Mark Wahlberg has played a rock star, a cop, a porn star, a sniper, a thief, a gangster, a soldier, and a guy who owns a talking teddy bear. But Wahlberg’s toughest job, the one that puts him on his knees, is being a dad.

Wahlberg recently told People magazine, “It’s not easy. But it’s how we always pictured things.”

“I pray for patience,” he says. “But the kids test me.”

Wahlberg says that he dreads the day his two daughters, now ages ten and four, get old enough to start dating.

“The boys will be difficult in some ways that the girls won’t, but I’m dreading the teenage years with my daughters; it’s not going to be easy for them to go on a date. But I’m hoping one nice, nerdy boy will come into each of their lives at the right time when they’re twenty-something and they’ll be with that person forever.”

Wahlberg had a tough life growing up in South Boston. He did time in jail. His kids have it much easier. But he wants to instill in them the knowledge that, even though they are fortunate, they need to work hard for the things they want in life.

“That’s the challenge Rhea and I face every day. I want to give them all the things I never had but make sure they understand it’s not normal and that it takes hard work to get what you want.”

Mark Wahlberg on raising kids "Material things aren't going to make them good people; education and being active in church will."

— Erick Rheam (@ErickRheam) June 30, 2014

Wahlberg says he would prefer that none of his four kids, two boys and two girls, go into acting. But he will back them in whatever field they choose.

“I’m extremely nervous about it and want to push them in any other direction, but Ella already says things like, ‘I want your job!'”

“As long as the kids know they need to get a college education first, and after I teach them all the pros and cons of the business if it’s something they still want to do, I’ll support them 110 percent.”

Mark Wahlberg, who dropped out of high school in the 9th grade, received his diploma at the age of 42 to set an example for his kids.

— moreaboutfacts (@fact465) July 1, 2014

Image via YouTube