In_Touch_Weekly_June_5_2017
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CLOCKWISE FROM MAIN: GETTY (3); @IAMVALC; R/R; GETTY; @PETAMURGATROYD<br />
As one of Dancing With the<br />
Stars’ most seasoned pros,<br />
Maksim Chmerkovskiy<br />
has taught his fair share of<br />
celebs how to tango, jive and waltz.<br />
But these days, he’s thinking more<br />
about first steps than dance steps —<br />
the 37-year-old and his DWTS costar<br />
and fiancée, Peta Murgatroyd,<br />
30, welcomed a son, Shai, in January.<br />
“It’s not like anything I’ve felt before,”<br />
Maks says of fatherhood, “but<br />
it’s also terrifying. I’m so concerned<br />
about doing the right thing!” The bad<br />
boy of the ballroom, who has partnered<br />
with Swiffer to celebrate its<br />
18th birthday, recently returned to<br />
DWTS after recovering from surgery<br />
for a torn calf muscle earlier this<br />
season. Here he talks to <strong>In</strong> <strong>Touch</strong><br />
aboutfatherhood,datenightsandhis<br />
surprising celebrity crush!<br />
What’sthescariestpartofbeing<br />
a new dad?<br />
MC: Everything has a residual effect.It’snotlikeI’mwalkingoneggshells,butIhavetoberesponsible<br />
with my actions and my words.<br />
Hashavingababychangedtheway<br />
you see Peta?<br />
MC: IammoreinlovewithhertodaythanIwasyesterday,anditjust<br />
keeps growing. She’s the mother of<br />
mychildbutshe’salsomyperson,<br />
anditwillalwaysbeallabouther.<br />
Aww! What kind of mom is she?<br />
MC: <strong>In</strong>credible. I think some<br />
people are just inherently<br />
amazing parents, and that is<br />
Peta. She was born to be an<br />
incredible mom.<br />
How are you helping her out?<br />
MC: I am picking up whatever<br />
slack I can, sweeping up<br />
spills with the baby in my<br />
hand — it’s the little things<br />
in life!<br />
What is the best part about<br />
being a dad?<br />
MC: Just having that connection. It<br />
changes everything. I will inevitably<br />
be happy as long as Shai and Peta<br />
are happy, but if they are not, I will<br />
neverbehappy.<br />
Do you hope Shai will grow up to be<br />
adancerlikeyouandPeta?<br />
MC: Whatever he wants to do<br />
with his life, professionally, is up<br />
tohim.Ijustwanthimtobeaneducated,<br />
smart, athletic, kind, polite,<br />
empathic person.<br />
The first few months of parenthood<br />
are crazy. Have you and Peta been<br />
abletogooutatall,justthetwo<br />
of you?<br />
MC: We’ve started going out a bit,<br />
yes.Buttobehonestwithyou,we<br />
can’twaittogetbacktothebaby! <br />
BACK ON THE<br />
DANCE FLOOR<br />
Maks and DWTS partner<br />
HeatherMorriswere<br />
recently eliminated.<br />
ON A LIGHTER<br />
NOTE …<br />
Maksim answers our<br />
silliest questions!<br />
WHO’S MADE<br />
YOU MOST<br />
STARSTRUCK?<br />
John Travolta.<br />
WHAT DID YOU<br />
HAVE FOR<br />
BREAKFAST THIS<br />
MORNING?<br />
Nothing!Myplanelandedat2inthemorning,<br />
andIwokeuptodayat5:45a.m.Idon’teven<br />
knowwhattimeitisnow!<br />
HAT WAS YOUR<br />
CHILDHOOD<br />
NICKNAME?<br />
My name is Maksim<br />
but the sweet version<br />
was Maksusah, and<br />
dad still calls me<br />
that. When I hear my name as “Maksim” in<br />
Russian, that means some s--- went down!<br />
WHAT’S YOUR<br />
GO-TO<br />
KARAOKE<br />
SONG?<br />
“The Seed<br />
(2.0)” by<br />
the Roots.<br />
PROUD PARENTS<br />
“<strong>In</strong>owhaveabiggerpurposein<br />
life,” says Maks (with son Shai<br />
andsoon-to-bewifePeta).<br />
WHO’S YOUR<br />
CELEBRITY<br />
CRUSH?<br />
Hillary Clinton!<br />
TUNE IN! Dancing With the Stars airsMondaysat8p.m.onABC<br />
INTOUCHWEEKLY.COM 45
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