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    Reese Witherspoon reveals why she is not sorry about embarrassing her kids. Shares interesting parenting philosophy

    Synopsis

    Reese Witherspoon, 48, shares her parenting philosophy of humorously embarrassing her children Ava, Deacon, and Tennessee, believing it builds character and humor. On The Tonight Show, she discusses this approach and her confidence as her children grow into adulthood. Witherspoon’s candid, relatable approach to motherhood contrasts with other celebrity parents' more private styles.

    Reese WitherspoonGetty Images
    During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Witherspoon defended her habit of embarrassing her children.
    For most parents, embarrassing their kids is an occasional accident. But for Reese Witherspoon, it’s a parenting philosophy. The Legally Blonde actress, 48, proudly admitted that she loves to poke fun at her kids—and she believes it’s actually good for them.

    During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Witherspoon defended her habit of embarrassing her three children—Ava, 25, Deacon, 21, and Tennessee, 12—explaining that a little public embarrassment builds character and humor.

    "I think you should embarrass them enough that they’re funny later in life," she told Fallon.

    And while she’s fully enjoying herself, her kids? Not so much.

    "My children, however …" she trailed off with a smirk. "But that’s their journey."

    Cool Mom or Cringe Mom?

    Host Jimmy Fallon assured Witherspoon that she is "one of the coolest moms", but also pointed out that her social media antics might be a little much for her kids.

    Witherspoon, however, isn’t backing down. Fallon reminded her that making your kids feel slightly uncomfortable is part of being a good parent, and she wholeheartedly agreed.

    Her confidence in her approach has only grown as she watches her children rapidly transition into adulthood.

    "They’re not children anymore. They’re adults," she said, before joking, "Which is weird because I’m 30, you know? It’s weird, but sometimes it works that way."

    Witherspoon shares her two older children, Ava and Deacon, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, whom she was married to from 1999 to 2008.

    She later married Jim Toth in 2011, welcoming their son Tennessee in 2012. However, after more than a decade together, Witherspoon and Toth announced their separation in 2023, emphasizing that their split was based on "love, kindness, and mutual respect."

    The divorce was finalized just four months later, and Witherspoon has since moved on with German financier Oliver Haarmann. The couple went public with their romance in September 2024 after being spotted packing on the PDA—just two months after they were first linked at a romantic dinner in New York’s West Village.

    Witherspoon has always been candid about motherhood, often sharing relatable, humorous takes on raising kids in the social media age. While some celebrity parents take a more private, polished approach, Witherspoon embraces the chaos, humor, and occasional public shaming that come with family life.

    Will her kids eventually appreciate the comedic lessons she’s trying to teach them?
    The Economic Times

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