Dwyane Wade may have been an NBA champion, but when it comes to fatherhood, he’s still learning the ropes. “I was probably a terrible husband, but I pride myself on being a good dad,” he admits. But is being a ‘good dad’ really that simple? Whether it’s supporting Kaavia in her Girl Scout cookie sales or celebrating Zaya’s feature in Seventeen. Wade makes sure his children know just how proud he is of them. Wade has always tried to be understanding and supportive of his children, valuing his family over his on-court legacy.
Parenting hasn’t always come naturally to Wade. Previously, he reflected on his childhood, saying, “I missed the ability to be able to call my dad when I go through something.” Rather than letting his past define him, Wade has turned his story into lessons that fuel his approach to fatherhood. He leads with love, making sure his children have the guidance and support he once longed for. However, Wade acknowledges that he struggles with setting boundaries, particularly in saying ‘no’ to his children—a trait he wishes to improve!
As easy as it might seem for others, Wade admits that saying no to his kids is tough. He recalls, “We grew up in the era of automatically no. Before we left the house, you knew no.” Now, as a father, he struggles to deny his kids anything. “Oh, I’m terrible. I don’t say yes to everything, just about nine out of ten things,” he jokes. But despite his softness, he tries to balance it out by standing firm on at least one thing. But his firmness too leaves room for negotiations.
Wade has also come to realize that, despite his best efforts to do things differently, there’s value in the way he was raised. He admits, “We tried to like, okay, my parents did this. So I’m not going to do that. I’m going to do this.” But over time, he’s had a change in perspective. “Then you realize like, wait a minute, I actually turned out okay. Maybe I should do a little bit, just a little bit more of what my parents did.” While he strives to give his kids the love and structure he once lacked, he’s also learning that some of those tough lessons from his own childhood might have been necessary.
Lessons from Jenna Bush Hager & Dwyane Wade about growing up in the spotlight
What’s it like to grow up in the public eye? Jenna Bush Hager and Dwyane Wade recently shared their experiences on Today with Jenna & Friends. Wade, whose kids are growing up in the spotlight, wanted to know how Jenna handled it as the daughter of a U.S. president.
Jenna explained that her parents encouraged individuality. “They wanted us to be our own people, have our own thoughts, have our own beliefs,” she said. She emphasized the importance of allowing kids to make mistakes, whether they have famous parents or not. “They let us fail. They let us fail publicly.”
Wade admitted he’s still figuring things out. “My kids are not me even though they have my genetics. They also have another 50 percent of someone else’s DNA,” he said. “I’m learning how to navigate this in real time. So there’s no way that they know how to navigate this,” he added.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 30: Kaavia Wade wants no part of a half time interview with her dad Dwayne Wade during a Sparks WNBA game on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
He revealed that figuring stuff was the hardest with his eldest son as he didn’t know what to do incase his son or he made a mistake. “Who do we ask?’ We’ve never done this before”, explained his feeling at those times.
But in the end, he is a great father, and his kids agree! His youngest daughter, Kaavia, showed her support in an adorable way. Before Wade’s first day as a talk show co-host, she sent him a heartfelt message: “I love you so much that you’re my favorite friend ever.” Wade, clearly touched, called her his “twin” and shared that while they’re close, he also takes on the role of a strict parent when needed.
Ultimately, both Wade and Jenna agreed—raising kids in the spotlight isn’t easy, but letting them be themselves is the most valuable lesson of all.
The post “I’m Terrible”: Dwyane Wade’s Honest Parenting Confession Forces Him To Rethink Own Upbringing appeared first on EssentiallySports.