Actor Mark Wahlberg is giving credit where it’s due, commending his wife and mothers everywhere, even on Father’s Day.
In an interview with Fox News Digital over the weekend, Mr. Wahlberg, who shares four children with wife Rhea Durham, said it’s “all about the moms.”
“I’m gonna salute all the other dads, and then we’re gonna go right back and give all the credit to all the moms,” he said.
He added that while fathers are deserving of a day of honor, mothers should be celebrated year round.
“We get one day. Every other day should be Mother’s Day,” he said.
The 53-year-old went on to honor the memory of his own father, a Korean War veteran who died in 2008, as an influential figure in his life.
Being the youngest of nine children, the actor spent the majority of his time growing up with his dad. He would accompany him to his job as a delivery driver, bringing lunches to schools, and admired how hard he worked to put food on the table, he said.
Mr. Wahlberg explained how important fatherhood is to him due to his upbringing, and the example he hopes to set for his daughters Ella, 20, and Grace, 14, and sons Michael, 18, and Brendan, 15.
“I just want them to figure out what it is they want to do and then pursue it with all, with everything that they have, to be passionate about it and put in the work, and the best thing I can do is be an example and show them how hard I’m willing to work to be successful and to make my dreams come true.”
He emphasized that success does not come easily, but after going through his own hardships he realized that with hard work, anything is possible.
“If you work hard, there isn’t anything you can’t accomplish,” he said. “I try to encourage people, despite where they come from, the obstacles they have to overcome, there isn’t anything you can’t accomplish if you’re willing to do the work.”
Importance of Parenting
From the moment he met his wife, the actor said, he always held true to his values in being the best man he could possibly be for her and his family. In a 2010 interview with People, Mr. Wahlberg reflected on his parenting style.“What I do every day is pray for the strength to be a good servant, father, and husband. I ask for the ability to raise my kids, to teach and protect them, and to be disciplined and firm and loving and nurturing. It can be a fine line, so I ask God for the strength to not lose my patience with my children,” he said.
“My parents didn’t have much when we were growing up, but they always did what they could to make sure that they gave us a great Christmas. They always seemed able to turn our difficult situation into a happy and joyous occasion,” he added.
Meanwhile, his wife took to social media to express her gratitude, sharing a number of pictures of Mr. Wahlberg with their children.
In March, the actor boasted about moving his family out of California and settling in Las Vegas. He said they are loving life in Nevada, adding “it’s a place where my kids can thrive and do their thing and pursue their interests.”
The Wahlbergs joined a growing list of celebrities who have made the move out of the Golden State, including Sylvester Stallone, Matthew McConaughey, and celebrity couples such as Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake and Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, among others.
The majority have moved to predominantly red states and cited being out of the spotlight or a better environment for raising children as reasons for the change.
