Meeting someone, falling in love, and deciding to get married is an ordinary miracle. People, including our favorite celebrities, do it everyday. Meeting someone, falling in love, deciding to get married, and figuring out how to blend a family and become a kind and loving stepparent? That is a whole different level of ordinary miracle — one that some celebrities are navigating with joy and pride.
We all know the Cinderella story and the whole myth of the wicked stepmother, but that is just one version of the stepparenting experience. Stepparenting can also be a beautiful way of making a family and a side of parenting that takes a different kind of grace and patience.
Some celebrities, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have been terrific stepparenting role models, sharing publicly how they've navigated a sometimes tricky role and how proud they are to be a bonus parent to the stepkids in their lives. While we'll never know all of the bumps they faced along the way, we're still inspired by the love that these celebrities have for their bonus kids.
LeAnn Rimes
Heather Rae Young
Selling Sunset features real estate agent Heather Rae Young's romance with HGTV star Tarek El Moussa, including a storyline about how quickly she became attached to his two young sons, Taylor and Brayden. The duo is now married and Heather is now a proud stepmom. She opened up about the experience on her Instagram story.
"Over the past couple of years of being a bonus mom, I've had the most special experience of being in Tay and Bray's lives, watching them grow up, putting them first, being there for them no matter what, and bonding with them on a whole new level," she wrote. "It's the biggest blessing in my life, and even though I never knew I wanted or needed it, now that I have two amazing kids in my life I can't imagine my life without them."
Gwyneth Paltrow
When Gwyneth Paltrow marred Brad Falchuk in 2018, they both had two children from prior relationships. They were so committed to making their blended family work that they took more than a year to fully move in together so the kids could get used to it. She's since talked on her podcast about how being a stepparent has changed her. "It's been a really interesting challenge for me and I love them. I've learned so much about myself through the process," she said.
Matt Damon
Matt Damon is the ultimate celebrity girl dad! He and his wife of 16 years, Luciana, have a house full of girls, including his stepdaughter, Alexia. Matt has described his stepdaughter as "a terrific kid" and has spoken lovingly about his joy in sharing things like his favorite movies with all of his girls.
Kurt Russell
If Kate Hudson's glowing praise is any indication, Kurt Russell is not only a proud stepparent but also a darn good one! In a really moving Instagram post, Kate shared her real feelings about her mother's partner of nearly 40 years, gushing:
"I often wonder how how different our life would have been if he never entered the picture. How different I would be. Let me fill you in. He's a pick up your boot straps kinda dad. Don't cry, shake it off you're ok kinda dad. Don't let 'em push you around you got this kinda dad. Don't listen to the noise you're doing great kinda dad. Shake those hips like no one's watching kinda dad. Always get back on the horse kinda dad. Never miss a show or game kinda dad. Kids before anything, kinda dad. Work hard play hard kinda dad. My girl can rule the world kinda dad. He's an original. I love this man so much!"
Jason Momoa
Okay, focus here. This isn't a post about how to be a freaking hot stepparent (though he is — swoon). This is still about being a proud stepparent, and Jason Momoa hits that mark too! He raved that his stepdaughter is "the most real person I know. It wasn't easy, I'm sure, but she's just forged her way with elegance, you know? Just having two parents who were known in the world. The comparisons. She didn't let any of that hinder her in any way."
Abby Wambach
When Abby Wambach married writer Glennon Doyle, she became a stepparent on the difficult setting: with three teens/preteens! Since becoming a bonus mom, Abby has spoken glowingly about her new family and even became a coach for her stepdaughter's soccer team.
