Raising kids is no walk in the park, and Shaunie Henderson knows it better than most. With five grown children, she’s seen it all. Both Shaunie and her ex-husband Shaquille O’Neal were strict when it came to their kids, and it’s safe to say that all the O’Neal kids have been raised well. But the reason behind it was their own strict upbringing. As most Shaq fans would know by now, the 4x NBA champ got schooled during his younger days on discipline the tough way. Shaunie revealed her father was no different.

Speaking with her husband, Keion Henderson, on The GrOOwZone Podcast, Shaunie opened up about her childhood. “My dad was so strict. I hated it growing up,” she admitted. School dances? Off-limits. Hanging out with boys? A big no.

“I couldn’t do anything that involved boys,” she revealed. But the reason? “He just didn’t want me to be hurt,” Shaunie explained. But while her dad’s overprotective nature kept her away from a lot of teenage fun, it also shielded her from trouble.

“So he was overprotective, and I didn’t get to do much,” she said. But then she admitted, “In the long run, I’m kind of thankful…I trusted him with everything. I knew he had my front, back, and sides.” Meanwhile, her ex-husband Shaquille O’Neal’s childhood wasn’t exactly easy either.

Raised in a household ruled by a strict mother and an army sergeant stepfather, O’Neal grew up with ironclad discipline. His younger years were filled with rebellious moments, but those never ended well. Defying his parents often led to what he called “whooping sessions” that kept him in line.

Even so, Shaquille O’Neal has always credited his father, Phillip Arthur Harrison, for shaping his career. “He was my biggest critic,” O’Neal once shared. But Harrison also gave him one of life’s greatest gifts—introducing him to basketball. Similarly, Shaunie also credited her father despite his strict upbringing.

Little O’Neals helped Shaunie overcome father’s demise

When Shaunie Henderson lost her father, Mr. Nelson, in February 2020, her world turned upside down. She described him as a pillar of strength and unconditional love. The pain was especially profound as she prepared for one of the happiest moments of her life—her wedding to Pastor Keion Henderson in 2022. Reflecting on that emotional time, Shaunie wrote in her memoir, “I didn’t know how to disconnect dad from the wedding planning. Do I just cancel everything that’s so wonderful right now to sit in this place of grief and pain?”

Thankfully, her kids stepped in when she needed them the most. Myles, Shareef, and Shaqir, under Henderson’s thoughtful suggestion, walked their mom down the aisle in honor of their grandfather’s absence. Meanwhile, her daughters, Me’Arah and Amirah, stood proudly by her side as part of the bridal party.

The beautiful ceremony aired on VH1’s Shaunie & Keion’s Destination ‘I Do’, capturing the special ways her children honored their mom. In a heartfelt gesture, Shaqir initially claimed he wanted the honor of walking her as her “favorite.” However, Keion came up with the perfect compromise: all three boys would take turns walking their mother, sharing the moment equally.

Although Shaunie reminded Shaqir that her father would’ve had that role if he were alive, she knew Mr. Nelson would want her to find happiness. And so, with her children by her side, she embraced the love and joy of the day, knowing her father’s spirit was with her.