Step'mom' Katie Holmes

Dec 20, 2007, 11:30 GMT

11/01/2007 - Katie Holmes - "Lions For Lambs" AFI Fest Premiere - Arrivals - The ArcLight Theater - Hollywood, CA, USA © David Gabber / PR Photos

Tom Cruise's children with Nicole Kidman call his new wife Katie Holmes 'mom'.

Katie, 29, revealed she has such a bond with Isabella, who turns 15 on Saturday (22.12.07), and 12-year-old Connor - who both live with Katie and Tom in Los Angeles - they refer to her by the parental term, even though they call their adoptive mother Nicole by her first name.

She said: "Tom is a great father and husband and Connor and Bella are incredible, really smart and kind. They call me 'mom.'"

Nicole - who primarily lives in Tennessee with her husband Keith Urban - is said to be furious and has banned her children from calling Katie 'mom'.

A source said: "Nicole was anxious to make it very clear that she is Connor's and Bella's mother. They may not live with her but no one can take that away from her."

Katie - who has a 20-month-old daughter, Suri, with husband Tom - also gushed that last Christmas "meant the world" to her because it was Suri's first.

She added in an interview with Parade magazine: "Last year was Suri's first Christmas. It was so spectacular to share the holidays with her. It really meant the world to me. To be able to create a tradition for your children is one of the best gifts you can have."

The former 'Dawson's Creek' actress also praised Tom, 45, for being an "inspiration" to her and added their relationship has been full of "thrills and joy".

Katie - who has been married to the 'Lions for Lambs' star for just over a year - said: "Oh, we have so much fun. Tom has introduced me to so many new experiences. I have done things I never thought I would do, like climbing mountains and flying in the P-51. That's what is so inspiring about being with him - constant thrills and joy."

(C) BANG Media International