Mario Lopez Explains How Fatherhood Changed Him and How It’s the ‘Best Role I’ve Ever Had’

Not everyone is so keen on being a parent but, for Mario Lopez, it just comes naturally. While speaking exclusively to Closer Weekly, the doting dad of three gushed about being a working parent and revealed all the best ways that fatherhood has changed him.

“For the better!” Mario — who recently teamed up with Office Depot for back to school shopping with his kids — admitted. “Best role I’ve ever had. I love it. Want to continue to embrace it and all its challenges.”

Being a hands-on parent and also a working dad with a Hollywood career is not as easy as it seems. That said, Mario — who is dad to daughter Gia, 8, son Dominic, 5, and newborn son Santino — doesn’t find his work-life balance to be stressful at all.

“I’m pretty lucky to have breakfast with them every morning, and then I’m home in time for dinner and most of the time, I’m in time for practices,” the Extra host said. “It’s just crazy with work. They have an understanding of why … and my kids know about my job too and they’re very understanding.”

In time, Mario’s children will get to know more about their father’s career. “I don’t know if they think, ‘Oh, dad gets to do that stuff,’ but they’re kind of young to be impressed,” he explained. “I’m just dad to them, they don’t really care what I do.”

In fact, being around Gia, Dominic and Santino has made Mario find the beauty in everything that fatherhood has to offer. “I feel good you know. I like all the chaos,” he explained in another interview with Closer Weekly. And with his wife, Courtney Laine Mazza‘s help, Mario has everything that he needs to be a great dad. “We feel very blessed.”

Can we please give Mario an award for being the best father ever?!

Reporting by Diana Cooper