Valerie Bertinelli Feels Rejected by Son

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 9th 2009 06:30AM

From her dramatic weight loss to her divorce from Eddie Van Halen, Valerie Bertinelli has been through her fair share of changes in recent years.

In an interview with Ladies' Home Journal, the actress and Jenny Craig spokeswoman reveals yet another difficult transition -- watching her son become an adult.

"My son doesn't always want me around as much as I want to be around him," she writes in her new book 'Finding It.'

Wolfgang, 18, is now the bassist for Van Halen, and is also in his first serious relationship. Bertinelli confesses that she feels rejected when there isn't a seat for her on the band's private jet.

On the upside, Valerie and ex-husband Eddie have reconnected since their bitter divorce in 2007, and she now considers him a good friend.

"Tom (her current boyfriend) and I even sat in the front row at Ed's wedding last summer," she said.

Bertinelli and Van Halen were married for 26 years, before things fell apart.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, Bertinelli acknowledged that both she and Van Halen were to blame for the breakdown of their marriage.

"I cheated. He claims to this day that I cheated first, but I don't know. I don't know about the timing," she told Oprah.

In the Ladies' Home Journal interview, the 'One Day at a Time' star also talks about coming to terms with body issues.

"I've realized I'm more important than food is. I love a big slice of pizza. But I love myself more," she says in the issue. "Being thin is about changing the way you think about yourself. It's about saying you deserve to be healthy. In no way have I perfected this eating thing, and I don't know that I ever will. But life is about making progress. It's not about perfection."

She also defends Kirstie Alley -- former spokeswoman of Jenny Craig -- for her weight gain.

"I understand it. What woman doesn't?" she says. "I told her to come work out with me. You need support. Otherwise it's 'I'll start tomorrow, then tomorrow,' and tomorrow never comes."

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Valerie Bertinelli Pics

Actress Valerie Bertinelli is seen here strutting around New York City's Bryant Park during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Click for More Pics of Valerie >>>

George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com

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Valerie Bertinelli Snapshots

© BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Valerie Bertinelli checks in to depart Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). EXCLUSIVE August 25, 2009 Job: 90825M8 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

MATINGAS/bauergriffinonline.com

Actress Valerie Bertinelli attends Fashion For Life 2009 benefit at California Market Center on May 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Fashion For Life 2009 California Market Center Los Angeles, CA United States May 17, 2009 Photo by Paul Redmond/FilmMagic.com To license this image (57477432), contact FilmMagic.com

Paul Redmond/FilmMagic.com

Actress Valerie Bertinelli seen around Bryant Park during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2009 on February 13, 2009 in New York City. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2009 - Around Bryant Park - Day 1 Bryant Park New York, NY United States February 13, 2009 Photo by George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com To license this image (56726952), contact FilmMagic.com

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Tags: eddie van halen, EddieVanHalen, valerie bertinelli, ValerieBertinelli, Wolfgang Van Halen, WolfgangVanHalen

Comments

(181)

Friday 09 October

By krsted

Vote down Vote up Report this

I love Valerie. She's so honest and forthcoming about her personal struggles. I have 4 children and letting go is such a difficult thing to do. It's a 180 from what you've done most of their lives to turn away and let them start living their lives, learning tough lessons, watch them make decisions that you feel aren't the best... but it's necessary if you want them to be successful, mature, responsible adults.

By Ron Cornelius

Letterman is a Jerk.I refuse to watch him.The committs he made about Palin and her Daughter.Way out of line.
I`d like to tell him. Two thing.
1. What goes around. Comes around
@. He who lives in a glass house. Should Not throw Rocks..
I hope Letterman is gone soon. With Lino...

By Jami

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

There is an old saying that goes like this..."A son is a son until he takes a wife, your daughter is your daughter for the rest of her life".

By GIA

This is a SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE PARENTS WHO HAVE KIDS, GOING TO MILITARY DETAILS or already there. It's got to be soo hard to let them go - their choice, but I know if it were mine, I'd be having a very hard time with this. God bless and keep all of your children. I have nothing but respect for all of you and them. BTW, something tells me a draft will be instituted in the coming years. I have felt this for the last couple years in my gut. God, please don't let it be true...

