Nicole Kidman has opened up about her life as a mother of teenagers. And there’s one daily habit she follows to stay connected with them.
At a time when many parents struggle to stay close to their teens, the actress revealed a unique rule she has for her daughters. Basically, her goal behind this is to maintain a close bond during their teenage years.
Nicole Kidman’s Parenting Rule Is Weird But Cute
The actress spoke during a conversation with Hoda Kotb at the live speaker series HISTORYTalks in Philadelphia on April 18. During the discussion, she revealed that her daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, must hug her every single day for two full minutes.
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Nicole, who shares her daughters with Keith Urban, admitted, “Both my daughters will kill me for saying this,” before explaining her rule. She added with a laugh, “You need to hug [me] for two minutes a day.”
She also explained the reason behind it, saying, “It releases certain chemicals in the body, and everyone needs to be hugged for about two minutes a day. Did you know that?”. For Nicole, this small daily ritual is a way to maintain closeness as her daughters grow more independent.
How This Daily Habit Makes A Difference In Her Parenting Style
Nicole shared that she actually enjoys raising teenagers, describing the experience as “extraordinary.” She explained that she shares a close bond with Sunday and Faith, saying, “We’re so close, the three of us, we talk about everything.”
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She added that staying connected often comes down to being present in small moments. “It means sitting on the end of their bed, when they say, ‘Come in here, sit down.’ And you go in, and you’re exhausted, and you sit down, and you listen,” she said.
Nicole also makes it a point to ask, “Do you want me to give you advice now, or are you just sort of venting?”. Most of the time, her daughters prefer to vent. “Primarily, I get told no advice,” she said with a laugh, adding that this happens “90 percent of the time.” She respects that boundary and allows them to express themselves freely.
Nicole also spoke about the influence of her late mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, on her parenting. She shared one of the most important lessons she learned growing up: “[My mother] told me, ‘Don’t ever let anyone break your spirit.’”
Lastly, Nicole added that both her parents emphasized the importance of serving others. She even called it one of the greatest gifts they gave her.
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