Arnold Schwarzenegger's Heartbreaking Confession: The Pain Behind Balancing Governorship and His Kids' Tears
Arnold Schwarzenegger opens up about the challenges he faced as both governor and a father, sharing his heartfelt experience of witnessing his children's tears during his time in office
Arnold Schwarzenegger opened up about the most emotionally challenging aspect of his tenure as governor of California in the early 2000s - an experience that resulted in him sacrificing precious moments with his children.
During an episode of the "On Purpose With Jay Shetty" podcast on Monday, October 9, Schwarzenegger, 76, acknowledged the sacrifices he made as governor. He reflected on the challenges of prioritizing his political responsibilities, while witnessing his children crying at the dinner table due to his absence.
The Terminator star has daughters named Katherine and Christina, as well as sons named Patrick and Christopher Schwarzenegger, from his previous marriage with Maria Shriver. He also has a son named Joseph Baena, whom he had with his former housekeeper, Mildred "Patty" Baena, in 1997 while he was still married to Shriver.
Recalling his time as a politician, Arnold Schwarzenegger shared during a recent podcast that his children were disappointed and saddened by his absence from their dance recitals, football practices, and school drop-offs.
Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegge, Maria Shriver and their four children at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Novemeber 17, 2003 Lucy Nicholson-Pool/Getty Images
"It is truly devastating when the children are in tears and voicing their complaints, causing you to question your pledge to prioritize others as your number one. However, you also made a promise to your family, especially your wife, when you welcomed your first child, assuring them that they would always come first," Arnold admitted. "This presents a dilemma."
Acknowledging that he has had to make sacrifices in terms of family time, Arnold disclosed that Shriver, aged 67, has had to step up and take on additional responsibilities in their household.
"There have been moments of painful sacrifice, especially when witnessing my children in tears," he acknowledged. "I am fully aware that I am responsible for this. It was my decision to pursue the role of governor, knowing the consequences it would have on my family."
Arnold acknowledged that his time in Sacramento, while his family remained in Los Angeles, caused him to miss out on many experiences. However, he eventually reorganized his work schedule in an attempt to alleviate the impact on his children.
"I used to divide my time between Sacramento and Los Angeles, spending four days a week in the former and three days a week in the latter. However, I realized that I needed an additional day in Los Angeles to attend my children's school recitals or practice sessions," he shared with the audience. "This change did not affect my commitment to public service, but it allowed me to spend more quality time with my kids."
The retired bodybuilder acknowledged that Shriver played a dominant role in the family during his governorship, as she was present 80 percent of the time, while he only contributed 20 percent of the workload.
Arnold acknowledged that his success as governor would not have been possible without the support of his former spouse, Shriver, whom he referred to as a "good partner." However, their collaborative relationship came to an end in May 2011 when Schwarzenegger's involvement with Patty, a 62-year-old woman, was revealed. Their divorce proceedings were concluded in December 2021.
Arnold, on the other hand, emphasized the significant role of teamwork in facilitating his divorce from Shriver. He stated, "My wife and I were highly proficient in collaborating, which ensured that our children did not experience any disruptions." He further expressed contentment with the result, and immense pride in their exceptional children.
In this article
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Katherine Schwarzenegger
Maria Shriver
