Reese Witherspoon has been a household name in the entertainment industry for many years, but she’s also someone who is just as dedicated to her family as she is to her professional life. As a matter of fact, Reese is someone who is very open and honest about the way that she parents her three children: Ava, 18, Deacon, 15, and 6-year-old Tennessee. Witherspoon is also quite the strict mom compared to many other Hollywood parents. With that said, here are ten rules Reese Witherspoon has for her kids.
10 She Monitors Them On Social Media
Reese Witherspoon knows that social media can be just as dangerous as it is fun for kids, and that’s why she’s taken it upon herself to monitor her children on social media. But unlike other moms who probably snoop around their children’s phone for texts and other messages, Reese directly communicates with her kids on social media. When she’s got something to say, she says it on Snapchat. Not only do her kids get to hear it, but so does the rest of the world. Reese says that sometimes it’s the only way to get her message across.
9 She’s More Flexible As A Mom Than An Actress
Reese Witherspoon might seem like she’s the kind of person who likes to stay in control, especially from the outside looking in. But she says that she’s definitely more flexible as a mom. She knows that her kids aren’t always going to agree with what she has to say and that’s why she does her best to work with them. “I’m kind of in an interesting spot,” the 43-year-old told InStyle Magazine “My kids are going to college—one is already in college, and one is approaching it—and my mothering personality is nothing like my work personality.”
8 She Wants Her Children To Know What Hard Work Is
Reese is one of the most successful women in the entertainment industry and that’s for a good reason. Not only does she have incredible talent, but she’s also a hard worker. Furthermore, she knows that nothing in life comes for free, and that’s why she wants to teach her children the value of hard work. Not only is their education very important to her, but she also wants to see her kids put effort into all they do. Sure, they might have more than many other kids their age, but she’s not about to let them grow up spoiled.
7 She Wants Them To Live Outside Of Their Bubble
Reese knows that her kids have an advantage over many other children their ages. She also knows that they live inside a Hollywood bubble. That’s why she wants them to be exposed to all different people that comes from different walks of life. She told InStyle Magazine, “As a teenager, you only know what you know in the world. You don’t know what it’s like to work in a foreign country or to be in medicine or science. I have friends in a lot of different fields, so I try to surround my kids with people who have incredible experiences in other industries. We can get really isolated here in Hollywood.”
6 She’s Constantly Counteracting Pressure
Reese is in the kind of position that she could definitely afford to give her kids the best that the world can offer. But she doesn’t want to do that. Instead, she is always counteracting pressure from other “perfect” parents who throw the perfect birthday parties, have the perfect homes or the perfect families. She doesn’t want that for her own. While there’s no doubt that she wants to give her kids what they deserve, she also wants to keep things simple. That means that not every birthday, graduation or milestone is going to be a blowout celebration for her kids.
5 She Is Brutally Honest
Reese Witherspoon is the kind of mother who likes to tell things like it is. She even goes so far as to describe herself as a brutally honest parent. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything nor does she tell her kids any white lies. According to ABC News, Reese said, "I remember Ava crying in bed in third grade — she was on JV basketball and she was the only kid on the team who didn’t score. I said, 'Aves, maybe you’re bad at basketball.' She thought that was mean. I said, 'Mean or true? 'Cause, guess what? Your mom’s bad at basketball, too.'"
4 She Wants Them To Make Mistakes
Almost every parent wants their children to be successful and more importantly, to be happy. But at the same time, parents also want to teach kids that not everything in life comes easy. Reese is okay with letting her children make mistakes. She knows that’s the only way that they will learn and grow as young adults. It might be hard to watch your child fall down, but it’s a great feeling knowing that they can pick themselves right back up again.
3 She’s Strict About Screen Time
Reese Witherspoon might be an actress that has a very busy schedule with her multiple projects, but that doesn’t mean she lets things slide with her kids. She wants her children to grow up with rules and to know that there are boundaries and lines that they shouldn’t cross. She’s also very strict about screen time and she doesn’t hesitate to take away her children’s electronics devices if she feels the need to. Reese really does sound like one of us, doesn’t she?
2 Hollywood Is Not For Them
While there are a lot of celebrity kids who often follow in the footsteps of their famous parents, Reese doesn’t want that for her kids. She knows that the entertainment industry is a cutthroat one; she’s seen the good, the bad and the ugly. That’s why you don’t see her kids making appearances in any of her movies or projects. Instead, Reese wants them to find their own paths and careers in life and pursue them instead. Acting might have worked for her, but Reese knows that she is one of the few lucky ones.
1 She Wants Them To Have Southern Values
Last but not least, Reese wants her children to have Southern values. As someone who was born and raised in Tennessee but now lives in Hollywood, she’s still very much connected to her Southern lifestyle. Manners are very important, and she expects her kids to act accordingly. That means saying "please" and "thank you" and knowing how to warmly greet others. Reese’s family might live in California, but the actress knows that no matter what happens or where she goes, her heart will always remain in the South.