Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively do their best as parents.
The actor is determined to give his four children, who he shares with his actress wife, “as normal a life as possible” despite their privileged upbringing.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Friday, the Deadpool star reflected on his approach to parenting, acknowledging the stark contrast between his children’s lives and his upbringing.
“We both grew up very working-class, and I remember when they were very young, I would say or think, like, ‘Oh my God, I never got a gift like this as a kid,’ or, ‘The 48-year-old Reynolds shared.
However, the actor eventually realized that it is not fair to burden his children by comparing them with his past. “I realized it’s not really a bag of rocks for them,” he explained.
Reynolds emphasizes that her children are already learning the importance of gratitude and compassion.
“They’re already very much in touch with gratitude and understanding the world enough to have a strong sense of empathy,” she said.
The Proposal star added that teaching your children to empathize is a key sign of successful parenting.
“These are the things I would think about. [would indicate] We’re doing a fine job — if our kids can empathize with other people and other kids,” Reynolds added.
Still, Reynolds reflects on how parenting today is very different from when he was a child.
“When I was a kid, you’d just suck it up, leave the house and come back at sunset, which I can’t even imagine anymore,” he remarked.