Katie Holmes says Connor, Isabella Cruise call her ‘Mom,’ says Suri is ‘very aware’
In a new interview with Parade magazine to promote her film Mad Money, Katie Holmes, 29, talks about Christmas in Telluride, jet-setting with a toddler and her exciting new "big life" with husband Tom Cruise, 45. Reflecting on last Christmas, her first with daughter Suri — now 20-months — Katie says,
It was so spectacular to share the holidays with her. It really meant the world to me. To be able to create a tradition for your children is one of the best gifts you can have.
The family travels often due to their busy work schedules, and Suri has visited numerous nations in her short lifetime. All the excitement is not lost on Katie, who acknowledges that she’s done things "that I couldn’t imagine doing when I was younger."
With everything that’s happened, I still feel the same. I’m really happy being a mom, being a wife. I understand the curiosity. It’s a reality for me, another dimension of awareness. I appreciate the man that I’m with and my family and my work. I feel very lucky to be able to say that. I mean, what we do in a week is extraordinary.
I always wanted to see the world. It is a big life, and it’s exciting. I learn from my husband, and I learn things about myself. I learn about things from my daughter. She teaches me a lot. Every day I do count my blessings.
Leaving Suri behind with a family member or nanny while the couple shoot their films abroad isn’t an option, Katie says.
We don’t like to be away from her. She’s very aware. We take her to the park in each city and walk around. This summer, when Tom was working in Germany, she’d wake up and say, ‘Hello, Berlin.’
When asked by Parade whether Tom was supportive of the bond Katie formed with her Mad Money co-stars Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah, Katie said that her husband "understands the female bond, and he loves it."
My husband has three sisters. He was raised by a single mother and has two daughters — and he’s a great father and husband. His first two children [Connor and Isabella] are incredible, really smart and kind. They call me ‘Mom.’
Connor, who turns 13 next month, and Isabella, turning 15 on Saturday, are Tom’s children with ex-wife Nicole Kidman.
Source: Parade
- Posted on Dec 19, 07 at 8:00PM
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- 61 Comments
December 19th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Ouch, I can already imagine Australian weeklies’ headlines, considering Nicole Kidman recently said the kids don’t call her “mom”. Nice interview though, they seem really happy.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Something about this interview really bothered me. Can’t put my finger on it — too flowery or something? Plus, not sure about the “mom” thing. Poor Nicole
December 19th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
I find it really interesting that Tom’s children with Nicole call Katie “Mom” since Nicole said in a recent interview in the UK that her kids don’t call her “mom” or “mommy” but instead Nicole. It is really obvious that Nicole is not a strong presence in her children’s lives if they call another woman “mom”. I mean, I’m pretty sure the kids are not calling her husband Keith Urban “dad”. I wonder how Nicole feels knowing that her children consider another woman to be their mother.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Why in the world would Katie and Tom allow those kids to call Katie mom? Are they that obsessed with undermining Nicole’s role in her childrens’ lives? Just when I thought these two might be slightly normal…
December 19th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
ok .. might have figured out what was bothering me … they call her “mom” but she refers to them as “Tom’s first two children.” Always wondered about this whole scenario but this interview does nothing to clear it up for me …
December 19th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Ugh. how would Katie feel if Suri started calling another woman ‘Mom’? She’s the adult here, she should be insisting the kids call her Kate or Katie, not ‘Mom’!
December 19th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
I would be VERY pissed if my kids would call another woman mom.Even because she has the age to be their older sister.For some reason, I dont believe this is true.
Sarah’s note: The interview is from a respectable weekend magazine, so unless the quote is out of context we don’t have any reason to believe it may not be true.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
I just want it to be known that in the actual interview with Nicole that was shown on tv she says that they dont call her mommy, but they do call her mom and sometimes jokingly Nicole. It was the media who took her quotes out of context and played it up as if Connor and Bella don’t caller her mom at all.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Maybe if Nicole were actually around them more, this wouldn’t be happening. She should start being a mother and stop worrying about her career so much.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
So from what I’m gathering Tom has primary custody? How often does Nicole see them and if Tom does have primary custody, why is that? Usually the mother does. I mean, I know not always, but I’m just wondering why she doesn’t.
