Tia Mowry Explains Why She Doesn’t Spank Her Children
During a recent interview, actress Tia Mowry explained why she doesn’t spank her children.
While promoting her new Netflix show, Family Reunion, the mother of two, who has a son, 8, and a daughter,1, said that she’s “non-traditional” when it comes to raising her children.
When Mowry was asked what her definition of “non-traditional” is she said, “Non-Traditional in my opinion means, and just like my character Cocoa on Family Reunion, I’m very much like her. It means, in my opinion, just going with the flow. Not putting so many rules and regulations on your children.”
“You just allow them to be who they are and grow into who they are instead of dictating at this age you need to be away from the bottle. At this age, you need to be out of the bed. At this age, you need to be doing this,” the actress continued.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 18: (L-R) Tia Mowry, Cairo Tiahna Hardrict, and Cree Hardrict attend The Elf on the Shelf advance screening of “Elf Pets: A Fox Cub’s Christmas Tale” at The Grove on June 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for The Elf on the Shelf)
Mowry, who says that she was whooped when she was a kid, doesn’t believe in disciplining her children in that way.
“My mom, she was very very strict. Still is. My dad. I grew up being spanked, which it’s awesome and it’s great to an extent if that’s the way you want to parent, but I see it differently,” Mowry shared.
“If you spank your children, in my opinion, it’s because of you. And where you are in your headspace. You’re impatient. You just want to get this done and over with whereas I feel like if you don’t spare the rod then it takes more time. You have to talk to them. You have to explain, but I feel like there is, in my opinion, a better outcome because you’re explaining and you’re saying why as opposed to just hitting them.”
Mowry said that she doesn’t spank her children, but her twin sister, Tamera Mowry-Housley does.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MAY 02: (L-R) Adam Housley, Tamera Mowry with son Aden Housley, Tia Mowry with son Cree Mowry-Hardrict and Cory Hardrict attend the Milky! launch event at A Pea In The Pod on May 2, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for A Pea In The Pod)
“I can’t spank mine,” Mowry said. “It’s just the way I parent, and so far it’s good,” Mowry said.
The veteran actress who has been in the business since she was a kid staring on Sister, Sister alongside Mowry- Housley, said she doesn’t want her kids to fear her.
“Not that I’m afraid of my mom, but I don’t want my children being afraid of me. I want them to be able to come to me and tell me anything,” Mowry explained.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: (L-R) Richard Roundtree, Loretta Devine, Anthony Alabi, Tia Mowry, Jordyn Raya James, Executive Producer Meg DeLoatch, Cameron J. Wright and Talia Jackson attend the Netflix “Family Reunion” LA Screening at NETFLIX on June 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Netflix)
Her new show, Family Reunion that she stars in alongside Loretta Devine hits Netflix on July 10.
“It’s a great funny show, and I’m just so proud of it,” Mowry said while talking about the new series.
“This show is for us, by us, and what I love about the writing staff is the stories are very authentic and they’re real. It makes the show very relatable and very grounded. That’s why I was really excited about doing this show.”
Glennisha Morgan is a Detroit-bred multimedia journalist and writer. She writes about intersectionality, hip-hop, pop culture, queer issues, race, feminism, and her truth. Follow her on Twitter.
