Gisele Bundchen--Loving Stepmother or Insensitive Troublemakerby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 02 Apr 2009 11:33 PM She's a drop dead gorgeous multi-millionaire with a super star new husband, and now women of the world have one more reason to hate supermodel Gisele Bundchen. Apparently, marriage has made the rich (rhymes with witch) more arrogant than ever. If you missed the headlines (and the thousands of subsequent Internet posts), Bundchen is speaking out for the first time about being more than just a stepmom to John Edward Thomas Moynahan, the 18-month-old love child of her new hubby New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his ex-girlfriend model-actress Bridget Moynahan. In the latest Vanity Fair issue, Bundchen let loose about her new status as John's "other mom," not only saying that the boy was "100 percent her child," but adding: "It's not like because somebody else delivered him, that's not my child. I love him the same way as if he were mine. I already feel like he's my son, from the first day . . . He's my little angel -- the sweetest, most cuddly, loving baby. I feel blessed to have him in my life. I understand that he has a mom, and I respect that. But to me, it's not like because somebody else delivered him, that's not my child -- I feel it is, 100 percent." Whoa! Now, before I jump on the Bundchen-bashing bandwagon, I will try to give the 28-year-old a break. Perhaps, something got lost in translation (she's from Brazil after all) or she was just trying to express the love she has for her new husband's child. Either that or the pretty girl really is pretty darn ugly on the inside. I mean c'mon, how insensitive can you be? After reading Bundchen's bragging, a close pal of Moynahan told Page Six, "If Gisele loved Bridget's child like he was '100 percent her own,' then she would not talk about him in the press. Discretion and respect are not either of Gisele or Tom's virtues, as was evidenced even when the child was still unborn and they publicly flaunted their relationship without any discretion whatsoever." For those of you who missed the pre-birth drama, Brady and Moynahan dated for nearly three years, and broke up shortly before the actress learned she was pregnant. In the meantime, Brady wasted no time hooking up with Bundchen and neglected Moynahan for the duration of her pregnancy while he romanced his new cover girl. Little John was born on August 22, 2007, and for the first year of his life he saw his father only a handful of times, mainly due to the fact that Brady lives and works on the East Coast and John and Moynahan reside in California. Fast forward to February 2009, Bundchen and Brady tie the knot in Santa Monica and she begins spewing her bold statements about motherhood. Needless to say Bundchen's remarks about John being her child hasn't won the world's highest paying model any new friends. In fact, her actions have incited a new war of words between the two camps. Moynahan's friends rushed to her defense the day after the interview ran saying: "Don't you think Jack will grow up and read her comments and find them disrespectful to him and his mother? If Tom is such a great father as everyone likes to say, then you would think that he'd respect the privacy of his young child and would ask his wife not to use his son as a publicity prop and a subject of public discussion. Is she is so desperate for attention that she can't find anything more productive to talk about other than Bridget's child?" Forget Moynahan, Bundchen and Brady, I feel sorry for little John. For starters the kid has got to have some major identity issues. His last name is Moynahan (a fact that Bundchen obviously missed when bragging that the boy is "100%" her child). What's more, the boy's biological mom (the one he's with 90% of the time) calls him "Jack," but according to Bundchen, she refers to him as "Johnny" when he spends time with her. Who knows what Bundchen's intentions were when she made her now infamous comments to Vanity Fair. Regardless, she definitely stirred up a debate on appropriate stepmother behavior. Most Vanity Fair readers expressed disgust with the supermodel's declaration that since the day he was born, little Jack was "100% hers." I am not surprised that millions of women would react negatively to that over-the-top comment. What caught me off-guard were the statements Bundchen made about John Edward's dad. According to the leggy dirty blonde, one of the main reasons she married the hunky pro athlete was because "He's a good Catholic. His parents have been married 40 years. He's got a pure heart. That's all that matters - he's got the purest heart." Newsflash Gisele: If your boy was such a "good Catholic" he would have never knocked up his ex-girlfriend, ignored her during her pregnancy, and shacked up with you in your multi-million dollar New York townhouse and lived there in sin for more than two years. That's some "pure heart" your hubby's got. What do you make of Bundchen's mommy comments? Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantparenting tags User Comments  Michele Cheplic (37339) 09 Apr 2009 09:10 AMDitto Andrea, apparently Gisele's definition of "good Catholic" differs greatly from ours! gloriawyates (5) 28 Apr 2009 06:53 AMWhat makes you think Gisele's comment "he is 100% mine" wasn't just an expression? OBVIOUSLY the child is not biologically 'hers'. DUH. She probably was answering a question like, "how do you deal with raising a child that isnt yours" and she probably said in her defence "i love him just as much as i would my own child- hes 100% mine" I.E. SHE DOESNT CARE IF SHE BIRTHED HIM- SHE JUST WANTS TO LOVE AND LOOK AFTER THIS KID! As a young stepmother of two children under 4, and the youngest being also 'unborn' at the time my partner and I started seeing eachother, I feel a certain connection to Gisele. There is so much judgement and misunderstanding. All this "oh no she was pregnant with his kid when he left her" BIG DEAL! What makes it different when people seperate with kids that are 'born'. As a pro-lifer (more like, pro-prevention) in my heart, my stepdaughter was already 'here'! It makes absolutely no difference whether she was born or not- everyone was being an adult and taking responsibility in the way they needed to. I love my stepchildren very much and cherish the special bond we do have- its a very unique one, as they are so small- but its almost better because they are totally free to feel as they please about our family. They will be enriched with more role models than just 'mommy and daddy'- more aunts/uncles, friends, people to influence them in so many different ways! Before you go judging ANYONE's situation- remember