Sandra Bullock spotted on 62nd birthday outing with rarely-seen son Louis, 16

It looks like Sandra Bullock made the most of what was likely a quiet birthday week.

The actress celebrated her 62nd birthday on July 26, and in that week’s span, was spotted enjoying some time out and about in New York City.

Sandra and Louis’ birthday outing

Photographed with her after a shopping trip in the Big Apple was none other than her son Louis Bullock. The 16-year-old is the older of the actress’ two kids, the other being 12-year-old daughter Laila.

Sandra wore a grey oversized sweater with black sweats, while Louis wore a black tee with a hoodie and grey shorts. The pair were seen leaving a hotel with shopping bags.

Why Sandra prioritizes her kids’ schedules over work

The Oscar-winning actress has been open about wanting to keep her children out of the public eye while also being more intentional about taking on work in a way that aligns with their lives and schedules, especially following the loss of her longtime partner Bryan Randall in 2023.

At the CNBC Changemakers Summit earlier this year, Sandra explained what made her say “yes” to returning for the Practical Magic sequel, which arrives in theaters this September. “I made this film at this time because I knew my kids were out of school.”

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She continued: “I’m not going to sacrifice my children’s — my time — with my kids. They’d be happy if I was gone. I would not. It’s true. And I do not do my best work if my children are struggling or if they need something and I can’t facilitate it.”

“I’m raising my children, not anybody else,” the mom-of-two added. “But I have the luxury of doing that in this business. So many people don’t. And I understand that grief and that angst when you are at work, going, ‘I’m not where I need to be right now. I’m here being performative and doing my job.’ But guess what? Women can do it. We can do 15 things at one time and get it done.”

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Sandra’s brief retirement from acting

In 2022, the actress explained her decision to briefly step away from the Hollywood machine to spend more time with her family. “I don’t want to be beholden to anyone’s schedule other than my own. I’m so burnt out,” she told The Hollywood Reporter after making The Lost City. “I’m so tired, and I’m so not capable of making healthy, smart decisions and I know it.” 

At the time, Sandra confessed that she wasn’t exactly sure how long she’d actually be gone for. “I really don’t know,” she continued. “Work has always been steady for me, and I’ve been so lucky. I realized it possibly was becoming my crutch. It was like opening up a fridge all the time and looking for something that was never in the fridge.”

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“I said to myself, ‘Stop looking for it here because it doesn’t exist here. You already have it; establish it, find it and be OK not having work to validate you.'”