Shaq Shares His No. 1 Parenting Rule

In a world full of differing opinions and confusing parenting strategies, professional basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal has one simple rule that he abides by when it comes to parenting, “Let mom make the call.”

While some parents say “leaving it to mom” is a copout, the father of six and former NBA star says this “teamwork approach” is what has worked best for his family. “I was gone a lot because of my job and I didn’t always want to be the bad guy, so I sort of relinquished my position as (disciplinarian),” he told TODAY. “I was the one chasing the kids around the house and taking them to Toys’R’Us. I didn’t want to come home after a bad day and go off the handle.”

Growing up in a tough environment himself, Shaq acknowledges that his hands-off parenting style differs significantly from his father’s strict tactics. “Because of the environment my children grew up in, my (parenting) style didn’t have to be that hard,” he said. “I grew up in a very tough environment … a lot of my father’s tactics would be frowned upon now. But it worked for me. I just teach my kids to be respectful … and I never had those problems that my parents had with me.”

The NBA analyst shares his daughter, Taahirah, 25, with former girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourg, his kids Shareef, 22, Amirah, 20, Shaqir, 18 and Me’arah, 15, with his ex-wife, Shaunie, and Myles, 25, who is Shaunie’s son from a previous relationship. The patriarch of quite the blended family, O’Neal explains that his “Kids listen to mom because mom runs everything,” and that ultimately, “Moms rule the world.”