Wisdom

7 Inspiring Kevin Costner Quotes About Fatherhood

The Yellowstone actor and father of seven has some wise words about being a dad

by Fatherly
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Fatherhood is Kevin Costner’s passion. The 67-year-old actor — currently starring in Yellowstone season five — has seven children ranging in age from 38 to 12 (he was 54 when his youngest was born) and takes his role very seriously. Here’s some of his hard-earned parenting wisdom.

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On Trying His Best

"You've got to get down on the ground and play with them," Costner recently told PEOPLE. "And you teach them to be independent — and the sad part about that is they become that. I'm like any other parent: I'm trying to figure it out."

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On What People Don’t Understand About His Parenting Life

"I work as a provider. I'm a father and I'm a husband, but the world doesn't revolve around me. When I'm not making a movie, I'm living and on the freeway with my wife, getting the kids to their stuff or I'm waiting for them to come out of a party.”

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On Letting His Kids Pursue Their Dreams

“A lot of the time, what we have to do with our children is just get out of the way,” Costner told Scary Mommy in 2015. “Let their dreams be their dreams. Remind them that work comes with their dreams. They can’t just stare up at the ceiling.”

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On Trying Your Best As A Parent

“As mentors — as parents — we almost don't know what we're saying. Kids think we do,” Costner told The Huffington Post in 2014. “The truth is if you come at them with love and care and a level of thoughtfulness your kids look back and go, ‘You knew what to say to me. You knew what to say.’”

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On The Big Lesson He Wants His Kids To Learn

“I've always taught my kids that they have to work hard and stand on their own two feet,” Costner told Good Housekeeping in 2007.

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On Having Kids Again Later In Life

“I feel really good about the kind of dad I was the first time around. I was there for all the little moments, like when my kids forgot to sing in their school play because they were too busy waving at me. I can't wait to have those moments again.”

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On What He Wants His Kids To Remember About Him

“I think that I played with them. That I didn't talk down to them. That I was on ground level with them. That their dad wasn't afraid of anything.”

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