Renowned NFL star Tom Brady recently opened up about the emotional challenges of parenting in the public eye, revealing a sense of guilt concerning his three children. As a father to an 11-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen, and a 16-year-old son with ex Bridget Moynahan, Brady shared his experiences on the Let’s Go! podcast.
Brady’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into the delicate balance between celebrity status and parental responsibilities.
Tom Brady feels guilty over gaining ‘attention’ during his kids’ events
Tom Brady, the 46-year-old NFL legend, recently discussed the challenges of raising his three children in the public eye. He expressed feeling guilty about receiving more attention than his children during their significant events, such as sports games.
He emphasized the importance of not overshadowing his children’s moments and wanting to be present for them. Brady acknowledged the public nature of his life and how it impacted his family.
“When I’m out with my kids, I really want to be with them,” he said during the recent Let’s Go! episode. “And I really make it clear to people, [like] ‘Sorry, I’m just out here enjoying time with my family.’”
The former NFL QB emphasized the need to remind his children that their privileges come with unique challenges and trade-offs.
“Whether I’m at a game for my son, and I love doing that, but, you know, a lot of times the attention gets shifted to us. I don’t want to take away from their moments cause this is an important part of their life and their maturation.”
He revealed discussing with his children the differences in their lives compared to others, addressing the curveballs and challenges everyone faces.
“The reason we get to go on a lot of fun vacations and you guys go to schools and have people to help [is because] we have to deal with some things that are different than everyone else,” he recalled telling his children. “There’s no straight arrow for anyone in life. Everyone’s going to find different curves and turns and twists.”
Brady highlighted the importance of self-awareness, admitting his flaws, and finding it challenging in a culture where owning up to mistakes is not always easy. This follows his reflections on the past year and personal growth, especially after his split from Gisele Bündchen.
Did Tom Brady’s kids start playing football?
Tom Brady revealed in September that his 13-year-old son, Ben, expressed interest in trying football but had no intention of playing quarterback. Starting this year, Ben is gearing up to start his own football career, and the former QB has been actively involved, throwing the ball to him in the backyard.
“My son is gonna play football this year, Benny,” the former Patriots player said on the Sept. 4 episode of his SiriusXM show. “So I’ve been throwing the ball to him in the backyard. He’s gonna be a little beast. He’s an amazing kid and he’s got a lot of talents. He’s a really talented musician and artist. And then he told me this year, ‘Dad, I’m playing football.'”
Ben, unlike his father, aspires to emulate the legacy of family friend Rob Gronkowski and has chosen the position of a tight end in football. Tom Brady shared that he texted Gronkowski about Ben’s choice, and Gronk expressed enthusiasm, appreciating Ben’s decision to follow in his footsteps.
“He was like, ‘Tight end. I wanna be like Gronk!'” the seven-time Super Bowl champion continued. “So I actually texted Gronk and I’m like, ‘Yo, my boy wants to be like you!’ And he loved it.”
In October, he revealed that his 16-year-old son, Jack (with ex Bridget Moynahan), is part of his high school’s football team, emphasizing the joy of watching him enjoy the sport with friends. The 2023 season marks the first time in more than two decades that Tom Brady won’t be playing on a football field after officially retiring from the NFL in February.
Tom Brady himslef has bid farewell to football and also announced a new role as a sports commentator for Fox Sports, signing a 10-year contract. He expressed excitement about learning football from different perspectives, transitioning from a quarterback’s lens to broadcasting and fan perspectives.
Despite retiring, he feels blessed to have played for as long as he did, expressing love for the game. He looks forward to observing other players and gaining insights from various viewpoints in his commentary role.
