Drew Scott, the 48-year-old host of HGTV's Property Brothers, has shared a poignant anecdote about a "heartbreaking wake-up call" prompted by his four-year-old son, Parker. Scott recounted the incident on Instagram, explaining how he realized his own work habits were impacting his children.
According to Scott, he came home one day and asked his son for a hug. Parker, however, ran away, picked up a toy, and began pretending to be on a business call, mimicking his father's frequent phone conversations. This imitation struck Scott as a clear sign that his son was observing his constant engagement with work, even at home.
"It was heartbreaking for me because he just saw me on calls all the time," Scott stated. This realization led him to re-evaluate his priorities and commit to being more present when with his children, including his two-year-old daughter, Piper.
Scott expressed the importance of showing his children he is actively listening and engaging with them, rather than being distracted by work. He noted that his daughter "gets excited" when he is present, which he finds heartwarming. He reflected that if he continues his demanding work pace, potentially skipping breaks for calls, he risks missing significant moments in his children's lives.
Scott, who hosts home renovation shows with his twin brother Jonathan, emphasized the long-term consequences of prioritizing work over family. "It's going to feel pretty empty at the end of your career or at the end of your life if you look back and all you did was work," he said to his 2.7 million followers. He advised others against checking their phones during family time.
Scott and his wife, podcast producer Linda Phan, met in 2010 and became engaged in 2016. Their wedding was featured in the 2018 TLC special "Property Brothers: Linda and Drew Say I Do." The couple welcomed their son Parker in May 2022 and their daughter Piper in May 2024, both via IVF after facing fertility challenges.
This personal reflection follows a difficult period for the family, as Phan's mother passed away several months prior. Scott shared a tribute on social media expressing his grief and offering support to his wife and her family, acknowledging the profound loss and the absence of Phan's mother in their children's lives.