Phaedra Parks on Dating Advice She Gives Her Kids: ‘You Only Have a Small Window to Be a Child’ (Exclusive)

The reality star is mom to two sons — Ayden, 13, and Dylan, 10 — with ex-husband Apollo Nida

Phaedra Parks wants her kids to slow down and enjoy the moment they’re in.

While attending the Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Clinic opening in West Hollywood, California, on April 25, the Married to Medicine star, 50, told PEOPLE that now that her older son has entered his teen years, she is encouraging both of her boys not to rush through their childhoods.

“These kids are so different from us. They’re moving at an incredible speed because of social media. But I try to explain them, ‘You have your whole life to do all of these things, but you only have a small window to be a child and be carefree,’ ” said Parks, who shares 13-year-old Ayden and 10-year-old Dylan with ex-husband Apollo Nida.

“So that’s what I try to make sure that they know — this is the time of your life because I’m paying for everything,” she continued. “I’m footing the bill, and you’re living very luxuriously. So you need to enjoy that moment, if that makes sense.”

As she marveled at the fact that Ayden will be heading off to high school next year, Parks described her son as “such a good kid.”

“I’ve raised two very good boys,” she said, crediting her firm parenting style. “I’m a very traditional Black mother, so I’m a strong disciplinary — I don’t take any junk. What I say is what I say and I mean what I say when I say it. So I’m very old school with my parenting.”

The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum said she embraces the philosophy that if you raise children right, you can have confidence that they will go out into the world and be good humans.

“I believe raise a child in the way it should go and it will not depart. Even when you depart from them, they still know those good principles that you taught them. So I don’t really worry about them,” she explained. “I know that [I’ve] been raising a good, strong family and they know I’m watching them even when I’m in California, honey. I got eyes in Georgia.”

While Parks may not be ready to see her sons dating, she revealed that she’s gotten back in the game again after splitting from the doctor she had been seeing while filming episodes for season 10 of Married to Medicine.

“I’m dating. Yeah, I’m dating,” she told PEOPLE, before quickly adding, “The thing is, I’m single and satisfied. I’m not one of those women who thinks that their life depends on a man. Yeah, I’m really that girl.”

She added, “So I’m like the whole red velvet cake. A man can be icing, but red velvet is good by yourself. You know what I’m saying?”