Schwarzenegger’s memorable parenting moments
In the interview, Schwarzenegger recounted some of his most memorable parenting moments, including a hilarious tale involving his daughter Katherine.Apparently, young Katherine had her shoes placed in the wrong spot, and when she didn’t heed her father’s advice, he took an unusual approach. “The third time, he burned them in front of me, and I cried,” Katherine revealed. What’s even more amusing is that she now employs the same shoe discipline with her own daughter, Lyla.
But that wasn’t the only unique incident in Schwarzenegger’s parenting repertoire. He shared an amusing anecdote about his eldest son, Patrick. When a nine-year-old Patrick failed to make his bed, Schwarzenegger resorted to tossing the entire mattress out of the window. It was a lesson in responsibility that left a lasting impression.
Taking control of shower time
Schwarzenegger also tackled the age-old battle over shower time with his son Patrick. Initially, he attempted to set time limits on showers, but when that didn’t work, he turned to a creative solution inspired by showers in Munich. He installed a timer that would trigger an icy-cold shower once the time ran out. The result? A surprise scream from Patrick and a new understanding of shower discipline.
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The bigger picture
Despite the humor and occasional shock value of these stories, Schwarzenegger emphasized that his parenting techniques were never about being a strict “drill sergeant.” Instead, he wanted his children to learn the value of responsibility and appreciate what they had. Growing up with very little himself, he instilled the importance of taking care of their belongings, even if they had more than one pair of shoes.
The actor said, “And so when he got the shower on and he was whistling and singing in there and thinking Daddy’s not around, all the sudden the ice-cold shower came on. And all of a sudden, we heard downstairs, the scream.”
Now, these unique parenting tales have become cherished family jokes. Katherine even proudly boasts about how tough her father was. It goes to show that, in the Schwarzenegger household, tough love and a touch of humor have helped shape a strong family bond.