that you DONT have all the facts- probably Brady and his Ex did NOT like eachother- is that really a great place to raise a child in? And heaven forbid Gisele and him be able to get on with their lives and their new family. As for Gisele calling him Johnny and not Jack- maybe that's because Tom named him JOHN and thats what his DAD calls him- not Jack. My stepson's mother changes his name just to tick of my spouse, who named his boy. Things aren't always as they seem. Why haven't we heard more praise for Gisele wanting to be a good stepmother! A lot of women don't want to be bothered with the children! I say GO FOR IT! Its your new family- its easier to Love than to resent. Besides, stepchildren have so much to teach us about unconditional, beyond-blood love! Its wonderful! Here's to all loving stepmothers everywhere!!! -Gloria Michele Cheplic (37339) 28 Apr 2009 07:46 AMAn expression of what? You say, "I feel a certain connection to Gisele." That's great, but what I was pointing out is that many other women feel a connection to the boy's biological mother. I appreciate your comment: "Before you go judging ANYONE's situation- remember that you DONT have all the facts." I agree, and I doubt that you have any more facts than I do, ergo you are basically accusing me of doing the exact same thing you have done in your comment. You have an opinion--wonderful. I have mine. Thank you for sharing yours. By the way, Tom admitted in an interview with ESPN that he did not name his child--Bridget did, which is why the boy bears HER last name and not Brady's. bridge02 (207) 29 Jul 2009 03:13 PMI understand Michele, that one of the biological mothers worst fears is to have a loving step mother in their child's life. But wouldn't children's lives be better if the "wicked stepmother" image dissapated... I would hope children have good relationships parents of all kinds. With over half of the families in the United States being blended, it is time we acknowledge that there are loving step parents all around us. Step, biological, or adoptive, there are many kinds of mothers. What I read from Gisele's comments is that she loves this baby girl as her own: ) Hats off to her! Sounds like she is happy in this family and is not scheming to steal your children. bridge02 (207) 29 Jul 2009 03:26 PMOops... I mean baby boy : ) Michele Cheplic (37339) 29 Jul 2009 08:46 PMActually, I think a biological parent's worse fear is having his/her child being exposed to ANY individual who tries to undermine the child's relationship with him/her. This blog addressed Gisele's latest comments regarding Bridget Moynahan and Tom Brady's biological son. The key word being "latest." The supermodel has a history of making inappropriate comments about Jack's mother (see blog paragraphs 9-15) in a public forum no less. When one parent (or in this case the child's parent's spouse) undertakes a deliberate campaign to vilify the other parent, then I would say it warrants concern. At the very least I would say it warrants the type of backlash Gisele received after her interview was published. Including the comment made by one Vanity Fair reader who advised Gisele to remember her role in Jack's life: "Gisele," wrote the commenter "remember that to Jack you are nothing more than his father's bed warmer. Let his father and real mother parent the child and keep your opinions to yourself." It bears noting that Bridget refused to comment on Gisele's public remarks. To me her silence speaks volumes in regards to not wanting to use the media as a vehicle to further draw attention to the innocent child caught in the middle of this less than desirable situation. In regards to your comment about Gisele scheming to "steal your children," I doubt Bridget worries about that much given that it will never happen. Still, please know your comments are always welcome here. I'm sure Gisele appreciates your interpretation of her remarks. Moynahan, maybe not so much. bridge02 (207) 30 Jul 2009 06:07 PMAre you saying that loving stepmother = relationship underminer...? I would hope that biological mothers like Bridget are secure enough with their roles that they do not feel threatened when a Step mother develops a relationship with their step children (of whom are their family). Tom, Gisele, and John are a family, of which I hope is filled with love. If they decide to have more children, I would want John to feel that he was given equal love. My husband was quite scarred by the fact that his step mother was cold to him when he was little. He wishes that when he was younger he could have received the same love that Gisele is giving John. No one feels good being an outsider especially in their home environment. You speak a lot about disrespect for the biological mother, but what about your obvious disrespect for Gisele? What is wrong with her saying that he is her "little angel" and that "she loved him from day one." She is absolutely a part of this child's life as well. Your comments seem to vilify her and Tom, when she simply speaks of blessings and love. You ask "Is she is so desperate for attention that she can't find anything more productive to talk about other than Bridget's child?" It seems like you want to cast aside the fact that Gisele is one of his two beautiful mothers. She gets to gloat about how in love she is with him just like any parent would. I am so happy that she is calling attention to the subject of step parents. You speak of a "backlash" (from insecure mothers?) but what I have seen more of are lovely comments from children who love their step parents, and want it to be known that they are thankful that they were so lucky as to be treated as if they were biologically theirs. I was also relieved to see so many step parents writing about their experiences raising their children with love. Your Vanity Fair reader seems like they are quite out of touch with the modern family. Gisele is a sexy woman, who probably does heat up the bed a lot ; ) But, she surely does a lot more. Taking care of a baby is a lot of work. Her and Tom probably split duties. And - I bet her huge paycheck provides stability in his life as well. Again, let me remind readers, a step parent is as much a parent as anyone else. Hence the "parent" in their name... And I was actually reminding you Katie, that the long legged, gorgeous, caramel blonde Gisele is not after your child/ren... bridge02 (207) 30 Jul 2009 10:38 PMI mean Michele... There is a blogger named Katie on here that has a similar board.... The heat wave in Seattle is making me a little forgetful... : ) Community Tags Bridget Moynahan, Gisele Bundchen, step-parent, stepmother, Tom Brady Discuss this article
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