After her surprise elimination Tuesday night, the reality star says she's seeing things from a whole new perspective.
"I had the most amazing time, but after seven weeks of being on Dancing with the Stars, it actually made me think about real life," Wilkinson, 25, tells Parade. "I know what true love is now – and that's, of course, my son and my husband."
Continues Wilkinson: "Every now and then it's cool to get dressed up and glamorous, but at the end of the day, I love what's real and what's real is family ... I'm so happy that I get to be a mom again!"
Wilkinson, who has one son – 1½-year-old Hank Jr. – with her pro-football-playing husband Hank Baskett, has some simple tips for other mothers who might be struggling.
"My number one piece of advice to all moms is to just breathe," she says. "Take time for yourself, even if it's just going to the bathroom and taking a couple breathers. Take at least five minutes out of the day for yourself – you need it, you deserve it."
Wilkinson also pays tribute to one of the major benefits of being on DWTS.
"My body is so great now," she says. "The different dances did different things, like the Latin dances would shape my thighs and my calves and my butt because of all the twisting. And it would make you sweat, that's the real calorie burner right there."
"But the Viennese waltz and the tango, it's all in the legs," she says. "You're doing a full squat for two minutes. It's more intense than anybody would think. My body's back into shape and I'm so happy."
