I asked Jerry O'Connell what brings him the most joy as a parent to his five-year-old twin girls, Dolly and Charlie. "When they are quiet," he quips. He goes on to say, "Watching them learn something new like swimming -- training wheels coming off are next. Also watching them do adult-like things like share. They may have a chance!"
A few months back, I saw the actor guest co-hosting on ABC's The View. Whenever the subject of kids and family came up, he addressed the topic with a sense of fun and humor that honed in on some of the craziness that goes along with being a parent.
This made me want to learn more about his role as a husband and a father, as well as his role in the new play, American Hero, a pensive comedy about "sandwich artists" loosing their grasp on the American dream, for which he is getting great reviews.
You Can Take the Girl Out Of Calabasas...
Like many in the entertainment business, O'Connell is mindful about the values his girls might pick up being at the epicenter of celebrity culture.
What are the values he wants most to pass on to Dolly and Charlie? "I just want my kids to be grateful. We are raising our girls in Calabasas -- go ahead and look who grew up there -- and we just want to make sure they have their priorities right," he states with a mix of resoluteness and humor.
He feels that fathers today seem to be more involved in their children's lives than when he was young, which is one way of ensuring that kids grow up with the desired values: "You see a lot of Dads around the playground these days."
On Getting Time With His Wife, Rebecca Romijn
In 2007, O'Connell married actress and model Rebecca Romijn. No doubt for him, fatherhood has changed their relationship and who he is as a husband. "I cherish the moments I get alone with my wife. I start crying. I am joking -- kind of."
Romijn and O'Connell do have different parenting styles. He's the more laid back one, while she's the disciplinarian. "I have trouble following through with punishments. Our girls are five so they are too adorable right now to get mad at. I'm sure that will change when they're teenagers," he says.
The Best Advice About Parenting He's Received
The best advice he got about parenting came from a friend who told him, "'They're gonna be who they're gonna be.' He was right. You can teach manners and take them to dance class, but the way they were wired at birth is the same way they are today at five. It's pretty crazy. I used to think my parents were responsible for how I thought until I had kids. Now I realize they had nothing to do with my issues. Sorry Mom and Dad!"
What He Was Like as a Kid
O'Connell was raised in New York City by his mom, Linda, an art teacher, and his father, Michael, an advertising agency art director. He has a younger brother, Charlie, who is also an actor.
O'Connell is well known for his role in the 1986 classic film, Stand By Me when he was 11-years-old. I wanted to know what he was really like as a kid and how it compares to how his kids are today. "I was a pretty outgoing kid. That may be a nice way of saying annoying. My kids are way more polite than I was," he says.
Coping with Parental Anxiety
At each developmental stage, there is something new to worry about with kids. O'Connell says, "Now that our girls are five and graduating from preschool -- class of '14 rocks! -- a lot of the anxieties of being a parent to toddlers has calmed. I am sure a whole list of new anxieties will pop up in kindergarten, but my wife and I have done so-so, so far!"
Currently, O'Connell is enjoying being back on stage in the play, American Hero. "Having an audience in front of you is the most fun an actor can have. It never gets boring because each new show brings a new crowd," he says.
In terms of his American Hero schedule, his parents have been helpful with watching their girls: "Grandparents make the best babysitters, and they come at the right price!"
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.