Robert De Niro is not unknown to us! From ‘Godfather’ to ‘The Irishman’ De Niro has amazed his fans and followers. Be it Ben Whittaker in ‘The Intern’ or James Conway in ‘Goodfellas', De Niro's onscreen presence has always been special.
Father to six, De Niro is a book of parenting in himself. His kids are Drena De Niro, Raphael De Niro, Aaron De Niro, Julian De Niro, Elliot De Niro and Helen De Niro.
Today on his birthday, we look at some of the relevant parenting tips shared by him:
Good moments help you forget the bad ones
“I love my children, just being with them,” he had told a US based tabloid at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2019. “[But] It’s not easy. When you have the good moments [though], you forget about the ones that weren’t good.”
Read: Parenting styles that may be turning you into a bad parent
On raising biracial kids
In conversation with Jimmy Fallon in June 2020, De Niro had said that “My children are all half black and I don’t have, even me, I take certain things for granted." He made this statement in the show at the same time when there were widespread protests over the killing of George Floyd.
“When people say that they tell their kids, ‘Keep your hands [out] when you’re stopped by any cops, keep your hands on the steering wheel, don’t make a sudden move, don’t put your hands below, don’t do this,’ you understand that," he had added and had said that it needs to change.
On giving career related advice to kids
"It is important for them to find their own lane," believes the Oscar award winner. “For my kids, I tell them, ‘If you want to be an actor or you want to do this or that, that’s fine as long as you’re happy.'
On having high ambitions
He encourages his kids to dream bigger and higher. 'Just don’t sell yourself short.’ That’s the most I would say — push yourself a little more and reach for what you really think it is you want to do. Don’t be afraid,” the actor believes.
Robert De Niro's kids
Raphael De Niro is the first child of the actor with his wife Diahnne Abbot. Following his divorce with Diahnne Abbot, De Niro dated Toukie Smith with whom he had twin sons Julian and Aaron De Niro via in vitro fertilisation.
De Niro married Grace Hightower in 1997 and welcomed son Elliot De Niro the next year. Years later, the couple welcomed Helen De Niro via surrogacy.
He is also a stepfather to Drena, the daughter of his first wife Diahnne Abbot from her previous marriage.
