Emmy Rossum Reveals How She and Sam Esmail Split Parenting and Housework

Emmy Rossum says she and husband Sam Esmail use The Fair Play Deck to divide household and parenting responsibilities while raising their two young children, creating a more balanced family routine.

Emmy Rossum Says a Card Deck Helps Balance Family Life

Emmy Rossum is offering a candid look inside her home, revealing that she and husband Sam Esmail recently adopted The Fair Play Deck to organize parenting and household responsibilities.
The actress explained that the cards help the couple divide tasks more intentionally as they raise their 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son.
"We're trying it out, and right now, Sam's got middle-of-the-night care," Rossum shared. She recalled that after their son woke up four times in one night, Esmail handled every wake-up call to make sure he was comfortable.
Rossum praised her husband for being deeply involved with their children, describing him as "very, very kind" and saying he is "amazing with both of our kids."

Sam Esmail's Parenting Leaves a Lasting Impression

Rossum said she continues to admire how Esmail balances his demanding career with family life.
Despite managing major television productions as a writer, director and producer, she said he remains fully present at home.
"He is so involved," Rossum said. "It's interesting to watch somebody who's so incredibly capable and can be a writer and a director and a producer and can manage a set of hundreds of people, and who can also be such a good human being."
She added that watching him parent makes her feel fortunate, saying she feels "really, really lucky."

Childhood Experiences Shaped Her Perspective

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Rossum also reflected on growing up with her single mother, Cheryl, after her father left before she was born.
She said she met her father for the first time at age four, saw him again at eight, and did not reconnect until she was in her twenties. While those experiences left an emotional impact, becoming an adult helped her better understand that parents can fall short despite trying their best.
Watching Esmail build a close relationship with their daughter has been especially meaningful.
"I get to watch her get something that I didn't have, and in a way that's enough for now," Rossum said.

Career Continues Alongside Motherhood

While balancing family life, Rossum is also preparing for the release of her new Hulu crime drama, Furious, which premieres on July 27.
The actress continues to juggle motherhood and her acting career while embracing a parenting partnership that she says works for their family.