Hollywood Star Reese Witherspoon Proudly Tells the World Her 19-Year-Old Son Has the 'Biggest Heart'

Reese Witherspoon Ryan Phillippe Deacon Phillippe Ava Phillippe Hollywood Couple's Children parenting styles Parenting Approaches

By Jo Anne Hubert , Parent Herald Oct 25, 01:12 pm

Photo: (Photo : GETTY IMAGES/Alberto Rodriguez)

The Hollywood A-star honors her son on his 19th birthday, and proudly tells the world how awesome he is.

The Big Little Lies actress celebrated son Deacon Phillippe as he turned 19 last Sunday, posting two photos of him on Instagram - a current one of the budding actor, and one when he was still a kid.

Witherspoon proudly told the world that his son gives out the "most joyful energy, endless drive, ambition and talent," and carries the "biggest heart in the world," in a heartfelt greeting.

Witherspoon co-parents Deacon and daughter Ava, 23, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe.

Lookalikes Issue

Same with Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe also celebrated his son's birthday with posts on social media.

In his Instagram Story, he posted a photo of Deacon in sunglasses and a hat leaning against a ledge with the sea behind him. Ryan captioned with a birthday greeting and calling her son the "best."

He later shared a selfie with his son and expressed how much he missed him.

With regards to the popular belief that her ex-wife and daughter Ava are lookalikes, Ryan, 48, shared to Extra earlier this month that what he actually gets a lot is that people think Deacon looks like Witherspoon and Ava looks like him.

In an interview with the Morning Show actress in Today with Hoda and Jenna, where they were called "twins," Witherspoon, however admitted that she and Ava do not really see what the public see, and declared that they are not a "spitting image of each other."

Different parenting styles

The star of Legally Blonde, 46, is also mom to son Tennessee, 10, whose father is Witherspoon's husband Jim Toth.

When asked about her parenting style, she emphasized that having three children at very different life stages led her to take different parenting approaches with each one.

"You establish a different relationship. First of all, you're managing them a lot when they're little and it's very physical. And then it's more emotional support. And suggestions, not telling them what to do when they get a little bit older.But you have to really nurture your adult relationship with your children too. And give them respect and space to become who they are, not who you want them to be," the actress expressed.

As to the age gap of her kids with Ryan and her 10-year-old Tennessee, the actress shared that Deacon and especially Ava loves being a big brother and sister.

In fact, Ava has revealed in a birthday post for Tennessee that the 13-year age gap worried her before, yet she now finds their bonding over her favorite childhood movies, shows, books, activities as the "greatest gift," along with all the other memories she gets to share with him.

The 23 year-old influencer expressed how grateful she is for everything that youngest brother teaches them just by simply being him.