-year-old Rob Lowe has his share of life experiences, entering the national spotlight early at 18 and going on to start a family with his wife of over three decades, Sheryl Berkoff. The couple shares two children and, with both kids well into adulthood, Lowe has some advice to other parents.
Lowe and Berkoff first had Matthew Edward in 1993, followed by John Owen in 1995. Both sons appeared beside Lowe starting in 2017 in a reality TV series, The Lowe Files. Outside of this, John has gone on to become a producer and actor in his own right, while Matthew is a lawyer.
Rob Lowe shares advice to other parents from his own experience
A part of deciding the best wisdom to follow comes down to the age of the child, Lowe tells parents. When they’re in that 15 to 18 age range, “keeping your eyes open” is key. “They’ve got to figure out their relationship with drugs and alcohol — and just being on top of it, not living in a dream state,” said Lowe in an interview with E! News.
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But Lowe also feels there is some code of conduct parents can abide by every single day they are parents. “A lot of advice is leading by example, right?” he noted. “My father is 83, he still works, still goes to the office, is still practicing law. I inherited that work ethic and drive.”
Be involved and be upfront
Lowe has maintained a busy work schedule but he often tries to remain a part of his sons’ lives. “When they were little, we would do things that we could all three do together,” he shared. “We go to the beach, maybe we go fishing. Now because they’re adults and they’re out in the world and live their own lives, I’m just thrilled that I get them coming back to the house.”
But proximity doesn’t mean parents can ignore what’s in front of them. Lowe warns, “Your kids are out there and they’re partying. Get real. And every parent is like, ‘My kids aren’t, but their friends are.’ Have your eyes open, be realistic, and know that that’s part of it.” For Lowe, maintaining a sharp eye means no boundaries; he did not allow for personal privacy until his kids could pay their own bills, saying, “I need to know what’s going on. Knock on wood, it worked for us.”
He continued, “Your job is literally to keep them alive and to not do something stupid while they hopefully figure out how to navigate that part of their lives. Don’t be afraid to step in.”
Do you agree with this advice?
