Kate Hudson's Tough Love: Teaching Kids Financial Independence Early

Kate Hudson is making headlines for her approach to parenting, emphasizing the importance of financial independence for her children. The actress, who is a mother of three, believes kids should learn self-sufficiency early on. Hudson shares son Ryder, 21, with ex-husband Chris Robinson; son Bingham, 13, with ex-fiancé Matt Bellamy; and daughter Rani Rose, 4, with fiancé Danny Fujikawa. In a recent interview with Bustle magazine, she revealed that she has set expectations for her oldest son, Ryder, a student at New York University, should he decide to move 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,’" Hudson 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?’" Hudson, who found fame at a young age following in the footsteps of her mother, Goldie Hawn, and her 'father figure' Kurt Russell, says that hard work was always emphasized in her family. She was accepted into NYU's Tisch School of the Arts but deferred to pursue acting, a decision that quickly paid off with roles in movies like "Almost Famous." She recalls her parents instilled in her that it was OK to be self-possessed and to believe in herself. She said she 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." The actress also reflected on her personal life, including her marriage to Chris Robinson at the young age of 21. "I just jump into the deep end of everything I do," Hudson said. "People thought it was impulsive, but I was just like, 'You know what? I'm just going to dive right into this. I'm not going to second-guess it." While the marriage ended in 2007, Hudson credits Robinson with teaching her "what it felt like to be unconditionally loved." She has since co-parented her children with their respective fathers, emphasizing the strength of their unconventional family unit. Despite praising Hawn and Russell for their parenting, Hudson admits she has a different approach. "I’m so strict," Hudson told People magazine during a joint interview with Hawn in 2020. Hawn, on the other hand, joked, "She’s Attila the Hun." Hawn explained that she "got angry over bad behavior or kindness" while raising her children but she "didn’t get mad over mistakes." Ultimately, Hudson believes that family is what matters most. "From my brothers, to my nephews and nieces, to my sister-in-laws, to my mom, my dad, to my partner, his brothers. I think that’s where the real kind of self-possessed nature comes from."