Nicole Kidman shares unconventional parenting rule for teenage daughters
The actress says she would be grateful if others shared knowledge with her children 'with no agenda'
Nicole Kidman has shared a personal glimpse into her parenting routine, revealing that she makes it a point to hug her daughters for at least two minutes every day as part of maintaining emotional connection within the family.
The Oscar-winning actress, 58, spoke about her approach to motherhood during an appearance at HISTORYTalks in Philadelphia, where she discussed her close relationship with daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 15, whom she shares with ex-husband Keith Urban.
She also has two older children, Bella, 33, and Connor, 31, from her previous marriage to Tom Cruise.
“Both my daughters will kill me for saying this, but I’m like, ‘You need to hug [me] for two minutes a day,’” Kidman said.
“It releases certain chemicals in the body and everyone needs to be hugged for about two minutes a day. Did you know that?”
Beyond physical affection, Kidman emphasized the importance of emotional presence in parenting teens, describing their bond as open and communicative.
“We’re so close, the three of us, we talk about everything,” she said. “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 also explained her approach to conversations with her daughters, often giving them space to decide whether they want advice or simply someone to listen.
“I always say, ‘Do you want me to give you advice now, or are you just sort of venting?’ Primarily I get told no advice… 90 percent of the time,” she added.
Kidman has previously expressed her belief that parenting has no fixed formula, describing motherhood as an ongoing journey shaped by different personalities and experiences.
“Yeah… I think it’s just a journey. And the first thing is there’s no right and wrong. There’s just different children,” she said.
The actress has also spoken about her hope that her children benefit from positive influences outside the family, saying she would be grateful for people who share knowledge with them “with no agenda,” simply wishing them well in life.