Katie Holmes Striving To Create Normal Childhood For Suri

Katie Holmes teaching Suri how to ride a bicycle over the weekend is just another step in the process of creating a normal childhood for the little girl now that she is living in New York City and allegedly shielded from the influence of Scientology. Suri and Katie Holmes just returned from a visit with relatives in the Midwest where Tom Cruise’s daughter met her cousins for the first time, according to Hollywood gossip columnist Janet Charlton.

According to Charlton, Katie Holmes wants Suri to “get used to” playing with children her own age and learn how to share toys before she starts school for the first time this fall. Suri was homeschooled while Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were still married. The Midwest trip to visit with Katie Holmes’ relatives was reportedly the first time that Suri had flown on a commercial airline and had to help pack her own bags from the airport and wait in line with other passengers.

Suri Cruise and Katie Holmes accompanied the actress’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, and her daughter on a New York City tea outing over the weekend – yet another opportunity for the six-year-old to spent time with girls near her own age, the Daily Mail reports.

Earlier this month, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes released a joint statement noting the former couple is committed to putting Suri’s best interests first and working together are parents.

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise statement excerpts:

“We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other’s commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other’s roles as parents.”

Katie Holmes, an Ohio native, will soon be sharing her style sense with the world. Holmes will reportedly showcase her fashion line, Holmes and Yang, during fashion week in NYC in September.