Joey Lawrence Says Parenting is Exhausting
 Carlos Diaz/INF |
There’s no denying that some celebrity dads set a better example than others, and for Joey Lawrence, the dads worth emulating are the dads we hear little about. “I know with my family, we keep our private life private,” the 33-year-old Dancing With the Stars alum tells Spotlight to Nightlight. “Being a public figure, people have a right to know about your public life but [with your] private life I feel there’s kind of a sanctity. You need to keep quiet.”
Still, Joey couldn’t help but dish on the trauma he had just endured with daughter Charleston ‘Charli’ Lawrence, 3. “We had a fit this morning,” he shares. “She wanted Mike and Ikes…She found ‘em and she wanted ‘em.” As Charli repeatedly asked for “a treat,” Joey held his ground. “I said, ‘You’ve got to eat your breakfast’…I said, ‘This is your magic moo yogurt,’” he recalls. When that approach failed, however, Joey brought out a very big bargaining chip indeed!
“We were going on a trip with our friends, and I had to call them and say ‘We can’t go to Hawaii because Charli won’t eat her yogurt. [Charli cries] ‘Oh no…I’m eating it!’ It’s breakfast, I’m sweating, I got a whole workout…and that’s parenting. By 8:30 in the morning you’re exhausted…and that is parenting.”
When it comes to playing good cop vs. bad cop, Joey says that there is “a fine line” he walks just like everyone else. “I think being friends is awesome and I want to be great friends with my kids, but at the same time, there has to be respect,” he explains. “If that’s not there, then you’re never going to get it, and you’re never going to have it and when you need to have it, it’s going to be a lost cause.” Even when he’s being the disciplinarian, however, Joey makes a point to savor each and every moment spent with Charli.
“My father-in-law said something to me: ‘Sometimes the days seem long, but the years are so very short. Just keep that in mind.’ Already it’s been three years. I’m thinking about it, and I’m going, ‘Wow…Three years, it’s like a blip, and before I know it she’s going to be six, and then 13, and then you’re done.’ It’s going to go so fast.”
With that in mind, Joey says that tucking his daughter in each and every night remains a priority. “She’s a huge fan of those Little Golden Books,” he shares. “We read two …She’s allowed to read one and she pushes it to two because she loves to read, which is great, and then we say our prayers.” He adds,
“I try to get home. I’ve only missed — just from work, and stuff — three nights with her since she’s been born.”
Charli is Joey’s daughter with wife Chandie Yawn-Nelson.
Source: Spotlight to Nightlight
– Missy
- Posted on Sep 4, 09 at 4:00PM
- Permalink
- 7 Comments
September 4th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Aw, what a great article and I think he’s a good role model for other dads. Not sure about those threats/bribes lol or the whole ‘friend’ thing but man what a wonderful dad! Charli is a lucky girl (so is his wife!) <3 I'm in love
September 4th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Love the father-in-laws’ comment. So true. Parenting can be so exhausting, but, oh so rewarding!
September 4th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I agree that parenting is exhausting. I have a 3.5 year old and an 8 month old and have never been more tired in my life! I love it though and feel so blessed for my little girls.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Parenting has never been an easy thing.Yes exhausting,maybe ,but it’s very rewarding and interesting too.
You’ll begin to enjoy it when your children start to grow and you’re in your old age.
The thing is that you’ve got to play your part when they are young so as to get the reward when you’re old.That’s the payback time.
Without sowing,there’s in reaping
Sikaz
September 5th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
He seems like a good father. The one thing I don’t agree with though is the whole threat about not going on a trip because of breakfast. I think he could have found another way to do that, such as, “if you eat your breakfast you can have this treat later today”
Don’t get me wrong, I think it is good when parents use trips or fun things as almost rewards for good behavior. Well not rewards necessarily. But let’s say for instance Tommy who is continually not listening to his parents. I could see them saying “Tommy we are not going to go to the zoo this weekend if your behavior doesn’t improve” That type of thing is OK in my opinion. But pretending to cancel a vacation because she won’t eat her yogurt seems a bit silly.
I really hope what I said made sense!
September 5th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
What a great guy. He’s obviously a loving father and I’m not going to criticize his parenting techniques. I’m looking at his motives and I see nothing but honorable intentions and genuine love. What he spoke of is truly important…at least it is to me. Based on what I read, I think his little girl is going to grow up with boundaries, security, safety, stability, love and a love of God. I couldn’t ask for more for a child, personally.
September 8th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I think it is great that he has only missed 3 nights of tucking her in. And as a mother of a 4 & 7 year old I have to admit I do the same thing. Of course it is going to grandma And Papas’ house!