Very harsh that they call her Nicole, but call Katie mom.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
I don’t think Katie meant that they call her “mom” to undermine Nicole’s role as a parent, it just sounds like she’s saying that Tom’s two children are just open and accepting to her as a parental figure in their lives. Kind of like how Demi Moore’s girls call Ashton Kutcher a “bonus dad”
December 19th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Lori I totally agree with you. I’m not surprised they call katie mom, katie seems like a warm and loving stepmom and mother to suri. Nicole hasn’t never really looked like she enjoyed being a mom, and tom was always seen more with the kids than her and seemed like a good dad. The kids are old enough to know what they wanna call katie, and if they feel more comfortable calling her mom over nicole, well there might very well be a good reason. It’s like not like 2 or 4 yrs old, they know exactly what to call people, so if they call katie mom, it probably comes from their heart.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I don’t think it has anything to do with Nicole. I have a friend who calls her stepdad “dad” because it avoided confusion with her half brothers when they were babies. Had she called her stepdad by his name, her brothers would have been like “why do we call him dad and you call him by his name?”.
It just makes things easier for Suri. no need to blow it out of proportion.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Thank you Ashley for clarifying that bit about Nicole. I don’t see how its a bad thing if they call Katie mom too; having two moms to care for you is great!
The only thing that bothers me is that they talk about not wanting to go anywhere without Suri, but how come its ok to leave the older kids? Tom and Katie travel a lot and it seems the two older children are pretty much raised by Toms mom from what I understand. I think they should really try to stay put for the sake of their whole family.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Oh, Im sorry so because Nicole isn’t with them 24/7, it okay for them to call katie mom? Considering we dont really know what goes on in Nicole’s or Toms lives. Why do some of you feel the need to be soo mean. So Tom doesn’t value his career more than Nicole? I dont think so, Tom makes more movies. Hence more money,Im sure he’s absent sometimes as well. It’s horrible really. To think we have to step back into the 50’s to prove a point, or show we’re good parents. I feel no need to really judge someone as a parent. Unless some sort of abuse is involved. But I find it hard to believe Nicole neglects her children.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
I think that everyone should stop being judgemental..If they feel like calling katie mom maybe they are looking for that “mommy bond”. How often have you seen keith and nicole at one of her isabelle’s games or with the children period?? Let me tell you it is hard to win over teenagers..if they are calling katie MOM it’s for a reason.I believe that they are very lucky to have found that bond w/ there stepmom.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
I can only imagine that from Nicole’s perspective it could be considered unkind or thoughtless of Katie to mention the “mom” comment. It’s great if the older kids feel comfortable with Katie, but for people in the public eye, Katie should have known that comment would raise eyebrows — especially after the misunderstanding about Nicole’s recent comment.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
I think it is important to remember that Nicole spends plenty of time with her kids, but she makes every effort never to have them photographed. To the same point, we rarely see Tom photographed with Connor & Bella either. We just saw him and Katie at the games, but that’s because Tom and Katie were a new item. Usually, they go to great lengths to keep the children (other than Suri) out of the spotlight.
The kids do live with Tom, but becasue they want to live in LA and not Nashville. They were in school and had friends there. Nicole moved away and chose not to uproot her kids.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Frankly… Katie’s comments to the press over the past few months seem either completely oblivious, or prodding. So many comments come off with Tom being “the only reason” for most of the good things in her life, every effort of every day being “for Tom”. She has made it seem several times that she was just walking down the street in Ohio and he picked her up.. not that she had a successful career and was already fairly well-known beforehand.
My point being. The girl really doesn’t know how to talk to the press or how to make the impression she’s probably intending. It was probably meant just to show that she gets along well with the older children.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I for one see nothing wrong with the kids calling Katie “mom”. I’ve called my step-mom ‘mom’… It doesn’t mean I don’t love my mom any less or that I don’t respect my mom… My cousins call their step-mom and step dad ‘mom’ and ‘dad’… I also teach early learning and my kids will call me mom.. I think its a good thing that myself or my cousins and even my kids at work have another person they can look up to.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
The children are old enough to know who they want to call mom. I don’t know these people personally, but who am I to judge what works for them?
As far as them leaving the older children it would make sense. They are in school and seem to be very active in sports. Why take them away from what their normal schedule?
