Jada Pinkett Smith knows a thing or two about keeping a blended family happy and healthy.
Long before she tied the knot with Will Smith in December 1997, the then 26-year-old actress understood that her enchanted union came with a built-in son from a previous marriage. In 1992, Will married Sheree Zampino and together the couple had one son, Trey Smith.
Jaden and Willow Smith eventually rounded out the clan.
Now, 16 years later, the mashed up group continues to show the world how beautiful blended families can be with enough love, understanding, patience and support. In a recent post on Jada’s official Facebook page, she wrote:
“A letter to a friend:
Blended families are NEVER easy, but here’s why I don’t have a lot of sympathy for your situation because… we CHOOSE them. When I married Will, I knew Trey was part of the package…Period! If I didn’t want that…I needed to marry someone else. Then I learned if I am going to love Trey…I had to learn to love the most important person in the world to him…his mother. And the two of us may not have always LIKED each other… but we have learned to LOVE each other.I can’t support any actions that keep a man from his children of a previous marriage. These are the situations that separate the women from the girls. Your behavior is that of an insecure child who needs to recognize her own weaknesses that MUST be strengthened to take on the task at hand. We can’t say we love our man and then come in between him and his children. THAT’S selfishness…NOT love. WOMAN UP… I’ve been there…I know. My blended family made me a giant… Taught me so much about love, commitment and it has been the biggest ego death to date. It’s time you let your blended family make you the giant you truly are.
J”
Check out four more celebrity families that put aside their biological differences in the name of love…
The Simmons/Hounsou Family
Ming Lee, 13, and Aoki Lee, 10, are the products of Kimora Lee Simmons’ first marriage to hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. The family welcomed Kimora’s partner Djimon Hounsou with open arms and made room for Kenzo Lee Hounsou in May 2009.
The Simmons Family
It’s a drama-free zone in Rev. Run’s house with the mix of Vanessa, Angela and Jojo Simmons (from a previous marriage to Valerie Vaughn) plus Diggy, Russell and Miley from his current marriage with Justine Simmons.
Photo courtesy of EBONY magazine
The Harris Family
T.I. brought three children to the table from previous relationships while wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle had a daughter of her own. Together the couple welcomed two sons. And in the end, everyone was happy.
The Kardashian/Jenner Family
Say what you want about America’s camera-friendly clan, but this tight-knit blended family makes it work.
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