Denise Richards, who was married to Charlie Sheen from 2002 to 2006, admitted that she uses a children’s book on addiction to explain Sheen’s erratic behavior to their children, the Herald Sun reports.
"I did have to have a conversation with them about addiction and got a book to read to them because I was just lying to them so much and covering up and telling lies, and it was just getting too confusing," Richards said during a television interview.
Richards said that while she tried to shield Sam, 7, and Lola, 6 from media coverage of their father’s antics, the girls would still “hear things through other kids," the Herald Sun reported.
"They are so young," Richards continued. "I think they did comprehend some of it. And as they get older, they'll learn more as needed. But I told them enough for them to make sense of some things that were going on."
According to the Herald Sun, Richards also said that the Charlie Sheen she sees portrayed in the media "is not the person that I met and fell in love with. The man I fell in love with is very compassionate, humble and has a very wonderful heart."
"I still care very much for him and want him well. He's a survivor. If anyone can pull themselves together it's Charlie," she said.
Meanwhile, Richards recently announced that she had adopted a third daughter, six-week-old Eloise Joni.
When asked how her other two girls were taking it, Richards responded: "Oh, they're so excited, feel so blessed, and they love feeding her and changing her.”
"We're very happy," she said.
