James Van Der Beek On Parenting – ‘We Could All Stand To Be More In The Moment’
Beloved actor James Van Der Beek, of Dawson’s Creek and the more recent CSI:Cyber fame, is known by his contagious smile and perpetually sunny disposition. Though acting is a large part of his life, Van Der Beek holds his wife and three children in high esteem, and makes spending time with them a priority.
This example of hands-on parenting was demonstrated by James Van Der Beek’s father. Full of wisdom and the desire to lead his son in the right direction, the elder Van Der Beek took time to understand James, offering thoughtful advice rather than dictatorial demands. James shares a pivotal moment with his dad, which he credits as inspiration for his own parenting style.
“I remember my first year of football. I really didn’t like it and I said, ‘I don’t think I want to do this anymore.’ And my dad said, ‘You know what? If you don’t want to do this after this year, I have absolutely no problem with you doing whatever you want. You can find another activity and I’ll completely support you. But, I do think you should ride out this season. I don’t think it’s good to start something and quit in the middle. You’ve got teammates; you made a commitment. See the commitment through, and if you don’t want to play next year, that’s fine.'”
James Van Der Beek and wife Kimberly have three children, Olivia, 4, Joshua, 3, and Annabel, 1. Through the chaos of crazy work schedules and a houseful of young children, the couple choose to focus on positive, memorable moments.
“We are taking it day by day. You learn how to embrace the chaos and appreciate every moment and give up the expectation that it’s not going to be chaotic. They’re just chock full of beautiful, new experiences at every stage of the game. It’s always surprising and it’s always, basically, the best thing in life… Kids… when they’re playful, they’re in the moment. And I think we could all stand to be more in the moment.”
This is not just lip service, or an act by a talented performer. One can actually feel the love and see the pride in his eyes as he speaks of his family. This video features James in an interview last year on Wendy Williams.
Annabel paid Daddy a visit on set today! pic.twitter.com/M11KdRXqjc
— Kimberly VanDerBeek (@vanderkimberly) January 14, 2015
It may be surprising to find that such a successful celebrity lives a more old-fashioned, traditional life, pouring life and love into his wife and kids, especially in this world where a large portion of actors are full of their own importance. If more parents were like James and Kimberly Van Der Beek, the world would be a better place.
[Image via People]
