Dr. Phillip McGraw | Source: instagram.com/drphil
Dr. Phil is known for his no-nonsense attitude, but at home with his grandchildren, he is a sweet and doting grandfather who lets them play pranks in the kitchen and spoils them with popsicles because family comes first for him.
Dr. Phillip McGraw is famous for his television show which focuses on helping families and individuals overcome psychological hurdles. But despite his successful career as a talk show host, he had numerous hurdles of his own to overcome in the past.
Dr. Phil grew up as the third child of four. The TV personality was the only boy in his family, with two older sisters and one younger. As a child, he and his family only stayed in one place for a short time. He shared that they would move every four years, which meant he never made lasting, stable friendships.
On top of constantly moving around, Dr. Phil didn't get along with his sisters. The siblings all had age gaps of four years between them, which meant they had little they could genuinely relate about. That said, the young Dr. Phil did have a good relationship with his youngest sister, Brenda McGraw.
While he still lived with his parents, Dr. Phil often avoided his house entirely.
The television personality opened up about their bond, saying he always looked out for Brenda. According to him, the oldest sisters often banded together, while the two younger siblings were left to fend for themselves. Naturally, they started sticking together, which was necessary to survive in the tumultuous McGraw household.
As he grew older, Dr. Phil assumed a patriarchal role in the family, since his father, Joe McGraw, was often absent. He shared that his father had developed a dependency on alcohol, which threw the household into turmoil. His father's drinking often led to violent behavior.
While he still lived with his parents, Dr. Phil often avoided his house entirely. At home, he would stay away from shared spaces where he might run into his father, who had a bad temper when drunk. He explained:
"[I] came and went through the bedroom window so I didn't have to go through the house. It was total chaos ... Yelling, screaming violence, domestic violence."
While his dad was an angry, abusive force in his life, his mother, Jerry Stevens, was indifferent to the trauma her kids were experiencing at the hands of their father and refrained from intervening. The talk show host described his mother as being extremely "passive."
Growing up with little money taught Dr. Phil to be self-reliant, and it also toughened him up considerably. Now he is known for his no-nonsense approach to people's problems.
Although his mother couldn't do anything to stop his dad from drinking, Dr. Phil admitted that she was a loving mother. He shared that Jerry was always calm and collected and never raised her voice or became violent toward her kids. Nonetheless, the McGraw household was in constant "chaos," which eventually drove him away from home.
Due to his father's absence and his mother's passive parenting style, Dr. Phil was forced to stand on his own two feet. After experiencing the harmful effects of alcohol firsthand, he steered clear of liquor for a long time.
Dr. Phil also shared that his father's drinking left the family in financial ruin for a long time. They often had no money for essential utilities, and he was forced to live on the streets at one point.
As a teenager, he moved to Kansas City with his father while Jerry and the three girls stayed behind. Unfortunately, Dr. Phil ended up homeless after the move. He recounted:
"I've been homeless. I've lived on the streets of Kansas City ... I've slept in a cardboard box."
Although it was by no means easy, Dr. Phil's stint on the streets taught him many valuable lessons, since he had to fend for himself and find ways to make money. His desperation led him to countless odd jobs, and he took work wherever possible. In the end, though, his experiences helped him understand people from every walk of life.
Growing up with little money taught Dr. Phil to be self-reliant, and it also toughened him up considerably. Now he is known for his no-nonsense approach to people's problems. His lonely days on the streets made him a hard-working, straightforward man who is tough on the people he helps.
However, in contrast to the stone-faced persona he presents to the world on his talk show, the 72-year-old is reportedly a sweet and loving family man. His wife, Robin McGraw, raved that her husband is a proud father who devotes every free second to his family. An insider dished that Dr. Phil is honestly the opposite of what viewers would expect:
"He can be quite sweet and sensitive, and he can be really funny. There definitely is a tender side to the tough Dr. Phil."
How Dr. Phil Met His Wife
Dr. Phil and Robin have been happily married for a long time. The couple met before Dr. Phil found success with his famous TV show. The pair opened up about the first time they met and laughed at the abrupt introduction. At the time, Robin was friends with Dr. Phil's sister, and he was home from school.
At first, she believed it was just a regular date, but Dr. Phil had a surprise planned that would blow her socks off.
Dr. Phil was sitting in the family room when Robin first walked into the McGraw house. He looked up from what he was doing and curtly inquired, "Who are you?"
Looking back at the first meeting, Robin admits it's not the best thing he could have said, but he quickly made up for his terse first impression on their first date.
Dr. Phil confessed he wasn't looking for a relationship when he met Robin. Nonetheless, they had an excellent rapport, so he thought he would give the date a whirl and see how it turned out. So, the young college student decided to utilize his pilot's license to provide Robin with an unforgettable evening.