I work a regular 9 to 5. I fix dinner and help with homework. When I have to be out of town for work, my husband and mom pick up the slack. No one takes pictures of me as I come and go. No one is interested in interviewing me about my haircut. My life is so different from theirs that I can’t even start to pass judgement.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
You know what I like about this though? This is a damage beyond repair. I don’t think that you have to like Nicole or anything in order to be disgusted. Let me put this full of pathos: This “mom-comment” is really against every instinct of decency that one has. Against everything you know about love and people you care, against every sense and sensitivity you have. And Rosemary isn’t even aware of it. Well done.
You don’t even have to be a mother to be offended by this: You need to be a daughter or a son. All it takes – and this is not much – is to imagine your own parents‘ pain and outrage if you would publicly refuse them and to project it onto Nicole. Identifying with Nicole‘s feelings is not a big step from there.
I just love how Darth Midget & Co. underestimate women. And you would think they would have learned a lesson from the Brooke Shields thing. Women brought him down, remember? And now it is many women’s mother instincts which finish off NitBrit’s career. Yet, unlike Britney, Lady Fameho never had much of a career. Now Katie Stockholmes is doing everything to direct precisely these same instincts against herself. Her stupidity and beastliness are beyond measure.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
CBB posted an interview from Nicole awhile back where she explained being away from her 2 kids. Being teens, they have their own lives now and they don’t want to be shuttled back and forth. She and Tom both work a lot and it seems Nicole and Keith fly out to see her kids a lot and she’s trying to respect them by not requiring they move with her or fly back and forth a lot.
I don’t see anything bad persay about the kids calling Katie “Mom,” I just see it as random for her to bring it up at all. I guess there was no transition and that’s why it rubbed me the wrong way. She went from saying they are smart to saying they call her mom and I guess on some level it seemed to me like Katie was just throwing that out there so everyone would know the kids like her. I just think there was a more tactful way she could have said it.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Her comment seemed to come from nowhere. Just something she wanted to have people know.
She was asked about her relationship with her co-stars.
Seems this girl has another role to play 24/7. It’s kind of sad.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
I think it was tacky of Katie to mention this in an interview. Maybe the kids wouldn’t want their mom (Nicole) and the whole world to know that they call Katie ‘mom’. That’s something she should cherish privately if the kids feel that way about her. No need to throw Nicole under the bus.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
I have a stepmom, but I don’t call her mom, and I quite like her. I can’t even imagine calling her mom.
It seems important to Katie, why else would she mention it.
I doubt we will ever know if this is ok with Nicole, she is so private about everything.
December 19th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Maybe the kids call both of them mom? When I was a teen, I would call my mom by her first name. I think it’s sort of a rebellious thing and doesn’t mean the kids don’t like Nicole. They could call Katie mom when they’re mad at Nicole, as teens do tend to fight with their parents and do things to hurt them. I wouldn’t jump to conclusions based on 2 un-related quotes from Katie and Nicole. As far as wee see in photos, neither of their parents spend much time with Connor and Isabella.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
I don’t know…I know that I would be awfully hurt and pissed if my children called another woman “Mom”. Especially if that woman were much younger than I! What a slap in the face! Katie may not have meant any harm, but as a mother, I can tell you she crossed a line by saying that in an interview, and the backlash is already becoming apparent.
Whether she said it or not (I’m sure she did), I don’t believe her, because having teenagers myself, teenage kids are not likely to do that with a girl who is not old enough to be anything but their older sister. Honestly, I think Katie was given a script by her/Tom’s P.R. people and they thought that this was going to endear them both to the public. Just my opinion based on the too-happy, everything-is-just-perfect tone of the interview. Let’s face it: until this month, she’s seen very, very little of Connor and Bella: Katie, Tom, and Suri just spent six weeks in the D.C. area where Katie was filming “Mad Money”, and immediately after that, the three of them spent three months in Germany, then jetted off to Italy for a vacation, and then back to Germany and all over the U.S. to promote Lions For Lambs — all without Connor and Bella, who spent the summer off at some Scientology camp. I think they want to paint a picture of themselves as a perfect, happy family unit, but it’s only serving to make people — even die-hard fans — look at them askance.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Ouch! Where was Katie’s rep when this interview happened. You don’t say stuff like this in a interview! Backlash will happen for both sides. Sometimes you have to know when to keep your mouth close or how to really communicate what you’re trying to say clearly cause it can be taken the wrong way.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
I think it all more has to do with Scientology. Nicole does not seem to like that they are being raised Scientologists. She said in an interview recently that she didn’t want to talk about it. I think Tom’s primary custody has more to do with them being raised in Scientology.
