Gisele Bündchen’s kids may have a different upbringing than she did, but she’s making sure they have all the resources they need to enter the world on their own.
In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the supermodel, 43, spoke about raising her two kids — son Benjamin, 14, and daughter Vivian, 11 — and how she co-parents with her ex-husband Tom Brady. Acknowledging that her kids are growing up in a different world than she did, Bündchen says that she’s trying to give them some important tools important they go off on their own.
“‘The way you make your room, the way you organize and make your bed is the way you’re going to do your life,’” she remembers telling her kids. “‘If you’re not learning here and now, then when and with who?’”
“Sometimes I get pushback, especially because now they’re in two different homes and there are two different ways. But I feel like I owe it to my kids, because of what my mom taught me.”
In December, the supermodel shared a sweet tribute on Instagram in honor of her son Benjamin’s 14th birthday.
In addition to sharing photos of Ben throughout the years, including a shot of Bündchen giving her son a kiss while he’s in full football gear (and wearing dad’s number 12), the mom of two wrote a heartfelt message to the teen.
“Happy birthday to the sweetest boy! You have the biggest heart and I feel so lucky I get to learn with you everyday. Te amo muito,” she shared, also writing the message in Portuguese.
“Ps. One day your baby will stand as tall as you are. And you won’t be ready for it,” Bündchen added, also including a photo of Ben standing taller than his mom as they stood back-to-back.
Bündchen revealed last year that Benjamin has been playing football for the first time.
“Benny’s doing football,” she told PEOPLE, revealing the teen is continuing with dad Brady’s tradition of wearing a number 12 on his jersey.
“He just started, and his first game was so nice. It was nice to go because I had all the little friends come to me and be like, ‘Oh my God, I love Benny. I love Vivi. They’re so nice. He helped me with this.’”
The mom of two later added, “It makes me proud to see how they’re all becoming their own little individual selves, but how their principles and their values are so strong. It makes me so happy to see that they’re flourishing into their own beings.”