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Perhaps one of the hardest things for any parent is to find the balance between being supportive and providing guidance for your children while letting them make their own mistakes. Dina tells her children that they are in fact living in a world that very much resembles the Mean Girls environment depicted in one of Lindsay’s movies. “Sometimes you have to use a little tough love. Sometimes you have to let them stumble a little bit so they learn to get up. You can’t blame a parent for a child’s actions - all you can do is pray that you taught them morally correct behavior. In my case I try to teach them what was instilled in me by my parents, who were wonderful people and were very close with my children. It’s so rewarding when they get it.” Dina credits much of her moral and social grounding to her own parents – her mother was an Italian immigrant and her father was Irish. Her father, a World War II veteran, put himself through college and became a social worker, founding a Long Island chapter of Big Brothers and was active in the St. Vincent DePaul Society – a social outreach arm of the Catholic Church. Dina and her mother are very close, sharing home cooked meals as frequently as possible where the principle of giving back is found in everything they do. As a little girl, she accompanied her father to soup kitchens and various charity situations, so it was only logical that his granddaughter Ali chose the Ronald McDonald House to 32
The Boulevard
l September ~ October 2006
shoot one of her videos. Ali befriended several brave children fighting cancer and had them sing with her. So what’s next for Dina Lohan? She has several projects in the works most notably her upcoming talk show, which is the subject of great interest by network television. She manages Ali’s music career by herself and co-produced her recent holiday record with Grammy winner Chris Christian. A brief tour will follow but none of it will disrupt Ali’s academics in the 7th grade. Dina still plays a major role in Lindsay’s career as she always has. She credits Lindsay with making her own career decisions on projects, but helped her put together the well-oiled machine of agents, handlers, public relations experts and lawyers that have made her one of the most sought after and successful actresses in Hollywood. After several blockbuster movies, (Freaky Friday, Mean Girls), Lindsay is now making more independent films such as Prairie Home Companion for which she received stellar critical acclaim and is now currently in production with her fifth independent movie Bobby about Robert Kennedy. Having recently dropped off Michael at college for his first year, that feeling of letting go was particularly fresh on our afternoon together. But the Lohans are connected even when separated by geography and work. Dina quickly displays plastic beaded bracelets that match nothing in her outfit. They were gifts from Lindsay to her and Ali. The women in the family wear the bracelets until the next time they all see one another, when they will exchange bracelets again so they are still connected even when apart. The boys get tokens small angels, key chains or other items to remind them their family is never far and always in their heart. “I slipped a few things in Michael’s bag he doesn’t know about yet. He will find them later and know exactly who they’re from. Its our way of sticking together.” With that, Dina answers her cell phone and it’s one of her children asking when she will be home. She graciously says her goodbyes to us and rushes Oscar de la Renta: Navy silk taffeta gown adorned with off to be a mom again. black bows- $7,500. Black After she leaves, the satin dorsay strappy heelsintrigue is only greater $475.00, 18k white gold how does this soccer mom Chopard long diamond 2 row swirl earrings 5.43ctw and super mom manage $44,700, 18k white gold ever ything? Good thing Doris Panos wide Habibi cigar she will leave us with her band 1.20ctw $5,280. book….