I have to ask though, if Nicole is supposed to focus on being a mom rather than being an actress, then shouldn’t Tom do the same? He’s been carting Suri and Katie around the world with him while he works and we have yet to see Connor and Isabella with them. I don’t think Nicole has done much to step in and be a fantastic mother, but I’m not sure Tom is a fantastic father either. And I read the interview Katie gave to InStyle and so much of it seemed to have been fed to her. This whole situation is questionable and unfortunately I feel like the kids are the victims.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Nicole’s comments about the kids not calling her mom have totally been taken out of context.You can watch her GMTV interview where she discusses this. The url is:
She says the kids call her ‘mum and it’s obvious that they were teasing her.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:24 am
That’s funny. Nicole’s comments could be taken out of context because sometimes the media spins things to make a better story?? Then is it maybe a possibility that the same happened during Katie’s interview and while she probably did say this if it came from a reputable mag maybe (or most probably) the interview was edited and not printed verbatim?? You people are so quick to always judge these celebrities and YOU DON’T KNOW THEM, you just believe everything you read??
December 20th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Nicole left the kids with Tom, in the hope that it would disrupt their lives a little less when they divorced. It was probably a bit naive of her, but I truly believe she probably thought she was doing the best thing by them. And while I really love Katie, I find this comment very heartless and not what I would have expected from her. While I agree it’s no-one’s business what Isabella and Connor call Katie (though I find it odd they would call her mum, considering her and their ages, unless it’s just for Suri), it’s a little thoughtless of Katie to share a fact like that with the world. She’s not new to this, she must have realised how the media would spin it, no matter how innocently the comment was made, and how it would make Nicole feel to hear it. It’s something she could have definitely kept to herself.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:59 am
That is A COMPLETE AND DIRECT INSULT at Nicole Kidamn…
Katie ( or Kate) is NOT Isabella and Connor’s “mom”.
Nicole IS their mom…WAS, IS and ALWAYS will be…I cannot belive that someone who is a new mom herself ( and one who obviously revels in her role as mother) would say something like that…How would she feel if Suri called another woman “mom”…
All I can do is borrow Jeniffer Aniston’s famous quote and say that Katie Holmes has LOST her sensitivity chip!!!
P.S….I would NEVER belive that Isabella and Connor call Katie mom…it just doesn’t sound genuine to me…and IF it is true then Katie should IMMEDIATELY corret them , NOT encourage them and certainly NOT share that personal fact in interviews so that the whole world would know!!
December 20th, 2007 at 1:40 am
Here is the COMPLETE interview!!!
CBB got is absolutely right !!!
Check it out for yourself!!!
Does Tom get the way women talk together?
My husband has three sisters. He was raised by a single mother and has two daughters—and he’s a great father and husband. His first two children are incredible, really smart and kind. They call me “Mom.” So Tom understands the female bond, and he loves it. He was so excited for me to do this movie. He loved hearing all the stories.
=============================================
Sharing Holidays Is Spectacular!
By Jeanne Wolf
Published: December 23, 2007
To celebrate the holidays, we spoke with three fabulous women about family, life and traditions. All will appear together next month in the comedy caper movie “Mad Money.”
Katie Holmes: Every Day I Count My Blessings
PARADE: Happy holidays. Do you look forward to this season?
KATIE: I have always been a huge fan of the holidays. My birthday is December 18th, so it’s my favorite time of the year. I’m from a big family, and we always did a grand Christmas Eve with all of the relatives. We’d sing Christmas carols and open gifts. Really joyous. Last year was Suri’s first Christmas. It was so spectacular to share the holidays with her. It really meant the world to me. To be able to create a tradition for your children is one of the best gifts you can have.
How will you and Tom celebrate?
My whole family and Tom’s whole family will go up to Telluride [Colo.] again. We ski. We have big dinners and laugh. We love cooking. My mom’s stuffing is my favorite. I’m a huge fan of pie, especially pecan. I will probably cook some garlic mashed potatoes and maybe a cheesecake. We always make a lot of sugar cookies with decorating and sprinkles. Suri will be in the dough everywhere. Tom has shown me the greatness of extra chocolate chips. Tom’s really good in the kitchen. He makes great pasta carbonara and lemon pasta.
With all that, how do you both keep fit?
