Three cakes, a glittery sign, festive decor, balloons and a loving Instagram post from Mum.
That’s how Katie Holmes marked daughter Suri Cruise’s 11th birthday on April 18, just a few days after taking the fifth grader to Florida over Easter break for a fun-filled vacation with her cousins.
Want more from Now To Love? Like us on Facebook
“It’s very important that I’m present and she has a stable, innocent childhood,” the devoted mum of her ‘sweetie’ Suri said.
“I feel so blessed to do what I do, but there’s nothing better in the world than watching your child succeed.”
The very same day, Suri’s dad Tom Cruise was photographed more than 9000km away in Paris, where he’s been shooting Mission: Impossible 6.
Another year, another missed birthday.
This marks the fourth year in a row that Tom – who was blindsided with divorce papers from Katie, 38, nearly five years ago – has been apart from his youngest child on her big day.
He has not seen Suri in person for 1320 days and counting, OK! has learnt. He was last photographed with her on September 15, 2013.
“Katie would let Suri see Tom if he wanted to see her,” a source close to Katie told OK!.
But “he hasn’t made a move toward being a physical presence in Suri’s life again.”
Tom, pictured here in 2012, hasn’t been seen with Suri in several years.
His attitude seems worlds away from Katie’s.
“Every day, kids get a little further away from you,” she ‘s admitted, revealing that distance is the last thing she wants from her little girl.
“That’s a positive thing. They should be becoming more independent, but it’s heartbreaking. You want them to stay with you forever…”
Tom, on the other hand, doesn’t even publicly talk about Suri.
And though Tom has been seen with or talked about his adopted kids – Isabella, 24, and Connor, 22, whose mum is Nicole Kidman – in interviews in recent years, the last time he specifically mentioned Suri to the media was during a 2013 interview in which he revealed he celebrated her seventh birthday early: “All celebrated and done.”
As for why Tom hasn’t seen or spoken publicly about his daughter in so long?
He’s yet to say.
But Tom’s controversial religion Scientology has long been blamed.
Multiple insiders have told OK! that the faith considers Katie a “suppressive person” – the religion’s term for people who stand in the way of spiritual growth – which means Tom would need to “disconnect” from her and, because of their close link, Suri, too.
While Tom “definitely misses Suri,” the insider has explained, “he follows Scientology doctrine to the letter and has chosen to move on with his life.”
For more on this story, pick up the latest issue of OK! magazine, on sale today!
Follow Now To Love on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
