Kate Hudson Empowers Kids: No Family Safety Net!

Kate Hudson believes in teaching her children self-sufficiency early on, advocating they shouldn't always rely on family for financial support. The 45-year-old actress, mom to Ryder (21), Bingham (13), and Rani Rose (4), recently discussed with Bustle magazine how she's instilling this mindset, particularly in her eldest, Ryder, a student at New York University.

Hudson shared that she has expectations for Ryder if he considers moving back home after graduation. "He's like, ‘I got to figure out what my life is going to look like and how I’m going to achieve the things that I want to achieve and how I can live,’" she said. "I think you should be teaching your kids those things way earlier on so that when they get to that point, they’re not like, ‘Oh my God, how do I afford my life and not lean on my family?’"

Like mother, like son? The "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" star carved her own path to fame and fortune, following in the footsteps of her celebrity parents, Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson, though she considers Kurt Russell her father.

Hawn and Russell's relationship blossomed after co-starring in "Swing Shift" in 1983. Hawn and Bill Hudson divorced in 1982, after which Russell helped raise Kate and her brother Oliver. The couple also has a son, Wyatt. All three children pursued acting careers.

Hudson recalled on ABC Radio's "No Limits With Rebecca Jarvis" that Hawn and Russell emphasized a strong work ethic. "The work ethic in our family is really huge," she said. "They definitely instilled that in all of their kids ... It was just basically, 'Do your job. Do it the best you can.'"

Interestingly, Hudson herself was accepted into NYU's Tisch School of the Arts but deferred to pursue acting, debuting in "Desert Blue" (1998). Her breakthrough came with 2000's "Almost Famous," earning her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Not a bad decision, if you ask me!

Speaking with Bustle, Hudson credited her parents for instilling confidence. "I had parents that instilled in me that it was OK to be self-possessed and to believe in myself," she said. "I was very driven when it came to wanting to be in the arts. I didn’t need to do a talent show with three people; I wanted to be out there by myself dancing."

Hudson also reflected on marrying Chris Robinson at 21, just days after meeting him. She told "The World's First Podcast" that she "jump[s] into the deep end of everything I do." The couple, who welcomed Ryder in 2004, divorced in 2007 but continue to co-parent amicably. Hudson later dated Matt Bellamy and is now engaged to Danny Fujikawa, with whom she has a daughter, Rani.

In November 2022, Hudson told the Sunday Times, "The unit that I’ve created with three children with three different fathers is a seriously strong unit, and it’s ours."

Despite praising Hawn and Russell, Hudson noted a different parenting style. She told People magazine she's "so strict," while Hawn joked, "She’s Attila the Hun." Hawn emphasized the importance of learning from children. "Our children are our greatest teachers. And you should be, as a parent, available to learn, because you don’t know everything," she said.

Hudson shared that the best advice from Hawn was: "Because the second they leave your body, they don’t belong to you anymore.’ I think that was the most powerful thing you’ve ever said to me," Hudson remembered.

Hudson concluded her Bustle interview emphasizing family's importance. "At the end of the day, our family is what matters in life," she said.