Adam Brody Says He and Wife Leighton Meester Have a 'Very Honest' Approach to Parenting: 'For Better or Worse'

Mar. 15, 2025

Adam Brody and Leighton Meester.Photo:Frazer Harrison/Getty

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Adam Brodyis opening up about the way he parents his two children.As a guest onToday with Hoda and Jennaon Tuesday, Sept. 24, theNobody Wants Thisstar, 44, shared that he and wifeLeighton Meester, 38, have an open and honest relationship with their two children: 9-year-old daughter Arlo, and a 4-year-old son whose name has not yet been revealed.Asked if he’s a super strict, “helicopter” dad or the head of a “free-range” household, Brody shared, “Of course, I’m going to feel like it’s the perfect balance of all of it.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.He continued, “But yeah, I don’t know. [We’re] very honest. We have some very truthful conversations, for better or worse. But other than that, I wouldn’t say overly strict.““There is a helicopter, you know, to keep them safe,” he continued. “I’m not overly strict but I see the sharp edges, literally. And their heads aren’t gonna… I want to keep those heads maintained.“The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Adam Brody and Leighton Meester.Noam Galai/GettyJenna Bush Hager, who’s a mom to 5-year-old son Hal, then chimed in, relating to Brody’s efforts to keep his kids' heads unscathed.“I have a just-turned 5-year-old boy and I feel like he should be wearing a helmet at all times,” she said. “He leads with his head.““Yeah, I’m surprised — because my son is 4 — I’m surprised none of us have gotten the black eye,” the proud dad quipped. “I always thought, especially with him, one of us was going to get his nose broken.”

Adam Brodyis opening up about the way he parents his two children.

As a guest onToday with Hoda and Jennaon Tuesday, Sept. 24, theNobody Wants Thisstar, 44, shared that he and wifeLeighton Meester, 38, have an open and honest relationship with their two children: 9-year-old daughter Arlo, and a 4-year-old son whose name has not yet been revealed.

Asked if he’s a super strict, “helicopter” dad or the head of a “free-range” household, Brody shared, “Of course, I’m going to feel like it’s the perfect balance of all of it.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

He continued, “But yeah, I don’t know. [We’re] very honest. We have some very truthful conversations, for better or worse. But other than that, I wouldn’t say overly strict.”

“There is a helicopter, you know, to keep them safe,” he continued. “I’m not overly strict but I see the sharp edges, literally. And their heads aren’t gonna… I want to keep those heads maintained.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Adam Brody and Leighton Meester.Noam Galai/Getty

Noam Galai/Getty

Jenna Bush Hager, who’s a mom to 5-year-old son Hal, then chimed in, relating to Brody’s efforts to keep his kids' heads unscathed.

“I have a just-turned 5-year-old boy and I feel like he should be wearing a helmet at all times,” she said. “He leads with his head.”

“Yeah, I’m surprised — because my son is 4 — I’m surprised none of us have gotten the black eye,” the proud dad quipped. “I always thought, especially with him, one of us was going to get his nose broken.”

source: people.com