In a joint interview with Iltalehti, Sirpa and Veera Selänne reveal the secret of their close and harmonious relationship.
Just turned 18 Veera Selänne and her mother Sirpa Selänne arrive for the interview in good spirits, even though Veera has woken up due to jet lag at the time of the rooster crowing. The relationship between mother and daughter is friendly, according to Sirpa, they go crazy and laugh together. The thoughts about life are all the same.
– Of course, I think it’s wonderful that I have a daughter. You can talk about women’s issues with the girl. There’s that same-sex soul mate. Things that are better understood, Sirpa describes.
However, Sirpa does not want to go completely on the friend line.
– Veera is very strong-willed and says what she thinks directly. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am the adult who decides things in the endgame.
– One of the reasons why we are so close is that we have different personalities, Veera reflects.
The duo doesn’t argue, even though Veera admits that she’s a jerk. He describes his mother as easy.
– It’s probably not easier to be a woman on this earth.
Veera only gets angry about the subject, not the joy of the tantrum. He can be angered by criticism, to which Sirpa, on the other hand, is more sensitive and easily reacts by crying. However, they argue at most once a year. Dad, hockey legend Teemu Selänten with Veera is also close. It becomes a little easier for them to say.
However, Veera has always been an easy child, even as a teenager.
– If parents say you can’t go see friends, then you can’t go, Veera describes.
Veera still goes to school from home independently remotely, and there is no rush to leave. Sirpa would love for Veera to stay close.
– I feel like we’re just getting closer, Veera reflects on her growing up.
Sirpa and Veera would like to participate in the same season of Dancing with the Stars. ATTE KAJOVA
“I prayed for my daughter”
Selänte had three sons, EmilEetu and Leevi, when Sirpa got a strong feeling that she wants one more child, a girl. Faith is part of family life, so it was natural to rely on a higher power.
– I prayed to the heavenly father that this was not a girl. Not only because of me, but so that the boys would have a sister and Teemu a daughter. It helps them deal with and understand women better.
The matter was also studied by reading, thanks to which the couple managed to time the adoption of a child correctly: a girl came. Sirpa emphasizes that the boy would of course have been welcome. It was still wonderful to wear princess clothes, and Veera got earrings when she was four months old. According to Sirpa’s wish, strong hair was inherited from the father’s side.
Despite the different genders, the children in the family have been raised in the same way. Manners, politeness and consideration of others are important issues. The parents’ behavior has served as a model for the children.
Veera speaks warmly of her family. He admires how his own parents look good for their age and have inherited good genes.
– I can say that if I were not in this family, I would like to meet my family. Everyone is pretty nice.
Finnish has always been spoken at home. Veera adds that just a week in Finland always does wonders for speech. Behavioral education is visible: Veera is polite, talks a lot and asks interested people about different topics from those around her.
– Can I help, he stops to ask.
Sirpa and Veera Selänne get along perfectly. ATTE KAJOVA
In Finland, you don’t always say hello or make eye contact. In Veera’s opinion, it is the parents’ responsibility.
– In the Yankees, when you go to the village somewhere, you immediately go to say “hi” and “thank you for letting me come here”. Even though you are more shy, you still do it.
– I’m not at all embarrassed to talk to anyone, Veera adds.
Sirpa says that he has never answered on Veera’s behalf. The children have participated in socializing themselves.
– Parents don’t necessarily say things like go say hello now. We’ve done it for everyone since we were little. We get lots of compliments on how well our children behave.
– We have been together so much. We’re just that kind of family, Sirpa continues.
Once Sirpa made the mistake of checking with the boys if they had remembered to greet everyone during the visit:
– Who do you think we are, came the quick feedback.
Seläntie celebrate the Christmas holidays in Finland. ATTE KAJOVA
A little sister and a trio of brothers
Veera admits that as the only girl with a bump, she has received the most attention, especially from her father, and benefits in other ways. Self-esteem is good.
– There is no need to push it with special things, he is his natural self, Sirpa praises.
Veera has challenged the trio of brothers, not the other way around. The brothers are quite protective of their little sister. Veera is also quite conservative, but the boys may sometimes comment with an even stricter attitude.
– They don’t like it if my skirt is a little too short, Veera admits.
Sirpak has also noticed that, for example, posing on social media makes the brothers try to command.
– But it doesn’t work, laughs Veera.
The siblings play a lot of Fortnite together, which Sirpa thinks is a wonderful thing. Two of the women in the family might go shopping, play pickleball or sometimes go to the gym.
– We talk a lot, it’s more our thing, Veera reflects.
When the whole family is together, in addition to talking, we might play something or walk the family’s five dogs.
– We are very competitive, we both describe family.
Sirpa admits that he has sometimes let Teemu win a card game on the flight to calm the mood.
– He may not like this comment, but it is the truth, he laughs.
Veera does not drink alcohol because control is important. In Finland, now that he is of age, he plans to enjoy dancing in a bar and singing karaoke to the fullest. ATTE KAJOVA
“You have to be an athlete”
Recently, Veera has enjoyed hockey matches. He jokes that he is the lucky mascot of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks because the team wins every time he is in the stands.
It is revealed that Veera likes a certain player. He hints that the team is not the Ducks, but Teemu has played on the same team once.
– I won’t say his name.
– Teemu once joked that under no circumstances would he date a hockey player. But it doesn’t bother me, I have a husband and my own children are hockey players, says Sirpa.
– You have to be an athlete, Veera confirms.
Children have always had to be trained to live in the family of a hockey legend; the name brings responsibility. Teemu is still well known around the world.
– There are always people who recognize Teemu and come to say hello. Sometimes they might be big stars themselves. Yes, it feels really nice to watch from the side, says Sirpa.
– I am quite careful. You always have to look, have eyes everywhere. People stare and you can see it, Veera admits.
– Veera is very strong-willed and says what she thinks directly, Sirpa describes her daughter. ATTE KAJOVA
Makeup and hair: Karoliina Viinikari. Style: Hani Haimi. Outfits: Sirpa gold-black dress: Zadig&Voltaire, My o My Kämp Galleria, open-toed shoes: Red Shoe Fredrikinkatu, earrings and bracelets: Glitter Spalt Pr. Veera’s black dress Rebecca Vallance, My o My Kämp Galleria, shoes: @zalando and rings: Glitter Spalt Pr. Spalt sequin dress and boots: @zalando, earrings and ring: Glitter Spalt Pr. Veera’s silver dress and shoes: @zalando, earrings: Red Shoe Fredrikinkatu, rings: Glitter Spalt Pr.