Despite growing up in a strict household, Shaquille O’Neal credits his upbringing for shaping him into the person he is today. But while he’s spoken openly about the discipline his father instilled in him, Shaq has admitted that those methods wouldn’t fly today, saying, “They’re frowned upon now.” Still, Shaq’s mother has always been the backbone of his life, a sentiment he’s shared repeatedly by emphasizing the pivotal role moms play in raising children. Yet, his ex-wife Shaunie Henderson recently revealed how her parenting style had to shift because of Shaq’s undeniable influence on their kids.

On a recent episode of The GrOOwZone Podcast, Shaunie and her husband, Keion Henderson, got candid about parenting challenges. When Keion asked how flexible she was as a mom, Shaunie didn’t hold back. “I’ll give you a flexible boundary for me as my kids got older. I did not mind them cussing. That’s probably going to be really judged. It’s true,” she confessed. But here’s the kicker—she explained that Shaq’s influence was to blame for the colorful language.

“I’m just being honest because…[their] Dad is a cusser. He cusses. We all know that it’s public knowledge. And that they’re very used to that language” she explained. However, he was quick to point out that they know their limits. “They’re not going to… I’ve never heard somebody say, ‘Oh, your kids were out in the streets just cussing up a storm.’”

Interestingly, just like Shaunie, Shaq himself has a strong take on parenting. He calls his approach “déjà vu parenting,” guiding his children while letting them find their way as they grow. “My mom and dad never really bothered me,” he shared, revealing how he strives to provide a similar balance between structure and freedom.

Shaquille O’Neal’s parenting style

For Shaquille O’Neal, being a father of six has been a rewarding journey. From his oldest to his youngest, a high school junior, Shaq proudly calls all his kids “perfect.” But he’s quick to credit their privileged upbringing for making his job a little easier. “Because of the environment my children grew up in, my (parenting) style didn’t have to be that hard,” he shared with Today.

However, Shaq hasn’t forgotten the tough love he received growing up. “I grew up in a very tough environment… a lot of my father’s tactics would be frowned upon now,” he admitted. But those methods worked for him, shaping the superstar he is today. As a dad, though, he prefers a simpler approach. “I just teach my kids to be respectful,” he explained, adding, “The only thing I can do is show them the way.”

Interestingly, Shaq believes moms should take the lead when it comes to parenting. “I was gone a lot because of my job and I didn’t always want to be the bad guy,” he confessed. Instead, he embraced being the fun parent, saying, “I was the one chasing the kids around the house and taking them to Toys ‘R’ Us.”

Ultimately, Shaq sums up his parenting philosophy in one clear statement: “Kids listen to mom because mom runs everything. Moms rule the world.”