You have to trust your kids. They have to experience life, and you just hope you've provided them a foundation for what's right and what isn't.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
There's a level of protection you need to give to your kids, and then sometimes you need to just let them figure out things on their own.
I have three goddaughters - I'm not sure why they trust me, because I have no experience with children - but I try.
Children need to trust and depend upon those who are responsible for them.
You tell your kids that no matter what, you set your goals and you go for them. Whatever it is you achieve, never give up. You want your kids to have that good attitude, the confidence, and the will power to believe in themselves.
When I go speak to these kids through my foundation and am able to sit down and tell them some of the things that I've been through, they can look up and relate to me, and they can understand the feelings I had that are similar to what they're going through and feeling.
I think the best thing that you can do with your kids is to talk to them like they're human beings, not like they're children and they don't know what they're doing.
To get a child's trust - you may know or not - is a very hard thing to do. They're so used to not believing adults - because adults tell tales and lies all the time.
When you have kids, they are the consistent things in your life. They don't change no matter what's going on. They love you. They are more honest than anybody will be.
What I do, it's part of my job, but you want to bring your kids up the right way and give them everything - to be there for them and have that connection.
You have to really respect what your kids are doing with their kids and how they're raising them. You can't push your way into areas where you shouldn't be saying anything. You have to always remember they're not your own kids. Play with them, love them, spoil them to death - then hand them back.