Jada Pinkett Smith is shocked she actually likes her kids

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Jada Pinkett Smith seems to have heard just as many terrible things about the tween and teen years as I have. Perhaps that's why she's a bit surprised to be having a good time as her son Jaden and daughter Willow grow.

"Family's good. I will have an 18-year-old in two months," the 44-year-old actress said, while speaking of her and Will Smith's son together, during a recent visit to The Tonight Show. "But I must say, even though I have two teenagers, I still like them."

The whole family, including Will's son Trey from an earlier marriage, posed for photos together at VH1 Dear Mama event earlier this month.

Jada Pinkett Smith went on to elaborate, "You know, you have to love your children, but it doesn't mean you have to like them—especially when they're teenagers, OK? You have to love them.

"I know when I was a teenager my mother, from 13 to about 40, I made a turn; she didn't like me. I was a wild child on the streets of Baltimore. That's real talk. Compared to my children and what I was doing, they're angels."

I really ought to ask my mom what she thought of me as a teen, but I think I might be a bit afraid of the answer. For the most part I remember being pretty angelic, but every once in a while she and my dad will make little jokes and share smirks now that my boys have a touch of the sass. I get the sense they remember me differently than I do.

With sons ages 11 and 9, I'm not yet officially the parent of a teen. I think that's why some who are completely in the trenches are a little annoyed by my optimism about my boys growing older, but all I can say for now is I like this way better than I ever liked having little ones. I felt a tremendous depth of responsibility for them as babies and toddlers, but like them? I suppose the answer would depend on if you asked me when the roller coaster of our lives in those years was on a down or upswing.

Today I love that my kids are now a part of my life rather than their needs completely dominating it. I love that they're making friends, exploring the neighborhood, and for the most part staying out of trouble. I love that they're funny.

We have been through some hard bits, and just about every afternoon one of us has an after school hangry moment. My fingers are crossed this is the beginning of great evolving relationships with my sons, and not the calm before the storm -- but I know I may someday be in tears having to eat all these words about enjoying the tween and teen years.

How much did you anticipate liking your kids? What's the reality turned out to be?

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Photos: Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock

 

A look back at just how much the Smith kids have grown over the years:

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