Will Smith Is 'Finding Such a Different Relationship' with His Kids as He Tries to Be More Transparent and Vulnerable Around Them
10/04/2024 09:30 AM
The actor is a dad to sons Trey and Jaden and daughter Willow
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From Left: Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, Will Smith, Jaden Smith and Trey Smith on March 27, 2022Will Smith is opening up about how acting more vulnerable has changed his relationship with his children.
While speaking on a panel as part of An Evening with Will Smith at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 3, the Oscar-winning actor and rapper, 56, shared why it's so important for him to start showing his vulnerable side — especially in front of his three children.
Smith is father to son Willard Carroll "Trey" Smith III, 31, whom he shares with his first wife, Sheree Zampino, as well as son Jaden, 26, and daughter Willow, 23, with estranged wife Jada Pinkett Smith, 53.
"I think that there is a human elevation that comes out of vulnerability and transparency, and I think that there is a real strength that is acquired through vulnerability," the dad of three shares. "I absolutely have a warrior's heart. I'm very, very prepared to manage whatever happens in my life. But, with the warrior's heart, the greatest thing you can do, I believe, is you surrender into reality, and you surrender into the difficulty and the hard times."
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Will Smith in 2015Smith adds that he's been practicing this mantra the most with his kids by being honest about when he doesn't have an answer or resolution to their problems. He insists that it's actually created "such a different relationship" between them.
"I've been really practicing it with my children," he explains. "I'm finding such a different relationship just in being able to say, 'Hey, I don't know, guys. I'm a partner with you in this situation, and I'm not going to pretend I'm Superman. I love you, son, but I don't know.' "
Being open and honest also comes in handy when Smith and his kids are simultaneously working on new music. "It's really good in the house working on music and everyone creating together and listening to each other's music," he says.
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From Left: Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jaden Smith, Trey Smith and Willow Smith in 2013"And you know what I'm discovering?" he continues. "That, as a parent, because I'm continuing to push, because I'm continuing to work on myself and I'm continuing to try to get my head around this grand mystery... Because I'm continuing to work, my children are gravitating toward me more."
The entertainer notes, "I'm noticing the struggles that I have, the difficulties that I overcome, the things that I learned. Because I am not stopping, my children are not moving away from me. My children are moving closer to me."
"And that's another big part of me working on the music and working to understand myself and understand life more deeply," Smith adds, "I feel like I'm becoming a valuable elder."
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