On Being A Strict Parent
“I think children are born good,” he told The Guardian in 2010. “But a child doesn’t know right from wrong, so moral instruction is important. I remember my eldest boy saying ‘Dad, I always thought you were so strict ― now I appreciate it.’ Free will can be a double-edged sword. By the age of 21, my son could see that.”
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On His Particular Parenting Style
“If you have kids, you know there is no style,” said Washington when asked about his parenting style in an interview with Reader’s Digest. “It’s a hybrid. It’s what my wife and I learned from our parents, and applying religious instruction, discipline, athletic activity, and academic excellence whenever possible. My wife’s done a great job. She’s been the consistent one, just trying to give them a normal life.”
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On Keeping His Kids Grounded
“When it comes to the kids, I give complete credit to my wife, Pauletta,” he told Oprah. “Early on, we decided that we wouldn't drag them around to all the places I go. Pauletta was the consistent one who made breakfast every day and took them to school. She taught them their prayers.”
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On Making Sure His Kids Know He’s Not Perfect
“When my oldest boy was about 14, I started to talk to him about some of the mistakes I made in life, just to put a few dents in that shiny armor,” Washington told Reader’s Digest.
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On Being Home For Dinner
“I joined in as often as I could,” he told Oprah. “When my parents were together, my father worked a lot too. He always had two or three jobs, so he was never home either. Children adjust. My kids knew that I was always trying to get home to be with them. I’d tell them, ‘You have school Monday to Friday, and I have work. We both have our jobs to do.’”
On The Change That Occurs When You Become A Parent
“When that first one is born, you instantly understand the difference between making a living and a life,” he told Playboy.“Acting used to be life. It became a way to make a living. Those little ones, that's life.”
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