Drew Barrymore has explained why she doesn’t give her children presents for Christmas.
While everyone dreads the last-minute Chrissy shop during the silly season, the Charlie's Angels star has found a way to boycott it.
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 47-year-old revealed that she doesn't buy gifts for her girls, Olive, 10, and Frankie, eight.
Instead, she treats them with an experience every year.
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"I always take them on a trip every Christmas. I don't get them presents, which I think at their ages they don't love, but I say, 'I think we'll remember the place and the photos and the experience and that's what I want to give you,'" Barrymore said.
I mean, a vacation sounds way better than a JB-Hi-Fi voucher.
She added: "They get plenty of things throughout the year, so I'm not like some weird, strict, cold mom who's like, 'You don’t get any gifts!
"I just feel like a better gift would be a life memory. I'd rather invest [in that than in] a doll house or something. It all evens out and it's fine."
Barrymore continued: "I'm glad I do what I do.”
The actor, who shares Olive and Frankie with her ex-husband, art consultant Will Kopelman, recently opened up about not trying to spoil her kids despite their affluent upbringing.
While appearing on Demi Lovato’s 4D podcast, Barrymore said she implements firm rules to establish boundaries between her and her kids.
Despite giving off ‘bestie’ vibes, she assures her children that she’s not here to be their pal.
She told the pop star: “Like, I’m your parent, I’m not your friend.
“You can be friendly and do activities; it’s not that it has to be this strict relationship.”
Barrymore also explained her relationship with her mother, Jaid, and how frequently she would blur the lines between being a parent and a friend.
As a result, the actor had to ‘relearn’ what a parent and child dynamic should be.
She said: “I didn’t have them [boundaries] growing up and when you’re a parent, you try to compensate with so much love and you’re almost afraid to get into the argument sometimes, you’re just trying to survive the day, so you let things slide and you’re like, ‘Oh, there should have been a boundary in that place probably a while ago, but I guess I’m only realising that now.'”
Charisa Bossinakis