We ski a lot. And we’ll get back to normal eating in January, like everyone else.
Did you have fun shooting “Mad Money”?
It was a blast. We got our morning female talk in the trailer every day.
Does Tom get the way women talk together?
My husband has three sisters. He was raised by a single mother and has two daughters—and he’s a great father and husband. His first two children are incredible, really smart and kind. They call me “Mom.” So Tom understands the female bond, and he loves it. He was so excited for me to do this movie. He loved hearing all the stories.
Onscreen, you speed around on a motorcycle. Was that your first time?
Actually, the first time I went on a motorcycle was when I met Tom. I had never gone on one before because my father is a lawyer, and he had seen a lot of accidents. With four daughters and one son, he said: “No motorcycles.” So finally, at age 26, Tom took me for a motorcycle ride.
Tom is a daredevil. Has he brought out that side of you?
Definitely. Oh, we have so much fun. Tom has introduced me to so many new experiences. I have done things I never thought I would do, like climbing mountains and flying in the P-51 [a World War II fighter]. That’s what is so inspiring about being with him—constant thrills and joy.
Is your daughter, Suri, a great traveler too?
We don’t like to be away from her. She’s very aware. We take her to the park in each city and walk around. This summer, when Tom was working in Germany, she’d wake up and say, “Hello, Berlin.”
Everyone asks, “What’s Katie really like now?” How would you answer that?
With everything that’s happened, I still feel the same. I’m really happy being a mom, being a wife. I understand the curiosity. It’s a reality for me, another dimension of awareness. I appreciate the man that I’m with and my family and my work. I feel very lucky to be able to say that. I mean, what we do in a week is extraordinary.
Did you expect such a busy and public life?
I am up for it. I love adventure. We do a lot of things that I couldn’t imagine doing when I was younger. And yet, at the same time, I always wanted to see the world. It is a big life, and it’s exciting. I learn from my husband, and I learn things about myself. I learn about things from my daughter. She teaches me a lot. Every day I do count my blessings.
December 20th, 2007 at 2:21 am
Why is it “tacky” for Katie to mention how the kids refer to her? I’ve never seen that comment made about what Bruce & Demi’s kids call Ashton. Ashton has shared plenty about how close he is to the girls and how they turn to him for advice etc. And the general response is ‘aww, how sweet’ or ‘how great that they’ve all managed to be so adult for the children’. But because this is Tom and Katie, older children accepting and bonding with a step-parent is considered tacky or some manipulation of their father or some unspecified lacking element in their mother. We have no idea if there was a question that instigated the comment or how the editing of the interview was done. Even if it was just an off-handed remark, it’s not as if she’s sharing state secrets. The kids call her mom, big whoop. It’s better than some of the alternatives they could be calling her. If Nicole’s happy when her children are happy and content (as many moms are), then I’d think that the kids being comfortable enough to call Katie mom (even if it’s only in front of Suri), wouldn’t necessarily be the end of the world.
Jada and Will Smith are another mixed family that have shared details about their blended family. We rarely see Will’s oldest son with his mother, yet no one claims that Will has strong-armed her child away from her or that Jada is brain-washed or tacky for commenting so positively on her relationship with her step-son.
It’s always so strange to watch the double standards at work with a few of the celebrities.. none of which any of us probably know personally.
December 20th, 2007 at 4:06 am
Emily, Dee….I totally agree with you, I think she could avoid saying that in an interview, just say that she has a wonderful relationship with Bella and Connor would have been enough….imo.
I have a stepmom, my dad’s wife, but I have never seen her as a second mom…I do like her lot’s and is a very nice person, but i have MY mom, and she is the only one…
Katie is a mom, so maybe she should think how she would feel if somebody says that Suri calls mom another woman…
just my opinion.
December 20th, 2007 at 6:28 am
I have always felt very sad for Nicole, I don’t think any of us know what really happened, but I think for her to have had to leave it must have been bad. I know people have told me that if one parent is Scientologist, most of the time, they retain custody, not sure how/why but I’ve heard this multiple times. I agree with the poster that said Nicole probably allowed them to be there initially to disrupt their lives as little as possible, but I feel it’s so sad. When you read Nicole’s interviews it is soo easy to see how much she loves her kids. What happened that she doesn’t get much time with them etc? I guess we’ll never know.
