Sandra Bullock bravely adopted a child as a single parent before meeting her current boyfriend. He was a bit scared when she adopted her second child, and their efforts to co-parent have sometimes hit bumps in the road because of her.
Sandra Bullock didn't welcome any children until she was 46 years old. When she was still married to her ex-husband, Jesse James, she had plans to have children with him, but that dream had to be put on hold.
In 2009, James won custody of his then 5-year-old daughter, Sunny. Bullock was involved in helping her then-husband of three and a half years win against his ex-wife, Janine Lindemulder, by testifying in a letter.
Jesse James and Sandra Bullock at the 67th Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles on January 17, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
In a court document, the "The Blind Side" actress showed concerns about Lindemulder's capabilities to parent Sunny. The star revealed that the ex-wife claimed James informed the IRS about a legal predicament Lindemulder was in so he could gain custody of their child.
Bullock also noted how her husband's ex-wife also alleged that the star couldn't have her own children; that's why she wanted Sunny. The actress disputed Lindemulder's claim, noting:
“To share the joy of bringing another life into the world with Jesse is something that I desire very much.”
Jesse James and Sandra Bullock at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 7, 2010, in West Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Bullock explained that she didn't have children of her own because she and her then-husband realized bringing another child into the world while Sunny's life was unstable would not be suitable for her.
Instead, the couple had chosen to put having their own children together on hold. By December 2009, James and Bullock won their custody battle, but Lindemulder was allowed to visit Sunny during the daytime.
The ex-wife had initially wanted to get overnight stays with her child. Sunny could spend Christmas Eve with her mother as long as she was returned to her father by noon on Christmas day.
ADOPTING HER FIRST CHILD AND DIVORCING JAMES
In 2018, Bullock took part in an interview with the "Today" show's Hoda Kotb about her journey to motherhood. She welcomed her son, Louis, in January 2010, after adopting him at 3½ months old.
The "Ocean's 8" actress was contemplating the adoption before something made her confident she was on the right path. When Hurricane Katrina happened in New Orleans, something told Bullock that her child was there.
Sandra Bullock at the 82nd Academy Awards in Los Angeles, on March 7, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
Although the feeling was weird, when she looked at Louis when she got him, she thought, "Oh, there you are." The little boy felt like he'd always been there and fit right into the crook of her arm.
The look in his eyes showed Bullock that he was wise. The actress recalled how people constantly told her the perfect child would find her and vice versa, but she couldn't believe it because it had not happened.
Jesse James and Sandra Bullock at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 7, 2010, in West Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
She kept questioning where her family was and when it finally occurred, she understood what all those people had been talking about. The "The Lost City" star struggled to raise her son when she discovered James' alleged infidelity.
She ended up filing for divorce against him shortly after adopting little Louis. Speaking to CBS at the time, the actress confessed that a lot had happened to her during that period, adding:
"How do you process grief and not hurt your child in the process? It's a newborn."
Bullock noted how her son took on everything she felt. At the time, she'd had him for nearly a year and insisted that it was her obligation to try not to taint his first year of life with her grief.
ADOPTING HER SECOND CHILD AND FINDING LOVE AGAIN
In January 2015, Bullock held a birthday party for her son, and Bryan Randall served as the photographer. The pair started dating shortly after that event, and in August 2015, their relationship was confirmed.
At the time, the actress had arrived with Randall as her plus one to Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's backyard wedding that month. A few weeks later, the couple was seen again on a Los Angeles outing.
On December 1, 2021, Bullock appeared on "Red Table Talk," where she spoke about motherhood. While dating Randall, the actress decided to adopt a second child, he still wanted to remain in her life, but the truth, according to the star, was that:
“He was so happy, but he was scared. I'm a bulldozer.”
Sandra Bullock and her son Louis Bardo Bullock at the 70th Venice International Film Festival on August 27, 2013, in Venice, Italy. | Source: Getty Images
When Randall took photos of Louis at his birthday party, he'd signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). He and Bullock hadn't been dating for long when she told him he was in for a ride.
She revealed that she would return with a second child from Toronto, shocking him. Therefore, the NDA he'd signed for Louis would apply to the second child. Bullock returned with a baby girl.
Sandra Bullock and Bryan Randall seen in Midtown, New York City on June 5, 2018. | Source: Getty Images
Showing what a strong and decisive woman she was, Bullock revealed how her boyfriend never had a say in whether she could adopt a second child or not! By September 2015, it was said that Randall was now living with the actress at her California home.
At the time, the couple had been dating for less than a year. An Us Weekly source claimed the pair were homebodies, but the photographer still had a place of his own.
THE STRUGGLES OF CO-PARENTING
Speaking to Extra in December 2021 at the premiere of her movie "The Unforgivable," Bullock revealed that she liked being a "mother hen" at work. She joked about how she bossed her co-workers around by telling them what to do and how to live their lives!
When asked if she was bossy at home, she confessed, "Oh, yes. Oh, God, yes. Beyond. I'm the bad cop most of the time." At the time, Louis was 11, while Bullock's second child, Laila, was 8.
The "Miss Congeniality" star felt that there would be no order in her home if she weren't bossy. Randall played the role of "the treat guy," as everyone had their place in the household.
The star [Sandra Bullock] also noted how her longtime boyfriend [Bryan Randall] was someone she wanted to be an example for her children even though they didn't always agree on things.
Bullock said her children came to her when they wanted to snuggle and sleep, which meant her bad cop routine wasn't so bad! However, when she did try to be the fun mother, things would go wrong, and she'd whip out her bad cop routine again!
During her "Red Table Talk" appearance, Bullock admitted that she was stubborn. However, the star realized that she sometimes had to listen to understand that the other person was saying the same thing she was, but differently.
The actress also confessed that she struggled with co-parenting because she wanted to do things independently. Bullock described Randall as "very patient" and a "saint" regarding co-parenting.
Bryan Randall and Sandra Bullock seen in Midtown, New York City on June 5, 2018. | Source: Getty Images
She felt he'd evolved to a level that was not human. The star also noted how her longtime boyfriend was someone she wanted to be an example for her children even though they didn't always agree on things.
Bullock said if Randall could be the example her children felt "drawn to," then he was the "right parent to be in this position." When asked why she and her boyfriend weren't married yet, the actress replied:
“I don't wanna say do it like I do it, but I don't need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother.”
She noted how she'd gone through a divorce before and finally found the love of her life. Bullock shared that they had three children, including Randall's older daughter, and it was the best thing ever.
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