Gabrielle Union Says She Embraces Transparency And Authenticity In Her Parenting

In a heartfelt revelation, actress Gabrielle Union, 51, shares her commitment to being her most authentic self with her children, as detailed in this week’s issue of PEOPLE. As a mother to daughter Kaavia, 5, and stepmother to husband Dwyane Wade’s three kids Zaire, 21, Zaya, 16, and Xavier, 10, along with being the legal guardian of Dwayne’s nephew, Dahveon Morris, 21, Gabrielle emphasizes the importance of transparency in parenting.

The actress candidly reflects on the tendency of parents to maintain an illusion of control and omniscience, fearing judgment and striving to present a flawless facade. However, she believes that such behavior hinders genuine connection and understanding within the family unit.

“I think a lot of times as parents, we never want to admit that we don’t know. We haven’t had a clue sometimes and sometimes we need help or sometimes we have to search out the information. We want to appear to be in control, all-knowing, at all times,” she stated.

Acknowledging her own experience with her mother’s delayed storytelling, Gabrielle expresses her desire for her children to know her authentically from a young age. She emphasizes the value of sharing fears, hopes, dreams, and personal stories to foster deeper relationships.

“We don’t also really want to be that transparent because we’re afraid of being judged and we want to be able to control how other people see us. And all that does is create an illusion of who we are and it closes the door to real intimacy within the family, real information and a real understanding of who your parents are,” she shared.

She went further to reveal that her mother, who is turning 77, is just telling her stories that she wishes she had been told earlier in life.

“I don’t want to learn about you at 77, I could have had a whole different relationship with you had I gotten these stories and this information and your fears, your hopes, your dreams when I was growing up,” she said.

This pushes her to have a different kind of relationship with her children, as she said, “So I want Kaavia and Zaya to know me, not the illusion of what I want them to think.”

In a recent family outing documented by Dwayne, the couple accompanied their daughter Zaya on a tour of the University of Washington in Seattle. Dwayne Instagram post captured their joyous exploration of the campus, showcasing moments of bonding and excitement as they navigated the college visit season together.