Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry is making it clear that while she deeply loves and protects her two children, she wants them to forge their own paths in life. During a roundtable discussion for her upcoming movie Never Let Go, Berry, 58, opened up about her approach to parenting her daughter, Nahla Ariela, 16, and son, Maceo-Robert, 10. She shared that she encourages independence and self-reliance as they mature, emphasizing the importance of them living their own lives.
“I can’t wait until they grow up and have their own life,” Berry said, according to PEOPLE. “I can’t wait to see who they’ll become and what they’ll do. I just want them to be them.” Her message to her children is simple—she’s proud of whatever they choose to do, as long as they follow their own path.
The Monster’s Ball star highlighted her belief that it’s vital for her kids to make their own way in the world. “I don’t want them to depend on me,” Berry explained. “I hope I’m infusing them with enough gumption and giving them enough tools to go out into the world and make their own way.” While she wants them to be independent, she also expressed that she’s always available whenever they need her.
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Berry’s dedication to fostering independence in her children is balanced with a nurturing side, especially as she watches her daughter navigate the challenges of teenage life. She revealed that Nahla recently experienced her first heartbreak, something many parents can relate to witnessing. “She just was in a thing and she got her heart broken,” Berry shared, candidly admitting that watching her daughter go through this pain has been difficult.
Though it’s tough for Berry to see her daughter hurt, she recognizes that it’s part of growing up. “We’ve all been there,” she said. “And knowing that in six months’ time, she’s going to forget about it.” Despite knowing that time will heal her daughter’s heart, Berry said it’s hard not to feel her daughter’s pain. “A little part of me is dying and I can’t tell her that because she’ll just say, ‘Mom, you don’t understand.’”
Instead of offering advice that might feel out of touch, Berry has opted to meet her daughter where she is emotionally. “I just have to sit in it with her and that’s really hard to do,” Berry said, describing the challenge of sympathizing while allowing her daughter to work through her feelings. “This sucks balls,” Berry told Nahla, letting her know she understands that her pain is real.
While Berry’s parenting philosophy focuses on giving her children the tools to navigate life independently, she remains a present and compassionate mother, ready to support them through the ups and downs.
