Ryan Reynolds Reveals Deadpool Director's Parenting Advice That Stuck With Him Forever

Ryan Reynolds is leaving no stone unturned to promote his upcoming Marvel movie Deadpool and Wolverine. Amid this, Reynolds is taking a refreshing approach to raising his four kids, James, Inez, Betty and his fourth unnamed child with Blake Lively. While promoting his upcoming superhero movie, Reynolds revealed a parenting tip that’s surprisingly simple yet impactful. It all started with advice from director Shawn Levy, the mastermind behind the upcoming Marvel movie, who encouraged Reynolds to be open with his children about losses. This resonated deeply with the actor, who believes kids must see their parents fail and go through challenges. According to Reynolds, sugarcoating life lessons can actually obstruct a child’s ability to handle challenges.

During a conversation with Hugh Jackman for People, the Free Guy star said, “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. 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. It’s really stuck with me.”

In the same chat, Ryan Reynolds also revealed how his struggles with anxiety have actually helped him to become a better father. Surprisingly, Reynolds claims he now appreciates his anxiety. The Deadpool star explains that when his children show signs of anxiety, he knows how to show support and understanding. He focuses on making them feel heard in their emotions, rather than trying to simply fix them. Reynolds adds, “I can communicate all that stuff to them and with them. I’m always grateful for it. People who have anxiety are constantly thinking into the future.”

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman starrer Deadpool and Wolverine is scheduled to release on July 27.