Gabrielle Union finds the term “stepparent” to be pretty annoying. The L.A.’s Finest star shared why she loathes the word during a recent interview on Glennon Doyle’s We Can Do Hard Things podcast.
“The stepparent label was put on me by the kids’ school because you have to describe yourself: Who are you if you’re not their mother? It’s very annoying,” Gabrielle shared with Glennon. “It’s not a word that I use,” the celebrity mom shared.
Parenting for Gabrielle Union is about more than providing support in public. Consistency at home is also essential.
“Whatever personality I was trying on that day, or whoever I was, I just needed to be consistent so they can get used to me,” Gabrielle Union said of her approach to getting acquainted with Dwyane Wade’s kids. “They’ve already gone through so much upheaval, moving states away, not knowing anyone, having gone through a divorce. I knew I needed to be consistent. I just didn’t know what my role was,” Union shared.
“I knew that when I married him, I was married to them,” Gabrielle said of her quest to build a healthy home with Dwyane Wade. “What I realized very quickly is you will never, ever, I don’t care if the other parent is dead, you will never be able to replace the other parent,” Union shared. “Don’t try to replace the other parent. That is not your job. Your job is to be consistent. If you’re a disciplinarian in your own life, continue to be that. Just be consistent so they know who you are … and kids adapt.”
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade have one child, Kaavia James, together. The little one celebrated her third birthday earlier this month. Dwyane Wade also has a son, Zaire, and daughter, Zaya, with his first wife, Siouvaughn Funches. The celebrity father has a son named Xavier with Reality TV star Aja Metoyer as well.
Photo: Gabrielle Union/Instagram
