Dakota enrols at ‘Stepmom School’
(it’s an LA thing!)
Dakota Johnson is clearly very much a part of the Martin/paltrow/falchuk ‘modern family’. Just weeks after making her public debut with Gwyneth, the actress – and girlfriend of Chris – has now been spotted on a coffee run with the former couple’s daughter, Apple, 14.
Indeed, Grazia understands that behind the scenes, Dakota, 29, has enlisted the help of a ‘stepmom coach’ to help her immerse herself in family life.
Apparently, she’s been consulting Allison Task, a transition coach. When contacted, Allison declined to name her clients but explained the process of the ‘stepmom coaching’ sessions that she offers.
‘Firstly, stepmom coaching is about creating a safe environment where you can say the things you’re afraid to say and give voice to the feelings you have that you might be afraid to acknowledge,’ she said.
The hour-long sessions, which cost $300-$400 each, are directed at resetting the boundaries between the step-parent and child. ‘It’s important to work collaboratively as a team and define boundaries as appropriate,’ she added. ‘I let people rage and speak their feelings, making sure that they don’t feel guilty or judged.’
The main issue with being a step-parent, Allison continues, is social prejudice. ‘Society doesn’t know what to do with a stepmom. There’s an antagonism between biological moms and stepmoms so society has some work to do to embrace alternative parenting. ’
‘My job is not about solving people’s problems, but letting them solve their own,’ she said. ‘If you see someone doing the same thing over and over again, it’s tempting to jump in. But it’s not for me to realise.’
As Grazia recently reported, Dakota and Gwyneth, 46, were photographed together at Derek Blasberg’s birthday last month. The journalist and socialite captioned the Instagram ‘consciously throupling’ – a nod to Gwyneth and Chris’s split statement.
It was Gwyneth and Dakota’s first public appearance together, which marked a new, amicable phase for their relationship. Sources confirmed to Grazia that there was initial friction between the pair, and that Dakota was allegedly ‘banned’ from Gwyneth’s wedding to producer Brad Falchuk last year. But since Dakota and Chris have become more serious, the actor has been welcomed into the fold and Gwyneth has been supportive of her spending time with the children.
In January, Dakota and Chris joined Gwyneth, Brad, Apple and Moses (their 12-year-old son) on holiday in the Maldives. Gwyneth is vocal about having a healthy, unconventional family, so it’s unsurprising that she’s now accepted Dakota. Watch this space for a complete family Christmas card come December.