Not So Traditional
As an example, Will has often seen his son, Jaden, wear various articles of clothing that are traditionally considered as feminine. The young boy has been spotted wearing everything from skirts to full-blow dresses. Despite some public backlash, his father fully supports whatever Jaden decides to wear.
In a recent interview on BBC Radio 1Xtra, Will told the host that he views his son as “100 percent fearless”, and explained just how proud he is of Jaden’s various life choices.
Father and Daughter Boundaries
During his interview with Jimmy Fallon, Will explained to the host, “As a father, you do not want a circle of safety with a 15-year-old daughter. You do not… I’m like, ‘Baby, you need to start lying!’”
While they were being honest with each other, the A-list actor also told the truth to his daughter and asked her to talk about certain subjects exclusively with her mother Jada. He joked in the interview, “[I’m like,] ‘Nope! You and your mom can talk about that one!’”
The Trendsetters
The Smiths' free and relaxed approach when it came to raising their children, along with a strong push for authentic communication caused some unintended consequences. Jaden and Willow often choose their own wacky hairdos and fashion decisions.
Despite pressures from the media, Will and Jada have always supported their children’s decisions when it came to fashion, although there were admittedly some very strange ones.
Like Father, Not Really Like Son
It’s not easy to see your son down a path that is extremely different from your own, as Will Smith is mostly known for being your everyday macho guy, and wouldn’t be caught dead in women’s clothing. He added, “[Jaden] will do anything. As a parent, it’s scary; it’s really terrifying. But he is completely willing to live and die by his artistic decisions, and he doesn’t concern himself with what people think.”
It’s quite brave and impressive that both Will and Jada manage to curb their fears and allow their son to express himself freely, but they believe there’s a good reason for it…
An Absolute Fearless Family
Will and Jada believe that letting your kids express themselves freely is one of the most important things for helping them cultivate their artistic voice. He explained, “There’s a really powerful internal quality as an artist that we encourage. You gotta get out on the edge, [and] you have to try things.
You have to be comfortable doing things that people don’t agree with, and you have to be comfortable doing things that could fail.”