Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Will Smithrecalibrated his parenting style after daughter Willow made him realize he wasn’t taking into account anyone’s feelings.
“I was like, ‘I am parenting the s— out of these kids,’ " Smith said with a laugh of his kids reaching career success at a young age. “I felt like I was doing really, really well.”
She performed on the tour in Dublin, saying after coming off the stage, “Thank you, Daddy. I’m finished.” Smith recalled 10-year-old Willow responding when he said she had to continue performing, “It doesn’t matter to you that I’m done, Daddy?”
One morning, Willow arrived for breakfast having “shaved her entire head bald,” surprising Smith, who then picked up on his child’s feelings on the matter.
“My parenting style changed in that moment,” he added.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Will Smith and Willow Smith in March 2010.Willow Smith in December 2010.Will Smith and Willow Smith in March 2010.PHOTO: Kevin Mazur/WireImageWillow Smith in December 2010.PHOTO: Kevin Winter/Getty
Will Smith and Willow Smith in March 2010.Willow Smith in December 2010.
Will Smith and Willow Smith in March 2010.
Willow Smith in December 2010.
Will Smith and Willow Smith in March 2010.PHOTO: Kevin Mazur/WireImageWillow Smith in December 2010.PHOTO: Kevin Winter/Getty
Smith — who also shared that he had always wanted to become a dad since he was 5 years old — said he had perceived parenting as “pushing and prodding and cajoling people into the vision that I had, demanding that people do the things that I had envisioned for them.”
“That was a major transition for me in my life,” said theKing Richardactor. “I feel like Willow saved me from what could have been tragic in my life.”
Will Oliver & Kings Theatre
Willow, who recently turned 21, previously opened up about this time in her life, saying onRed Table Talkin 2018 to mom Jada Pinkett-Smith, “I definitelyhad to forgive you and Daddy for thatwhole ‘Whip My Hair’ thing. It was mostly Daddy because he was so harsh at certain times.”
“It was a couple of years, honestly. Trying to regain trust for not feeling like I was being listened to or like no one cared how I felt,” she continued at the time, adding, “And I had to forgive myself because I felt guilty because everyone is trying to make me better, trying to make my dream. But I didn’t really understand what my dream entailed.”
Willis now available wherever books are sold.
source: people.com
