Chad Michael Murray is opening up about fatherhood and what he has learned about himself because of it.
The 43-year-old actor appeared as a guest on the latest episode of the “Great Company with Jamie Laing” podcast and revealed how being a dad, which he calls the “greatest thing in the world,” has changed his life. Murray shares three children — ages 10, 8 and 1 — with his wife, Sarah Roemer, whom he has been married to since 2015.
During the episode, host Jamie Laing shared that he is about to have his first child, and Murray congratulated him.
“Greatest thing in the entire world, nothing better,” he told Laing.
The host asked Murray to share his thoughts on parenthood. “I mean, I went back to the well, didn’t I?” he joked, referring to welcoming his third child, a baby girl, in 2023.
Murray explained, “I’ve 10, 8 and 1. We loved it so much the first two times that we went back for number three. I will say, however, she’s the last one, because she’s the toughest.”
He described his youngest child as “busy.” He said that before the interview began she was following him around the room singing the same melody over and over.
Laing recalled seeing a post on social media about a man in his 70s who said that being called a dad was his greatest achievement. Murray agreed, adding, “There is nothing better. So, you know, I’ve been really blessed to do so many things, travel the world, and do things that most people can only dream of. If someone said, ‘Dad, or all that?’ No question, dad, 10 out of 10 times,” he replied. “I’d trade it all in a heartbeat. It’s the greatest thing in the world.”
“Your greatest achievement?” Laing asked.
Murray answered, “By far.”
The “Freakier Friday” star said growing up he always hoped to become a great husband and a great dad. He then gave Laing some advice about what he can expect as a first-time father.
“Are you going to lack in sleep? Yeah. Are you going to start naming your gray hairs after them? Sure, it happens. But it is like you start learning what real love is. You start learning what true selflessness is, and it’s just nothing better.”
He also tried to prepare Laing for some of the challenging moments he will face as a dad, including coming to terms with the fact that children are a mirror reflection of their parents.
“You’re going to start seeing things that you can’t stand about yourself and their actions. You’re going to go, ‘No, don’t do that! What are you doing?’ But if you couldn’t coach it out of yourself, what makes you think you can coach it out of them?” Murray noted.
He continued, “The best advice I can give you is fix it in yourself so that it doesn’t get handed down. Let it die with you.”
Murray’s advice comes after the actor recognized a bad habit he developed during his childhood. He recalled growing up in a family of boys and being raised to be stubborn, leading him to use the phrase “I know” as a constant reply.
The “One Tree Hill” alum said he noticed one day that his oldest child, his son, started to repeat the phrase.
“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that sounds terrible.’ My wife was like, ‘Where do you think he got it from?’ I was like, ‘Oh, no! We’ve got to correct that!’”
He said it has been fascinating seeing his children inherit some of his traits and teaching them how to be better.
Murray and Roemer post about their children from time to time on social media, but they have not publicly shared their kids names to maintain privacy. But, the family made a rare public appearance last month to support Murray at the “Freakier Friday” premiere in Los Angeles.
Roemer and their two oldest children joined the actor at the red carpet event on July 22 and sweetly posed together. Their daughter matched Roemer in a similar flowy green dress. Their son sported an all-white ensemble that paired well with his dad’s pink, white and black look.
Chad Michael Murray brought some special guests to the “Freakier Friday” premiere. On July 22 the actor arrived at the Los Angeles screening alongside his wife, Sarah Roemer, and two of their children.
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