“I kind of die inside when I see their faces and they do a sports thing or something and I missed it,” he admitted.

Let’s be honest: Ryan Reynolds has this uncanny ability to make everything—from superhero movies to parenting—look cool. But when you peel back the Deadpool snark and the red-carpet charm, what you find is a dad who’s deeply thoughtful about how he’s raising his kids. And guess what? He’s figuring it out just like the rest of us.

In a recent Variety interview with Andrew Garfield, Ryan Reynolds got real about one of the universal truths of parenting: the heartbreak of missing one of your child’s milestones. “I kind of die inside when I see their faces and they do a sports thing or something and I missed it,” he admitted. For Reynolds, being present isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity.

Whether it’s a soccer game, a school recital, or just watching them be their quirky, wonderful selves, Reynolds gets it: these moments are fleeting, and he’s determined not to miss them.

Breaking the parenting cycle

Reynolds hasn’t always had a perfect blueprint for fatherhood. “My relationship with my father was very complicated,” he shared in Variety. “I come from a middle-class, blue-collar home, and my dad was of that generation where he was Clint Eastwood. Simple grunts is how he communicated.”

Determined to take a different path, Reynolds focuses on honest and open communication with his kids.  As he told PEOPLE,  “Now I love that I have anxiety. I love that I’ve had anxiety, because when I see my kids experiencing some of that, which is probably genetic, I know how to address it in a way that is compassionate.”

Instead of trying to “fix” his  kids’ feelings, he meets them where they are emotionally. “I know that I can’t just fix it. And I can communicate all that stuff to them and with them. So, I’m always kind of grateful for [my anxiety],” he said.

He doesn’t shy away from discussing his own struggles. In a CBS Sunday Morning interview, Reynolds revealed, “I’ve had anxiety my whole life really… I remember I’d be standing backstage before the curtain would open. And I would think to myself: ‘I’m gonna die. I’m literally gonna die here.’”

For Reynolds, this candidness is more than just self-reflection—it’s his way of breaking the stigma around mental health for his kids. By openly sharing his challenges, he’s modeling the kind of vulnerability and resilience he hopes to instill in them.

This self-awareness isn’t just a tool—it’s a daily practice. Reynolds has also spoken about how navigating anxiety helps him stay grounded in the chaos of balancing a demanding career with family life. “I think as parents, we are so much better equipped to handle the rigors of childhood through our kids now than when I was a kid. It’s just totally different now. People are much more self-aware,” he explained in another interview.

That focus on self-awareness is the cornerstone of Reynolds’ approach to parenting, a value he and his wife Blake Lively prioritize for their family. His transparency about mental health is a powerful reminder that parenting isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about showing up as you are, imperfections and all. By addressing his own challenges, Reynolds gives his kids permission to do the same.

For Reynolds, this candidness about his struggles is more than just self-reflection—it’s a way of breaking down the stigma around mental health for his kids. By being honest about his own struggles, he’s modeling the kind of openness he hopes to see in them.

The beautiful, chaotic mess of parenting four kids

Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, share four children—daughters James (9), Inez (8), and Betty (5), and their youngest, a 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 boy named Olin (22 months). If you’re picturing perfectly coordinated family outings, Reynolds will be the first to tell you it’s a little messier than that. But he’s here for it.

He’s savoring these fleeting years, knowing the chaos won’t last forever. “For me, the best time of my day is walking them to school and walking them back,” he said in a previous interview. Those everyday moments? That’s where the magic is.

“You can’t be great at something unless you’re willing to suck at it”

One of the most powerful lessons Reynolds hopes to pass on to his kids is the importance of resilience. “I try to get across to my kids: You can’t be great at something unless you’re willing to suck at it.”

In a culture obsessed with perfection, it’s a refreshing reminder—for kids and parents alike—that failure is a stepping stone to growth.

The bottom line

What’s so striking about Reynolds’ approach to parenting is how much it’s rooted in balance. He’s teaching his kids to embrace their imperfections, learn from failure, and find joy in the everyday moments. And let’s face it—none of us have it all figured out, not even Deadpool.

Maybe that’s the real takeaway from Ryan Reynolds: parenting isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present. It’s about showing your kids it’s okay to mess up and try again. And most importantly, it’s about reminding them (and yourself) that the chaos won’t last forever.

And hey, if you need a laugh between those parenting wins and fails, just remember: Deadpool himself is winging it, too.