Reese Witherspoon – who has 17-year-old Ava and 13-year-old Deacon with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, as well as a four-year-old with Jim Toth – wants them to grow up with a passion for hard work and success. The star now hopes to continue being a role model by way of example.

She told InStyle magazine: “My mom worked, and I think it’s good for kids to see women working and being successful. I think it’s going to make them hard workers because they see that I don’t get much sleep.

I’m just trying to hold on, trying to make it through. My older kids help with the little one. It’s nice to have a big family … I want them to grow up with passion. This is the one life you get, and you have to live it to the very end.”

She also feels like a more confident person with age, insisting that life is too short to waste.

“I’ve realised that life is too short to spend my time with anybody who doesn’t appreciate me, treat me with respect or bring value to the relationship. I’m much more confident now, and I feel like I have the ability to say, ‘Nope, I don’t want to work with that person.'”

Reese had previously revealed she’s trying to continuously do a great job with her children. And although she’s had to make some sacrifices, her children always remind her that they’re proud of her accomplishments.

“No one’s really doing it perfectly. I think you love your kids with your whole heart, and you do the best you possibly can …

There are some sacrifices you make, and it hurts your heart sometimes, but my kids tell me they’re proud of what I’ve accomplished, and that just means everything. I grew up with a working mom, and I have so much respect for the things she did as a nurse and a teacher. I would never begrudge her that.”