Christopher Gorham: Alondra on Her Way to Calling the Shots

John Lamparski/WireImage

It looks like Christopher Gorham and wife Anel have their hands full.

With their youngest child, daughter Alondra Cecelia, turning 2 in January, the Covert Affairs star says she’s already showing quite the personality.

“She’s got an attitude so it’s very clear when she gets a little older, who’s going to be in charge,” he told reporters at the USA and The Moth presentation of A Perfect Union: Stories of Prejudice and Power, held Monday in N.Y.C.

“Just three days ago, she spilled a container full of nuts on the floor and they spilled everywhere. My wife was like, ‘Alo!’ and she’s like, ‘Okay! I’m sorry! Sheesh!’ and walks out the room. So she was immediately taking blame and being annoyed that we were bothering her all at the same time.”

As for whether Alondra is holding her own with big brothers Ethan, 7, and Lucas, 9, Gorham says the boys are quite the influence to her — often to her mother’s dismay.

“My wife is terrified because [Alondra] is talking and the boys are obsessed with Bakugan and Beyblade right now. So she comes in and wants to play Bakugan and Beyblade with them, and Anel is chasing her around with dolls going, ‘Don’t you want to see Olivia?’” he explains with a laugh. “But she’s a good mix.”

And with the holidays around the corner, Gorham, 36, says that Christmas is a whole other minefield — especially with the boys.

“We took [the boys] to see Santa and Santa asked them what they wanted. They both were like, ‘I want an iPhone, and an iPad and an iPod Touch…’ and Santa’s eyes got so big, he was like, ‘Really? Wow. Well.’ And we’re standing behind them with our hands in the air like, ‘I don’t know what to say.’”

– Shruti Dhalwala

Comments

Sara on December 10th, 2010

While this is a terrible picture of such a good looking guy, his family sounds like fun. I love the story about his daughter. so cute!

nilla on December 10th, 2010

Sara – I totally agree with you, this picture doesn’t do him justice. Mmmm, such a gorgeous, sexy, fine speciman of a man. I didn’t know he was married with children, although I can understand why!

Anonymous on December 10th, 2010

uh, sounds to me like he has a bunch of spoiled rotten kids. this is not a cute story. i wish i hadn’t read it. its kids like this that are hurting the future of our world.

klutzy_girl on December 10th, 2010

Really, anon? They’re kids being kids. They’re still young!

And yeah, that’s not a good picture. Love him and can’t wait for Covert Affairs to come back!

Jennifer on December 10th, 2010

I feel his pain. My 6 1/2 yo wants and Ipod touch.

Really anon? Just because families can buy nice gifts, at Christmas for their kids a whole generation is being ruined?? My son understands the value of the things he has and we stress being thankful and grateful. We also participate in charitable events throughout the year. So is a nice gift at Christmas (or at birthdays) really that terrible. Don’t think so. Merry Christmas to You!!

Renee on December 10th, 2010

As someone that has personally met this family, I can assure you no one is spoiled & they are great kids. P.S. I love the pic. Thanks PEOPLE MAG!!

Lorraine on December 10th, 2010

Oh for goodness sakes Anonymous, lighten up! I’m sure you always wished for the latest and greatest toys or gadgets for Christmas when you were a child, I know I did.

Chris and Anel are fantastic parents and their children are NOT spoiled rotten kids.

simi on December 10th, 2010

love his wife’s and daughter’s names

alliana

Karen on December 10th, 2010

What a nice little article. Don’t worry Chris, I am a girl who grew up with 4 brothers and loved climbing trees and building forts and not playing with dolls. She will probably grow up to be a strong confidant woman and you will be so proud. As for the gifts, all kids push for whatever they can get, kids will be kids.. Lighten up people. I too, have met him and the family and they are very down to earth people and humble. They are the kind of people I want as close friends.

