Matthew McConaughey recalled that his mother Kay McConaughey would not tolerate ingratitude, especially at the breakfast table.
During an appearance on the “Your Mama's Kitchen” podcast with his wife Camila Alves, the 54-year-old actor shared how Kay taught him and his siblings good manners from a young age .
“My mother wasn't a good cook, but she always made sure we had hot meals, always,” the Oscar winner said.
Matthew McConaughey has opened up about how his mother Kay taught him manners. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images for SXSW)
“That's when I remember coming in and maybe being grumpy or not sleeping well that night or being anxious about something to do at school that that day,” he continued. “What if my attitude wasn't great. If I didn't say, 'Wow, look at that! Thanks for breakfast, Mom,' she would immediately step in and say, 'Get your ass back to your room.'”
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY AND CAMILA ALVES LOVE “LACK OF DRAMA” SINCE LEFT CALIFORNIA FOR TEXAS
“'Go back to bed and don't come into this kitchen to eat the breakfast I made for you until you're ready to see the rose in the vase instead of the dust on the table.'” recalls McConaughey.
The Texas native noted that it was a “great line” for his mother “that extended beyond the kitchen in terms of perspective and gratitude.”
The actor said Kay does not tolerate ingratitude. (Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)
Kay shared the actor and his older brothers Michael “Rooster” McConaughey and Pat McConaughey with his late father James McConaughey.
McConaughey said Kay followed his rules and would “chase” him and his brothers “all the way back” to their rooms and force them to stay there until they could come to the table appreciatively.
DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU READ ? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
“She says, 'Go back to bed.' You'd go back to bed with your clothes and your school bag and everything and get under the covers and she'd say, “Now I'm going back to the kitchen and you're going to go 'Wow, look, I have.' scrambled eggs or toast,” McConaughey recalls.
The actor said his mother would welcome him warmly when he returned to the table with a more positive attitude.
McConaughey's wife, Camila Alves, said she grew up with similar rules. (Gary Miller/FilmMagic)
“She says, 'Hello to you, sunshine. Look at this. Another great day – it wasn't guaranteed.' It was always the boost. We had to start with gratitude for the day,” he recalls.
“'Rose in the vase for the dust on the table.'” McConaughey said, repeating his mother's mantra.
During their podcast appearance, Alves said she was raised with similar rules when it came to table manners.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
“It’s the same thing in Brazil,” the model said. “It's like you have to know who you're eating your food from, and if the person has a bad heart, you don't eat them. You just don't eat that person's food.”
Alves explained to podcast host Michele Norris that she was referring to a common saying in Portuguese, adding that “the nuts and bolts are basically: you have to know who you're eating from.” And if the person has bad intentions, you never eat that food.
McConaughey and Alves share three children. (Gary Miller/Getty Images)
“If that person is angry with you, you never eat that food. If you argue, you don't eat it,” she continued.
“It’s funny because even today with my mom, let’s say if for some reason we indulge in a little thing, I don’t eat her food that day,” Alves said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“No, it’s not,” McConaughey agreed.
“I skip!” » said Alves, laughing.
McConaughey and Alves, who married in 2021, share sons Levi, 15, and Livingston, 11, and daughter Vida, 14.