Nikki DeLoach on How Her Son’s Health Issues ‘Changed’ Her Marriage & Finding Wins Through It All

Whether it’s embarrassing her kids with her dancing or taking them on the set of her latest Hallmark movie, Nikki DeLoach’s parenting style is definitely one filled with fun and positivity.

After spending the early years of her youngest son’s life in and out of the hospital for his life-saving surgeries to fix congenital heart defects, DeLoach and her husband, Ryan Goodell, have more than earned a few stress-free years with their sons. The actress, who is starring in Hallmark’s upcoming romance film Home Turf, is a mom to 11-year-old Hudson and 7-year-old Bennett with Goodell.

While participating in SheKnows’ Parents Tell All video series, the actress opened up about how she’s finding joy in parenting her boys, how Bennett’s heart surgeries changed their family, and how she’s navigating the tween years.

SheKnows: What’s the biggest “win” you’ve had as a mom?

Nikki DeLoach: My oldest is at camp right now, and he wrote me a letter, so it says, “Dear Mom, I know I will be at home when you read this, but I love you so much. And I just wanted to say that when I get home, I might be a little sad to leave camp, but deep inside, I will feel like home with you, and you are the best thing that I will see on the last day when you pick me up. Love, Hudson.”

He didn’t write my husband one.

SK: What has been more challenging, tween years or toddler years?

ND: So far, my 11-year-old tells me everything, and when I mean everything, I mean everything. It’s been really fun just getting to know who he is and how his brain works and what he thinks and what makes him anxious or nervous. Girls, oh my goodness, how bodies are changing.

I would say toddler [were harder]. But I also had a very different toddler experience, because my now-7-year-old went through three heart surgeries when he was younger. So it’s hard to compare my experience to, I guess, what a typical parenting experience would be.

SK: How did your son’s heart issues impact your family’s bond?

ND: The heart surgeries and what we’ve gone through as a family has definitely brought us closer together. I mean, he had three heart surgeries in two years, and then when he was finally cleared and his heart was in a good place for him to actually not be in a bubble anymore, COVID happened, so then we had to go right back into our bubble.

It was really just the four of us and our animals for the longest time. And it changed my marriage, because for the longest time, I worked full-time and I did everything. At that point in time, it had to be, we both work full-time, and let’s split up these duties.

My husband got to know what I really carry on a daily basis, and then he was able to pick up some of that and carry the load.

SK: What do your kids think of what you do?

ND: My kids are actually really funny about what I do. They love coming to set.

My 7-year-old the other day, we were walking to cooking class, and he was like, “I want to be an actor.” And I was like, and “I was like, I’m gonna throw you some lines, okay?”

I threw him a line where he’s supposed to be sad, and he did it. Then I threw him a line where he’s supposed to be excited, and he did it. And I was like, “I’m terrified right now, because you’re actually really good at this.”

In fact, this last movie I did, which airs in the fall on Hallmark, they just came with me to set all day, and I have to say, they enjoyed every second of it.

Watch the full video above!