Jet Li on swapping 'general' parenting for friendship to support his daughter

Actor Jet Li said his daughter's mental health struggles led him to rethink his parenting approach, shifting from a directive style to one focused on listening and friendship. He now advocates becoming a child's "buddy" and "roommate" before talking to them. Li, whose father died when he was 2, said he initially believed providing financially was sufficient parenting. He realized this was inadequate when his daughter Jada withdrew, prompting him to turn down work and learn to listen without offering immediate opinions. Li said he stopped acting like a "general" commanding "soldiers" and asked his daughter to critique him, accepting her blunt feedback about being self-centered. Other celebrities, including Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, have also recently discussed adapting their parenting styles.