I don’t think it is right that the kids call katie mom, I think it shows how little respect Tom has for Nicole. Suri is obviously a very loved, happy baby with 2 doting parents, you can’t really fault Tom or Katie for that, but it seems like they spent the last 5/6 month travelling the world, where were Isabella and Conner? Surely they could have been with Nicole instead of being at home being homeschooled in Scientology?
December 20th, 2007 at 7:08 am
But in the case of Demi, Bruce and Ashton, isn’t the term for Ashton “MOD” (my other dad)? Also, it seems that Bruce has made it clear publicly that he has no problem with Ashton’s place in his daughter’s lives. We don’t know how Nicole feels about Katie’s place in her children’s lives and I think it’s incredibly tacky for Katie to say something like that, even if it is true. Honestly, I have my doubts about that part, considering their ages. And even if it were true that Connor and Isabella call their mom by her first name, I can’t see them calling another woman “mom” under those circumstances.
December 20th, 2007 at 7:20 am
Even if Conor and Isabella do call Katie ‘Mom’, I really don’t think it was necessary for Katie to mention it in an interview. No-one here can judge either women on their parenting skills as no-one knows them and the fact remains that such comments are not appropriate for the public domain. However it was meant, it is still going to be hurtful to Nicole and I feel sorry for her
December 20th, 2007 at 9:12 am
LaurenT, I think at least with Ashton’s case, the kids call him MOD, not “Dad.” Also, Bruce, Demi, and Ashton do things together all the time, so for me it doesn’t seem so weird for Ashton or Demi to comment. But you’re right, we won’t ever know the whole story.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:43 am
It’s no wonder Connor and Isabella are calling Katie ‘mom’. Why shouldn’t they; they spend almost their entire time in LA with their dad, little sister and Katie, while Nicole doesn’t seem too interested to spend time with them! I think this is something that has grown, since they are around their dad and sister, who also calls Katie “mom” of course, and children always want to be part of a wholesome. It’s no secret they love Katie, she spends a lot of time with them. Nicole on the other hand doesn’t, and has admitted she doesn’t see them too often. Which I think is wrong, but if this is the result, it’s her own fault. She should start to take care of her kids more instead of telling the papers she is “longing for a baby”! I don’t think this sounds great in Connor and Isabella’s ears when she hardly spends time with them.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Gee – Do you think Scientology might have something to do with this?? Since the “First two kids” are being raised Scientologists, of course the “church” is going to come between the relationship between Nicole and her kids – since she is not a Scientologist and never really got into the “religion” while she was married to Cruise.
December 20th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Lola-you said it must of been hard for nicole to leave and that for her to leave it must of been bad. I think its it important to remember that it was Tom who wanted and filed for divorce and nicole was completely in shock.
I think the general thinking is that because of there Tom’s religon there is sort of animosity between Nicole and Tom and i dont really think thats the case. Both Tom and Nicole stated that it was not religon that split them up. I don’t think its necessarily fair to blame scientology for this just because people don’t like the fact that they call her mom. If anything doesnt scientology have the mentality that kids are adult and can make their own decisions, and both Tom and Nicole have stated that they do make there own decisions(ie them choosing to live in LA rather than with Nicole).
December 20th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Let’s be serious here. I feel that children calling any stepparent “mom or dad” so soon is a bit unreasonable. But at the age they are, I’m sure it was the children’s decisions to call Katie “mom”. Tom’s older children also seem happy and well rounded! But in all fairness, Nicole is never photographed with those children or seen with them. I saw Connor in 1 photo with Nicole and Keith and that was some time ago. I live in Nashville, TN. I work downtown, where I have seen Nicole and Keith Urban on 3 separate occasions just walking around, no children in tow. I read an interview where Nicole stated that her children decided they want to live with Tom. I’m sure she loves them, so I’m not implying that she doesn’t in any way. I just think that motherhood is not at the top of her list of priorities. I’m thinking Tom is the one who wanted those children in the first place, more so than Nicole. So, before people decide to play the “poor Nicole” sympathy card, let’s look at the complete picture. It just doesn’t appear that Nicole has the same bond and attachment to the children as Tom. I can see how Katie would take to Tom’s older children. They seem great. Connor seems to be very affectionate and he’s adorable on top of that. I’ve seen pics of him snuggling Katie as they walk.
December 20th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
You people who are attacking Nic really need to let up. She’s a great mom who pretty much lost her kids to the Scientology cult and interviews like this just rub salt into the wounds.
