Emmy Rossum shares parenting philosophy she hopes stays with her kids forever
The actress shared that she wants her kids to grow up with confidence and self-compassion
Emmy Rossum has opened up about the valuable lesson she hopes her two children will carry with them for life, revealing she is teaching them to be kind to themselves and become “their own best friend.”
The Shameless actress, who shares a 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son with husband Sam Esmail, said becoming a mother has changed the way she speaks to herself because she believes children absorb more than parents realise.
“I feel like they can read my mind sometimes,” Rossum said during a recent People in 10 interview. “So [I’m being] more careful about how I talk to myself in my head.”
The actress explained that negative self-talk, often fueled by social media, is something she wants her children to avoid.
“I think too much time online can cause us to be unkind to ourselves, through compare and despair,” Rossum said. “I think it’s important to talk to ourselves kindly, to be our own best friend.”
She added that while she will always support her children, she wants them to grow into confident individuals who can rely on themselves and each other.
“I’m always going to be their best friend, but when I’m not here, I want them to have each other and be their own best friend,” she said.
Rossum has previously described motherhood as a transformative experience, saying it has taught her generosity and inspired her to think about the kind of world she wants to leave for her children.
The actress and Esmail, who married in 2017, are raising their family in New York City, where they say they've built a grounded life for their children.
Professionally, Rossum will next star as FBI agent Alice Black in Hulu's upcoming thriller Furious, premiering on July 27.