Addison says, “It really is the best of both worlds.” To help her achieve this, her parents have, from the beginning, committed to constantly trying to put balance in Addison’s life to make sure she does not miss out on having a childhood. As Jeanine explains, “I think the most important thing for us has always been balance. Everyone needs balance in his or her life.” She continues, “What has been really important to us, whether we are in Covington, Los Angeles or New York, is how we can keep her grounded, how we make sure that she stays humble and how we make sure that she does not feel like she is loosing something.” That is not to say that Addison has not made sacrifices, like any other girl in her position, for her career. “From the very beginning she has always been willing to miss birthday parties and sleepovers because she had acting class or needed to attend an audition. Her passion for acting and the dedication to her work is something she has always made a priority, and because
Jared, Addison
she has made it a priority, so do we,” says Jeanine.
and Jeanine Riecke
At the same time, Addison’s schooling has
in front of their
always been a major factor for her parents in
Covington home.
deciding how they would facilitate her working life. “It’s great for us that she is able to remain in school here in Covington. Every hiatus week when they are not filming, we fly home so she can be in school. When we are back in LA, Kehoe sends her curriculum to her on-set tutor so that when she is back in school she can pick up right where they are.” This system, like many other parts of Addison’s professional life, have been worked out over time by trial and error. “It has definitely been a learning process for everyone,” says Jeanine. “Neither I nor her father has any experience working in the entertainment industry. I am a nurse, and Jared is a developer. But we knew that, for us, the most important thing was making sure takes her role as a role model seriously and is
filled week, that Addison remembers that she is still 12
always doing charity appearances in her spare time.
years old and that she should embrace that.”
She knows that, to kids who love the show, meeting
Addison’s description of her life in Covington
someone from their favorite program is incredibly
reflects that. She says, “Traveling of course can get
special and memorable.”
stressful because I’m going back and forth between
It seems that for this budding young actress,
6
that at the end of the day, coming home from a work-
work and schoolwork, but it’s just so nice to get to see
her work is never finished. Excitedly talking about the
friends and relax for a second before we go back to
chance she has been given to live, literally, in two places
our crazy-fun but crazy-busy schedule in LA.”
at once, pursuing her dream in Los Angeles while
This schedule is, of course, not just hers. As
remaining the Covington girl she has always been,
Addison explains to me, “I am always with my mom,
Inside Northside
photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com
Springarn echoes this statement, saying, “Addie