Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber move son Sasha into a basic college dorm a short drive from Skid Row instead of a luxury pad - as fans praise their 'real parenting'
The proud parents, who split amicably in 2016 but continue to co-parent their two children, were spotted helping 18-year-old Sasha settle into his new life at the University of Southern California.
Located a short ten-minute drive from LA's impoverished Skid Row, the area is a far cry from the Hollywood Hills.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Naomi shared candid details of the emotional process, from tears and laughter to long talks and practical chores.
Alongside a snap of her son sitting on his neatly made bed in a modest double dorm room, she wrote: 'We packed and unpacked, stacked and colour coded. We walked and walked, woke up early with excitement.
'Then we shopped and shopped, and sometimes fought about stupid stuff… We laughed, we cried, I had a few extra secret cries and maybe some not so private ones.
'We hugged a lot. We built things, we talked to robots, we ate good food. We got lost a bunch.
'We met so many great people. We had deep talks mixed in with a few fart jokes… then gave advice about how the world works.
'But then remembered: He's got this!! He did it!! He dreamed big and worked really hard for something wonderful. Go Sasha – we love you so much.'
Fans were quick to applaud the A-list couple for choosing to give their son a normal college experience rather than the trappings of Hollywood luxury.
The dorm room – sparsely furnished with a single bed, drawers and shelves stacked with sneakers and books – couldn't be further from the glitz and glamour his famous parents are used to.
One fan wrote: 'So pleased to see a divorced couple co-parenting in such a healthy way. Absolutely no idea the back story but this looks awesome.'
Another added: 'Beautiful son. Beautiful co-parenting. Good job mum and dad.'
Even Naomi's celebrity friends couldn't resist chiming in.
Actress Rita Wilson quipped: 'That's the only time his room will ever look that neat. Congratulations to all!'
Teresa Palmer told the actress: 'Oh wow!! And launched off into the world. Congrats on this new season mama.'
Patty Pilgrim, another follower, reflected on the moment as a rite of passage: 'What a beautiful rite of passage. I'm sure he loved having both of his parents there for this special adult transition.'
The University of Southern California, where Sasha will be studying, is located just a few miles from Skid Row, one of the most notorious areas of LA known for its homelessness crisis.
One of Naomi's social media photos showed the trio after a shopping excursion during which they purchased pillows and kitchen utensils for their college freshman.
Another snap showed the father-and-son duo walking side-by-side and holding hands in Downtown Los Angeles.
''Already [bawling],' she wrote across a photo of Sasha standing with his packed suitcases and bags.
Meanwhile, Liev shared the moment from his perspective, as he said he was 'starting to feel the pull' while uploading a photo of himself standing with his son.
He added, 'Gonna miss my ride or die. Having said that, USC is gonna get one of the deepest, kindest, bravest and most beautiful boys I have ever known.'
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