Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have been happily married for nearly 12 years and raising their four children together. But what’s their secret to a successful relationship? The Gossip Girl star recently opened up about an important rule they made early on in their romance.
During a conversation with her co-star Amber Tamblyn on the show Further Ado, Blake shared the relationship rule that she and Ryan have faithfully adhered to. “When Ryan and I got together, we made a rule not to work at the same time,” Blake revealed. “That way, we can always prioritize our personal life.”
This commitment hasn’t come without its challenges, as Blake explained. “It takes a lot of effort to balance our personal and professional lives,” she said. “We have to work really hard when we’re not working, just like with financial planning. Maintaining that balance is crucial.”
This rule holds particular significance for Blake, who was constantly busy with her work on Gossip Girl when they first started dating. “I was used to working nonstop, always on the go,” she shared. “Gossip Girl was such a big part of my life, and there were times when we were shooting three episodes simultaneously.”
Ryan, too, is no stranger to taking on demanding projects like the Deadpool franchise and purchasing Wrexham A.F.C with actor McElhenney. Nonetheless, the couple’s main focus has always been their four children: James, nine; Inez, seven; Betty, four; and their youngest, who turned one in February.
Family is at the heart of Blake’s priorities, as she expressed in an interview with Marie Claire in 2016. “All my attention is dedicated to my family. That’s where my heart is, that’s where everything I hold dear resides,” she said. “It’s the part of my life that I feel most protective of and the one that feels most exposed when I feel exploited.”
Parenting three girls has certainly brought some excitement to Blake and Ryan’s lives, as the A Simple Favor star humorously compared herself to the picture-perfect moms she follows on Instagram. “One mom I follow talks about her toddler giving her reflexology massages. Meanwhile, my kid is playing with things that could explode. I have no idea where she finds them! Plus, she’s already an expert at drywall because of all the holes she puts in the walls.”
Clearly, Blake and Ryan’s relationship rule of not working simultaneously has contributed to their enduring and loving partnership. By prioritizing their personal lives and embracing the joys and challenges of parenthood, they continue to build a strong foundation for their family.
