Hilaria Baldwin reveals the secret key from husband Alec to her marriage (exclusive)

With seven children, life for Alec and Hilaria Baldwin can become a little hectic.

The couple and their delightful children – they are parents of Carmen, 11, Rafael, 9, Leonardo, 8, Romeo, 6, Eduardo and Marilu (4) and Ilaria, 2 – are at the center of the new TLC Reality series the new TLC reality series The Baldwins (Premiere on February 23) and in the People title history of this week, the 41 -year -old Hilaria reveals how she and alec are married after 12 years.

“We will find time to go to dinner,” she says. “It gives us the opportunity to connect again, sometimes only to sit in silence. It’s just like ‘okay’, we are here. ‘”

She adds: “He always said: ‘We are married, you are my wife, you are the mother of my children, but you always have to be my girlfriend.'”

“Yes, I just couldn’t have it any other way” 30 rock Star Alec, 66, says.

When the couple happened to met in a restaurant in New York City 14 years ago, Alec was not looking for a partner.

“I was married, was divorced. I agreed with another woman for quite a while. I want: I don’t want to have a girlfriend. I don’t, ‘” Alec from 2011. When he and Hilaria for the first time entered others.

Alec had previously married to actress Kim Basinger from 1993 to 2002, with whom he shared daughter Ireland Baldwin, 29.

“And when I met Hilaria), I really said: ‘Oh God. I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to do that,'” recalls Alec. “But I mean, I fell in love with her. And I told my friends and they said: ‘Oh, Jesus Christ. It’s like a miracle.'”

The Baldwins Catches carefree moments between the two and their big family as well as the emotional Fallout about Alec’s legal drama after the random shooting on the set of his film rust.

“We are like an old couple,” says Hilaria when she is asked about her delightful joke that is a funny highlight of the show. “We are half of an old couple,” Alec quickly concludes.

When Hilaria remembers it, Alec took the time to take the first step, which made her wait six weeks before kissing. “He shook my hand what was okay,” she recalls factually. “No hug, nothing.”

“Well, no, I was with someone,” explains Alec.

“Listen, I’m older, I’m from a different civilization,” he continues. “And when I was younger, if you sleeped with someone, you have a connection to them. And I connected to people with whom I didn’t want to connect, but I did it. And then with her, the same thing. I think: ‘Oh, I don’t want another girlfriend.’ “

“He was very respectful,” says Hilaria.

“I just didn’t want to do her like that … she is a beautiful woman, I am sure she has people on her,” jokes Alec.

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The couple’s relationship has been put to the test over the years after they were selected for their age difference, their decision to have a big family and everything in between. The Baldwins Offers you the opportunity to regain your story and to lift unfair misunderstandings (it is a gold digger; he is a grump).

“Telling your story is one thing and showing your story is something else,” says Hilaria. “It felt authentic, it felt human. It felt very authorized. ”

The Baldwins Premiere on Sunday, February 23, at 10 p.m. et on TLC.

Further information on Alec and Hilaria Baldwin can be found in the new edition of PEOPLE.