Mel Gibson's toilet tears

Feb 23, 2010, 6:01 GMT

Mel Gibson's motto in life is to "s**t a lot and cry".

The 'Braveheart' actor spends his days following a strange set of rules which state it is important to go to the toilet often and shed plenty of tears.

Speaking about his life motto, he said: "Don't get caught! No, seriously. Try to live everyday as if it was your last. You should s**t a lot and cry."

Over the years Mel has battled alcoholism, been arrested for driving under the influence and is in the process of divorcing his wife of 30-years Robyn - with whom he has seven children.

Last year Mel's brood was extended further, when his Russian singer girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva gave birth to baby daughter Lucia in October 2009.

Fatherhood is very important to Mel, who admits he has become "softer" with his children as he has got older.

He explained: "I'm the strict kind. Throughout the years you become softer though. My younger children benefit from that. The more experienced you become as a father, the more relaxed you are with your children - until you're just spoiling them!"

The 54-year-old star has also praised his father Hutton Gibson for his own "loving" upbringing.

Mel explained to German website Spielefilmetechnik.de: "My dad was a great person. He was very intelligent, skipped two years in school. The way he raised me was loving and rational. When you got into trouble, he gave you several warnings. If you ignored them you would get disciplined, but you knew you deserved it."