Mark Wahlberg Says He Avoids Comparing Parenting Styles: “The Grass Is Always Greener”
Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg says he refuses to compare his parenting methods with other families, admitting that it’s “easy to get caught up” in how other parents raise their children — especially when kids start talking about their friends’ freedoms. The 54-year-old actor, who shares four children — Ella (22), Michael (19), Brendan (17), and Grace (15) — with wife Rhea Durham, opened up about family dynamics during promotions for Family Plan 2.
Speaking to Extra, Wahlberg said parents often fall into the comparison trap without realising it.
“A lot of people do that. It’s easy to do that, if you're so busy looking at everybody else and what they're doing. Who knows what is fabricated and what’s real? The grass is always greener on the other side,” he said.
He added that despite the temptation, he prefers staying grounded and focusing on his own home:
“I’m very fortunate, very blessed… You don’t really get to pick and choose your family, you’re stuck with each other in a wonderful way. But it's easy to get caught up in that.”
His Family Plan 2 co-star Michelle Monaghan echoed his sentiment. She pointed out how common it is for children to compare curfews or rules.
“Somebody will say, ‘So-and-so gets to do that,’ and you’re like, ‘That’s great for their family, but this family has its own values,’” Monaghan said, reinforcing the need for parents to stay firm about their household boundaries.
Beyond parenting, Wahlberg also revealed that his kids now enjoy watching his action films — something they weren’t allowed to do when they were younger. Speaking to People, he shared:
“They love seeing dad swearing and kicking a, all the things they couldn’t see before. Now they’re allowed to, and I think they enjoy it more.”**
He recalled his family visiting him during the shoot of Play Dirty, acknowledging that time away from them remains the hardest part of his profession.
“The biggest sacrifice is being away from my loved ones. The action stuff is easy — I’ve done it all. I’m more worried about bringing the character to life,” he said.