“Say you had a really nasty divorce and then you hear this idea that, ‘It doesn’t have to be done this way,” she explained. “I think implicit learning is like, ‘Oh, f--k. They’re saying I did something wrong.’ Which, of course, was not the intention, but that makes sense to me. That's not a nice thing to contemplate, so I do understand why it was so personal for people.”
This isn’t the first time Gwyneth, who’s married to Brad Falchuk, has reflected on her relationship with the phrase. In fact, she previously admitted it wasn’t her and Chris who coined the combination, but instead that she learned of it through her former therapist—and she didn’t warm right away to the idea.
“The term sounded a bit full of itself, painfully progressive and hard to swallow,” she noted in her 2022 essay to British Vogue. “I was intrigued, less by the phrase, but by the sentiment. Was there a world where we could break up and not lose everything? Could we be a family, even though we were not a couple? We decided to try.”
True to her words, she and Chris have been a united front in co-parenting Apple and Martin since their split—an approach their kids have learned to appreciate over the years.
“My kids are really proud of the fact that we’re always kind of first in this space,” the Goop founder told E! News last May. “We try to always strike a balance. For me, manners are super important. So, that was kind of the structure: manners and education. I want a lot of expression and individuality and freedom running through that structure. So, that’s kind of how we looked at it.”
Keep reading to see more of how Gwyneth and Chris have maintained their family bond over the years...
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin took their daughter Apple Martin and son Moses Martin to the Museum of Ice Cream in 2017.
The former couple reunited for Apple's high school graduation in June 2022.
The Goop founder shared this pic with Apple and Moses in July 2024.
Gwyneth's husband Brad Falchuk posed next to Chris and Apple in this heartwarming blended family portrait.
Gwyneth rang in Chris' 40th bithday in 2017 with this photo of their family of four, calling the singer the "best daddy in the world."
The Oscar winner and Moses enjoyed a Christmas morning walk on the beach in December 2023.
"California Christmas," Gwyneth captioned this December 2023 snapshot.
Gwyneth's mom Blythe Danner joined the family for a beach vacation.
The Shakespeare in Love star honored her late father Bruce Paltrow by bringing her children to visit his grave on Thanksgiving 2020.
"Life has incredible highs and lows," she wrote on Instagram. "Perhaps feeling it all at the same time is the art."
To celebrate Chris' birthday in 2018, Gwyneth shared this adorable family photo alongside the caption: "Thank you for giving me these two."
Gwyneth had double the reasons to celebrate on Mother's Day 2023, when her daughter's birthday also coincided with the holiday.
"Happy Birthday my angel," she wrote on Instagram. "Thank you for sharing your birthday this year with Mother’s Day, a fitting conjugation, a double celebration of you and what you have given to me- the GIFT of being your mom. I love you so deeply and wholly, it defies articulation."
"Summer 2022, you brought it all unsparingly," the actress caption this photo of the trio. "Elation, adventure, transition, joy and heartbreak alike. Thank you for your reminders, connections and deepenings."
Gwyneth celebrated Easter 2024 with her kids in Nashville.
Chris accompanied Moses on the piano during an impromptu backyard concert.
The Coldplay frontman held his daughter's hand during a boating trip.
The mother-daughter duo rocked matching boots in August 2023.
"Happy 17th birthday to the boy that fills my soul up every time I look at him," Gwyneth wrote on Instagram April 2023. "You keep us all laughing with your perfect impressions and you inspire us with your harmonies. I deeply adore you more than you could ever imagine!"
Chris snuggled up with his kids in this Father's Day 2019 snapshot posted by Gwyneth.
Gwyneth and Apple snapped a silly selfie during a mother-daughter day out.
The Iron Man actress kicked back with her kids during a tropical getaway.
"Here is to reunions, togetherness, family, and love love love," Gwyneth wrote in November 2016. "Happy thanksgiving eve, everyone."
For National Daughter Day in September 2021, Gwyneth captioned this selfie with Apple: "Oh man do I love you."
Gwyneth snapped a car selfie with Moses for National Son Day in September 2021, writing in the caprion, "Total heart melter."
Chris and Moses twinned in this adorable father-and-son snap from 2017.
"Thank you to my two beauties for the best morning, and for my entire life," Gwyneth wrote on Mother's Day 2019. "I love you both so much."
Chris and Apple showed off their jumping skills. Gwyneth and her children visited Barcelona in May 2016.
Apple watched her dad perform from backstage during Coldplay's 2016 tour.
The mother-daughter duo cuddled up in this throwback photo.
Gwyneth introduced her son to Taylor Swift in 2015, quipping on Instagram, "Thanks for giving me and my little man our best date night ever."
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