Reese Witherspoon Embraces the Bittersweet Farewell as Her Kids Leave for College
Reese Witherspoon Spills the Tea: The Actress Opens Up About Parenting, Aging, and Letting Go
In a candid interview with The New York Times' The Interview podcast, Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon dished about the highs and lows of parenting her three kids as they grow up and navigate adulthood. From mourning their departure from home to finding joy in watching them spread their wings, Witherspoon shares her unfiltered thoughts on what it means to be a mom.
It seems that saying goodbye to childhood is harder for some parents than others. For Reese Witherspoon, the 49-year-old actress's kids leaving the nest was an emotional experience she never expected. "I grieved their going to college," she confessed, admitting to shedding tears in her children's rooms as they prepared to fly the coop.
Witherspoon's eldest child, Ava, 26, and son Deacon, 21, have been away from home for a while now. The actress shared that it's not just the initial separation that's tough – it's the realization that she can no longer be their primary caregiver that brings her to tears. "It's a loss because you do everything for them," Witherspoon explained. "You take the food out of your mouth, the coat off your back. You don't sleep... You don't sleep because you're either taking care of their physical needs when they're little. Or when they're older, you're just so worried all the time that they're gonna get in a car accident or they're gonna come home or there's gonna be drugs involved."
As she reflected on her experiences as a mom, Witherspoon acknowledged that it's normal to feel exhausted and overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility. She shared that her kids "wore me out" during their younger years, leaving her feeling "exhausted, wrung out, and tired." However, with her youngest child, 12-year-old Tennessee – whom she shares with ex-husband Jim Toth – Witherspoon has taken a more relaxed approach to parenting. She admitted that whenever she loses her cool, she turns to her son and says, "You got to call your brother and sister. They wore me out. I'm so tired. Like eat the cookie, go to bed late, just do it... But think about how it's going to make you feel."
Ava, Witherspoon's eldest child, has been following in her mom's footsteps as a budding actress. The 26-year-old made her acting debut in the ABC medical drama Doctor Odyssey earlier this year. In a heartwarming conversation with Reese on the podcast, Ava's mom shared her pride and admiration for her daughter's individuality. "Ava's just cool," Witherspoon said, praising her daughter's unique personality and refusal to emulate her mom's career path. "Some people are just boring cool. She was just boring cool... But part of the challenge of being a mother of a 26-year-old woman is learning to back away, learning she doesn't need me in the same ways, and that's okay."
It seems Witherspoon has come to terms with letting go of her role as her children's primary caregiver. In fact, she finds joy in seeing them grow into independent adults. "Ava will call me and just be like a great friend," Witherspoon shared. "Deacon calls me all the time, we hang out in New York... It's awesome to have your kids become adults." As Reese Witherspoon embarks on this new chapter of her life – as a mom, an actress, and a woman navigating middle age – she's learning to appreciate the beauty of letting go.
