Mom Knows Best
Jada admitted during her important Red Table Talk episode that she and Will had already predicted the day Jaden would ask them to live on his own, even back when he was a child. She explained, “I knew. I told Will – when Jaden was smaller – I said, ‘We’ll be lucky to keep him in the house until he’s 16.’ Because he was so mature.
He was making films… he could really manage his own life.” Apparently the little guy wasn’t just a rebel when it came to fashion, he was also fiercely independent like his mother.
A Tough Decision
Despite how difficult this transition was for Jada, she knew that it was Jaden's decision and she would respect it. Jada and Will spent so much time cultivating independence in their children, that it would be hypocritical not to let them make their own choices.
She revealed her thoughts at the time to the table. “I remember thinking to myself, as devastated as I was, I was like, ‘He’s right. The time is now; he’s 15. It’s time for him to leave the house.’”
The Backlash
While Jada and Will were beginning to open up to Jaden’s desire for his own life, not every member of the family was quite on board. Jada’s mother, Adrienne Banfield-Jones, suddenly barged into the conversation and admitted, “I would have never agreed to that.”
The doting mother was quick to defend her son’s decision and explained that they knew ever since he was a little boy that one day Jaden would demand his independence.
An Unexpected Musical Decision
Jada was always a highly independent person herself, often going against the grain and doing what she wanted instead of what society demanded. For example, instead of going down the pop route when she began her musical career, she chose to start a controversial nu-metal band that got her flack from both metal and non-metal fans alike.
Regardless of personality, there was another reason she knew that Jaden would eventually want his own home.
Anticipating Pressure
Jada also knew that the combined fame of their family likely caused a lot of pressure on the young boy. Despite popular conceptions, it’s not easy being an A-list celebrity, especially if you were born into a life rather than choosing to create it. She continued, “Being in this lifestyle – in this world – is a bubble.
He wanted out, and I understood that because I didn’t have the bubble. And I knew how much he would gain from having his freedom outside of that bubble".