Childhood the Way It Used to Be
In an era of screens, selfies, and endless social media noise, Max Thieriot and his wife Alexis have chosen a radical path for their children: a life rooted in dirt, wind, silence, and sky.
Their family lives on a working vineyard in Sonoma County, California — far from the buzz of Hollywood. And here, they’re giving their sons something increasingly rare: a real childhood.
“I want them to climb trees, fall down, touch the soil,” Max said. “I want them to feel alive, not just connected to a screen.”
The Vineyard as a Living Classroom
Every day brings lessons, not from textbooks or tablets, but from nature itself. The boys help harvest grapes, feed animals, watch the seasons change. They learn about patience — because grapes don’t grow overnight. They learn about responsibility — because the vines need daily care.
And more importantly, they learn about cycles: growth, loss, waiting, and renewal. These are lessons most children don’t get until adulthood — but Max is planting them early.
“Nature teaches you things no app ever could,” he says.
Technology in Moderation, Not Domination
Max isn’t anti-technology. He understands its value. But in his home, devices are limited. Family dinners are screen-free. Outdoor time is sacred. He believes creativity and imagination come from boredom, exploration, and silence — not constant stimulation.
His boys build forts from sticks, not code. They invent games, not TikToks. They live a childhood where they are not being watched — they are simply being.
Emotional Grounding Through Simplicity
Rural life gives Max the space to be emotionally present. When he’s not filming, he’s home — really home — with dirt under his nails and kids clinging to his back.
He’s not walking out of high-stakes scenes straight into traffic or noise. He’s walking into golden light, fresh air, and the giggles of his sons chasing chickens or spraying each other with hoses.
“That’s where I come back to myself,” Max says. “Out there in the vines, with them.”
A Rebellious Way of Parenting
In many ways, what Max is doing is quietly rebellious. He’s rejecting the idea that children of celebrities must be brand extensions or media figures.
He’s not raising influencers. He’s raising humans — with empathy, grit, curiosity, and calm.
And in a world spinning faster every day, this slow, intentional life is a kind of resistance — and a return to what really matters.