Meghan on December 10th, 2010

When I was little, I used to mark items on every single page of the Toys ‘R Us catalog. I can assure you, anonymous, I was most definitely not spoiled rotten! That’s just what kids do, they outgrow it as they grow up and realize that things cost money and that their parents work hard to provide for them.

Keith on December 11th, 2010

I’m sorry, Anonymous, but you have taken a sweet article about a beautiful family and tried to project your negative feelings on this great family. It is completely normal and to be expected that children will want the “newest” and “greatest” toys that our out there, especially if their parents and/or friends use these. My nieces both ask for iPhone’s because they use mine whenever I am with them. Not only are they fun, but they also have many educational benefits.

As Renee mentioned, I too have spent time with this family and was struck by how friendly, down to earth, and caring they are. They are the type of family I would want my nieces to spend time with. Anonymous, your judgments based on this article are completely naive and, frankly, offensive.

MiB on December 11th, 2010

I too remember spending the moth leading up to christmas looking at the toy catalogues, marking everything I wanted for Christmas and knowing fully well that I would get one of those toys if I were lucky. But it couldn’t hurt to wish for it, could it? Being an optimist or opportunist (I mean, if you meet Santa and he asks you what you want for Christmas, why not take advantage of it!) does not equal spoiled. I’d say any child that actually got every thing on their Christmas wish list would be spoiled, but at least I don’t know any who do, and most of them know that they won’t.

Mrs. R. on December 11th, 2010

This is precisely why we don’t allow our kids to look at the toy catalogs that arrive, nor do we let them watch TV with commercials.

My 4 year old wants 1 Sound of Music DVD for Christmas from Santa. That’s it. Her birthday is 3 days later, and she wants very much to learn to ski, so we told her instead of a toy, she can go to ski camp.

She’s thrilled. She is fulfilled. She doesn’t need all that extra stuff. I feel extremely grateful that my daughter is not greedy.

Manal on December 11th, 2010

Anon can u please not judge these children!… at my sisters school they are having this thing called “Adopt an angel” where they go to orphanages and ask the children to write what they want for Christmas and guess what many of these children asked for Ipods, mobiles,laptops and many other gadgets, so yea children are children.
Sweet story about his daughter!

Jennifer on December 11th, 2010

Well Mrs. R that makes you a much better mother than the rest of us…

Cris S on December 11th, 2010

Dear anon, please stop judging people’s children, especially when you have no idea what you’re talking about..and dear Miss R, let’s see what you sweet 4 year old girl wants from Santa when she’s 8 and 9, like Chris Gorham’s boys.

Carrie on December 11th, 2010

I think the fact that these kids don’t have these items says everything, they clearly covet these items, but their parents haven’t just simply given them these expensive electronics.

itstartedwithafish on December 11th, 2010

Telling Santa what your wishes are is just that, – wishes, – not filling out an order form.
Kids these day hear so much and get bombarded by commercials, – of course the ask for sth for which a desire has been artificially planted.
our youngest has the same wish list, – plus a PSP.
whatever, I don’t give much about it, – as I keep telling, – ask Santa for whatever you think you might like, – he will decide (and our wallets, too)…

Renee on December 11th, 2010

Excellent point, Carrie!

Patricia on December 11th, 2010

Anyon,like Keith said, kids are going to want what they see the parents using. Mom and Dad have iPhones. Lucas MIGHT get an iPad for the holiday, but that’s more as an interactive learning tool for him. Lucas has Asberger’s Syndrome. It’s one of the milder forms of Autism and Chris and Anel have been searching for things that will help him become all the person he can be when he grows up. The Gorhams are very loving, and protective, toward their children. They are very humble and grounded people. Maybe a bit more disposable income than some, but that doesn’t mean that their children are spoiled. I remember MY granddaughter with the same sort of attitude when she was two. She’s almost four now and has a baby sister. My daughter and her spouse are far from wealthy. She wants a cell phone just like mommy’s. Is she going to get it? NO!

