Matt Damon and his wife Luciana have one “non-negotiable” thing as they prepare for a burglary.
“We have family dinner every night. That’s non-negotiable and always has been,” the Good Will Hunting actor told People magazine in an interview published Friday.
The rule was put in place to ensure she had quality time with her four daughters, Alexia, 27, Isabella, 20, Gia, 17, and Stella, 15, but she admitted that there were times when she “worked on through dinner,” something they could all improve on.
“One of my daughters said, ‘Well, we had dinner as a family and we didn’t talk last night.’ And we realized, ‘Oh my god, you’re right,'” Damon recalled to the outlet.
“We sat down for dinner and you can get a little bit caught up in the routine and not understand why you established that routine in the first place,” he added. “Again, that’s the kind of family mindfulness we’re all working on.”
The Bourne Identity star said he and Luciana are “facing and accepting the fact” that all of their daughters will be leaving the family soon and are doing their best to make the most of their time together.
“We’ve been talking a lot about presence and trying to really be in the moment. You can’t slow down time, so the only way to really do that is to actually be present and be in it,” he explained.
The Oscar winner admitted that his family’s biggest “challenge” is staying away from their phones, which is another thing they’re actively “trying to be careful about.”
Last month, Damon, 55, confessed that the “ruthless” nature of Hollywood has separated him from his children more than he would like.
“You’re always trying to figure out what’s ahead, because business is a very uncertain, very ruthless business, and I think those things have conspired to probably take me out of where I’m at more than I would have liked,” he told GQ at the time.
He added, “I think about it a lot, especially now that my kids are older. I’m really trying to be here now.”
Matt told People that it was “amazing” that all four of his daughters were able to attend the London premiere of The Odyssey, as his family sacrificed “a lot” for the film due to his demanding career.
“I was away for a while, and they came to visit, but it was tough. It’s a very long movie and a very grueling shoot. I’m really looking forward to letting my daughters see it tonight,” he says.
Matt and Luciana began dating in 2003 after meeting at a bar in Florida where she was a bartender.
The two married in 2005, and soon after, Matt adopted Alexia, whom Luciana adopted from a previous relationship.
Luciana gave birth to her first child, daughter Isabella, in June 2006, followed by Gia and Stella in August 2008 and October 2010, respectively.
