Mark Consuelos Credits Wife Kelly Ripa With Instilling a Core Value in Their Kids
Mark Consuelos has a lot to be proud of this Father's Day.
The seasoned actor and husband to talk-show veteran Kelly Ripa is reflecting on the most important values the longtime spouses have passed down to their children—and they appear to have done a pretty great job so far.
In an exclusive conversation with Parade ahead of Father's Day weekend, Consuelos, 52, looked back at his parenting philosophy for raising his three kids with Ripa, 52: sons Michael, 26, and Joaquin, 20, and daughter Lola, 21.
"Kelly and I were both instilled with values from our folks," he tells us. "We worked at a young age. As soon as we could work, you know, from mowing lawns, or doing whatever I could do to earn my own money, we kind of instilled that in our children."
"They've been at it with summer jobs and internships, and they know that it's not a free ride," he adds. "They're all very, very motivated to branch out and start their own careers."
But Consuelos says it's his wife who has really given the kids their unstoppable ambition, which has become especially noticeable since the oldest two kids graduated college. "They're like hustling," he says. "I love the hustle. Kelly really instilled that hustle in them."
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"They saw somebody that has been doing this—I affectionately called it a grind—for 23 years since they've all been alive," the Riverdale actor says of his wife's successful career. "They've seen their father you know, off in other countries working coming home when he could come home to be with them. So, I think we we've raised some hard workers."
But it's not all about work, as Consuelos points out the importance of raising their kids to be kind as well: "We made sure that that they lead with kindness."
After doing a stand-up job raising three kids, Consuelos has more than earned some special appreciation just in time for Father's Day.
The new Live! with Kelly and Mark co-host says he doesn't have any "huge plans" for the big day, although he can never get enough of quality family time, which he plans to do over a casual Father's Day meal.
"I'm sure I'll get some really funny Father's Day cards," he jokes. "That will make me laugh."
"Nothing too crazy," though, he insists. "It's not something that we really really go crazy for. But Kelly would say every day is Father's Day."
Next: Mark Consuelos Recalls Going 'Back and Forth' on the Decision to Join 'Live!' (Exclusive)