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Sandra Bullock has always been afraid of becoming a mother – especially the mother of a girl.
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When her mom was dying, she gave her life-changing advice
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At some point, Sandra thought she would never become a mother, but then she realized the perfect child would find her.
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Now she is giving up her career to be with them – and it is unknown when she will return.
Sandra Bullock is now the mother of two children, who she welcomed into her family through adoption. However, she was not always so sure that she would be able to handle motherhood and her career.
Sandra Bullock poses in the press room during the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 05, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
Her mother, Helga, was an excellent example of what a mother should be when Bullock was growing up, but she could not calm her daughter’s fears about motherhood until later in life when she gave her a sound piece of advice.
Before Helga gave Bullock the advice, though, she made her afraid of having a daughter. Bullock revealed that her mother used to tell her to wait until she had a daughter, and Bullock confessed:
“And the thought that a daughter of mine would be anything like I was scared me senseless.”
Sandra Bullock with her mother Helga and at the Lombardi Gala to benefit cancer research at Georgetown University Hospital October 3, 1998 in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
However, later on, when Helga was on her deathbed, she gave her daughter life-changing advice by telling her that she needs to open up more. Bullock revealed that her mother had not been an emotional woman.
Bullock revealed that when her mother was dying, she was next to her mother’s bed, trying to hold back her tears and her mother warned Bullock not to be like her. Bullock shared that at that moment, she understood everything.
Sandra Bullock And Her Mother Helga And Father John At The Annual Lombardi Gala In Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Her mother had permanently been closed off and shut down when she was growing up, and Bullock realized that her mother didn’t want her to go through life the same way. The actress says that she now feels every emotion unashamedly.
Bullock Assumed Motherhood Wasn’t for Her
Talking to Hoda Kotb on “TODAY,” Bullock shared the story of how she became a mother for the first time. Kotb asked if, as Bullock entered her 40s, she thought she might not become a mother, and Bullock confirmed the notion.
Sandra Bullock and her son Louis Bullock leave their Soho home on January 20, 2011 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
The “The Proposal” star said that she thought motherhood wasn’t for her until Hurricane Katrina happened. She revealed that after the hurricane, something deep inside her told her that her child was in New Orleans.
She then traveled to New Orleans, found her child, and began the process of adoption, which Bullock said involved filling out multiple forms, being judged by people for who she was and whether or not she could have kids, and getting ready to be a mother.
Sandra Bullock and son Louis Bullock are seen on the streets of Manhattan on March 20, 2011 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
The process took Bullock four years, but after that, her son was finally legally hers. She revealed:
“I looked at him and said, ‘Oh, there you are.’ It’s like he’d always been there. He fit in the crook of my arm, he looked me in the eyes, and he was just wise.”
Although Bullock did not think she would find a child, she happily welcomed her son into her world and said she was always told: “The perfect child will find you. You will find your child.” She believed this was what happened to her.
Sandra Bullock (R) and son Louis Bardo Bullock is seen during the 70th Venice International Film Festival on August 27, 2013 in Venice, Italy | Source: Getty Images
She then welcomed a daughter through adoption a few years later. On an episode of “Red Table Talk,” Bullock said that she found out about both her children in the same place where her mother is buried.
Talking to Jada Pinkett Smith and her mother and daughter, Bullock shared the meaning of this. She said:
“It makes me emotional, but I feel beyond a shadow of a doubt that my mother brought me these children.”
Bullock Finally Had a Daughter
After welcoming her son, Louis, into her life, Bullock fostered and then adopted a little girl named Laila. However, Laila’s story was not good, and many challenges came with welcoming her into the family.
Also, on “Red Table Talk,” Bullock spoke about what it was like to bring Laila into her life. Because Bullock fostered Laila first, she had to go through the Foster Care System, which she said is difficult because you have to prove that you’re a capable parent.
She admitted that halfway through, she didn’t know if she could continue because she didn’t know if she could answer all the questions. She mentioned that she was aware that if she didn’t answer correctly, she would not be allowed to expand her family.
She also had to take classes that taught her how to raise a child that had been traumatized. When talking about her daughter’s trauma, Bullock said she was always dressed and ready to escape at the first sign of trouble.
Although it was difficult for Bullock, she found humor in the hard times because her daughter was so strong-willed and told her she was leaving, but Bullock warned her that if the little girl left, she would be right behind her.
Bullock said that Laila was triggered daily, and at first, Bullock wasn’t able to identify the triggers, but she returned to her training and found solutions. Her partner also said:
“When she’s been with us longer than she hasn’t been, I have a feeling we’re going to see a change.”