After Robin told him she had never flown before, Dr. Phil knew taking her up in an airplane would be one of the most memorable dates she would ever have. The pair took off at ten o'clock in the evening, and Robin said she trusted her date completely. She had always believed in love at first sight, and meeting Dr. Phil solidified the idea.
The date turned out to be a stroke of genius since Robin was head-over-heels by the time they landed. They saw each other more after that, and Robin started working for a local airport. While Robin worked, the couple got to know each other, and thoughts of marriage soon filled Dr. Phil's head.
One night, Dr. Phil asked Robin whether she wanted to go out after she finished her shift, and naturally, she said yes. He flew in from a Christmas holiday, and the pair went on a date after Robin came off work. At first, she believed it was just a regular date, but Dr. Phil had a surprise planned that would blow her socks off. Robin revealed:
"He proposed that night. I was really very surprised. I was the happiest woman in the world."
Dr. Phil gushed that although he wasn't looking for love, he knew he had found the perfect partner in Robin. His entire outlook on life changed when he met her. He asserted there would be no point in living his life if she weren't a part of it.
The couple who was truly in love officially tied the knot on August 14, 1976, in a Baptist church. Dr. Phil laughed as he recalled that there was no alcohol available at their wedding. Robin saved up for a $100 wedding dress, which she tucked away safely after the wedding.
When it comes to his grandkids, Dr. Phil is as softhearted as he is stern on his TV show.
A few years later, they welcomed their first child together. The oldest of their two sons, Jay McGraw, was born in 1979, and his brother, Jordan McGraw, came a few years later, in 1986.
The happy couple said the family spends as much time together as possible, and Robin admitted that she has been to every taping of her husband's show.
Dr. Phil is just as supportive as his loving wife. The psychologist made sure he was by her side when she gave birth to their sons. On May 10, 2021, he posted a photo on Instagram of himself in scrubs holding Robin's hand as she reclined on a hospital bed. The proud father-to-be beamed at the camera and captioned the post:
"I knew from minute one she would be 'The mom of all mom's!' It is so inspiring to see her quietly yet powerfully lead by example with Erica and Morgan who are such great and loving mom's themselves! Happy Mother's Day @robin_mcgraw @morganstewart and @edahm0021 and to all of the amazing mother's out there!"
Dr. Phil is also a tremendously supportive father. The proud dad gushed about raising his two sons and trying to be an excellent role model for them. He coached Jay and Jordan in basketball, and he proudly claims to have been present at every game they played for 14 years.
Dr. Phil is proud of the men his sons have become. They've grown up to be responsible, diligent men, and he claimed Jay is an excellent father. Meanwhile, Robin mentioned her husband is a doting grandfather and a loving dad.
Dr. Phil, the Doting Granddad
Dr. Phil's brood is ever-expanding. His oldest son, Jay, has been married to Erica Dahm since 2006, and they are the proud parents of their daughter, Avery Elizabeth McGraw, and son, London Philip McGraw.
Dr. Phil and Robin's youngest son, Jordan, is married to Morgan Stewart. The couple tied the knot in 2020 and welcomed their first baby, Row Renggli McGraw, in 2021.
To Dr. Phil's delight, Jordan and Morgan announced they were expecting another baby girl a few months after Row was born. The latest addition to the McGraw family, Grey Oliver McGraw, was born on February 17, 2022. Robin posted ecstatically:
"Yay!!! You and Morgan and Row are adorable! We can't wait to meet baby No. 2! We love you."
When it comes to his grandkids, Dr. Phil is as softhearted as he is stern on his TV show. The granddad, nicknamed "Pops" by his grandkids, reportedly loves spoiling the little ones and has endless patience for their shenanigans. However, he often clashes with his wife when it comes to their parenting styles.
In a clip showing what a typical day with their granddaughter Avery was like, the couple had very opposing views on how to entertain her. While Avery's grandpa made her do activities addressing health development, her grandma spent time fussing and playing with her.
Nonetheless, they both adore their grandchildren, and they never hesitate to agree to babysit when their sons and daughters-in-law need some time off. Proof of Dr. Phil's devotion to his grandkids was also displayed when he was asked if he brought photos of his grandkids to a talk show. He responded:
"Of course I brought photos! I've become that guy."
The granddad loves talking about his grandkids and melts whenever he mentions them. He could go on for hours and proudly shows photos of them in interviews.
Whenever the little ones visit their grandparents, Dr. Phil spoils them with popsicles, and bedtimes go out the window. He even lets them play pranks in the kitchen.
But Dr. Phil's grandkids aren't the only ones who he showers with affection. After years of marriage, he still gushes whenever he talks about his wife. In a post devoted to her on her birthday, he wrote, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Beautiful inside and out. Always so gracious to everyone. So deserving. I am blessed to have another year to love you my wife!"
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