Celebrity Parents Tia Mowry Reveals 'Weird' Childhood Habit: 'I Can't Believe I'm Sharing This' The actress revealed how she used to self-soothe as a child and the hilarious way her mother helped her break the habit By Hattie Lindert Hattie Lindert Digital News Writer, PEOPLE People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 19, 2022 11:27 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Paul Archuleta/Getty Tia Mowry is coming clean! While on a break from filming the new season of Family Reunion, the 43-year-actress welcomed viewers to another "Tea with Tia" via her Instagram Story. The topic this week? Childhood soothing techniques. Tia Mowry Shares Throwback of Her and Her Sister Tamera When Their Mom 'Put Us in Matching Outfits' "Some kids would suck their thumb or they would suck their fingers," Tia recalled. "I cannot believe I'm sharing this with you guys, but do you guys know what I used to do? I used to suck my arm." Further discussing the "weird" habit that helped her calm down or fall asleep, Tia revealed she kept sucking on her arm for comfort until she was around 13 or 14 years old. "I really want to know if there are other people out there in the world that did this because I always thought that I was just weird!" Tia said with a laugh. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. She then explained how her mother, Darlene, got her to break the habit. "She would put mosquito spray repellent on my arm," Tia shared. "It worked, I stopped sucking my arm, but you guys, I was an arm-sucker." Tia is now a mom herself to daughter Cairo, 3, and son Cree, 10, whom she shares with husband Cory Hardrict. The family recently gathered with Darlene, Tia's brothers Tahj and Tavior, and Tavior's wife Zandy to celebrate Easter together. Tia Mowry Urges Parents to 'Be Present' with Their Kids as She Celebrates Easter with Her Family Tia's twin sister Tamera Mowry enjoyed her own, smaller celebration with husband Adam Housley and their daughter Ariah, 6. Tia also shared a special message for parents on her Instagram Story this Easter, urging them to "be present" with their kids and cherish every moment before they grow into adults. "Try to turn off the TV during dinner, try not to be on your phone when you're with those kids… take those five minutes after school to talk to them about their day and what they want to be when they grow up," Tia said. "These are the moments that you will cherish forever. You guys, before you know it, our babies, they just won't be babies anymore." RELATED VIDEO: Tia Mowry & Cory Hardrict Explain What Makes Their 13-Year Marriage Work: 'It's a Team Effort' Tia got a personal taste of her babies growing up recently. The actress shared via Instagram in March that Cree had been accepted to "the school of his DREAMS." "Telling our son he got into his dream school. A new favorite memory and dream come true for us all," Tia wrote alongside a clip of Cree featuring the moment he found out the news from his parents. After reading his acceptance letter, Cree broke out crying and hugged his dad tight. "As a mother, my goal was and is always to support and give my children the opportunities I never had as a child and this week, BOTH of our dreams came true!" Tia wrote. "Congrats, Cree it's only up from here. Mommy loves you and we got you! 🤍."