It’s been two years since Tia Mowry’s divorce from Cory Hardrict was made official. The actress, who starred in Hallmark’s “A Gingerbread Christmas” in 2018, has acknowledged that she and Hardrict maintain a positive relationship. In an interview with Parents.com, she revealed what she views as the most crucial thing former couples need to remember.
“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.”
Her actions have proven that these aren’t mere words. Earlier this year, she posted Instagram photos showing the exes celebrating their kids’ birthdays together. But beyond co-parenting, she’s also making sure to foster independence — no matter how challenging it may be.
Tia Mowry’s Parenting Philosophy: Your Child’s Happiness Is Not Your Job
“I don’t think it is your job to make your kids happy,” Mowry told Parents.com. “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, because we don’t want to create co-dependency.”
A recent event showed that her methods are working. When 7-year-old Cairo went to the school nurse after being hit with a ball, the nurse asked if she should call Mowry. Cairo replied, “No.”
“I desperately wanted to speak to her and hear her voice to make sure that she was OK,” Mowry said. “But I had to allow this opportunity for her to gain independence and say, ‘I got this.'”
Tia Mowry Embraces Independence and Self-Expression in Parenting
Mowry’s thoughts on letting her kids have their own voice align with her beliefs about raising self-sufficient children. If her kids are uncomfortable with something, she doesn’t expect them to do it. She admitted her upbringing was much different.
“I think growing up, it was definitely a cultural thing where it’s like, ‘My house, my rules,'” she clarified. “I didn’t want to do that with my children. I wanted my children to never be afraid to express themselves.”
She may want her kids to learn independence, but she also cherishes every moment she has with them, especially with her 14-year-old, Cree.
“Sometimes I enjoy saying, ‘Did you put on your deodorant today? Did you brush your teeth?'” Mowry said, getting emotional. “Because I know I hate to sound so cliché, but I am counting down the days I have.”