December 20th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I’m in complete agreement with you ASM1976. Motherhood doesn’t seem to be at the top of her list. The kids, who know far more about Nicole than we, choose to live with Tom and call Katie mom.
December 20th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Alia- That’s the point, just because Bruce is more vocal about his acceptance, doesn’t negate the fact that Ashton often speaks of it. Just as, just because Nicole hasn’t publicly spoken about her feelings about Katie as a stepmom doesn’t automatically mean that she has issues with it. I just find it unfair that so many are quick to want to defend ‘poor Nicole’ when we don’t even know that her feelings need defending. For all we know Nicole knows exactly what her kids call Katie and are fine with it, which might lead Katie to be completely comfortable commenting on it (as Ashton is completely comfortable commenting his situation).
It just seems presumptuous to jump to the immediate conclusion that Katie is being insensitive to Nicole, yet be so willing to accept similar comments from others.
And yes, MOD stands for My Other Dad (that still seems to equate him with Bruce to me), MOM could just as easily stand for My Other Mom.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
That is awful. I would never allow my ex-partner’s new wife to be called mother. She is not a mother, but a friend or a sister-like person in their lives. Humf. Looks like Tom’s got what he wanted: Nicole out of his kids lives.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I’m sorry, Lori, but what do you know of how much value Nicole places in her career and what does that have to do with how much she cares for her children? You can love both. And btw, I see the older children with Nicole more than I see them with Tom.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:07 am
asm1976- I couldn’t agree more! I do, however, have to say that one of the main reasons we don’t see Conner and Bella photographed with Nicole much is because, as another poster mentioned, she tries NOT to have them photographed when they are with her (and she is certainly not the first celeb parent to do so. Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis do all they can to keep their kids out of the spotlight as well, and therefore we rarely see Lily-Rose and Jack photographed with either of their parents.).
Anyway, I also agree with the posters who say it is not fair to blame Scientology for Tom and Nicole’s divorce, Tom having primary custody of Connor and Bella, etc. We have no way of knowing how much of a role Scientology played/plays in any of those things.
All of that said, I don’t think it’s at all strange that Bella and Connor call Katie “mom”, and I’m sure Nicole knew about it long before Katie did this interview. Also, like a few other posters have stated, Bella and Connor DO call Nicole “mom” as well. Her comments about them not doing so were taken completely out of context. Anyway, I have heard of other cases where kids call their stepparents “mom” or “dad”. I even know of a lady who was once a host mother to a Foregin Exchange Student….and the Foregin Exchange Student called her “mom”.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:14 am
Well…I do not think it is very fair to say that Tom seemed to want kids more than Nicole or that her children are not on her top priorities. I do not get it though because she is judged for not being pictured with her children and yet Tom is pictured mostly or always with Suri.
I really cringed when I read that they call Katie “mom.” She seemed to just put it in there out of spite almost. It sounded too odd to me. And what if Isabella and Conner did not want anyone to know because how it would affect their mom. I think I feel bad because I would not want my children( when I have children) to call another woman mom.
December 21st, 2007 at 7:35 am
Cruel and unnecessary for Katie to mention that Bella and Conner call her “Mom”. That is a private matter and shouldn’t have been mentioned in the interview…It appears that she said that on purpose and it was harsh and disrepectful to Nicole and the kids.
December 21st, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Wait wait … look at ALL the other celeb mothers !!! They are always/often around their kids ! Nicole is the one never seen with Bella and Connor : are All the other mother on the earth sooo bad or is nicole an odd woman??? I’ve nothing against her BUT …
December 21st, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I have read all comments but in my opinion, I think we can’t really know what goes on in their private lives unless we lived with them. Interviews can turn out to be what the interviewee never intended. I am sure this interview is not verbatim and it is the interpretation of the magazine, Katie could have said it after being prompted by the interviewer but here it sounds random. In the beginning Katie said the kids called her Katie and if they wished they would call her mum but that is up to them. They do call Nicole Mum and her comments were clearly taken out of context. These are not very young kids and they are capable of making their own decisions. I doubt any one is forcing them.
December 22nd, 2007 at 1:25 am
I think media outlets, especially those American ones probably took Nicole own comments that her kids didn’t call her ‘mom’ completely out of context. No one calls their mother ‘mom’ in Australia. It’s only North Americans that call their mothers that. Nicole did say that they call her ‘mum,’ and that she joked that when she hears Nicole from their mouths she said ‘HEY.’ It could be that Katie is mom, as Nicole is mum.
