Ryan Reynolds recently reflected on the differences between modern parenting and the way he was raised, describing today’s parents as “so soft” compared to his own upbringing. Speaking at HubSpot’s INBOUND tech conference in Boston, the 47-year-old actor opened up about his and wife Blake Lively’s approach to raising their four children. He noted that parenting today is much more gentle, without the yelling or harsh discipline he remembers from his childhood.
Reynolds shared that he grew up in an environment he likened to an “improvised militia,” a stark contrast to the more compassionate parenting style he and Lively practice. He admitted that a workshop on conflict resolution helped shift his perspective, teaching him how to process emotions and approach disagreements more constructively. “You can disagree and still connect,” Reynolds said, emphasizing the importance of understanding rather than always needing to be right.
The actor, known for his humor, also acknowledged how different life is for his own children, who are growing up with more resources and support. “I have four kids, and so far, none of them seem to have that [scarcity mindset], partly because they were born on Easy Street,” he joked.
Reynolds and Lively are parents to three daughters — James, nine, Inez, seven, and four-year-old Betty — as well as one-year-old son Olin. While Reynolds acknowledges the changes in parenting, he believes it’s for the better, allowing parents to access resources and be more compassionate in their approach.
The couple, who celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary this year, continues to balance their careers with family life, often sharing lighthearted moments with their fans.
What do you think – are parents too soft?
We can certainly think of a good few examples of where parents probably need to step up and be a little tougher…
