Channing Tatum on Raising His Kids: ‘I Don’t Think You Can Prepare’

Actor Channing Tatum is the Vanity Fair July cover boy. He talked to the mag about his philosophy on parenthood, just before he and wife Jenna Dewan welcomed daughter Everly.

“I don't think you can prepare. It's a bit of a freestyle,” Tatum told Vanity Fair. Tatum said his parents set a good example “for better and worse. They weren't perfect. I don't know anyone who did have perfect parents. It's provided me with lessons I'll try to improve upon when I'm up to bat. I'm just going to be a good friend to my kid. One thing I definitely want to change is that whole 'I don't want you to make the same mistakes' mentality. My dad didn't have much money growing up; he didn't have much of an education. He forced that on me, and I didn't want it.”

The “Magic Mike” star also discussed his negative childhood experience with study drugs, and vows he'll never medicate his child for learning disabilities.

“I truly believe some people need medication,” Tatum explained. “I did not. I did better at school when I was on it, but it made me a zombie. You become obsessive. Dexedrine, Adderall. It's like any other drug. It's like coke, or crystal meth. The more you do, the less it works. For a time, it would work well. Then it worked less and my pain was more. I would go through wild bouts of depression, horrible comedowns. I understand why kids kill themselves. I absolutely do. You feel terrible. You feel soulless. I'd never do it to my child.”