When It Comes to Parenting, Jessie James Decker Does Things the Old-fashioned Way
The mother of four is big on tradition and making sure her kids know who’s in charge.
Apr 24, 2025
As a singer-songwriter, author, and entrepreneur, Jessie James Decker is a busy career woman. But with her priorities clearly defined, she puts what matters most — her family — ahead of her professional pursuits.
With a husband (former NFL wide receiver Eric Decker) and four children (Vivianne, 10; Eric Jr., 9; Forrest, 6; and Denver, 1), finding a way to “do everything” isn’t always easy. “I'm still trying to figure out how to balance it all,” Decker says. “I'm never going to stop doing all the things I love, because I enjoy them, but there are moments of burnout.”
Years ago, during an overwhelming time, a friend offered advice that stuck with her. “She explained to me that once you have your number one priority, things will slowly fall into place,” Decker says. “You have to have a center that grounds you.”
Now, when faced with a new opportunity, she gives it heavy consideration — and isn’t afraid to say no. “I determine whether it’s going to interfere with the parts of me that matter most: being a great mother and a great wife,” she says.
Creating balance at home
For Decker, the keys to maintaining a balanced life are consistency and teamwork. “When you've got a strong foundation, there's not as big a shock factor when things happen in life,” she says.
She and her husband keep a regular schedule centered around their kids’ sports and hobbies, along with dinner and bedtime routines. “We sit at the dinner table together every single night,” Decker says. “Phones away, we talk about the day, we laugh, we play a card game.”
Bedtime includes time with each child. “Every night we say the same prayer, and I sit with each of my kids in their rooms. … We really make these things a priority because they are traditions that I want them to carry through with their own children.”
Decker takes a clear, confident approach to parenting. “I tell them: ‘I'm in charge; you're not in charge. I make the rules. I set the boundaries, and you follow them. I'm the parent; you're the child. That's the way this works.’ It’s working out — we've got great kids.”
A life surrounded by flowers
Another thing Decker makes sure is central to her life, and that of her family, are flowers.
“I think flowers are such a beautiful way to express love and brighten someone’s day,” she says.
She says she's partial to sunflowers, but she’s also "a classic girl in love with pink roses.”
“Eric always gives me flowers for every occasion, and I love them so much,” Decker says. “They just light me up with joy when I wake up to them on the kitchen counter.”
She’s even incorporated flowers into her music.
“I have a song called ‘Roots and Wings,’ and the opening line is ‘Have you ever seen a magnolia in the spring…’ My mother’s favorite flower is a magnolia, and I always think of her when I see them.”
And now, Decker has taken the next logical step and made flowers a part of her business. Last year, her clothing brand Kittenish, which she launched in 2014, started working with 1-800-Flowers.com and Things Remembered. The collaboration has so far produced three collections of personalized gifts and accessories: one for the 2024 holiday season, another for brides and the bridal party, and, most recently, a Mother’s Day collection.
Additionally, a unique gift bundle is available just in time for Mother’s Day. It features a cowgirl-inspired vase from Things Remembered and a bouquet of pink and white tulips from 1-800-Flowers.com.
“I love the cowgirl theme — many Kittenish products and gifts in the collection feature design elements like cowboy hats and boots — and the flowers complement the overall look perfectly,” Decker says. “I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”
Entrepreneurial example
Outside the home, Decker has proven to be an accomplished entertainer and author. She’s released five studio albums and has written three books, two of which — “Just Jessie: My Guide to Love, Life, Family, and Food,” and “Just Eat: Simply Delicious Recipes from My Heart to Your Plate" — made The New York Times Best Seller list.
Nothing, however, quite prepared her for taking on the retail world as the founder of Kittenish, which sells dresses, tops, loungewear, bottoms, outerwear, and accessories for women. What began as a fashion-design collaboration has since evolved into a growing line with two brick-and-mortar retail locations in Nashville and Tampa. “I’ve done a slew of things, and this is absolutely the hardest and most challenging,” Decker says. “I have shed tears over the years (over this business), but it has also been some of the most exciting moments of my life.”
For all the ups and downs, Decker says she’s grown from the experience. She’s also proud to have set an example for her children and would like to pass down her business acumen to them as they get older. “At some point, I want to teach them about what a business looks like, what a budget is, and maybe some tangible investments so they can start independently working themselves,” Decker says. “If I can introduce some of those things to them, they’ll be prepared for opportunities in the future.”
This busy wife and mother plans to continue doing the things she loves. She’s writing her fourth cookbook, pursuing new song collaborations, and scheduling live performances, all while growing and expanding her brand through partnerships, like the one with Things Remembered. “We just want to celebrate life,” Decker says. “And that’s what Kittenish is all about.”
AUTHOR
Rebecca Razo has over 20 years of experience in book and magazine publishing, editorial project management, and content creation. She has overseen the creative development of hundreds of books, and she writes across multiple categories, including art, DIY, home decor, lifestyle, and more. Originally from Southern California, Rebecca now lives in the Pacific Northwest where she enjoys hiking, reading, baking, and cuddling with her two dogs and cat.
