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Why Jenna Dewan Says Her 9-Year-Old Daughter Is "So Much Cooler" Than Her

Jenna Dewan shared the Easter traditions and work-life balance philosophy she is hoping to pass down to her children—Everly, 9, and Callum, 3—in an exclusive interview with E! News.

By Tierney Bricker Apr 01, 2023 3:00 PMTags
Watch: Why Jenna Dewan's 9-Year-Old Daughter Is "Cooler" Than Her

Consider this celebrity offspring feud officially squashed.

One year after Sandra Bullock revealed that her daughter Laila, 11, had gotten into a pre-school "altercation" with Channing Tatum and Jenna Tatum's 9-year-old daughter, Everly, the two girls have become BFFs, bonding while the Magic Mike star and Sandra filmed their rom-com The Lost City last year.

"They're good friends now," Jenna told E! News' Francesca Amiker in an exclusive interview while promoting her Easter partnership with Lindt Chocolate. "Chan and Sandy did a movie together and they hung out, so that's old news. It is a funny story for us. We always tell her, 'Remember that time we were in the principal's office with Sandy?'"

The kids' confrontation stemmed from Everly and Laila being "really strong-willed and quite similar," explained Jenna, whose divorce from Channing was finalized in 2019 after nine years of marriage. Now that "they are older and mature," they have playdates, she added. "They love each other."

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Jenna Dewan's Quotes on Motherhood

Laila may just be on the guest list for Everly's impending 10th birthday celebration in May, with Jenna admitting the pressure is on to deliver as "we are hitting the double digits." While Everly used to favor themed parties, now, "she might want to go to Disneyland or something that's more of an experience," The Rookie star said.

 

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But should they go to happiest place on Earth, Jenna, 42, might have to keep her phone in her pocket, even if it would disappoint her millions of followers on social media.

"She definitely judges me when I am trying to learn Tik Tok," she shared with a laugh. "I'm like, 'You know there are a lot of people who think this is cool?' Ev is honestly cooler than me!"

While she may be "too cool" for her mom, Jenna shared that Everly shares a special bond with her 3-year-old brother Callum, whom Jenna shares with her fiancé Steve Kazee

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Jenna Dewan Shares How Her and Channing Tatum’s Daughter Is Following in Their Dancing Footsteps

"Check back with me in a few years, but right now, we don't have any sibling rivalry," Jenna explained. "There's a good gap and they have very different interests, so there's not a lot of competitiveness. He worships her and she thinks he's so cute. There's been a good flow. It's been all love."

As for their varying passions, Jenna shared that Callum has been very into basketball and trucks, while Everly loves "Irish dancing, anime and fashion design." The Supergirl alum and Steve also try to encourage the kids' interests by incorporating them into their Easter baskets each year, which are "always personalized" and include a Lindt Gold Bunny, a tradition Jenna has continued from her childhood.

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"We do an Easter egg hunt in the morning and then I hide their baskets," Jenna revealed. "So they have to go around and look for them, which is something my mom did. So they've been in the washing machine before, you have to find unique places."

Along with imparting her holiday traditions to Everly and Callum, the actress and dancer is hoping to instill her philosophy when it comes to a healthy work-life balance.

"I love what I do, I really do," Jenna said. "I do get to say to my kids, 'I get to go to work.' I love that I am really passionate about what I do and I have a lot of fun. I feel really grateful that I get to work in the way that I get to work. They feel that, they see that. The key is authenticity and making sure it doesn't define me, but I have fun with it."

Sounds like a cool mom to us.

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