Perhaps the worst part of a contentious divorce is the kids having to figure out where they stand. Because, as much as kids might love both parents, taking sides is normal. Particularly when one party was the one that decided to stop trying. And that’s exactly what’s happening with Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s divorce. Their two daughters are now taking sides.
Rob Shuter’s ShuterScoop is reporting that Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14, are standing by their mother. “They love their dad, but Nicole’s been the constant,” one family insider said. “She’s been there for every school event, every bedtime. Keith’s been touring, filming — gone.”
Related: Do Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have a prenup?
It isn’t just about presence, but about temperament, according to the report. “The girls have seen who held it all together,” the source explained. “They feel safest with Nicole.” And part of that is apparently that, even at this point, Kidman is refusing to badmouth her ex. Instead, “She’s turning their home into a sanctuary,” a family friend said. “There’s yoga, journaling, family dinners — all about healing.”
This has reportedly been hard for Urban. “He’s heartbroken,” a music insider revealed. “He knows he’s losing more than a marriage — he’s losing time with his girls.” And that will probably not change, according to another source. “Nicole has the daughters emotionally and physically. The loyalty lines are drawn — and they’re standing with Mom.”
All of this comes as reports indicate Urban isn’t handling the attention surrounding the divorce well. Things are just too awkward right now, and Keith just doesn’t have the confidence to face all the press,” an insider told Women’s Day. “He’s got paps hunting him down, and he’s no longer taking direct calls.” So, expect to see him less in the near future. “Part of him is embarrassed to show his face on a red carpet until things settle down with his divorce,” the source added.
Kidman, meanwhile, has continued to put on a brave face in public. “She has a great attitude and feels very grateful for her life,” a source told People Magazine. The magazine also reported that Kidman is “surrounded by the two things that matter the most to her,” which are her “family and her work.”
After the split, there were reports that Urban had quickly moved on. “The rumor is that he’s with a younger woman in the business,” a Nashville music industry source told Daily Mail. “It’s all everyone is talking about. Everyone wants to know who, but so far, that’s a mystery.”
Rob Shuter’s ShuterScoop had previously reported that the decision to end the marriage was Urban’s. “Nicole wanted to fight for them, but Keith had already checked out—and she knew why. It wasn’t about distance, schedules, or bad habits. It was about another woman. And Nicole knows who she is.” Another insider told the journalist, “She’s not naïve. She heard the stories; she saw the signs. At some point, the truth becomes impossible to ignore. She’s not going to live as anyone’s second choice.”
And neither will her daughters.
