Gwyneth Paltrow reflects on complexities of stepparenting, says it's one of her 'biggest learning as a human being'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Gwyneth Paltrow shared candid insights into the complexities of stepparenting during a conversation with Nicole Avant at the Visionary Women's International Women’s Day Summit at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

During the conversation on Wednesday, March 6, the 51-year-old actress and the former United States ambassador to the Bahamas discussed their life as stepparents, according to ET.

Gwyneth Paltrow says her stepchildren are now like her own kids

The 'Goop' founder asked Avant how she navigates her life as a "stepmother to two amazing human beings, Tony and Sarah," and went on to ask if there were any other stepmothers in the crowd.

After she received a brief applause from the audience, Paltrow quipped, "Yeah, it's a bitch, right, guys? No, I actually, I really like to talk about this because it's one of my biggest learnings as a human being."

"And my area of growth personally came from the initial difficult relationship I had with my step kids and now they're like my kids," she said.

Paltrow who shares two children with her ex-husband Chris Martin also shares two stepchildren with Brad Falchuk whom she married in 2018.

Gwyneth Paltrow says stepparenting was 'really tough'

The actress said the path to her stepparenting "was really tough," and raising her stepchildren is "almost like you have to embody the spirit of the sun and just give and not expect anything back.”

"I just learned to try to just keep shining like the sun and never keeping score," she added.

Meanwhile, Avant also shared her co-parenting journey as she said that getting "halfway developed kids" was "extremely difficult. Sarah was 14 and Tony was 12.

Avant tied the knot with Ted Sarandos, who has two children from a previous relationship.

“It was constantly me having to find and own my identity over and over and over again," said Avant.

"I kept feeling that my identity was being challenged every single day and I wasn't trying to be their mom, but all of a sudden I was the girlfriend that they loved and they wanted their father to marry,” she continued, adding that it could be "heartbreaking" at times.

Nicole Avant recounts seeking parenting advice during difficult situations

Reflecting on difficult situations, Avant recalled seeking parenting advice from her late mother, Jacqueline Avant, for parenting advice when things got tough. 

"I remember calling my mom and she said, ‘The only advice I can give you is you better reclaim your power and you better reclaim the energy of your home,'" Avant said.

"Because if you do not control the energy of your home, someone else is going to. And they are young and they do not know how to run a home and it's your home and you have to set boundaries," she continued.