Gavin Rossdale says he's relinquished 'all self-importance'

When it came time to prepare for fatherhood, Gavin Rossdale recently told People he took a less-is-more approach.  Despite the warnings of well-meaning friends and family, the 42-year-old musician and his wife, singer Gwen Stefani, skipped the reference aisle and relied on instinct alone in caring for their now 2-year-old son Kingston James McGregor.

I’d been around babies 12 minutes my entire life. I didn’t read any books. And we had friends of ours who were like, ‘You guys are crazy, you’ve got to read books.’  It’s so natural you just fall into it and you find your way. It’s terrifying and exciting and brilliant.

To be a dad, Gavin said, means "you have to relinquish all self-importance."  But he’s not complaining!  Taking the focus off yourself and instead putting it on your child is "not a bad thing," Gavin noted, adding,

You don’t have time to think about yourself. I used to wallow in introspection. I don’t have time to be that guy now. It’s all about just being there, totally and wholly, for someone else. And that’s fine.

I take him to Gymboree. I’m the only man, terrifying the chicks. It’s so funny. And I love cooking for Kingston. He is a carnivore: anything he can hold and eat at the same time, like a chicken leg — he’s quite primal like that.

The couple expects their second child, a delivery surprise, in mid-to-late summer. 

Source:  People, June 16th issue; Photo by Flynet.

Comments

What Gavin said is SO true, so I have found! Definetly the only thing that has worked for me since the day my baby was born is pure and simple instinct. I just watch the baby and respond to the needs that he displays at whatever time or place he displays them – its really simple when you think about it – buying books and taking advice only gets you so far – its just following what your heart tells you do to for the baby is what has worked best for me! And people always tell me I am an amazing parent, so I guess it must be working My son is happy and cared for and I haven’t read a single book about parenting so far not had I spent much time around babies before his arrival either. Totally agree Gavin! Love this family SOOO much, Kingston is SO cute, and I am looking forward to the arrival of the next one!

- Charlie on June 7th, 2008

Gavin seems like SUCH an amazing Dad to Kingston. He seems like he really stepped up and is very hands on with his son!

I know he has a biological daughter but in all fairness, he had no idea for the first 15 years of her life, and she already has a Dad, so I’m not gonna hate on him for that one

- Natasha on June 7th, 2008

Does Gavin also have a 20yo daughter in the UK? Some model or something.. Did he not raise her at all? Whenever he comments it seems like he is doing all this for the first time. Just curious!
I love this family!!

- Alicia on June 7th, 2008

No, he had no idea she was even his daughter until 2004. She was the product of a one night stand, and he hasn’t really liked how it was all handled. He just made his first public comments on it recently, here’s the CBB post -

http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/05/gavin-rossdal-2.html

- Sarah on June 7th, 2008

I just love this family, cant wait to see the new baby and soon too poor Gwen looks like her back is killing her.

- sarah on June 7th, 2008

He seems like a good dad

- brooke on June 7th, 2008