5 Celebrities Like Ryan Reynolds, Who Discuss Parenting and Struggles Openly

Ryan Reynolds is a proud parent to four children. Recently, he opened up during HubSpot’s INBOUND tech conference about how parenting has evolved over the years compared to his own childhood. The actor shared that his kids do not have a “scarcity mindset” like he did growing up, which he attributes to having an absent and unexpressive father. He emphasized the power of soft parenting. However, Reynolds is not the only Hollywood figure who talks openly about parenting and the struggles that come with it.

Here are five celebrities who not only take great pride in being parents but are also not afraid to show their vulnerabilities in the journey.

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling is a proud single parent to three amazing kids. She understands that it is not a one-man job to raise a child and has no qualms about leaning on her dad, nanny, and friends for support. But despite having this solid support system in her life, the Never Have I Ever creator still has to deal with societal judgments that sometimes lead her to rethink her decisions. 

In a 2021 conversation with Today Parents, Kaling stated, “Absolving myself of guilt for depending on others has been the biggest piece of advice that has helped me.” She also shared with the WSJ Magazine the “panic” that sometimes washes over her as a single mom.

Nevertheless, she is determined to “make them proud” by reaching great heights in her career.

Dwayne Johnson

Like Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson had a bit of a rocky road with his late father. During a chat with Fatherly, Johnson shared how his relationship with his dad has influenced his own journey into fatherhood. Still, he is committed to being the best dad by trying to be present with his daughters- whether it is dropping them off at school, picking them up afterward, or cheering them on at their soccer games.

Both Johnson and Reynolds are raising three daughters. While the stars of Red Notice love to tease and take playful jabs at each other, Johnson really connects with the Wrexham owner on a deeper level. In that same interview with Fatherly, the Jumanji star shared that he feels “very proud” of Reynolds’ accomplishments and what he has been able to do as a father.

Halsey

Halsey has been quite candid about feeling the weight of public judgment after they announced their pregnancy. The talented singer welcomed their first child, Ender Ridley Aydin, with screenwriter Alev Aydin, back in 2021. In a chat with Zane Lowe on New Music Daily, Halsey revealed that people took issue with the fact that they were not married before getting pregnant.

Fans also claimed that Halsey had so much to accomplish in their career before stepping into motherhood. This triggered up a lot of old feelings of shame for them, reminding them of when they were younger. Nevertheless, Halsey managed to tune out the overpowering negativity and fully embraced their role as a mom, especially since they had waited so long to start their own family.

Justin Baldoni

Justin Baldoni might not see eye to eye with Ryan Reynolds, especially after the infamous drama with Blake Lively. But when it comes to being a dad, Baldoni, like Reynolds, has his own unique style. Just as Reynolds has crafted a specific way of talking about gender with his kids, Baldoni uses the power of gendered affirmations to help his children embrace both traditional masculine and feminine traits.

Baldoni shared his thoughts with The Bump back in 2021. The It Ends With Us director and actor aims to challenge the traditional notions of how boys and girls should behave by focusing on teaching his kids the many qualities that make up a good human being. As he put it in that interview, “At the end of the day, my goal is to raise good humans“. 

Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff has always been upfront about the ups and downs that come with being a parent, and she does not hold back. She strongly believes it is completely normal to feel worn out and frustrated at times, especially as a new mom. Speaking on the Motherly podcast in 2019, she admitted, “It was a little isolating in the beginning”. Duff has also opened up about the challenges of breastfeeding.

“I’m just not a huge milk producer,” she shared during the Informed Pregnancy Podcast. Duff has also pushed back against the constant parenting policing of celebrities. She was criticized for having her child’s ears pierced and for a photo showing her child riding on a friend’s lap in the car instead of a booster seat. Unfazed by public judgment and scrutiny, Duff has continued to raise her four kids on her own terms. 

What do you think about these five celebrity parents? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!