Lance Bass is embracing fatherhood with open arms, and he’s convinced that waiting to start a family was one of the wisest decisions he’s ever made. The former *NSYNC star, now 46, recently shared insights into his life as a dad to his 4-year-old twins, daughter Violet and son Alexander, whom he shares with husband Michael Turchin. In a candid discussion, Bass delved into the joys of parenthood, the dynamics of his marriage, and his partnership with the popular mobile game Hay Day.
“I truly believe everything is about balance – the yin and yang,” Bass explained. “It’s something I’ve always lived by. When you become parents, it’s easy to let everything else fade into the background and focus solely on raising your children. I’m so grateful we decided to start our family a little later in life.”
Reflecting on Early Parenthood
Looking back at friends who became parents in their early twenties, Bass admits it always seemed daunting. “If I had kids like my friends from high school, you know, at 22 having their first child, it was absolutely terrifying,” he confessed. “You felt so clueless about what was happening. Having seen many of my friends navigate that journey, I felt much less apprehensive about having children and, I believe, was far better prepared to offer them a more balanced life.” This perspective has profoundly shaped his parenting style and his appreciation for this current stage of his children’s lives.
The Evolution of Twin Parenthood
Now that his twins have reached the age of four, Bass notes that the anxious “just keep them alive” phase of infancy has transitioned into something far more engaging, albeit still demanding in its own unique way. “Newborns are a completely different ballgame compared to these little teenagers we have now,” he joked. “In the early days, your sole focus is constant vigilance, just making sure they’re breathing, right? It’s like, ‘How do I keep you alive, my little nugget?'”
These days, life is filled with vibrant personalities and non-stop conversations. “Now that they’ve developed distinct personalities and you can actually have conversations with them… it’s incredible how quickly they absorb everything,” Bass marvelled. “Everything you say, they hear, and you realise you can’t keep anything from them anymore. They’re going to pick up on absolutely everything that’s happening around them.”
Even bedtime has become an extended story hour. “I can’t wait for them to get home from school,” the former boy band member shared. “That hug you get, the snuggles on the couch at night before bed… I find myself lying down with them, and they’re just recounting their day, talking and talking. You’re secretly hoping they’ll fall asleep soon… but you cherish every single one of those moments because you won’t have many more years like this.” He added, “I treasure every second I have with them, especially our evenings, because that’s when they truly come alive.”
Contrasting Personalities, Harmonious Household
Bass and Turchin find it amusing how distinct their twins already are. “It’s quite funny, you know, having a boy and a girl… it really is different. Everyone tried to warn us,” Bass laughed. “My daughter, we affectionately call her ‘Bossy Betty.’ She’s incredibly bossy, and frankly, so much smarter. I mean, no offence, but girls are just generally smarter than boys.”
While Violet may be the one in charge, Alexander brings an element of pure, unadulterated comedic chaos. “He’s your typical boy, always trying to dismantle everything,” the dad-of-two said with a smile. “He just makes me laugh so much. He might try to get into trouble, but it’s hard to stay mad because I’m just so amused by him.”
Interestingly, their son has developed a surprisingly intense passion for film and music. “My son… he wants to be a director now,” Bass revealed. “His favourite artist is John Williams, which is the most random thing. But he absolutely loves Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Home Alone – all those movies that John Williams scored.”
This obsession has even taken over his bedroom. “He has 70 pictures of Jaws plastered all over his walls. He draws them daily, he’s just completely obsessed,” Bass noted. “He’s already written Jaws 10. He’s going to direct it. And it’s Jaws 10 set during Christmas, but it also features Kevin McCallister setting booby traps for Jaws.”
Cultivating Balance and Country Living
With two energetic children, a strong marriage, and demanding careers, Bass stresses the importance of deliberate balance in maintaining stability. “We make a conscious effort to see our friends at least once a week and ensure we carve out time for ourselves,” he explained. “We also make sure to indulge in a massage now and then, prioritising self-care. It’s all about achieving that equilibrium so that no single aspect of your life becomes overwhelming.”
This philosophy extends to the childhood he envisions for his twins. Hailing from Mississippi, Bass has always harboured a dream of raising his family amidst animals and nature. “It’s my lifelong dream to live on a ranch or own a farm,” he stated. “Growing up in the South, I was surrounded by that lifestyle and lived in the country… I always wanted to have animals around, especially once I had children.”
Bass and Turchin are now actively bringing this dream to fruition. “I’m actually speaking to you from my new house, somewhere in the backyard right now, and we’re standing precisely where we plan to put the chicken coop,” he detailed. “We have a magnificent koi pond, so we get to feed the fish. We’ll soon be caring for our chickens and enjoying fresh eggs daily… Ultimately… I envision living on that ranch with horses, goats – a truly legitimate ranch to manage.”
For Bass, this is about providing his children with more than just a picturesque setting. “I think it’s incredibly important to instil a sense of responsibility in your children, like that,” he mentioned. “I would love for them to help me with the animals in the morning before they head off to school. I genuinely believe that really… helps them in life.”
A Serene Ritual Amidst the Hustle
Amidst the whirlwind of school runs, backyard renovations, and grand aspirations, Lance still carves out time for a simple nightly ritual to decompress: playing Hay Day, one of the world’s most popular farming simulation games, which he has enjoyed for years and recently partnered with. Bass, whose in-game farm has impressively reached level 157, finds that the farming game mirrors the calm, grounding lifestyle he’s cultivating offline.
“Every night before bed, I dedicate 30 minutes to an hour to tidying up my farm and completing my various missions,” he revealed. “It allows me to zone out and hyper-focus on something… it feels like my form of meditation.”
Whether he’s planning real-world chicken coops or tending to virtual livestock on his phone, one thing is abundantly clear: Lance Bass may have waited longer than some to embark on his parenting journey, but he is fully committed now – and no longer harbours any fear.
