Despite the fact that Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs are no longer dating, they get along well as co-parents.
The two Broadway stars got hitched in 2003 after meeting on the set of the Rent play in 1996. Walker Nathanial Diggs, now 13 years old, was born to the ex-couple in September 2009. They eventually parted amicably a few years later, but they still think highly of one another.
In a 2022 interview with PEOPLE, the Best Man actor was asked about co-parenting and he only had good things to say about Menzel.
He said, “She rules the show. “She manages Walker’s whereabouts when he needs to be there despite having a career and her own connections. Because of her, he has the best coaches and teachers, we attend the best schools, and all of this is possible.”
Similar views on co-parenting have been expressed by Menzel, who stated to PEOPLE Now in 2016 that “Your child comes first, that’s all.” He comes first, you have to put aside your egos, and you never speak poorly of one another, she continued.
The Frozen actress also opened up to PEOPLE about what she’s discovered about motherhood.
“When I became a mother, it was actually extremely liberating since everything was so self-centered. It also teaches you about priorities and perspective when you have these adorable, little people to worry about “Menzel remarked.
She went on, “And you make mistakes on a daily basis. However, if you approach parenting from a position of love and forgiveness and strive to be a strong, rooted tree for your children, they will know that you are not going to — you may bend, but you won’t break. That, in my opinion, is the best way to demonstrate to them your love and commitment to them.”
Learn everything there is to know about Walker Nathanial Menzel, the son of Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs.
On September 2, 2009, Walker Nathaniel Diggs was born.
Diggs told PEOPLE in advance of his arrival how thrilled he and Menzel were to have a baby.
“We have locations in Los Angeles and New York. [Idina] completed both nurseries. She built them herself, decorated them, and is currently assembling a bassinet “explained he.
“Everyone keeps exclaiming how wonderful it will be. Everything will alter on every level once the birth occurs “He went on. “I’m quite happy.”
He’s a sneaker collector
Menzel established her own clothing line with QVC in May 2022 under the name Encore, proving that fashion runs in the family. However, she asserts that her son is more stylish than she is. Walker loves sneakers and has a sizable collection, the proud mother revealed in a PEOPLE interview. Walker was not pleased when Menzel showed up to pick him up from school wearing a pair of his Yeezys, but she wears the same size as her 13-year-old son, which is a blessing for Menzel.
“I’ve been robbing him of his shoes. Because he has a collection of sneakers, it’s really thrilling that we’re now in the same size “Telling PEOPLE, Idina. “The other day I was running to pick him up from school and I was too lazy to run up the stairs to get my own shoes, so I threw on a pair of his Yeezys.”
He reportedly gave the actress a “glare of death” when she arrived to pick him up because he was concerned that she wouldn’t take good care of his shoes.
Menzel acknowledged that she had a “hard time” turning 50 and that the significant birthday had made her feel self-conscious in a 2021 interview with Glamour. But her son gave her the confidence to go past her fears.
“I hate to admit it, but I was struggling with it. Regarding my value as a performer and actress, I believe it was subconsciously upsetting me more than I let on. Sometimes I feel like the elderly lady, but that’s not who I am “Menzel remarked. “At heart, I feel quite young.”
She continued by sharing the guidance Walker had given her. “”Mom, don’t worry about how you seem in the mirror,” he advises. You are stunning.”
The singer added that she wants to deliberately try to provide a good example for her son after recalling how her own mother would constantly point out her flaws anytime she looked in the mirror, despite the fact that Menzel thought she was attractive.
Additionally, Menzel is kind to Walker; she admitted to PEOPLE that she frequently places personal notes in his lunchbox, “regardless of whether they embarrass him or not.”
He’s a tattoo artist for his dad
CONVERSING with PEOPLE Diggs revealed his Father’s Day plans for 2018, which included commissioning Walker to create some artwork for a tattoo.
It wasn’t the first time the happy father had a tattoo of one of his son’s drawings. Diggs inked one of Walker’s doodles onto his left forearm when he was only 5 years old. On Instagram, Diggs displayed his new tattoo, which says “I Love Daddy” with all the Ds spelled backward.
For Walker’s first birthday in 2010, Diggs also got the word “WALK” tattooed on his left forearm, as he revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
He inspired his dad to write children’s books
Several of Diggs’ children’s books, such as Chocolate Me! and Mixed Me!, address issues of race and identity.
Diggs talked to PEOPLE about his writing motivation after The Festival of Creatures, a children’s book he wrote for Baskin-Robbins, was published.
“Children’s book writing is something I really adore. I had a specific interest in writing when [Walker] was born, and I’ve had a blast doing it “says he.
The Private Practice actor has also freely discussed how Walker served as direct inspiration for his book Mixed Me! In an interview with Today, Diggs stated, “This one was inspired by my young kid, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, who is a product of a blended relationship. “I’m dark chocolate, and his mom is vanilla.”
I Love You More Than…, one of his works, is a love letter from a father who doesn’t live with his son full-time, expressing to him how much he misses and loves him.
He doesn’t care that his mom is famous for Frozen
Even Menzel’s prominent Disney role as Elsa in Frozen doesn’t bother Walker, who may have two movie stars for parents.
He really doesn’t care about Frozen, I can tell.” Menzel revealed Walker to PEOPLE. “Hey, my mom’s in Frozen, I could get you an autograph, he said when he was in kindergarten and asked a girl for a few fancy crayons. Apart from that, he tells me to keep quiet in the car. I’m prohibited from singing.”
Walker, on the other hand, has a beautiful reason for not always wanting to hear his mother sing, as Menzel revealed to PEOPLE in 2016.
“He dislikes listening to Mommy sing! He’s started crying the few times I’ve tried, and he’s said, “Mommy, it makes me miss you,” she added. What do you mean, I questioned? I’m present! When you go onstage, it just makes me think of you and I miss you, he remarked.”
