Rob Lowe Was 'a Wreck,' 'Like a Puddle' When Son Matthew Went to College: 'Tears Were Streaming' (Exclusive)

It was anything but easy for Rob Lowe when his oldest son Matthew went off to college.

The Unstable star recalled to PEOPLE the “brutal” experience of flying Matthew — who turns 31 on Sept. 24 — and wife Sheryl to Duke University to help him move into his freshman year of college.

“It triggered a lot of things,” he said during an interview for the August cover of PEOPLE. “And I thought, why does this affect me so deeply? Because Sheryl, I mean, wasn’t indifferent, but she wasn’t me.”

“I mean, I was like a puddle. I had to wear dark glasses on the plane because my tears were flowing [face] all the time,” Lowe (60) admitted. “I couldn’t watch him sitting in his chair, in his little seat with his little book bag. I couldn’t do it… It starts.”

From left: John Owen Lowe, Rob Lowe, Sheryl Berkoff and Matthew Edward Lowe attend the Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe. Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic Rob Lowe Enjoys Life at 60: How a Midwestern Kid Went from Brat to Sober Family Man with No Regrets (Exclusive)

“I was a wreck… I realized it’s very, very, very common because people tell me about it all the time,” he added.

Actually, 9-1-1: Lone Star the actor — who is also the father of their 28-year-old son John Owen — wrote about the experience of sending his first child to school in his 2014 book. Love Life.

“It’s become something that, year after year after I’ve written it, is passed on to parents who are sending their kids off for the first time… There’s nothing I love more than when dads come up to me and cry and say, ‘Your thing about sending your kid off to school. , I read it and then I sent my kid to school and I cried in the car,’ he said. “And I love it because it reminds me of how similar everyone is.”

Actor Rob Lowe (C) arrives with his sons, Matthew Edward Lowe (L) and John Owen Lowe (R) at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theater on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Rob Lowe says it’s ‘shocking’ to be 60, but he feels like he’s 30 and ‘busier than ever’ (Exclusive)

Under The host added that Matthew leaving for college felt “like the end of this wonderful journey I’ve had as a father with Matthew and Johnny,” but he’s since realized it’s just the beginning of a new chapter.

“Now, here we are, though, many years later, and you realize it wasn’t the end,” he said. “They’re back and they’re not going anywhere.”

Lowe has watched his boys grow over the years with pride. “Becoming a dad was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “It’s still the best thing that ever happened to me. It was also the thing I was the best at.”

Still, he knows he’s made his share of parenting mistakes along the way. “There is no perfect way,” he noted. “We all screw up our kids in some way. I’ve learned that. But I feel very, very good that I was at a place in my life where I could devote all my energy.”

From left: Matthew Edward Lowe, John Owen Lowe, Rob Lowe and Sheryl Berkoff at the premiere of “Unstable” held at the Tudum Theater on March 23, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty

Rob Lowe recalls low-key, stress-free wedding 33 years after tying at friend’s house: ‘It was amazing’ (Exclusive)

For Lowe, the bond with his sons extends into the professional sphere. He and John Owen co-created, co-executive and wrote the Netflix comedy, Unstablewhose second season debuted in August. The pair play father and son Ellis and Jackson Dragon, and their character dynamic is inspired by their real-life interactions.

“I’m so proud of Johnny, his ability to co-create such a series, and the idea that my child has grown up to write a series and a character for me is [amazing],” he said, proudly noting his rapid growth as an actor. “Johnny’s work in Season 2 is next level.”

Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Lowe is equally professionally related to Matthew, who is a lawyer and businessman.

“Matthew and I have so many jobs that we do together. He’s working for Eldridge right now [Industries]and they own the Dodgers, and they own Chelsea [Football Club]” he said of his oldest son, who is a history buff like his father and shares Lowe’s love of skiing and fishing.

“I spoke to him four times today about different things,” he added. “So, with Johnny I get creative show business, and with Matthew I get business branding, an opportunity to invest. Professionally, I spend almost the same amount of time with them [and] we have always been close personally.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education