20 Times Katie Holmes Shined as a Single Mom

In an interview with People magazine, Katie said she has "girlfriends of all ages, who have children of all ages. I lean on them." Mothers who support other mothers are the best kind, because they help make us all feel better about our own parenting. "Whether it’s 'My kid just threw a tantrum' or 'I was late for graduation' or whatever it is, [support each other]," the actress said.

Katie told Today that it's a priority for her to raise Suri with good values. "I do a lot to put perspective on life. We help out the homeless. We do small acts of kindness. Again, it's a daily thing. I don't over-gift. I don't inundate my child with a lot of things," she said. Not all celebrities feel the same, but Katie's doing a great job at keeping her daughter grounded.

We love this photo Katie shared of playing dress-up with her daughter a few years ago. As parents, it can be easy to get into a rut where we're too busy to stop for a moment to play with our kids, but they always remember when we do. Take a page out of Katie's book and plan a silly activity every once in a while.

As a busy working actress, Katie can't always put her job on hold to spend time with her daughter. Her solution has been at times to bring Suri along with her and educate her about the film industry. We know that not every parent can bring their children to work, but it is always a great idea to inform our kids as much as possible about our jobs so they can try to understand what we do.

Katie told Shape that she sometimes works out with Suri if their schedules happen to overlap, but that she never forces her to work out "because I know that's lame." It's tough to strike a balance with kids to make sure they're getting enough exercise to be healthy but also not developing potentially negative body image issues if we press too hard. Katie seems to have that balance down. If it happens, great, but she's not mandating it.

It's probably not very fun for adults to go to the Kids' Choice Awards, but it's probably super fun for a kid to go. Katie prioritized Suri's excitement about the event back in 2015 and took her to the show's taping. Katie wasn't even nominated for an award or anything, but she still went. This is what being a parent is all about.

In 2018, Suri and Katie went on a rare public outing together to attend the American Ballet's opening night gala. There's something so fun about a mom taking her little girl to the ballet, and Katie wasn't going to miss that moment with her own daughter. Suri was 12 at the time, and definitely able to understand how exciting the event was.

When it comes to raising Suri, Katie told InStyle that she just wants to respect who her daughter is as an individual. "My biggest goal has always been to nurture her into her individuality. To make sure she is 100% herself and strong, confident, and able. And to know it."

This is such a great way to parent a child, and Katie excels at it.

Sometimes, a mom's just gotta throw her kid a slumber party. It's one of the most low-key ways to make lasting memories for a child. In 2017, Katie documented one such occasion of her and Suri hanging out in her bed in their pajamas. Being intentionally lazy can really be the best medicine within a busy life.

Little kids love to copy everything their parents do, so it was probably such a fun treat for Suri to go to the hair salon with her mom and for them to both get their hair done. We love Suri's big bow and this cute mirror selfie that Katie took to show off their new looks. What a fun mommy-daughter date.

Katie once said on the Today show that Suri is already very caring and charitable. "My little one is very, very generous and very sensitive," Katie said. "So she's always [saying], 'Mom, let’s give my old toys to people who need it.'" Sounds like Katie's done a great job raising her, if Suri is so conscious about giving back at such a young age.

Not all parents love taking their kids to Disneyland, as it can be a long, expensive, exhausting day. But Katie frequently hits the park with Suri, and they always seem to have the best time together. "Nothing like a day @disneyland #weareblessed," she captioned this photo of them enjoying the park.

The actress probably wanted us to focus on the yummy dessert in this photo, but we can't help but notice the tic-tac-toe games drawn on the tablecloth. No solemn dinners for this family! Katie and Suri had some fun during their meal with the crayons, playing games while they ate. Such a great memory to make with a kid.

Even as Suri gets older, she doesn't seem to mind matching with her mom. We wouldn't either, if our mom was as cool as Katie Holmes. In this photo from a couple of summers ago, Katie and Suri wore matching floral prints and looked basically exactly like twins. Katie's genes are so strong in her daughter.

Katie and Suri sat courtside for this New York Knicks game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They were in their own little world as they enjoyed the sport, with Suri eating candy and the two of them sharing little jokes. Also we can't get over how cute Suri's ladybug coat is. What a fun day for these gals. These are the memories that will last a lifetime for Suri.

Last year, Suri and Katie traveled to the Moria Refugee Camp in Greece to do some charity work. This photo of Suri playing with one of the refugee children is so cute but also highlights the importance of giving back to those in need around the world. Katie has instilled great lessons in her daughter on how to help people when she can.

Sometimes, an activity as simple as going to the beach can create a lasting memory for a child. Katie makes sure to spend as much time with her daughter as possible, and whether they're going to a fancy event or chilling on the sand, they're always having a great time together.

Katie may be a famous celebrity, but she still does her own chores, and so does her daughter. The two of them have often been caught by paparazzi taking their dogs for walks in the city. Not only is that teaching Suri responsibility, but it's also a nice chance for them to bond as they walk around together.

Mom and daughter look like they're having so much fun here together. "My sweetie," Katie captioned the photo alongside a bunch of heart emojis. It can be a lot of work to take young kids out to restaurants, but it's so great when they start to get older and we can share these kinds of memories with them.

Turning 13 is a big deal, and Katie celebrated Suri's milestone birthday accordingly. The actress took her daughter and two friends to Paris, France, for the big day. They ate at a rooftop restaurant by the Eiffel Tower and explored the city together. While some naysayers thought it was too much for a child's birthday, it was a pretty magical way for Katie to celebrate her daughter. Parents don't always get it right, but Katie seems to — far more than not.