Sandra Bullock is opening up about one of her biggest roles yet: parenting teenagers. As she promotes Practical Magic 2, the actress has offered a refreshingly honest look at protecting family time, ignoring one-size-fits-all parenting advice and even finding a way to include her children in her latest movie.
Bullock, 62, is mom to teenagers Louis, 16, and Laila, 13, and says their schedules now play a major role in the projects she accepts. Rather than expecting her children to fit around Hollywood, she chooses work that allows her to be available when they need her.
The actress has previously been clear about where her priorities lie. “I’m not going to sacrifice my time with my kids,” Bullock said while discussing why Practical Magic 2 was able to happen. That approach can become increasingly important as children get older. Teenagers may want more independence, but they still need parents who are present and available when life gets complicated.
Parenting Advice Doesn’t Always Work for Every Teen
Bullock also isn’t pretending she has all the answers when it comes to raising teenagers. In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she joked about how difficult it is to offer universal parenting advice when every child is different.
When asked what advice she would give other parents, Bullock’s response was simply, “I’m sorry,” before explaining that her children are both completely unique.
She described Louis as passionate about basketball and fashion, while jokingly referring to Laila as a “government hacker.” Her point is relatable for parents: what works beautifully for one child may be completely wrong for another.
Bullock’s Kids Make a Special Appearance in Practical Magic 2
Bullock’s commitment to family even found its way into Practical Magic 2. Her children have appearances in the film, although audiences won’t see them in traditional on-camera roles.
Instead, Bullock incorporated recordings of their voices and childhood sounds into the movie, creating a deeply personal connection between her family and the project. The actress explained that her children are “in voice and in spirit,” thanks to recordings she had saved over the years.
The teenagers reportedly didn’t even know exactly where their contributions appeared until the film’s Los Angeles premiere. For Bullock, it seems fitting that a project she was only willing to make when it worked with her family schedule ultimately became something that included her children, too.
