We all (hopefully) have a teacher in our lives who really set us on a path to success. Who saw something in us and invested in us. And who we may even keep in touch with today. SheKnows staffers say they have such educators in their lives. I know I do. And Halle Berry certainly does.
On a recent episode of Goop Podcast, the actress told host Gwyneth Paltrow about the extra special relationship she has with Yvonne Sims, her fifth-grade teacher. The Oscar winner said the teacher then “followed” her throughout her schooling. On the first day of school the next year, she saw Sims at the middle school. She had just accepted the job of school counselor.
“Then, first day of high school, guess who’s there? And I’m like, ‘What are you doing here?’ ‘Oh, I’m now the guidance counselor [here], and guess what? I have [last names] A through D, so I’m your guidance counselor,'” she said. “I’m like, ‘Huh.'”
Berry and Sims stayed close well past graduation. To this day, they have an extremely strong bond. So strong, in fact, that Sims is Berry’s kids’ godmother. Yup, she’s now playing a major role in the lives of Maceo-Robert, 10 and Nahla, 15 — just like she does in their mother’s life.
It wasn’t until adulthood that the X-Men star learned that their ongoing relationship was intentional.
“Now that we’re still in each other’s lives, I said to her one day, ‘Isn’t it interesting that just happened? That that was fate, like serendipity?'” Berry said. “She was like, ‘You think that just happened by mistake? I was following you all these years because I knew you needed me.’ She followed me.”
“She said, ‘I saw your potential, but I knew you needed to be held,’ because of my family, my growing, my lack of guidance in my home,” Berry said. “And we had a connection.”
In August, Berry shared super-rare photos with Nahla who was once her mini–me, but that’s not so true anymore! The two donned pink (duh) Barbiecore ensembles, and Nahla towered over her mom. And yes, the teen was wearing some epic chunky pink heels, but her mama had a good lift in her pink cowboy boots! It’s clear Berry’s partner Van Hunt — who she said makes her a better mom! — joined them, and we hope Sims gets in on the movie-night fun from time to time.
Last Mother’s Day, Berry wrote a touching Mother’s Day tribute to the teacher-turned-mother-figure.
“On Mother’s Day, not only do I reflect on what it truly means to be a mother — and the importance of a mother’s love — I also reflect on what it means to receive love from a mother and sometimes that love comes from ‘another mother.’ Yvonne Sims has been my ‘Other Mother’ since she was my 5th grade teacher. Without her guidance, wisdom, patience and most importantly, her UNCONDITIONAL love for me in all the stages of my life, I’m not so sure I’d still be here. I love you, Yvonne Sims with all my heart! Today, as we celebrate mothers, let’s also celebrate our ‘“’OTHER MOTHERS!'”
We’re not crying, you’re crying!
