In an era where generational divides can feel sharper than ever, celebrities like Taylor Swift are helping bridge the gap — simply by showing love to their parents. Swift’s open affection for her mom, Andrea, is well known: she’s dedicated songs to her, spoken emotionally about their relationship and regularly brings her to major events.
For the emerging Gen Alpha — born after 2010 — who’ve grown up online and know their celebrity memes inside out, these gestures are more than just sweet moments. Many of them have spotted this subtle cultural shift and are cozying up to their parents too, realizing that family bonds are something to cherish, not hide.
These kids are coming of age with a different set of role models who aren’t divorcing their parents or even cringing over them but openly celebrating them. Most of their heroes are young millennials like Timothée Chalamet, who chose to sit with his mom for his big moment at the Oscars earlier this year, rather than his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner. It wasn’t a diss to the makeup mogul but rather a nod to the woman who raised him, and he wanted the world to know it.
Zendaya is another star who openly gushes about how influential and supportive her parents, both teachers, have been. “I gotta give it up to my parents,” she says. “I’m really lucky to have the parents that I have. They just have always instilled in me those core values that I think I have to carry with me through everything.”
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Even the Kardashians help promote the cause — always praising matriarch Kris Jenner for being a “queen” and actively taking pride in being seen with her at events.
These big names are unwittingly helping reframe what’s cool for young fans, normalizing spending quality time with their folks. Sharing a TikTok dance with your mom or going to a concert together isn’t seen as embarrassing; it’s something to show off. And it helps that A-list teens are at it too — take Jennifer Lopez’s 17-year-old Emme, who’s recently become Mom’s go-to plus-one on the red carpet.
Of course, this generation is also hyper-aware of mental health, emotional intelligence and the value of support systems. Watching public figures model healthy relationships, where vulnerability, gratitude and love are expressed openly, can give kids permission to do the same.
Parenting expert Anita Cleare, author of How to Get Your Teenager Out of Their Bedroom, agrees. “This generation of teens and tweens have spent a lot of time with their parents due to Covid restrictions, which might have left them more comfortable being seen in their company,” she says. “Every generation likes to reinvent the world a little and we often see sudden swings in musical tastes and clothing within youth culture as teens react against whatever came before them.”
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But if you’re a parent who thinks this all sounds wonderful, except you’re not yet seeing it under your own roof, there are ways you can gently encourage your kids to think you’re almost as cool as J.Lo or Kris Jenner. “Find things to do with your teen that they enjoy, but don’t try to be like them or gatecrash their scene,” Cleare advises. “Be as flexible as you can to support their interests and hobbies, even just as designated driver or spectator. Teens might not always seem grateful, but they really do notice when we are there for them. In general, if we treat teens with respect and work with them rather than trying to control them, they are more comfortable in our company.”
Play the long game, and if your kiddo gets famous, you might just get to be their red carpet plus-one.
