Ryan Reynolds shares his ‘really important’ parenting lesson about losing

When you look at Ryan Reynolds‘ career, it might look like he’s had nothing but success. Of course, however, that’s not realistic. Like any other human, he’s had setbacks. And in a recent interview, he opened up about how he’s honest with his kids about what he calls “losing.”

Reynolds sat down with co-star Hugh Jackman for a People magazine cover story. During the interview, the Deadpool and Wolverine star shared some parenting advice he’s received from the Marvel films’ director that really hit home for him.

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“Shawn Levy actually told me something that stuck with me forever, that people tend to only talk about their wins. But I think it’s really important for your kids in particular to know that you lose,” Reynolds explained. “You don’t get what you want all the time. Something you worked on really hard didn’t work. You feel like you said something embarrassing today, you did something that didn’t sit right with you. It’s just so important that [your kids] see that and they don’t just hear, ‘Oh Dad nailed it.’ Because you lose so much more than you win.”

Reynolds added, “It’s really stuck with me.”

Embracing failure helps children develop a range of essential life skills, such as resilience, risk-taking, growth mindset, problem-solving, and self-confidence. These skills contribute to their overall well-being and success, both academically and in other areas of their lives. Reynolds’ lesson here is a lesson for us all.

Reynolds is now a dad of four. He shares daughters Betty, James, and Inez, as well as a fourth baby whose name and sex have not yet been publicly revealed, with his wife, Blake Lively.

Sharing the interview with Jackman gave both stars an opportunity to talk about their experiences about being A-list actors while balancing fame and rigorous filming schedules with fatherhood. Jackman took the opportunity to ask Reynolds about something he’s been open about: his mental health, and how that’s impacted him as a dad.

“Oh mate, you’ve been pretty open with your anxiety struggles, which I really applaud you for,” Jackman said. “Do you find being a dad makes it better or worse?”

Reynolds answered, “I think it makes it better because your focus is less on yourself and more on your kids. I know you know that too.”

He continued, “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, that actually allows them to feel seen. I know that I can’t just fix it. And I can communicate all that stuff to them and with them. I’m always grateful for it.”