Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher once opened up about why they don’t give their kids presents on Christmas, and the reason isn’t what you think.
Imagine being the child of a Hollywood couple, and they turn around and tell you on Christmas morning that you’ve not got your list of prezzies under the tree.
I’d be devastated.
The couple, who have two children, 10-year-old Wyatt and seven-year-old Dimitri, began dating in 2012 before tying the knot in 2015.
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While there’s been some controversy surrounding the pair’s romance, one being that they met on the set of That 70s Show when Kunis was 14 and he was 19, they’ve been relatively low-key since getting together.
The two played Jackie and Kelso, who were in a relationship and had to do a lot of kissing.
Anyway, there was then the controversy that when the pair began dating casually in 2012, Kutcher was in a relationship with someone else, and he was also still married (but separated) from ex-wife Demi Moore (which was a crazy relationship in itself).
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However, since getting hitched, it’s been pretty silent from them on the rumour front.
Well, unless you count their strange showering habits.
But while they might both be successful stars, they've made some unconventional choices when it comes to their kids.
Namely, they decided they didn’t want to give their kids lavish gifts during the holiday season.
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Speaking to Entertainment Tonight in 2017, Kunis revealed that she decided to do things differently as to avoid raising spoilt kids.
“So far our tradition is no presents for the kids,” she said.
“We're instituting it this year because when the kids are [younger than] one, it doesn't really matter.
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“Last year when we celebrated Christmas, Wyatt was two and it was too much. We didn't give her anything - it was the grandparents.
"The kid no longer appreciates the one gift. They don't even know what they're expecting; they're just expecting stuff.”
While she and Kutcher have decided not to litter underneath the tree with gifts, she’s also imposed some boundaries when it comes to her own parents.
She explained that she’s had to tell her parents not to give too many gifts during the holidays, and Kutcher’s parents were told the same.
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She said: “We've told our parents, ‘We're begging you - if you have to give her something, pick one gift.’”
The actress added: “Otherwise, we'd like to take a charitable donation, to the Children's Hospital or a pet, whatever you want.’ That's our new tradition.”
She’s gone on to explain it quite a bit, even sharing on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, that she has been ‘teaching them from a very early age that, you know, Mommy and Daddy may have a dollar, but you’re poor’.
The Friends with Benefits actor added: “It’s so important because we both came from pretty solid poverty backgrounds and grew up very poor and are very much self-made and are very aware of what a dollar is worth,” she added. “Nothing’s been handed to us.”
She even told Shaquille O’Neal on Jimmy Kimmel Live that when her son was younger, ‘he gets boob and he’s fine’.
That’s one way to sort out the Christmas shopping faster.
Britt Jones