There is nothing wrong Katie taking a role with her step-children, although child psychologists do advice that main parenting decisions by done by the actual parents, not the step-parents, as it tends to confuse child, and can lead to further psychological problems. It would be more natural that Katie will be having more problems if she trys to parent those children, instead of just trying to be their friend. It is very unusual for a child to bond with a step-parent so much that they consider them their parent.
Nicole has been their mother all of their life, and they do visit and stay with her throughout the year. I have read plenty of interviews with Nicole where she talks very lovingly about her kids, and it seems that she does have a close relationship with her children. I think she is far more private now than what Tom is, who seems to want to pass off Katie and him as the perfect family.
Because of their cult…oops I mean Religion, Katie may have been reading from a script to make out that her relationship with her step-children is much closer than what it really is. It is unlikely that Isabella, who as a teenager is not exactly to consider a 20-something woman as her mother – that concept is a bit silly.
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Demi and Bruce’s children call Ashton MOD for My Other Dad. I love that. Ekaterina, I agree w/ you in that I have always SUSPECTED that scientology played a role in the divorce of Tom and Nicole, and subsequently has played a role in the custody of the children. I absolutely believe that Nicole is extremely private and doesn’t even like speaking much about her children in any way to the public for obvious reasons. Remember she was devasted by the divorce. She spends as much time w/ the children as Tom, we are just not seeing outings and hearing interviews. Erin, I agree w/ you. I think that the interview w/ Kate was a long one, and I’d like to think that she just goofed and lost her tact. And I know it sounds cynical, BUT could her answers to known questions have been approved ahead of time by her scientology mentor? Who knows. But I have to say the comment left a bad taste in my mouth as my own children have a step-father(whom they adore) and step-mother they will not even visit or speak to.
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I AM Sorry, but so many of you are making a fuss about nothing.Please someone tell me how katie was disrespectful, wrong and outlandish in this interview cause I don’t see it. All i see is people being judgmental and trying too twisting peoples words to make it more gossip worthy. When has it become “Cruel and unnecessary” for someone to say that there step children calls them mom.I pretty sure that katie wasn’t aware how TABOO it was and that it had to be kept hush hush.I think alot of you are upset that katie has a close relationship with connor and Isabella, which is so sad. connor and Isabella are not 2 they can decided what they want to call katie, it is not crazy or insane for them to call them mom. So many mothers are there say they would be heart(maybe soo), teenagers would never do that(there are alot of things teens do), need to stop and say that one your not commor and Isabella, 2 they are not your children, and 3 stop making something negative when its not. One does anyone know that this comment is going to really be hurtful to Nicole(not you)but Nicole Kidman, because its seems like so many people know all her emotions
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:30 am
Jane- To be fair, Katie is actually pretty close to 30. She just recently turned 29. Therefore, I don’t think it’s a bit silly to think that Isabella might consider her a mother figure (I do agree that she probably doesn’t consider Katie to be her mom. After all, she already has mom-Nicole).
I also find the idea that Katie might have been reading from a script completely ridiculious! Just because she is a Scientologist doesn’t mean she reads from a script during her interviews.
I mean, Jenna Elfman is also a Scientologist, and I’ve never seen her accused of reading from a script in her interviews. I must ask, why are people always criticizing Katie and Tom? The only celeb I see criticized as much as them is Angelina Jolie.
That said, I also don’t think Tom is trying to make it seem like he, Katie, Bella, Connor, and Suri are the “perfect family”. They just happen to be very happy together, and there’s nothing wrong with that!
I have noticed that, in most of the interviews Angie and Brad give, they have nothing but positive, happy things to say about each other and their kids….and yet no one ever accuses them of trying to be the “perfect family”!
December 23rd, 2007 at 4:14 pm
THE FACT THAT THEY LOVE HER AND FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO CALL HER MOM IS BEAUTIFUL.
I AM A STEPMOTHER ALSO AND IT IS VERY HAD TO WIN THE AFFECTIONS OF TWO TEENS.
I SAY MORE POWER TO HER I HOPE I CAN SOMEDAY HAVE THAT WITH MY STEP CHILDREN.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
In a few years, when Tom trades Katie in for another woman, will it really matter?