“They were like 10 years old when the pandemic happened. And they spoke to me.”
Tia Mowry’s parenting style might differ from how her parents raised her — but she’s standing by it.
The 47-year-old actress, best known for her role as Tia Landry in the ‘90s sitcom “Sister, Sister,” opened up about how she’s parenting her son and daughter in an interview with Parents, published Aug. 22.
Her modern parenting approach, as she explains, is resulting in a much more independent household.
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The mom of two, who was born in 1978, explained how she grew up in the, “My house, my rules,” era where adults were in charge, parents made all the rules and kids were forced to listen and follow along.
But, as far as Tia Mowry’s kids are concerned, that old-school parenting approach doesn’t exist.
"I didn't want to do that with my children. I wanted my children to never be afraid to express themselves,” she told Parents, adding that she doesn’t force her kids to do something if they don’t want to do it.
She also encourages her kids to say “no” and doesn’t feel a responsibility to make them happy.
"I don't think it is your job to make your kids happy. I think that it is your job to keep your kids safe, nurture them, guide them, but they have to learn on their own how to make themselves happy,” she explained.
As she sees it, going out of your way to make your kids happy only results in a co-dependent child.
Mowry went on to recall a time when her 7-year-old daughter Cairo, whom she shares with ex-husband Cory Hardrict, according to People, suffered an injury while at school.
Cairo was sent to the nurse’s office and was asked if she wanted to call her mom — but she said no.
Even though Mowry would’ve loved to talk to her daughter in that moment, she also wanted to “allow this opportunity for her to gain independence and say, 'I got this,'" according to Parents.
Tia Mowry opens up about her coparenting relationship with Hardrict
In addition to Cairo, Mowry and Hardrict share a 14-year-old son named Cree, born in 2011.
The couple first met in 2000 while filming “Hollywood Horror,” which wasn’t released until five years later, according to Us Weekly.
Hardrict got down on one knee on Christmas Day in 2006 and the couple tied the knot in 2008 before welcoming their first child three years later, per the outlet.
Their daughter followed in 2018, five years after the couple renewed their vows and one year after Mowry told Us Weekly that she would “definitely want Cree to have either a brother or a sister.”
The couple remained together for four more years before announcing their split in October 2022.
“These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children,” Mowry wrote in an Instagram post at the time.
In her recent interview with Parents, Mowry opened up about what coparenting looks like today.
“The main important thing is making sure that the children still see the parents together and communicating, and still see them [being] cordial,” she said.
“That's what keeps children beautifully adjusted. It keeps their nervous system calm and at ease when they see their parents are still together, we all come together as a family,” she added.
Mowry also gave her best advice for parents as they prepare for another school year.
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"Everything is not going to be perfect. Forgive yourself if things are not completely checked off that to-do list. We're human, you know?" she told Parents.
