Eminem turning on new leaf!!!!!!!!

This was a Thanksgiving scene worthy of the Puritans: Eminem celebrating over a quiet, catered dinner at home alongside his loved ones, including his exwife Kim, their daughter Hailie Jade, 8, and his 8-year-old niece Alaina. Okay, the home was his $4-million Hollywood Hills mansion, and the guest list included his bodyguard Sugar, but it was still a far cry from the foul-mouthed Eminem of recent years -- a sign that the rap star is growing up.

Today the once-controversial performer -- real name Marshall Mathers, 32 -- is a doting father to Hailie Jade, and a father figure to Alaina, whom he legally adopted years ago (Alaina's mother is Kim's sister Dawn). He admits: "Once I hit them gates where I live, that's when I'm Dad. Taking the kids to school, picking them up, teaching them the rules." As for Kim, 29, Eminem says, "It's a love-hate relationship, and it will always be that. We're talking about a woman who's been part of my life since I can remember."

THEIR LONG HISTORY

Eminem and Kim met as kids, started dating in the late '80s, married in '99 and divorced in 2001 -- but those dates only touch on the ups and downs of their years together. In addition to frequent public arguments and break-ups, the two have independently run afoul of the law. In April 2001, the rap star was sentenced to two years probation for a 2000 assault against a man whom he found kissing his wife. The following June, Eminem faced a possible five years in jail after brandishing a gun at the manager of a rival Detroit rap group. He never went to prison; a Michigan judge gave him one year probation instead. "Nothing woke me up more than standing in front of a judge and my life in his hands," says the reformed rapper.

Kim's troubles are more recent. Last year she was arrested in a drug raid and sentenced to 120 days in prison. She agreed to go to rehab in exchange for a shorter sentence, but was arrested again when she went on the lam. Kim entered rehab again, at Minnesota's Hazelden Foundation. She was released after a month, reportedly clean, on Oct.13.

A NEW LEAF

Now, Eminem is determined to put his trouble with the law, and with Kim, behind him -- for the sake of his daughter and his niece.

"I don't want to go out and get caught up in the party scene any more," he says. "Hailie is far more important." A source close to the family adds that while there's no chance he and Kim will rekindle their romance, "Marshall will always care deeply about Kim's health and well-being."

Dramatik....