Rob Lowe Was ‘a Wreck’ When Son Matthew Went to Faculty (Unique)theinsiderinsight

It was something however straightforward for Rob Lowe when his eldest son, Matthew, left for school.

The Unstable star recalled to PEOPLE the “brutal” expertise of flying with Matthew — who turns 31 on Sept. 24 — and spouse Sheryl to Duke College to assist him transfer in for his freshman yr of school.

“It introduced up lots of stuff,” he mentioned throughout an interview for his August PEOPLE cowl story. “And I assumed, why is that this affecting me so deeply? As a result of Sheryl was, I imply, not unaffected, however she wasn’t me.” 

“I imply, I used to be like a puddle. I needed to put on darkish glasses on the aircraft as a result of tears had been streaming down my [face] the entire time,” Lowe, 60, admitted. “I could not have a look at him sitting in his chair, in his little seat with slightly e-book bag. I could not do it… It is triggering.”

“I used to be a wreck…I’ve realized it’s extremely, very, quite common as a result of individuals discuss to me about it now on a regular basis,” he added.

In actual fact, the 9-1-1: Lone Star actor — who can also be father to the couple’s 28-year-old son John Owen — wrote in regards to the expertise of sending his first born away to highschool in his 2014 e-book, Love Life.

“It is change into one thing that yr after yr after yr since I wrote it, will get handed round to oldsters who’re sending their youngsters away for the primary time… I really like nothing greater than when dads come as much as me they usually’re crying they usually go, ‘Your factor about sending your child to highschool, I learn it after which I despatched my child to highschool and I cried in my automotive,’” he shared. “And I really like that as a result of it jogs my memory how alike all people is.” 

The Floor host added that Matthew leaving for school felt “like the top of this excellent journey that I had as a father with Matthew and with Johnny” however he has since realized that it was solely the beginning of a brand new chapter.

“Now, right here we’re nonetheless a few years later, and also you understand that was not the top,” he mentioned. “They’re again they usually’re not going wherever.”

Lowe has taken delight in watching his boys develop up over time. “Changing into a dad was one of the best factor that is ever occurred to me,” he shared. “It stays one of the best factor that is ever occurred to me. It is also been the factor that I believe I have been finest at.”

That mentioned, he is aware of he is made his share of parenting errors alongside the best way. “There is not any excellent method,” he famous. “All of us f— our youngsters up in a roundabout way. I’ve discovered that. However I really feel very, superb that I used to be at a spot in my life the place I may dedicate all my vitality to it.”

For Lowe, the bond together with his sons extends into the skilled sphere. He and John Owen co-created, co-executive, and co-write on the Netflix comedy, Unstable, which debuted its second season in August. The pair star as father-and-son Ellis and Jackson Dragon and their characters’ dynamic is impressed by their real-life interactions.

“I simply have such delight in Johnny, in his potential to co-create a present like that, and the notion that my child grew as much as write a present and a personality for me is [amazing],” he mentioned, proudly noting his quick-study progress as an actor. “Johnny’s work in season 2 is subsequent degree.”

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Lowe is equally as professionally entwined with Matthew, who’s a lawyer and businessman.

“Matthew and I’ve so many companies that we’re doing collectively. He’s at present working for Eldridge [Industries], they usually personal the Dodgers, they usually personal Chelsea [Football Club],” he mentioned of his eldest son, who’s a historical past buff like his dad, and shares Lowe’s love of snowboarding and fishing.

“I used to be on the cellphone with him 4 instances in the present day with various things,” he added. “So, I get the inventive show-business with Johnny, and the enterprise branding, funding alternative with Matthew. I spend virtually an equal period of time with them professionally [and] personally, we have all the time been shut.”