Ileana D’Cruz has been a doting mother since she welcomed her son, Koa Phoenix Dolan, in August 2023. The actress has often shared candid moments from her life as a mother on her social media, and this time was no different. Ileana took to her Instagram story and responded to a fan about parenthood and affection towards her kids.
Ileana D’Cruz doesn’t want her kids to feel that her love needs to be earned
Ileana D’Cruz, who is preparing to welcome her second child with her husband, Michael Dolan, took to her social media account on the night of May 8, 2025, and shared a story responding to a fan. The actress, in her post, was responding to a private message sent to her by a follower. She wrote that she would never want her children to feel the need to ‘earn’ her love as a parent. Ileana added that she wants to raise happy, healthy and kind children, and she would do anything it takes to ensure that they know how loved they are. She was quoted as saying:
“I will never want my children to feel that they need to ‘earn’ my love. That is by far the worst feeling I have ever experienced. Feeling ‘not good enough’. I want to raise happy, healthy, kind children (I am sure all parents do) and I will do my best to ensure to know how loved they are. These are, of course, my views and opinions. You do you.”
Ileana D’Cruz’s text came in response to a fan
Ileana D’Cruz’s response came after a fan wrote to her. The actress shared a screenshot of a fan message. The text read that people, including children, should be taught that being cruel, wicked, unkind or selfish won’t get them love. The person added that one should not reward those behaviours and that love needs to be earned just like respect and happiness.
The person further wrote that it was not wrong to chase love. They added that they have to teach their children not to chase people for their response to their positive qualities but to nurture them in a way that people turn to them with their own positive responses. The text could be read as:
“People, and especially kids, should be taught that being cruel, wicked, unkind or selfish are not lovable traits and you will not be loved and also should not reward love to those. Love has to be earned just like respect and happiness. And its not wrong to chase love… We just have to teach kids not to chase people for their response to our positive qualities but merely to nurture them so that people will turn to us on their own.”
Ileana D’Cruz’s marriage and children
Ileana D’Cruz and Michael Dolan got married in a hush-hush ceremony in 2023. However, it was Ileana’s post about her first pregnancy in April 2023 on Instagram, that left everyone surprised. The actress posted a picture of a onesie and wrote, “Coming soon. Can’t wait to meet you, my little darling.” It was in the early days of January 2025 that Ileana hinted at her second pregnancy with a wrap-up video of the year 2024. In the clip, Ileana looked emotional as she held what appeared to be a pregnancy test kit to the camera.
What are your thoughts on Ileana D’Cruz’s revelation about raising her children with love?
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