Michael Douglas has said many times that one of the most important lessons he’s learned as a parent is the necessity of setting boundaries.

Especially during Cameron’s struggles with addiction, Michael realized that loving someone doesn’t always mean enabling. He’s spoken about having to pull back at times—not out of lack of love, but out of self‑protection for himself and the rest of his family.

That boundary‑setting is accompanied by the courage to say hard truths. Michael admitted that there were times he thought Cameron would not make it, that the path was leading dangerously close to “you’re going to kill somebody or somebody’s going to kill you.”

These admissions are painful, but Michael emphasizes that part of parenting is acknowledging reality, even when it hurts.

Another major thrust of Michael’s advice is that passion has to come first, not fame. When talking to his kids (and speaking more broadly), he’s said: don’t pursue something like acting if the only reason is to be a star.

You need to actually love the work itself. If fame or recognition is the goal, there’s too much that can go wrong in that motivation.

That is advice that often gets overlooked when children grow up with legacy or in the public eye, as Drew’s children partially do, or as children of actors might. Loving the craft, respecting the process, and being grounded in what you do—not just how it looks—is a recurring theme for Michael.

Michael also reflects regretfully on times when work overshadowed family. He has said that earlier in life, the career came first, and that he was often not as present as he wanted to be.

He acknowledges that his absence had consequences—traumatic or otherwise—in his relationship with Cameron. That regret seems to inform much of his current parental advice: prioritize presence.

For someone like Drew Barrymore, who also grew up very much in public and has balanced a demanding career and motherhood, that’s especially meaningful. Being present—physically, emotionally—becomes a way of repairing or avoiding the kinds of distance Michael feels he had.

From Cameron’s side, having lived through addiction, incarceration, and recovery, there are lessons about vulnerability, honesty, and redemption. He has spoken candidly about his failings, about what he did wrong, about how much he hurt family and himself.

By doing so, he shows that parenting isn’t just about giving advice—it’s also about modeling humility. When children or dependents see someone who’s messed up admit it, take responsibility, and try to rebuild, that can be more powerful than any perfect parenting manual.

Cameron’s life also underscores the importance of support systems, of love that holds on during the worst times—but also knowing when to step back to protect oneself or others. There are many stories of Michael having to protect the rest of the family while still maintaining love and connection with Cameron.

Kindness, courtesy, and compassion also come up often in Michael’s reflections. He has expressed that more than fame or success, those traits are what he really hopes his children—and his children’s children—carry forward.

Being fair and kind to others, treating others with respect, being generous, acknowledging one’s privilege. Those are values Michael has repeatedly said are essential.

Another point Michael makes is about timing and readiness—both for parents and children. He advises waiting until you are in a stable place—career‑wise, emotionally, financially—before embarking on parenthood insofar as possible.

Early in his life, he felt he didn’t have all the pieces in place and regrets some of the consequences of that. For Cameron, growing up in that environment—with the pressures of celebrity and less stability at times—meant that some things were more difficult.

Relatedly, learning from mistakes is a theme. Michael admits his mistakes openly, which is itself a kind of advice: own your missteps, learn from them, don’t try to pretend everything is perfect.

Cameron has also talked about how he was not ready to change at many points; how relapse and failure were part of his recovery process. For parents, one takeaway is: mistakes will happen. What matters is how you respond—to repair harm, to grow, to teach.

Another strand is about legacy and identity. Cameron in particular has shared that carrying the Douglas name has been both a privilege and a burden.

So there’s advice embedded there about letting children form their identities beyond family reputation; about acknowledging that name or family legacy, but also giving them space and acceptance if their path diverges.

For someone like Drew, whose public identity is also strong, this might mean allowing children to discover who they are apart from parental fame or reputation.