Frederique van der Wal:
Celebrity Mom

On a Londonesque day in the heart of Chelsea, I met the lovely and ever so sweet Frederique van der Wal for hot espressos and divine conversation. We choose the boutique and historic Highline Hotel in Manhattan, New York.

Michelle-Marie Heinemann & Frederique van der Wal

Frederique as we all know is the famous Dutch Model best known for her appearances in Victoria’s Secret and on countless covers of such magazines as Cosmopolitan and Vogue as well as numerous endorsements for Revlon, Guess?, and MCI.

She has brilliantly parlayed her success in fashion and beauty into the pulchritudinous world of Flowers, hence Frederique’s Choice, her on-line Flower Company that offers fresh flowers, direct from the growers, right to your door. The e-commerce site offers subscriptions that are easy, reasonably priced, and beautifully arranged.

Frederique’s motto that she shares with her daughter is to “live life in full bloom” and they certainly do! Both enjoy spending time at their county home ( which is near my country home ) and hiking in the beautiful forests that so wonderfully decorate the Hudson Valley. Sitting down to meals nightly is a ritual for her family, as Motherhood comes before all other priorities.

Frederique also insists that her daughter help out around the house….I love this!! As children need a sense of responsibility and knowledge of how a proper home should be run. I insist my children help out as well, and they love proudly showing me all that they have accomplished. This is an old fashioned value that is very important.

I encourage everyone to use Frederique’s Choice for your next party or event or weekly flower delivers…the bouquets are breathtaking. We here at Old Fashioned Mom Magazine are proud to introduce Frederique van der Wal as our 10th Celebrity Mother!

 1. How would you describe yourself?

First of all, I would say I’m down-to-earth, real and curious. I like a good laugh and hard work. I enjoy life with all its ups and downs, and I love to spend time with family and friends. Nature plays an important role for me—the words I live by reflect that, I like to live “life in full bloom.” And I feel very lucky to be where I am.

2. Please tell us about your family?

Family is everything, and it includes some very dear friends who I count as family! I feel blessed with the people I have surrounding me. When my daughter, Scyler, was born, that was definitely the most magical moment ever, and immediately, the meaning of family became even more important. Having her made me realize how important it is to have family around you.

3. What do you love most about being a mother?

It is one of the most fulfilling things in life—especially now when I see how Scyler is developing into this very special, empathetic, fun, smart, beautiful and cool young woman. Being her mother gives meaning to my life. It gives me the opportunity to constantly learn and reflect, and each stage of motherhood has brought more insight and understanding. I think we never stop learning and growing as mothers—and that has been a great pleasure for me to discover.

4. Fall is such a beautiful time of the year, what activities do you have planned with your daughter?

I love the Fall foliage, it is such a fantastic time to be outdoors. I can’t wait to take some nice walks together upstate and surround ourselves with nature’s beauty. I am also looking forward to our Thanksgiving weekend, which is always at our house upstate with lots of friends and family and everyone joins in all the festivities. Every age is represented, and it’s a wonderful time of laughter, great food and sharing time all together.

5. What makes you an old-fashioned mom?

To me, having traditions and values is very important in bringing up children—and that has been a big part of Scyler’s upbringing. I have shown her some of the traditions I grew up with, from sitting down at the table for dinner with candles—and, yes, always flowers! These days, it is key to find a time with no phones or computers so we can have a real conversation. I’ve impressed on her the importance of looking people in the eye when you say hello or meet them—and to give them a strong handshake (like you mean it). I’ve taught her to be respectful to the people around her; to say “thank you”; to be kind and thoughtful. I’ve also told her that when she stays at a friend’s place, it’s so important to always say goodbye and thank you—and be helpful in the house.

Web site: us.frederiqueschoice.com