Sarah Jessica Parker discusses James Wilkie in PARADE
Sarah Jessica Parker appears on the cover of the latest issue of PARADE magazine in promotion of Sex & the City, which will be out on May 30th. The 43-year-old actress discussed her son James Wilkie, 5, her and husband Matthew Broderick’s parenting styles, hand-me-downs, growing up poor, and different religions James is being exposed to.
Click below for the interview highlights.
On James Wilkie’s wardrobe (yes, she still barely buys anything new):
He only wears hand-me-downs because I’ve got all these oldernephews. That’s the God’s honest truth. Plus, my mother saved all mybrothers’ clothes. I am not kidding. I don’t think I’ve ever bought himany clothes. Maybe a new winter coat. I do buy him shoes, becauseeverybody’s feet are different.
On growing up near the poverty line:
I was really lucky. I think that if I had been raised a child ofprivilege, I wouldn’t be the working person I am today. I have a greatappreciation for work. I think it’s incumbent on my husband and me toreally stress and to show James Wilkie by example what it means to oweyour community something and that he is not entitled to the benefits ofour hard work.
That doesn’t mean that I’m withholding or keeping fromhim the joys of childhood. I’m not Joan Crawford. But I also don’t wanthim to think the world he lives in is the real world. It’s not.
On who is the stricter parent — Sarah Jessica or Matthew?:
I am. Does it surprise anybody that I would be? It’s not thatMatthew spoils him, but he just has a different way of parenting than Ido. I was never spoiled. Oh, dear no. I was the baby of the family onlyfor a wee time, and I was lucky to get any attention, let alone bespoiled.
A few years ago, I found all our baby books. My two olderbrothers’ baby books were filled with pictures. Then we found mine, andit only had my name written in it. There was nothing else in there. Notone picture. So there you have it. I’ve been starved for attention eversince!
On caring for James Wilkie:
I’m his primary caregiver. I put him to bed every night. I get himdressed. I’m the one who gives him his toothbrush. I take him to schoolevery morning. He’s very small, but his personality is 6 feet 4. I’mspending the whole summer with him out at our beach house.
On the wide-range of religion their son has been exposed to (Sarah Jessica and Matthew consider themselves cultural Jews):
Well, your worldview is one of a Jew. You feel persecuted. (laughsironically) And you certainly recognize persecution when it’s happeningto others. You have a lot of empathy. It’s bagels. It’s whitefishsalad. But we also have a babysitter who is a devout, devout Catholicfrom Brazil, and she’s had some influence on [James] as well. She saysprayers with him. I say prayers with him too every night.
Oh, heavens. He’ll probably end up a Unitarian. I go to an Episcopalchurch on Easter to hear the music. I think that’s rather glorious.Matthew’s sister is an Episcopal priest. And his other sister is ashrink. So James Wilkie’s got it covered on that side of the family!
Source: PARADE; Cover image courtesy PARADE.
See exclusive web photos of Sarah Jessica here.
- Posted on May 9, 08 at 9:43AM
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- 8 Comments
May 9th, 2008 at 10:25 am
What a hilarious interview! Two very interesting, intelligent people raising a very lucky little boy!
May 9th, 2008 at 10:55 am
OH HOW DO I BEGIN TO COUNT THE WAYS I ADORE SJP… she is one of the few celebrities whose interviews i always read and who i will buy the magazine b/c she is in it. She is always so intelligent and interesting. I think she just gets it right. She gives a good interview without revealing too much of her personal life and i love that. Celebs are so secretive that they are sometimes a bore..no i do not want the itimate details of your life but if your being interviewed please show up with something interesting to say
May 9th, 2008 at 11:02 am
What a nice American family. Intelligent, modest, attractive, great parental skills. curious. I could go on.
Their son is just so cute. I look forward to seeing more pics and hearing the anecdotal tales.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:07 am
You bet Mimi. About his Brazilian babysitter: I know James knows some Portuguese, which is pretty funny, because I saw her interview with a Portuguese journalist a couple of years ago, and he already knows a traditional Portuguese and Brazilian nursery song called “Atirei o Pau ao gato”, which literally means “I throwed the stick to the cat”, and it goes “Atirei o pau ao gato, mas o gato não morreu, dona Chica assutou-se com o berro, com o berro que o gato deu, miau!” (“I throwed the stick to the cat, but the cat didn’t die, Mrs Chica got scared, with the scream, with the scream the cat gave, moew!”).
And he says obrigado and those simple things, oh gosh, I’d love to see.
Great interview, I also wore used clothes, and look at me, I’m very well, thankyou.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I can’t wait for the Sex and The City movie to start!
They are such a sweet family. I loved her interview on The View where she mentioned James’ interest in politics! He seems like a very smart 5 year old.
Anyone else here have anything from her clothing line? I think the quality and style for the price is great.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Great interview, but the baby book story she shared with us makes me a little sad for her. She’s doing what I would do – make fun of it. But other than that, great interview.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
What exactly is a cultural Jew?
May 20th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Hey terri,
A “cultural Jew” is someone who doesn’t necessarily belong to a temple and go every sabbath, but they partake in the major holiday’s and food etc.