Jamie Oliver on His Daughters Watching Their Brother Being Born: ‘It’s Only Controversial to Really Strange People’

Jamie Oliver‘s two oldest daughters had a pretty big job when it came to the day their now-3-month-old youngest brother River Rocket was born.

“As soon as the baby was out and safe, we got the nod – cut the umbilical cord!” the British celebrity chef, 41, tells Good Housekeeping UK for their January cover story.

He continues, “To see my two teenagers watch their mum was extraordinary.”

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According to Oliver, Poppy, 14, and Daisy Boo Pamela, 13, were ready for the task.

“It was the right age for them, the right scenario for us, and I witnessed their initial raw emotion as the little one was handed to them,” he explains.

“I know they respect their mum now even more than they already did. It was an amazing show of strength.”

The father of five — he and Jools, 42, are also parents to 6-year-old son Buddy Bear Maurice and daughter Petal Blossom Rainbow, 7½ — notes that the decision was a natural one, and right for his family.

“It’s only controversial to really strange people! Most of the world has home births, and different countries have different habits,” he says.

And as it turns out, Jools was the mastermind behind the memorable experience.

“It was an idea from Mum and the kids, and we gave it lots of thought,” Oliver shares.