Bruce Springsteen Is A Proud Grandpa Who Was Determined To Raise His 3 Kids Differently From His Menacing Father

Jul 20, 2023

Bruce Springsteen has left a big impression on music. According to CNN, the "Born in the U.S.A" singer, nicknamed The Boss, is "the most honored American rock star of all time." Throughout his six-decade-long career, the rock star has received 20 Grammys, a Tony Award, Oscar and two Golden Globes.

The famed singer is also regarded as one of the founders of heartland rock. According to Rate Your Music, heartland rock is a rock genre that borrows elements from other genres, like Country, Pop and Rhythm and Blues. However, the lyrics usually follow daily life and issues from the viewpoints of the average American.

With a career that started in the '60s, Bruce has a long musical catalog unmatched by any other rocker musician. Rolling Stone gathered a panel of expert writers and artists to pick the Grammy-winning singer's top 100 tracks. From the list of top charting singles, the top three were "Born to Run" as number one, "Badlands" placed second and "Thunder Road" was the third best song of Bruce's career.

In 1999, the "Dancing in the Dark" singer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Along with his numerous musical accolades, Bruce received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, by President Barack Obama in 2016. 

Music has always been one of Bruce's greatest loves; it led to his rock career, fame and eventually his long-lasting marriage to Patti Scialfa. The couple first met in 1984, when Scialfa joined the E Street Band. They married in 1991 and welcomed their first child, Evan Springsteen, that same year. The Golden Globe winner and his wife have three children together: Evan, Jessica Springsteen and Sam Springsteen, and they've also welcomed their first grandchild!

Bruce's transition from rock star to fatherhood was not an easy one. In his memoir, "Born to Run," the singer opened up about his relationship with his father, Douglas Frederick "Dutch" Springsteen. 

"Long ago, I'd promised myself that I would never lose my children in the way my father had lost me," he wrote. "It would've been a devastating personal failure, one for which I would have no excuse, and I would not have been able to forgive myself."

Bruce also recounted to Esquire the difficulties he faced under his father’s watch. He described himself as being more like his mother, who was “kind and compassionate,” but that his “father looked at all those things as weaknesses. He was very dismissive of primarily who I was.” His father even told him that having a wife and a family would weaken a man.

He said his father’s ruled over the household with menace and would drink and brood in the kitchen in the dark, leaving his young son fearful of the same man he wanted so much to love him.   

“All we know about manhood is what we have learned from our fathers. And my father was my hero, and my greatest foe,” Bruce said.

However, a turnaround came just days before Bruce’s firstborn, Evan, was due to arrive, and his father came to visit him. Bruce said it was “the greatest moment in my life, with my dad. And it was all that I needed. … Here in the last days before I was to become a father, my own father was visiting me, to warn me of the mistakes that he had made, and to warn me not to make them with my own children.”

Bruce later learned that his father had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Bruce was determined not to become like his father and took steps to make sure his children’s childhood would be different from his. One of the ways he did this was by taking some solid advice from his beloved wife.

Scialfa explained to the E Street frontman how he needed to work on his relationship with his children. She encouraged him to wake up early to make them breakfast instead of oversleeping in the mornings. She told him: 

“You’re going to miss it. The kids, the morning, it’s the best time, it’s when they need you the most.”

And although the ordeal was tiresome and the singer struggled to make his children a decent breakfast, after consulting their family cook, it became his and his children's ritual. 

"Feeding your children is a great act of intimacy, and I received my rewards," he said. "The sounds of forks clattering on breakfast plates, toast popping out of the toaster… If I hadn't gotten up, I would've missed it."

Even as his children are grown and have moved out of the house, the ritual continues.

"When we're all together at (our home in) Colts Neck, New Jersey, Bruce and I still get up at seven every morning to make breakfast for the kids: oatmeal, pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs — the whole deal," Scialfa told Express. "I know it sounds corny, but we like to have that time together in the morning as a family before everyone goes their separate ways."

Bruce also shared his best parenting advice, which was to just “be present.” 

“I mean you have to be fully present in mind, spirit, and body. And you don’t have to do anything. I mean, you get a lotta credit just for showing up. Just by being present, you guide them,” he elaborated.

Bruce and his wife have three children: Evan, Jessica and Sam. Their eldest son, Evan, was born July 25, 1990, and followed in his parents' footsteps. Although not a massive fan of his parents' success, Evan has performed at multiple concerts and events with his dad. The couple's second child and only daughter is Jessica. According to ESPN, Jessica is one of the top equestrians in the U.S. Circuit. She won silver in team jumping at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in 2021. The youngest of their children, Sam, is a fireman. According to Closer Weekly, the 28-year-old was sworn in as a firefighter in New Jersey in 2020. 

In July 2022, Bruce was able to add grandfather to his resume! Scialfa shared a series of photos on her Instagram celebrating the news with her fans. The first image in the heartwarming post is a black and white photo of their eldest son, Evan, his partner and their baby. Scialfa captioned the photo: "Walking the baby_. Lily Harper Springsteen." The proud grandmother shared a second photo of the youngest Springsteen. In a close-up picture, baby Lily wore a cute pink hat and matching pink mittens.

Fans flooded the comment section with joy for the new member of the Springsteen family.

"Oh! Congratulations! And welcome to the world dear Lily, what a beautiful news! Lots of health to all!" one commented.

A year later, the proud grandparents were happy to join in the festivities on the occasion of little Lily’s first birthday. On July 10, 2023, Scialfa shared an adorable photo of her granddaughter seated in her high chair. On its table lay a birthday cake beautifully decorated with flowers and a cake topper reading, “One.” She captioned the post:

“-one year old today- Lily Harper Reph Springsteen 🌸🌸🌸”

Did you know about Bruce Springsteen's tense relationship with his father? Do you find his efforts to be a good dad to his own kids inspiring? If so, let us know and be sure to pass this story on to family, friends and fans of The Boss!