Mrs R. I feel sorry for your children. Their children will be the spoiled ones when they grow up and have them. If you can afford ski lessons for a four-year-old, you are certainly not that poor.

J on December 11th, 2010

I think the people picking on Mrs. R and Anonymous all need to grow up and stop the judging they are doing here…

Mrs. R. on December 11th, 2010

Patricia –

We don’t deprive our children of toys. We just don’t provide them with toy catalogs or trips to Toys-R-Us to go crazy over and go mind-numbingly greedy. Why is it wrong that we limit their exposure to mass media marketing?

It’s kind of beside the point whether we’re financially comfortable enough to accommodate our daughter’s request for a day at ski camp. ONE day of ski camp is about the same amount that most people spend on 2 – 3 toys for their kids, and CERTAINLY less expensive than an iPad or even an iPod. We’re thrilled that she picked an activity to participate in that is healthy, fun, and something we can all do as a family, and that she considers that to be enough of a birthday gift. She came up with the idea completely on her own, and it was very surprising to us – but we’re proud of her self-confidence and adventurous spirit in wanting to try something new and want to encourage her. We’re thinking we’ll box up her first lift ticket in wrapping paper and ribbons so she has something pretty to open because 4 year olds still get excited about the wrapping paper.

I don’t quite understand why you think my someday grandchildren will be spoiled. I don’t really see what that has to do with anything.

As a side note, I had no idea that Christopher’s son was on the spectrum. There ARE wonderful apps for an iPad for ASD, I’m a special education teacher, and a couple of my students (high schoolers) use them with great results.

Anne on December 11th, 2010

People, let’s not forget that it’s Christmas. It’s not what the kids ask for that make them spoiled, it’s what they are given. If I know anything about Chris and Anel, I am pretty sure they are not going to get the boys a lot of iThings unless it’s for educational purposes. Those things are awesome. Believe me, there’s an app for that! People are entitled to raise their kids how they like. But don’t judge people you don’t know, lest you be judged yourself. There are no “celebrities” more down to earth and nice than Chris and Anel. Everybody just take a deep breath and have a happy holiday with your families.

ecl on December 11th, 2010

While I don’t think that kids asking for loads of toys automatically makes them greedy, I think it’s nice that a kid has decided to forgo a toy for a ski lesson. An experience is almost always better than one more plastic thing. Kudos to someone who understands that. I’m always seeing toys that I think my son would like and my instinct is to buy them, but I really think kids do better with a limited amount of toys so I get a few and then do things like take him to music class or the aquarium. Catalogs DO encourage kids to want more and more and more stuff. That’s the point of them. So I see no harm in limiting a child’s exposure to that. Of course, it will probably end up being a losing battle once school starts…

Shawna on December 11th, 2010

I don’t see how the story about his daughter is cute. She spoke very rudely to her mother, how is that cute? In our house we would have called the child back and said you do not speak to your mother like that, you are in the time-out chair for 2 minutes and then you will help clean up the mess you made. Sorry, but a 2 year old is capable of not being rude.

Sarah M. on December 12th, 2010

Shawna – Kids will say stuff like that sometimes. And, yes, it is rude. But perhaps we didn’t hear the whole story. It is an article and Chris probably didn’t get to choose what actually made the final cut. I would guess that he was asked questions (and answered) many questions and the editor chose which ones to actually use. So if they didn’t call her back and let her know that wasn’t an acceptable way to speak to someone, then they should have, IMO. But judging from what several commentators who have met the family have all said, it sounds like they’re the type of parents who would correct rudeness in their children. (And just because they maybe laughed a bit after she said it, it was probably because they didn’t expect her to say something like that and were surprised. That doesn’t necessarily mean that she wasn’t corrected or that there wasn’t a consequence of some sort.) So, while I agree with your main points, we don’t really know the whole story.

I think they sound very down to earth and their kids sound like normal, every day kids.