Saturday 10 October

By Reggie Wagstaff

You know, that fat-faced Bertinelli is getting on my nerves. She was a pain in the butt when she was younger and now that she's getting old, chubby, and wrinkled, she's become some sort of energetic pitchman/cheerleader. No wonder Eddie got the heck out. Hey, Valerie, you kid is a rock musician who is getting laid. He doesn't want you around. Quit being an intrusive mom and leave the kid alone. As a matter of fact, leave us all alone. Go bang your boyfriend-of-the-month and shut up.

By CRC

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

EVER HEARD OF EMPTY NEST SYNDROME. VALERIE IT IS SO HARD FOR A PARENT TO REALIZE THEIR CHILD IS AN ADULT. MY DAUGHTERS ARE GROWN NOW AND I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN I STILL WORRY ABOUT THEM. JUST GIVE HIM SOME ADULT SPACE YOUR STILL HIS MOM AND ALWAYS WILL BE. IF YOU WANTED TO ATTEND THE TOUR OFF AND ON DO THAT BUT GIVE THE GUY HIS WINGS NOW.

By cadbxny

Would you rather have an adult child who didn't want to do anything with their life and continue to live off you???? I don't.

By Sharon

Typically, boys support their mothers and girls support their fathers. All draw back during the years that they establish their own identity. Somewhere around 23-26 they come back, if they're going to.

By MY OPINION SUX

HE IS ANGRY AT HER BECAUSE SHE GAVE HIM THE NAME "WOLFGANG"! GEEZ!

WTF, WAS SHE THINKING?

Tuesday 27 October

By MollyS

I was thinking the same thing!! I think they call him Wolfie for short.... poor guy.

By Suzanne

The only thing he did wrong was getting caught. He's admitted to being wrong. It's his private business and should be left alone.

By Fran W.

Listen to the song by Trace Adkins "Then they do".
It's so true it makes me cry every time. My kids are 17 and 12. I just pray that they will know that our door is always open and our home is always home.

By myzeppland

Stop hating on Groupies!
;)
Val, you are so pretty and talented. You seem like a great Mom. This will pass, he will go through different phases in his life. He will be back full circle. Just like we did.

By Robert Goode

She named her kid Wolfgang. No wonder he hates her. It's a miracle he's not a serial killer. I guess Moonunit and Chastity had already been taken. People that give children monikers that should be reserved for pets and boats shouldn't be surprised when the life script doesn't play out well.

By cc

She was Band wife not a Groupie.

By Will

I feel your pain sweetheart. I my case, it's the opposite. My ex is the custodial parent and we have joint custody. In a span of about five or six years, my son went from reaching up with his arms for me to hold him to having or not wanting to have any contact with me. None at all. Mystery and confusion are probably the most difficult thing. My solace and resolve come from what my mother used to tell me. She told me I was the best damn father she's ever seen. I went to any lengths, put my son first and would sooner starve than see him go hungry. I continue to fully support him today. I don't say this for big pat on the back. This is why I can look myself in the mirror and put my head down at night in the face of such emotional and heart felt adversity. Unfortunately, the laws of time and space make exception for no one. Hopefully, these kids will come around one day. Good luck.

By Paco

Boy, Valerie sure looks old and weathered. That's really a shame. She used to look really good.

By Autumn

I totally agree with Hattie and the bimbo part i have a son with a bimbo and he is blinded by bimbo lol. She has him totally spooked.

By yokoach

Mothers should not only 'get used to' the desire to separate from them, they should endorse it and support it.

the best thing ANY parent can do, male or female, is to foster the ability in the child for that child to live in the world without the parent...because after all, one day they will and one never knows how early that day will come.

Historically many mothers get their self definition out of being a mother so they're not just facing the departure, they're facing the question "who am i without a kid around?"

and lastly, mothers really need to let go as early as possible since after all, it's only one small letter from 'mother' to 'smother'....

By Ed

Would she play a great Jackie O or what? I haven't seen her do a movie in a while..

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