The term stepparent is ‘Very Annoying’ to Gabrielle Union and she has explained why she doesn’t use it.
Here is what Gabrielle Union said about wanting to become a parental figure to Dwayne Wade’s kids in 2008:
“I wanted to make sure I was consistent in their lives”.
Gabrielle Union says that she doesn’t want to be referred to as a stepparent and she made this known as she appeared on Tuesday’s episode of Glennon Doyle’s We Can Do Hard Things podcast.
Via Parents:
“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. It’s not a word that I use”.
Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade tied the knot in 2014 and became a stepmother to his three kids, Zaire, 19, Zaya, 14, and Xavier Zechariah, 8, as well as Wade’s nephew Dahveon Morris, 20, for whom he serves as legal guardian.
Wade and Union also share a 3-year-old daughter Kaavia James. But Gabrielle wants to be parents to Wade’s kids and be consistent in their lives.
“I wanted to make sure I was consistent in their lives,” Union added. “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. 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.”
“I knew that when I married him, I was married to them. 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. 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,” she said.
Wade in his recently-released memoir titled “Dwayne” talked about missing structure as a kid which taught him great lessons about what he wanted and did not want for his own family.
“I missed the ability to be able to call my dad when I go through something,” Wade said. “I missed a lot of important moments that I try to make sure I give my kids, but also throughout that journey, I learned a lot.”
Flip to the next page for family photos of Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade.
