Robert DeNiro’s words of wisdom for parents

Veteran actor Robert DeNiro, 66, has some words of wisdom for parents.

The father of five from three relationships said: “One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my years as a father is to keep the lines of communication open with my kids. I have five of them, ranging in age from 14 to their 30s, by three mothers, so I guess you could call it a fractionalised family of sorts.”

DeNiro, a two-time Oscar winner, said: “I care deeply about all of them, and I have made a conscious effort to talk to and to listen to them. Sometimes it’s hard to talk to kids, especially when they’re teenagers. They’re in their own world, and they don’t look like they’re even listening to you. But that’s the time when it’s most important to find a way to talk to them – not to lecture them, but to tell them things I think are important for them to know. And the thing to remember is that, even when they look like they’re not listening to you, they are.”

De Niro added: “You have to accept that, at this point in their lives, you’re not going to get much of a reaction from them. But what you say is making an impression.”