Gwyneth Paltrow, Gabrielle Union Get Candid About Being Stepmothers

KEY POINTS

Gwyneth Paltrow admitted that becoming a stepmother had been challenging for her at first
She revealed she "learned so much" about herself in the process of forming a bond with her stepchildren
Gabrielle Union, who is stepmom to Dwyane Wade's three kids, advised staying "above the fray"

Gwyneth Paltrow and Gabrielle Union recently opened up about their experiences and challenges after becoming stepmothers.

Paltrow and Union got real in the latest episode of the former's "The Goop Podcast," where they talked about raising the children of their partners from previous relationships. Paltrow is mother to Apple and Moses, whom she shares with ex-husband Chris Martin, but she added two more kids to the mix when she married Brad Falchuk, who shares daughter Isabella and son Brody with his ex-wife Suzanne Bukinik.

"I have two beautiful stepchildren, who are the same age as mine," Paltrow was quoted by Entertainment Tonight as saying. "When I became a stepmother, when I knew I was going to become a stepmother, I was like, 'S--t, I have no idea how to do this. There's nothing to read. What do I do? Where do I step in? Where do I not? How do I do this?'"

Paltrow said the process of becoming a stepmother helped her learn more about herself. She then went on to ask Union about how she navigated the same experience.

The "L.A.'s Finest" star became a stepmom to husband Dwyane Wade's three children — Zaya, 13, and Zaire, 19, with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, and 7-year-old son Xavier with ex-girlfriend Aja Metoyer — and a nephew they raise together. Union revealed she tried to "do the opposite of what I thought my stepmother did wrong or could have done better."

"Whoever you are, just be consistent so everyone can get used to who the hell you are really and you're not putting on an act and then the mask falls off," she told Paltrow.

Union also advised "staying above the fray" and trying not to say anything bad about the stepchildren's birth parents.

In February, Union penned a short but sweet tribute to her stepson, Zaire, on his 19th birthday on social media. She shared a family photo of them wearing coordinated outfits.

"Happy Birthday @zaire I cannot believe you are 19?!?!?! So proud of the man you've become, your work ethic, your heart, and your willingness to do the work. We [red heart emoji] u kid!!! Its GOOOOO time!!" she wrote on Instagram.