in trouble in the house,’ because he has the most energy and is constantly getting into things.
But that this energy was easily absorbed by Rodriguez, who exhibited ‘so much patience’ with the hyperactive 12-year-old.
Her coconuts: ‘I know you’re 12 years old today but you will always be my babies… HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL COCONUTS!!,’ wrote Lopez in celebration of Max and Emme’s 12th birthday last Sunday
Lopez continued: ‘Like he had so much patience with him because he’s like, he’s all over the place and he’s the most beautiful boy and the most loving boy. But he will knock this over in a second. You know what I mean? All you hear through the house is “Max!’ all the time. And Alex had this amazing patience with him.'”
Max and his twin sister Emme just celebrated their 12th birthdays last Sunday and, both, Lopez and Rodriguez shared touching tributes to the duo.
‘I know you’re 12 years old today but you will always be my babies… HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL COCONUTS!!,’ captioned Lopez as she shared a slew of sweet throwback photos of the twins through childhood.
In his own post, A-Rod noted that he was ‘so proud’ of the twins and felt ‘so lucky to be a part of [their] lives.’ He signed off the post with ‘I love you!’
So much love: Rodriguez penned a sweet tribute to his soon-to-be stepkids Max and Emme last Sunday for the twin’s 12th birthday