Hilary Duff seems to be one of the few stars who has managed to cross over from being a child star into adulthood without suffering a major meltdown on a worldwide scale. No arrests or naked photo scandal, but she has gained a husband and a son in the process.

Duff is covering the December issue of Canadian Elle, and in her interview she admits to screwing up but doing it behind closed doors and then learning from her mistakes. And she hates talking about Aaron Carter's obsession with her because she thinkg he needs to move on.

When the magazine asked what her key to leading a balanced life as a celebrity is, she chalked it up to therapy.

"I have a good therapist! I've dealt with [media attention] for such a long time. But some of the bigger struggles that came my way in the past two years — like my separation or when my parents separated — were the first times I had to deal with people knowing about something personal happening to my family. It just felt so invasive and insensitive. It got really gross, and I think part of you gets a bit desensitized. The best way to handle it is by just owning your s--t. I'm human and this is what happened. None of us is perfect."

Perhaps it is that ability to own her crap that has made Duff become somewhat of a role model for young stars who are on the rise. She was also wise enough to walk away from the spotlight for a little while to just focus on her family, and while she and husband Mike Comrie confirmed a separation earlier this year, they seem, by all accounts, to have reconciled.

One thing that still makes Duff squirm in spite of being comfortable in her own skin is the weird obsession Aaron Carter continues to have with her.

When Elle asked her about it, Duff was not sure exactly how to respond.

"Oh, God, I feel so uncomfortable right now. I don't know what to say. The more I talk about it, the more I think he's going to talk about it. We were like 13 and 14 ... I don't want him to be hurt — I don't want to make anyone feel like that — but it's time to move on. I have."

Yikes. How long do you think it will be before Carter responds — again?

Aside from having her first album in seven years ready to drop this winter, Duff is also headed back to television, as she will be starring on Darren Star's Younger in January.

Are you glad to see that Duff's break is over and that she is returning with a bang? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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