The South African actress adopted her two daughters in 2012 and 2015
Credit: Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty; Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- During her Wednesday, April 22, appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce’s ‘New Heights’ podcast, Charlize Theron shared parenting challenges, joking about the hormonal struggles of raising her pre-teen and teenage daughters
- The actress also reflected on her experience as an only child and how it took a while to understand sibling conflicts
- Theron adopted Jackson, now 14, in 2012, and her youngest daughter, August, now 11, in 2015
Charlize Theron has opened up about the struggles of parenting teenagers.
The South African actress, 50, appeared on an episode of the New Heights podcast released Wednesday, April 22, alongside hosts Travis Kelce, 36, and Jason Kelce, 38.
Jason, who is a father to four children under the age of 6, asked if Theron had any parenting advice for him, as her kids are older.
The Atomic Blonde star adopted Jackson, now 14, in 2012 and her youngest daughter, August, now 11, in 2015.
Credit: Charlize Theron/Instagram
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“They just turn into hormonal nightmares," she jokingly replied. "Like, I'm getting my ass handed to me from the moment that I walk into the house. And all these things are gonna serve them so well in life, but I might not make it.”
Theron went on to speak about the difference between parenting older and younger kids, saying, “Nature does this beautiful thing where you think you're in your worst place right now, so that you can cope with what you have. But from where I am, I can tell you that you're in a lovely place and they're still lovely and sweet," she said of Jason's young family.
"And then one day, you're gonna walk into their room around eleven, and they're gonna just be like, ‘Why did you turn the lights on?!’” the three-time Oscar winner warned.
The single mom then “promised” that when Jason’s third child hits 11, “you're gonna have days where you just get in your car and drive around the block.”
Jason has four daughters, Wyatt, 6, Elliotte, 5, Bennett, 3, and Finnley, 1, whom he shares with his wife, Kylie Kelce, 34.
Theron spoke about how growing up as an only child meant she struggled to understand sibling relationships, adding that she gets concerned when her daughters argue.
Credit: Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty
“When they fight, I actually got worried,” she said. I was like, am I not doing the right thing? Like, they're gonna kill each other because they're both very, very strong. They're not wallflowers, and they're stubborn, and they're just firecrackers.”
She added, "When they love, they love very hard. But when they fight, I'm like, oh my god. Like, am I gonna go to jail? They won't stop.”
Theron continued that she asked her friends who grew up with sisters for advice, who then reassured her the dynamic was “cool.”
The Fast & Furious 8 star previously opened up to PEOPLE in 2018 about her decision to adopt and shared that adoption was always a top priority for her. She explained that she was inspired by her own upbringing in South Africa, which exposed her to orphanages and children in need in her community at a young age.
"Even when I was in relationships, I was always honest with my partners, that adoption was how my family would look one day," Theron said. "This was definitely not a second option for me. It was always my first."
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