How Maks Chmerkovskiy & Peta Murgatroyd Overcome the 1 Thing They Always Fight About

Dancing With the Stars” cast members Maks Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd have been together for more than a decade, but there’s one thing that they consistently fight about.

“We fight mostly about kids eating,” Chmerkovskiy said on the February 14 episode of the “Amy & T.J.” podcast. He and his wife went on to share how their respective upbringings cause that specific disconnect.

“I have probably something in my past … I need therapy for the way I was brought up for sure,” Chmerkovskiy continued, adding, “I come from USSR.”

“She comes from a world where they work barefoot and free and they eat when they eat. Here’s a banana, and then here’s a piece of chicken, and here’s a soup, and here’s your ice cream,” Chmerkovskiy said. In contrast, he was told that he needed to finish everyone on his plate… or else.

Peta Murgatroyd Has a More Laid Back Approach to Feeding Her Kids

The main disagreement between Murgatroyd and Chmerkovskiy is approached from two very different view points.

For Murgatroyd, she rationalizes her stance with research.

“Research shows if you’re trying to force food on children and you make them sit, even if they’re crying and screaming, it doesn’t do any good,” she said on the “Amy & T.J.” podcast.

“That’s what I have come to learn, as in that makes them not want to eat it more. You know, why don’t you give them a little bit to taste it? And you don’t have to force them to eat the whole thing anyway,” she explained.

Chmerkovskiy admits that he’s trying to change.

“He’s completely fine,” he said, referring to his son Shai. “I come out, I look at his plate and I’m like, and I can’t, I’m like, here, let’s do two more spoons. Why? I don’t understand myself,” he added.

Peta Murgatroyd & Maks Chmerkovskiy Are Probably Done Having Kids but Might Adopt

Murgatroyd and Chmerkovskiy welcomed son Shai in 2017. They spent a few years trying to conceive again, but struggled with fertility.

Murgatroyd did get pregnant again in 2022, welcoming son Rio in 2023. When Rio was just a few months old, the DWTS pro got pregnant again. She and Chmerkovskiy welcomed son Milan in 2024.

During a Q&A on her Instagram Stories in August, Murgatroyd was asked if she and Chmerkovskiy wanted to add to their brood. She admitted that she’s been thinking about adopting a child.

“A couple of you guys are asking about adoption. You know what? You read my mind,” she began. “I did bring this up to Maks not too long ago. Just for the sheer fact of, I want to say saving a child. We spoke about a Ukrainian girl. I think that would be—I’m not saying this is going to happen—I’m saying we just started the conversation,” she continued.

“That would be really special and would change a life and I think that it’s an option. We just need to feel out how three kids feels first, I guess. But, having a full house feels right, I got to say. And I feel like if we’re in a position to be able to have another, then why not?” she added.