Eva Mendes Gets Candid About Parenting & Family Life With Ryan Gosling

Eva Mendes is making the most of summer by prioritizing what matters most: time with her family.

In a new interview with New Beauty, the actress discussed her plans for the season and how she’s approaching parenthood with her longtime partner Ryan Gosling and their two daughters, Esmeralda Amada, 10, and Amada Lee, 9.

Going With the Flow

“I have no idea. We just go with the flow,” Mendes said when asked what her family of four has planned. “I’m not blaming my kids, but summer is their time to be kids, and I’m really taking it in.”

Mendes, 51, emphasized the importance of savoring small moments with her children, noting that their ages have made her increasingly aware of how quickly time passes.

“Our little one turned 9 last week, and our oldest one is 10. I know these moments are fleeting,” she said. “I just want to be with them. Whatever I’m doing, as long as I’m with them and Ryan, of course, that’s where I’m happiest.”

Inside Mendes’ Parenting Journey

Mendes has been candid about the emotional challenges that come with raising kids. In October 2024, she appeared on the “Parenting & You” podcast, where she spoke with Dr. Shefali about a habit she’s been working to overcome: yelling.

“I think one of the hardest patterns for me is yelling,” Mendes admitted. “Because I don’t yell when they need me, quote on quote, or I’ve never yelled, ‘Shut up!’ or anything.”

She clarified that her tone may not sound harsh to others, but it still matters: “In my mind, it’s not like a mean yell. But it doesn’t matter, I yell. And it’s this yelling that I find so cultural but it’s like I’m having a really hard time getting through and not yelling. The rushing and the yelling for me.”

When asked if that behavior had roots in her upbringing, Mendes pointed to her own childhood experience with her mother.

“My mother was definitely, again, so loving and so amazing but it was definitely like raising us by fear. That whole thing. That I really talk about being conscious of,” she said.

She became emotional as she continued: “And I hope I’m not going to look back in 20 years and go, ‘Oh, shoot. I did that.’ Because I really don’t want to raise by fear. That’s the one…I’m getting emotional over [this] because it’s so not fair to the kids.”

Through reflection and intentional parenting, Mendes is making a conscious effort to break generational cycles — all while soaking in the joy of summer with her family.