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Tom Brady has revisited the topic of parenting in his latest newsletter, weeks after seemingly using the platform to take a not-so-subtle dig at his ex-wife, Gisele Bundchen.
This time around it is Bridget Moynahan, the mother of his eldest son Jack, who the seven-time Super Bowl champion has made a discreet reference to – but it will make much more pleasant reading for the actress.
Brady and Moynahan were proud parents last week as Jack turned 18 and reflecting on the milestone in this week’s letter, the NFL great underlined his pride in his son.
‘As a parent, the home is the classroom and you are in pure teaching mode all the way up until your kids are about 13 or 14 years old,’ Brady wrote. ‘That’s when their friend group starts to have a huge impact on the shape of their social personality and you begin to learn what kind of teacher you really are.
‘A parent is perhaps the most formative person in the life of a child, and who a child chooses as their friends during that transitional period from middle school into high school is a very reliable indicator of what they took from all those little learning moments with their parents – for better and for worse.
‘Going to Jack’s 18th birthday party over the weekend, it was really heartening and rewarding as a parent to see a room full of fifteen great kids with strong bonds and the right values.
Tom Brady with his eldest son Jack, who recently celebrated his 18th birthday
Brady had Jack with Bridget Moynahan (left) before marrying Gisele Bundchen (right)
‘Nobody is perfect, everyone has room to grow and improve – this is especially true as parents – but seeing Jack with his friends felt like, hey, we got this one right!’
Brady’s praise for his and Moynahan’s influence over Jack’s friend struck a different tone to what he went for a month ago when he wrote about what made him a good parent.
He was seemingly settling a bit of a score, given how Bundchen had publicly complained about Brady’s dedication to the NFL which, in her view, came at the expense of their family – especially when he reversed his retirement decision in 2022.
Brady and the Brazilian supermodel had two children together, Benjamin and Vivian, before they split in October 2022 after 13 years of marriage.
Brady, 48, wrote in late July: ‘I think part of being a great father is being a great example of doing what it takes to take care of your family. I chose to do it by playing football.’
He continued: ‘My dedication to the sport, the hours of practice, the moments when I was laser focused – those were times when I believe I was doing the best possible thing for my family and my kids, by prioritizing my profession and teaching, by example, what it takes to be really good at your job, what it takes to follow through on commitments, what it takes to be a great teammate; and showing them, also by example, that work is a big part of all of our lives.
‘Remember, your children are watching everything. They see what you do in every aspect of your life and how you do it.
‘Reading bedtime stories and helping them with homework are not the only ways to be a great parent. And neither is winning Super Bowls or MVPs.
Brady said Jack’s friends were a positive reflection on his and Moynahan’s parenting
‘Being a great football player didn’t make me a great dad, but how I became a great player certainly had an impact – from showing up day in and day out, to doing whatever it took to get better, be successful, be a role model, and to provide.’
Bundchen was said to have encouraged Brady to retire the first time around amid fears for his health in the game, as well as wanting them to spend more time together as a family.
‘Obviously, I have my concerns – this is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,’ she told Elle in September 2022. ‘I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again.
‘But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for (them). He needs to follow his joy, too.’
Bundchen added: ‘I’ve done my part, which is be there for Tom. I moved to Boston, and I focused on creating a cocoon and a loving environment for my children to grow up in and to be there supporting him and his dreams.
‘Seeing my children succeed and become the beautiful little humans that they are, seeing him succeed, and being fulfilled in his career – it makes me happy. At this point in my life, I feel like I’ve done a good job on that.’
Brady would go on to play one more season in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, retiring in 2023 after they lost in the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys.
He now mainly works as an NFL analyst for Fox on a 10-year, $375million deal.
