Matt Damon and wife Luciana have one “non-negotiable” as they prepare to be empty nesters.
“We have family dinner every night, and that’s non-negotiable, and it’s always been that way,” the “Good Will Hunting” actor told People in an interview published Friday.
Although the rule was put in place in order to ensure quality time with their four daughters — Alexia, 27, Isabella, 20, Gia, 17, and Stella, 15 — he admitted there are times of “work going on during dinner,” which they can all improve on.
“One of my daughters said, ‘Well, family dinner, last night we didn’t talk.’ And we realized, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re right,’” Damon recalled to the outlet.
“We sat down for dinner, and you can get lost in that routine a little bit and not appreciate why you established the routine in the first place,” he added. “So again, that’s the kind of family mindfulness we’re all working on.”
The “Bourne Identity” star shared that he and Luciana are “facing and embracing the fact” that all of their daughters will soon be out of the household and are doing their best to make the most out of the time they all have together.
“We’ve been talking a lot about presence and about really trying to be in the moment, and because you can’t slow time down, the only way to really do it is to really be there and be in it,” he explained.
The Oscar winner admitted his family’s biggest “challenge” is getting off their phones, which is something else they are actively “trying to be mindful of.”
Last month, Damon, 55, confessed that Hollywood’s “ruthless” nature has taken him away from his children more than he would like.
“You’re always trying to figure out what’s ahead, because it’s such an uncertain business and a pretty ruthless one. Those kinds of things have conspired to, I think, maybe take me out of where I am, more than I’d like,” he told GQ at the time.
He added, “I think about it a lot, especially as my kids are getting older: really trying to be here now.”
Because of his taxing career, Matt told People it was “great” having all four of his daughters at the “Odyssey” London premiere, since his family sacrificed “a lot” for the film.
“I went away for a while, they came and visited, but it was a lot. It was a very long movie, very grueling shoot, and I’m really excited for my girls to see it tonight,” he gushed.
Matt and Luciana started dating in 2003 after meeting at a bar in Florida where she was bartending.
The couple tied the knot in 2005 and Matt adopted Alexia — who Luciana welcomed from a previous relationship — shortly after.
Luciana gave birth to their first child together, daughter Isabella, in June 2006, followed by Gia and Stella in August 2008 and October 2010, respectively.
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