Reflection on Coparenting
Robin Wright recently opened up about her journey of coparenting with ex-husband Sean Penn, shedding light on the complexities of their shared parenting experience. The couple, who were married for 14 years from 1996 to 2010, have two children: 34-year-old Dylan and 32-year-old Hopper.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Wright shared the challenges they faced as parents, particularly during their children’s rebellious phases. She specifically mentioned Hopper’s battle with crystal meth addiction, saying, “Every day if the phone rings you’re, like, ‘Is he alive? Is she alive?'” reflecting on the anxiety that accompanied these years. “I went through that for so many years with both of them,” she added.
Regrets and Realizations
While admitting that both of her children are now in a better place, Wright expressed a profound regret regarding her parenting approach. “I have a huge regret as a mother and have experienced the fallout of this regret for many years with my kids — I wasn’t hard enough on them,” she stated. She described Penn as being stricter but often absent due to his work commitments, which complicated their parenting dynamic.
“He’d come back and be the policeman and then he’d leave me with the residue,” she explained. “Then I would soften the blow. We were both extremes. They didn’t get that grey area in the middle, which is stern, and that is what they needed.”
New Beginnings in England
At 59, Wright has moved on from her past with Penn, currently residing in England with her architect boyfriend, Henry Smith. She expressed her appreciation for her new life, saying, “America is a s–tshow. I love being in this country. There’s a freedom of self here. People are so kind. They’re living. They’re not in the car in traffic, panicked on a phone call, eating a sandwich. That’s most of America. Everything’s rush, competition and speed.”
Wright also reflected on the peace she has found in her new surroundings, especially compared to her previous life in Los Angeles amidst constant renovations. “I’m done with all that … and I’ve met my person. Finally,” she remarked, referring to Smith.
She described him as “a sweetheart and just a good, decent adult. He’s a man.” As she approaches her 60th birthday, she shared her desires for the future: “I want to grow old with somebody, and travel and see the world.”
