Matthew McConaughey & Beloved Wife Love to Cook with Their 3 Kids in the Kitchen — Becoming a Dad Changed Him

• Matthew McConaughey wants eight more kids.

• The whole family loves to cook.

• He says being a father has completely changed for the better.

Matthew McConaughey is an American actor known for his blonde hair, good looks, and Southern drawl. Born in Uvalde, Texas, on November 4, 1969, to James, an oil pipeline supplier, and Mary, a teacher, he was the last of three sons. He studied film production at the University of Texas at Austin.

McConaughey entered the acting scene in "Dazed and Confused," a high school comedy by director Richard Linklater. That performance was impressive enough to garner him parts in three movies. For the rest of the 90s, he continued to sign on for dramatic roles, some more acclaimed than others.

In 1999, the actor was charged with possessing a controlled substance and a noise violation. Afterward, he booked a string of romantic comedies across actresses like Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker. The "Failure to Launch" star assumed unwanted notoriety for his good looks and being a "dope-head," rather than a serious actor.

Matthew McConaughey has fulfilled his wildest dream of being a father and is raising children that make him proud for their kindness and compassion.

But meatier roles were needed to judge his ability to play a broad spectrum of nuanced characters. He later got a chance to prove his range by telling human stories in "The Lincoln Lawyer," "The Paperboy," "Mud," "Magic Mike," and "Dallas Buyers Club." The latter project garnered him an Academy Award.

A Chance Meeting

Camila Alves is of Brazillian descent. She moved to New York at age 19 to work as a model. Alvez met the "magic mike" actor at a nightclub in West Hollywood in 2006. They had their first official date three days later and have been inseparable ever since. The couple has three children Levi, Vida, and Livingston.

During the pandemic, the children grew in hobbies, including amateur photography. One of their shots of their father graced the cover of People magazine.

Over the years, Alves has blossomed into an entrepreneur, designer, and philanthropist. She and her husband co-founded the Just Keep Livin Foundation in 2008, the same year she began designing handbags. Alves has also launched several businesses including a handbag line, a lifestyle website and two food ventures with leading retailers.

His Wildest Dream

The couple had their first child, Levi Alves McConaughey, in 2008. In 2010, they welcomed their daughter, Vida Alves McConaughey. In 2012, the couple wed, and their son Livingston Alves McConaughey was born on December 28. In his memoir, "Greenlights," the Texas actor said:

"In my 8-year-old mind, that's when you've succeeded in life, when you become a father. From that day on it was very clear to me the one thing I knew I always wanted to be."

Today, the published author is awed by his creative children now range in age from 14 to 9. During the pandemic, the children grew in hobbies, including amateur photography. One of their shots of their father graced the cover of People magazine.

Mathew McConaughey said he married and had children later than anticipated because he didn't want to make a mistake in picking a mate. He took his time and met a soulmate in Alves; their children have brought him deep fulfillment. And as his children grow, the actor enjoys the privileges and responsibility of fatherhood.

Teenagers respond when you model the principles you are trying to instill in them rather than what you say.

One is recognizing and nurturing your children's talents. "The Wolf of Wallstreet" actor describes his firstborn Levi as a sensitive soul with a musical ear. He acknowledges that his daughter, Vida is skilled in photography and drawing and a fan of graphic novels. And that his last Livingston is a born storyteller.

Now that the children are growing, Alves and McConaughey are learning how different it is to parent teenagers. Having survived the physical and emotional gauntlet of parenting young kids, the mom of three said:

"You need more brain power because it becomes all very about the mind, right? It's like a teenager [is] trying to find their identity and find how they're going to navigate their lives. So I think that for me, it’s more challenging in a good way."

She also said that teenage is a beautiful stage in parenting because it makes you re-assess your own decisions and actions. After all, your children are looking to you for inspiration as they make their own way. Teenagers respond when you model the principles you are trying to instill in them rather than what you say.

Parenting is Learning

The "True Crime" actor has expressed that he believes in balancing "tough love" with giving his children what they ask for so that they can learn the power of choices and consequences. But how tough he truly is is up for debate. He admits he tends to say "yes" more than his wife.

The busy actor and the former model have set Friday nights to spend with the family. They watch movies, eat pizza, and talk into the night. When they were younger, the kids would even pile into Mama and Papa's bed for the night. Just another way to create a bond with their children.

In the McConaughey home, the children are in charge of the family's breakfasts. Dad is on grill duty at home. And mom covers everything in between. Their family kitchen has inspired ventures like Yummy Bites, frozen foods products for young children, and Taco Sundae, an ice cream sundae menu at Wholefoods.

Matthew McConaughey has fulfilled his wildest dream of being a father and is raising children that make him proud for their kindness and compassion. The 53-year-old actor and his wife have raised their children in a home full of love. His hope for Levi, Vida, and Livingston is to grow up and be "conscientious and confident and autonomous."