By India McCarty
Most people know Erin and Ben Napier for building and designing beautiful homes, but did you know the HGTV star couple is just as dedicated to instilling strong parenting values? From teaching their daughters the value of unplugging to making sure their children understand the importance of putting family first, here are the Napiers’ Top 5 parenting values!
No Smartphones Or Social Media
“We don’t want our kids to be disconnected,” Erin told People. “We always have said, ‘We’ll get landlines so they can call each other, and then when they’re old enough to drive, we’ll get them flip phones, and they can call and text each other.”
The couple even launched Osprey, a nonprofit intended to help families connect with others who also want to keep their kids off social media.
“This is us teaching our children: You deserve more. And you are capable of a whole lot more if you can skip social media and cell phones until you’re older,” Erin continued. “Until you’re ready, you’ll have your growing group of Osprey friends who are having the same low-tech adolescence.”
Put Family Over Work
The Napiers might have a TV crew relying on them to show up each day, but the couple has made it clear that their daughters always come first. For example, they once had to cancel a week of production when one of their children got sick.
“I hated it, and I know it was an expensive problem, but we had to be Mommy and Daddy,” Ben told People.
Erin said, “We have to have our priorities, and our first priority is what will be when there is no TV, and what was there before there was TV, and that’s me and Ben and the girls. So, that’s the priority.”
Lowkey Birthday Parties
The Napiers never pass up a chance to celebrate, but the couple has a rule when it comes to their daughters’ birthday parties.
“Our rule is, until they’re old enough to plan it themselves, it’s supper at grandparents,” Ben told TODAY.
Erin added, “If your 4-year-old’s birthday party looks like a wedding, what do they have to look forward to? Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I think there’s a lot of moms out there who feel the same way I do.”
Don’t Post Your Children’s Faces On Social Media
When it comes to social media, the Napiers have been vocal about their decision to keep their girls off these platforms until they’re older. However, the couple have also explained why they don’t post photos or videos that show their daughters’ faces online.
“How would I feel about it, if I went back in time and saw my mom posted all of this stuff for the world to see? How would I feel about that?” Erin told TODAY, with Ben adding, “What if you went back 30 years and started publicizing the things that I did, and my brothers and my friends, before I knew better?”
Be Present
While Erin made it clear to People that the couple relies on their family and friends to help them juggle busy work and home lives, the Napiers have been open about their choice to be as present as possible.
“I really don’t want someone else to raise them. I want us to be 100 percent a part of their life,” Erin told People, explaining that this inspired her and Ben’s decision to work “normal” 8-to-5 hours, allowing them to be home every night with their children.
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