Are We All Doomed To Become Our Parents? 'Miz & Mrs' On If It's Inevitable – Or All That Bad

In the premiere episode of “Miz & Mrs” Season 3, Mike was horrified to learn that he was exhibiting some of the same traits as his father, George. However, after grappling with the perils of aging into one’s parents, The Miz told USA Insider that he’s grown to see it as a double-edged sword. 

The episode sees Mike nearly talk himself out of doing “Dancing With The Stars” until he hears his father rejecting the idea for the same reasons. Realizing he doesn’t want to make excuses and quit before even giving it a shot, Mike agrees to do the show despite his own reluctance. When asked if all kids are destined to become like their parents, Mike and Maryse Mizanin told USA Insider they’re resisting the inevitable urge as much as they can. 

“You know, it's weird. My wife will go, ‘Oh, you're acting like your father.’ And I'll go, ‘Excuse me?! What did you say?!’” Mike explained. “But if I say, ‘You're acting like [your mother] Marjo,’ it is the face of, like, death. My goodness.” 

Maryse corrected him to note that her face is one of “destruction” rather than (or in addition to?) “death.” 

With that, he got a little more serious and noted that everyone is an amalgamation of their parents, the trick is simply learning to take on the good parts of them instead of the bad. 

“I don't know. I think we all have traits, because you grew up around them so much, and they made you who you are,” he said. “The reason you are who you are is because of what your parents have done or haven't done for you. And so, yeah, I guess I do have traits because of my father. Hopefully, they're the good ones."

Maryse took a moment to note that, physically, she thinks he’s aging more gracefully than his father. She says there’s a scene in “Miz & Mrs” in which George is doing hot yoga in a speedo by the pool. Fans know Mike is no stranger to wearing speedos. Because of that, someone joked that by looking at George, she was looking at her husband's future. 

“I don't think so. No, I don't think so,” she said. “So you're doing really well for over 40.”

“Thanks, babe,” he responded. 

Meanwhile, one key area of their lives in which they wouldn’t mind becoming more like their parents is when it comes to their involvement in their grandkids’ lives. For better or worse (depending on the day), Marjo and George are a big part of Madison and Monroe’s childhood. So, when it comes to staying around the girls when they’re older, Maryse and Mike say they’re hoping to follow in their parent’s footsteps. 

“I think we just kind of roll with the punches when it comes to our parents,” Maryse explained. “We try our best. You know, we want [the kids] to be happy. And honestly, I want them to be in my life 24/7. I don't want them to leave ever. I don't want them to grow up.”

“You know, I take them out like I'm going to take the girls golfing or something she’s like, ‘Wait, wait. How long are you going to be gone?’ It's like, 'I'm taking them with me. It's going to be all right. Relax. Chill out!'" Mike added. "So I can just imagine when they become teenagers and they want to leave the house and drive and go places.” 

He concludes: “But honestly, as parents, I think you just listen, you learn and you try to do the best you possibly can to give them everything they want. And, you know, if they have dreams and desires, give them the tools that will allow them to accomplish those dreams and desires.”

Fortunately, they’ve got a long way to go before the girls are all grown up. As viewers saw in the premiere episode of “Miz & Mrs” Season 3, they’ve got to make their way through the “terrible twos” with Madison before they can think about anything else. 

“Miz & Mrs” airs Mondays at 11 p.m. ET on USA Network. Catch up on Season 1 and 2 on Peacock.