Hi there,

I was scrolling through BuzzFeed the other day (yes, I still do that), and I came across an article about celebrity parenting rules. You know, the kind of stuff that makes you go "Wait, what?" followed immediately by "Actually, that tracks."

Some of these rules are genuinely smart. Others? Let's say they scream privilege so loudly that I had to turn my volume down.

So I decided to do what any reasonable person would do, rank them. All of them. From "this actually makes sense" to "you've got to be kidding me."

Grab your coffee. This one's pure entertainment..

1: Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard

The Rule: 

Their two daughters share a room, even though they could easily afford separate rooms.

My Take:

I'm all for this one. And I especially appreciate that as celebrities with plenty of money, they're choosing to do this anyway. 

My boys share a room, and honestly? It's one of my favorite parenting decisions. They learn how to get along. They figure out how to navigate "this is your side, this is my side" arguments. Late at night, I know they talk to each other before falling asleep. Those are going to become memories they'll always have.

There's also something culturally interesting here. In the US, it's considered normal for little kids to sleep alone in their own rooms while adults share space. If you think about it, that's odd. Kids are little. Let them have each other.

Plus, from a practical standpoint, they learn to adapt to noise and different sleep situations. My kids can sleep anywhere because they're used to the sound of each other.

2: Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds

The Rule: 

No one in their household is allowed to use the word "bossy" to describe their daughters.

My Take:

I agree with this one completely. This applies way more to girls than boys, and it's such a subtle way that language shapes how kids see themselves.

People will call a girl bossy when she's just standing up for herself or taking charge. Why is that different than when a boy does it? It's not. So yeah, I'm on board with banning this word.

I don't have girls, so I haven't had to enforce this rule in my house. But if I did? This would be on the list.

3: Matthew McConaughey & Camila Alves 

The Rule:

Their kids take Portuguese classes five hours a day before trips to Brazil (Camila's home country).

My Take:

I love the idea behind this. Being able to speak multiple languages is such a gift, and if you have a different language in your family, kids should absolutely try to learn it.

That said, five hours a day? That's... a lot. But I get it. It's about staying connected to culture and family, and that matters.

If this isn't possible for your family, encourage language learning in school. Even basic exposure helps.

4. Chrissy Teigen & John Legend

The Rule: 

They don't post embarrassing photos or stories about their kids online.

My Take:

Absolutely yes. The internet never forgets. You never know if your kid is going to grow up and become an actor, or a public figure, or just a regular person who doesn't want their childhood meltdown turned into a meme.

And honestly, a lot of parents do this without thinking. They're just trying to share funny or cute moments from their lives, not realizing it could affect their kid later.

This is a rule I follow too. My kids' embarrassing moments stay private.

5.  Karamo Brown

The Rule: 

Until his kids turn 18, they put their phones in a basket every night at 7 PM and don't touch them again until morning.

My Take:

I think this is a solid rule. Whether it's 7 PM or 8 PM, whatever works for your family. But having phones out of bedrooms at night is backed by so much research at this point.

Kids will say, "I need it for my alarm!" Cool. Buy an actual alarm clock.

Teens get texts all night. They get distracted. They scroll when they should be sleeping. So yeah, I'm on board with this one.

That said, it can breed secrecy if not handled carefully. Kids today do get texts at 2 AM about school projects. So there's a balance to strike between digital boundaries and trust. 

6. Cardi B

The Rule: 

Her kids are not allowed to go to sleepovers.

My Take:

I'm hearing more and more parents say "no sleepovers," and I get it. It depends on where you live, whether you know the families, and whether your kids understand safety.

There are a lot of nuances here: girls versus boys, age of the kid, and the specific family hosting. So this isn't a hard yes or hard no for me. It's an "it depends."

But I absolutely understand where Cardi's coming from. There are bad people out there, and sometimes it's the people you think are safe. 

They’re a childhood rite of passage, so why are more parents saying ‘no’ to sleepovers? 

7: Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher

The Rule: 

Their kids don't get Christmas presents, or if they do, it's one gift only, or they donate instead.

My Take:

I like the idea of having limits. But no gifts at all? That feels extreme.

Their kids are growing up incredibly privileged. They probably have everything they want or need already. So for them, this rule makes sense - it teaches delayed gratification and appreciation.

But for many families, Christmas and birthdays are the only times kids get gifts. So this depends entirely on your situation.

If you're living in a world of overconsumption (and let's be honest, my kids are guilty of this too), then limiting it to one gift is a great move.

8: Madonna

The Rule: 

Back when she was younger, if her daughter throws clothes on the floor and the room stays messy, Madonna confiscates the clothes. The daughter has to earn them back.  

My Take:

This feels... extreme? Like, I get it. She's trying to make a point. She's probably had enough of the mess and went nuclear. 

There should be consequences for repeated offenses. But personally? I'd make them wash all the clothes over and over for a while instead of taking them away entirely.  

I have mixed feelings on this one.  

9: Kourtney Kardashian

The Rule: 

She removed the microwave entirely to avoid toxins from plastic transferring to food.

My Take:

This is extreme. And it screams privilege.

Yes, there's research showing you shouldn't microwave plastic. So the solution is simple: microwave in glass. Done.

But removing the microwave entirely? That only works if you have help around the house who's cooking and cleaning for you. For the rest of us, the microwave is about convenience. We don't want to get out a pot every single time and wash it.

So no. Hard pass on this one. 

10: Jennifer Lopez

The Rule: 

No iPads or games during the week. Sunday is "Sunday Funday," and that's when her kids get screen time.

My Take:

This is the ideal that a lot of parents want, but very few of us can actually pull off.

I would love it if we could limit screens to Sundays. But life is busy. Sometimes we need them distracted for 30 minutes so we can get dinner made or take a work call. A little bit of iPad time isn't the end of the world.

And let's be real, JLo has nannies organizing activities for her kids all day. Most of us don't.

I was on a flight recently, and a dad let his 3-year-old use an iPad the whole time. Someone asked him about it, and he said, "He doesn't normally use it, but we're on a flight and I don't want him to cry." Honestly? Fair.

So yeah, this is the ideal. But it comes from a place of privilege. 

What These Rules Actually Reveal

Some are genuinely smart, rooted in research or lived experience. Others are only possible because of money, help, and privilege that most of us don't have. 

The best rules are the ones that:

• Teach real skills (sharing a room, learning languages)

• Protect kids' futures (no embarrassing posts, limited screens at night)

• Respect boundaries (banning gendered language like "bossy")

The worst rules are the ones that:

• Only works if you have full-time help (no microwave, screens only on Sundays)

• Over-engineer childhood (cartoons only in foreign languages)

• Lack flexibility (no gifts at all, clothes confiscation)

That's all for today's issue, parents! 💗

Inside the Laid-back Parent’s Internet History this week: 

🔖 READ: The Science Behind Why Kids Should Share Rooms

🔖 READ: 13 of the Weirdest Parenting Tips From Celebrities

🔖 READ: Digital Boundaries That Actually Work for Tweens

Note for My Fellow -Back Parents 📧

Celebrity parenting rules make great headlines, but they don't always translate to real life.

Some are brilliant. Some are ridiculous. Most fall somewhere in between.

Take what works. Leave the rest. And remember: you're doing just fine.

See you next week,
Lakshmi 💛