Chrissy Teigen is explaining why she chooses to be very open about her family life.

The author and mom of four appeared as a guest on the Monday (October 27) episode of the The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast where she shared with host Simone Boyce the reason she shows the "messiness" of parenting on social media. Teigen shares four children with husband John Legend: daughters Luna, 9, and Esti, 2, and sons Miles, 7, and Wren, 2.

"I think I showed the messiness of life even before kids, so it was kind of a natural thing just to show every part of it after kids too," she said.

Teigen recalled the moment she realized that online commenters would "have a lot to say" about even the smallest personal matters she decided to share was when she and Legend were going through IVF to expand their family and she happened to mention they were "going for a girl" during the first round.

"Oh my God, it just blew up in a way I did not expect. People were not happy for us or excited for us. It was a very big, like 'You chose the sex of your baby?' and it was like a huge thing, and I was like, oh my goodness, is this not talked about?" she explained. "I didn't realize that people didn't share that part of it, and then from then on, I was just like, 'Okay I took all that, and I am okay with sharing everything else too.'"

There are still some family moments, however, that she chooses to keep out of the spotlight, such as when her kids are "having a bad day" like any other child, but being open and honest about the ups and downs of parenthood has fostered a sense of community.

"For the most part, it's been really great because it has come with a community that is so ready and welcoming of that kind of content because it's just a normal, as normal as it could possibly be, lifestyle," she said.

Follow along with new episodes of The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast or catch up on past chats at iHeart.com.

Smitty