Eva Mendes drops reason for bombshell parenting rule.
Eva Mendes is known for being fiercely private about her family life.
But in a recent interview, the actress opened up about the strict rules she follows while raising her daughters with partner Ryan Gosling.
Mendes, who shares Esmeralda, 10, and Amada, 8, with Gosling, isn’t shy about her unconventional parenting approach.
Eva Mendes breaks silence on her strict parenting style.
And it turns out, she’s pretty “extreme” when it comes to one major rule—her kids aren’t allowed to use smartphones or social media.
The “Hitch” star spoke with The Sunday Times, dropping bombshells about how she runs her household.
The actress revealed that she equates giving her daughters internet access to putting them in serious danger.
“To me, putting my kid on the internet is like saying, ‘Go walk down the street in the middle of the night. You’ll be fine,’” she said.
Eva Mendes sparks debate over kids and tech.
Mendes’ candid remarks have sparked a lot of attention, especially given the growing debate over children and tech usage.
Her daughters, who are homeschooled, are raised under strict guidelines that keep them away from the online world.
“I know that sounds extreme,” she admitted. “But that’s what I feel.”
Eva Mendes credits tough upbringing for parenting decisions.
Mendes’ approach to parenting stems from her own upbringing and life experiences.
She grew up in a low-income Cuban-American family in Miami and faced plenty of struggles, both financially and emotionally.
Mendes credits her late brother Juan Carlos with keeping her on the right path as a teen.
She recalled how her brother was protective, threatening to “kick any guy’s ass” if she acted out.
This fear kept Mendes out of trouble, and her upbringing deeply influenced her current parenting style.
Ryan Gosling’s humble upbringing exposed.
Ryan Gosling’s upbringing wasn’t all that different.
Born in Ontario, Canada, Gosling’s family also dealt with financial hardship.
Mendes explained how both she and Gosling “fought hard” to reach the success they now have and want their daughters to understand that privilege.
“I tell them all the time what we didn’t have growing up,” Mendes shared.
“But they’ll never truly know what it’s like unless they experience it.”
Eva Mendes strives to keep her daughters grounded.
Mendes’ goal is to keep her daughters grounded despite their privileged lifestyle.
A big part of that is ensuring they develop a strong sense of self-worth, without relying on validation from the internet.
In fact, Mendes has implemented other unique parenting strategies that focus on self-esteem.
She encourages her girls to do chores and contribute to the household, helping them stay connected to reality.
However, the actress worries about what she might be passing down subconsciously.
“I still have all this anxiety and I see myself passing it on to my children,” she admitted.
Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling’s private family life highlighted.
Mendes, who took a break from acting to focus on raising her daughters, knows her past experiences affect her parenting choices.
Mendes and Gosling, who met in 2011 while filming The Place Beyond the Pines, have managed to keep their relationship and family life incredibly private.
The couple is rarely seen out with their daughters, but they made a rare public appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In the same interview, Mendes gushed about Gosling, crediting him for making her feel “sexy” in her 50s.
“The way my man looks at me … it’s like, oh my God,” Mendes revealed.
But while their relationship might be picture-perfect, Mendes is focused on raising her girls with a strong sense of responsibility—minus the tech distractions.