Javier Bardem Gave Rare Details About How He & Penélope Cruz Are ‘Way Too Present’ With Their Kids

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem keep their family life as private as possible, ensuring their two kids stay out of the spotlight and live their best, normal lives. However, Bardem just gave super rare, and super sweet, details about how he and Cruz parent their kids.

In an interview with Interview Magazine, Bardem revealed that he believes he and Cruz know way too much about their kids, and are way too involved. Isn’t that kinda adorable?

Now, Bardem talked about how “valuable” the work of a teacher is, telling a story about how a teacher gave him the attention and care he needed so much as a young child. He said, “I was not a good student at all, and he was the only one that would pay attention to me as somebody that needed caring, love, support, and the presence that I didn’t have because my mother was working and my father was not there.”

And today, that lesson about being present stayed with him into how he parents his and Cruz’s kids, Leo and Luna.

“Now today I have two kids, and we are more aware of how important it is to be present,” he added. “Sometimes we are way too present in their lives. But that teacher was kind of a revolutionary back then, where he was like, ‘No this kid needs to be seen and heard.’ And I will always remember him for that.”

For those who don’t know, Cruz and Bardem have been together since 2007, after working together on the films Jamón jamón and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. They married in July 2010 and have since welcomed two children named Leo Encinas, born in Jan 2011, and Luna Encinas, born in July 2013.

In a super-rare interview with Vogue Spain via Hello, Cruz confessed her love for motherhood. “The most radical change I have ever lived has been becoming a mother,” she said. “Your life is hugely altered in that moment, much more than with any other type of project. Motherhood is the priority of my life.”

These celebrity parents are sharing the struggle — and sweetness — of raising teenagers.