Melissa Joan Hart Teaches Sons Respect

Sara Jaye Weiss/Startraks

Melissa & Joey star Melissa Joan Hart knows what she wants — and her babies got it!

“Respect for themselves and others,” the actress, 34, tells Babble when asked the number one lesson she’d like to impart to sons Mason Walter, 4½, and Braydon ‘Brady’ Hart, 2½.

“It’s so important because respect has to do with everything in your life,” she continues. “It goes for your family, your elders, when you’re out in public, when you’re in school. Respect is the one thing that covers all the bases.”

To that end, Hart singles out consistency as the cornerstone of her parenting philosophy.

“Whether it’s potty training or breastfeeding, nap schedules or discipline … It’s the best way to hit home with your kids what it is you really want them to pick up,” she explains.

She is quick to clarify, however, that she’s no parenting expert.

“It would be great as a mom to have a script written for you so you could have all the answers,” she muses.

Now that she’s back on the set of a television sitcom, Hart says there is at least one decision that is easy to make.

“Acting pulls me away a lot [and] it’s an everyday battle to figure what takes priority and how I can squeeze everything in,” she shares. “But my top priority is that every day I want to play with my boys. Whether I fit in gym time, get my nails done or work, I make sure I spend time with my boys.”

Comments

I like her view on parenting. Respect is very, very important, we use it everyday in our lives and it is something that should be taught at an early age. I work in daycare and I tend to see lot of parents who just don’t bother to teach their children about respect. They seem to think that their kids will just magically learn about respect one day. I’m glad she tries to spend time with her family as much as possible, they grow up so fast and they need that time with their mom and/or dad, attention simple as playing everyday for half an hour with kids means a lot to them. Anyways, love Melissa, her boys are adorable

- nella on October 6th, 2010

I think it’s wonderful that Melissa is trying to juggle both her family and career. While I am normally of the mindset that a wife should stay at home I also understand that her job keeps her away from her children at times. It sounds to me like Meilissa is going about being a working Mom to the best of her ability.

- Tee on October 6th, 2010