Reese Witherspoon says she cried when her kids left for college

Reese Witherspoon says she grieved when her eldest children left home for college, describing the departure as a crushing loss. The Morning Show star discussed the moment on The New York Times' The Interview podcast with Lulu Garcia-Navarro, revealing that Ava, now 26, and Deacon, 21, moved out as she and ex-husband Ryan Phillippe continue to co-parent. She is also mom to Tennessee, 12, with her husband Jim Toth.

Witherspoon said she cried in their rooms and that one Christmas one of them didn't come home, leaving her sitting in their bed. "I grieved their going to college, and I cried in their rooms," she told the host. "One year, one of them didn't come home for Christmas, and I sat in their bed and just cried." She described the constant worry that comes with parenting, noting you "take the food out of your mouth, the coat off your back. You don't sleep."

Yet she also underscored that letting go is part of parenting, and that if you've done your job, they go. "It's a loss because you do everything for them," she explained, but added that Ava and Deacon have grown into adults and remain connected. In the conversation, she noted that both children have since become "incredible friends" to her. Ava checks in and even calls to arrange plans, and Deacon frequently shares restaurant recommendations—often with the ability to secure reservations in New York.

Witherspoon also contrasted her approach to parenting Tennessee with her older children, saying the youngest keeps her on her toes and that she often looks to him when she's had a moment of burnout. "I've been parenting for 25 years," she said, adding that she sometimes tells Tennessee to call his siblings. She described being "exhausted, wrung out and tired" and said that the different dynamic has required a softer approach with the youngest.

On the episode, the star also touched on Ava's path toward acting, noting that Ava is following in her mother's footsteps but doing her own thing. The interview episode, titled "How Reese Witherspoon Figured Out Who She Really Is," also touches on how parenting shapes her perspective on fame and family. She cited Ava's acting debut in the ABC medical drama Doctor Odyssey earlier this year as part of her daughter's evolving journey toward the spotlight. The candid discussion illustrates how Witherspoon navigates motherhood as her children become independent adults while maintaining close ties.