While Sandra—whose longtime partner Bryan Randall died in 2023—has rarely shared images of Louis and Laila and has likewise kept them largely away from public events, she hasn’t shied away from sharing insight into her parenting journey.

"I don't know why that was the only route, but I'm so glad the universe had me wait,” she said of adopting her children on Red Table Talk in 2022. "Had me wait even though I was anxious and I was eager—and it went, ‘Nope, you're not going to do it the way you think you're going to do it.’” 

And with each of her children, joining her family felt meant to be. 

Sandra adopted Louis following the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2010, telling Today at the time, “Katrina happened in New Orleans, and I knew—just something told me that my child was there. It was weird.”

The Blind Side actress felt a similar premonition when she met Laila for the first time.

“When I look at Laila,” she told People in 2015, “there’s no doubt in my mind that she was supposed to be here.”

For more Hollywood moms celebrating and being celebrated this Mother’s Day, read on.