On Sunday, May 11, actress Reese Witherspoon shared a touching Mother’s Day message along with a rare glimpse of her three children. In an Instagram post, the 49-year-old posted several family photos, including a group shot of daughter Ava, 25, and son Deacon, 21—whom she shares with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe—standing beside 12-year-old son Tennessee, her child with ex-husband Jim Toth.
The carousel also featured solo shots of Ava and Tennessee, plus a candid moment of Witherspoon on a boat with Deacon and Tennessee.
“Mother’s Day is a beautiful day to reflect on how lucky I am to have these three souls in my life,” she wrote in the caption. “Living each day with honesty, openness, vulnerability, and humor. Sharing it all.”
Witherspoon called her relationship with her children “a journey of four very different souls intertwined in the most intimate ways.” She added, “Each of these children has made me a better person by sharing their unique gifts and opening their hearts. Being a mother has been such a gift to me. Thank you Ava, Deacon, and Tann… I love you more than you can ever imagine.”
Earlier in the week, Witherspoon joined a trending TikTok challenge by revealing the many nicknames she’s had over the years. Among them: “R Dubs” (used by friends), “Ladybug” (from her mom), “Pieces” (a high school nickname), and “Miss Reese” (what her friends’ kids call her). As for her own son Tennessee, she wrote that she calls him “Morty,” admitting she has “no idea why.”
Witherspoon also shared a lighthearted detail about her children’s indifference toward her career. In a recent interview, she said her kids “actively avoid” watching her movies. “My son told me last night he didn’t realize I made a living being funny,” she joked. “He was like, ‘You’re pretty funny at home — sort of.’”
She recalled another moment after one of her sons saw her new film with Will Ferrell. “He came out of the movie and said, ‘Everyone was laughing at your scene.’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’”
Through humor, honesty, and heartfelt messages, Witherspoon continues to give fans a personal look into her life as a mother.
