At a Glance
- Melissa Joan Hart and husband Mark Wilkerson raise three sons-Mason (20), Braydon (17), and Tucker (13)-in Nashville after more than two decades of marriage.
- Each child follows distinct passions: Mason pursues aviation, Braydon balances football with a sneaker business, and Tucker explores acting while excelling academically.
- Hart practices “natural consequences” parenting, letting her sons handle their own challenges to build accountability.
Why it matters: The actress shows how celebrity parents can guide kids toward independence without Hollywood pressure.
Melissa Joan Hart, best known for Sabrina the Teenage Witch, juggles life in Nashville with musician husband Mark Wilkerson while guiding three very different sons through school, sports, and early career dreams. From Mason’s first solo flight to Tucker’s on-set appearances, the family keeps milestones low-key yet public enough for News Of Losangeles readers to track.
Mason, 20: From Football to Flight School
Born January 11, 2006, Mason Walter Wilkerson once thought football would dominate his teen years. Hart told News Of Losangeles in April 2022 that the then-senior wanted “to focus on football, so he doesn’t want anything to distract him from that,” mirroring his dad’s single-minded adolescence.
By February 2023 priorities shifted skyward. Mason logged his first solo flight after three years of training. Hart captured the moment on Instagram: his parents watched from the control tower while he performed “butter” landings. Graduation arrived in May 2024, and Mason accepted a slot at an aeronautics college. “He has some big dreams and plans to back them up and we will be here to support it all,” Hart posted.
Braydon, 17: The Sneaker-Selling Linebacker
Braydon Hart Wilkerson arrived March 12, 2008, and quickly showed a flair for both athletics and entrepreneurship. He joined his mom in the 2014 Lifetime film The Santa Con but admitted acting is mostly “a way to fund his sneaker obsession,” Hart revealed to Today in May 2024.
On the field, he starts at linebacker for his high-school Mustangs. Hart rings a cowbell from the stands each fall and posted after the first JV game: “Let the season of me eating burgers and ringing a cowbell in the stands begin!”
When he turned 16 in March 2024, Hart called him “the coolest kid I’ve ever met,” praising his ability to ignore peer pressure while still caring about people. She also highlighted his executive-function skills, noting he’s “ready to take on his sophomore year and the football field with everything he’s got.”
Tucker, 13: Acting Curiosity Meets Academic Gains
Youngest son Tucker McFadden Wilkerson, born September 18, 2012, has logged the most screen time. He trained at Santa Bootcamp-a 2022 Lifetime movie his mom directed-and earlier appeared as a neighbor’s baby on Melissa & Joey. Hart admitted she “couldn’t stay in character” when her toddler shared the scene.
Tucker’s current on-set ambitions remain casual. “He could act seriously if he wanted to, but it isn’t top of mind for us at the moment,” Hart said during her Today interview. Instead, the seventh-grader dissects Stranger Things lore as a guest on Hart’s podcast What Women Binge, breaking down demogorgons and Eleven’s journey with precocious detail.
Academics required extra focus. In May 2024 Hart celebrated his iWonder teacher honoring him as “outstanding student,” adding he “overcame some big learning disabilities this year thanks to wonderful teachers who believed in him.”
Parenting Playbook: Natural Consequences Over Rescue
Hart’s guiding principle is accountability. She explained to Today: “If a child is failing a class, it’s up to that child to turn things around. If a child has a car with a broken headlight, they cannot drive their car until it’s fixed.” The approach, she says, tailors discipline to each boy’s personality without softening life’s lessons.
She echoed the sentiment to News Of Losangeles in 2022: “They’re getting huge. My oldest is driving and it’s really upsetting.” The wistfulness underscores a conscious effort to let them steer their own paths.
Family Snapshot by the Numbers
| Child | Birthdate | Key Milestone | Current Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason | Jan 11 2006 | Solo flight Feb 2023 | Aviation school |
| Braydon | Mar 12 2008 | First JV game Aug 2023 | Football + sneakers |
| Tucker | Sept 18 2012 | On-set debut 2013 | Academics, podcasting |
Life Away from Cameras
Despite occasional film projects, the Wilkersons keep everyday life grounded in Nashville. Hart shuttles between football practices, flight-line visits, and homework checks, documenting highlights for her Instagram audience of nearly two million but skipping red-carpet family appearances.
The couple once considered a fourth child, yet chose instead to invest energy in the three sons already filling the house with flying talk, locker-room stories, and Stranger Things theories.
Key Takeaways
- No Hollywood pressure: Hart offers acting opportunities without pushing stardom.
- Personal responsibility: Natural-consequence parenting keeps grades, car repairs, and social choices in the boys’ hands.
- Diverse paths: Aviation, athletics, and academics each get equal support.
- Public yet private: Milestones appear on Instagram, but day-to-day routines stay out of paparazzi range.
