Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Red Table Talk, a Facebook web series, has become famous for its raw and honest discussions. The most recent episode, which starred Jada’s husband Will Smith, was the most honest and touching of the bunch. Jada and Will had a heart-to-heart conversation in honor of Father’s Day.
Will revealed in this episode that his first son Trey was born to his ex-wife Sheree Zampino when he was only 24 years old. As he cried, he admitted that he had never thought he could be a good father and that he had always had reservations about becoming a parent.
The parents discussed the backlash they’ve gotten for how they raise their kids, particularly Trey, Jaden, and Willow, all of whom are working at relatively young ages. People misread their goal, Jada said; they thought they were pushing their children into the spotlight. Instead, they saw it as a chance to help their kids develop in a special way by mixing work into their formal schooling.
The Smiths decided to homeschool their kids to make up for the time Will spent away from them owing to his acting profession. Will said that spending time with his family was more important than going to college.
Will’s approach to parenting and how it was shaped by his own father were also themes of this episode. Will admitted that he didn’t always do it right, but he did talk about times when he had to change his methods to accommodate his kids’ preferences. He spoke of how Jaden’s commitment to his role in the Karate Kid had been an inspiration to him, and how Willow had rejected his idea of her having a number one record in favor of forging her own route in the music industry.
At the end of their touching talk, the Smith children surprised their dad with meaningful Father’s Day video messages. Will pondered the ephemeral nature of parenting and concluded that it is more art than science. He gushed over the great experience they were having as a family.
This Red Table Talk program gave viewers an insight into the Smiths’ private lives and the challenges they face as parents. It highlighted their maturation, flexibility, and, most significantly, their strong familial tie.
