Reese Witherspoon Talks Divorce Then Marriage In Marie Claire (PHOTOS)

Although Tinseltown may have head cruel intentions in store for Reese Witherspoon -- a typical Hollywood ending to a typical Hollywood romance -- she's back on top and feeling lucky.

"I got lucky. I did. I got very lucky, and he's so wonderful with the children," Witherspoon told Marie Claire of her new husband, Jim Toth. "I'm very blessed."

But things weren't always so peachy for the mother of two. After eight years of marriage -- and two kids later -- Witherspoon split from her first husband, Ryan Phillippe in 2008. Although the divorce only further catapulted her into the top spot of America's reigning sweetheart, it also landed her on the receiving end of much unwanted publicity surrounding her love life, especially her relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal. Although it seems that Witherspoon is now laughing off her past heartbreak -- she recently had lunch with Taylor Swift to dish on their mutual ex, Gyllenhaal.

But Witherspoon's newfound freedom from the stress of being a single mom wasn't an overnight fix.

"I was hard on myself when I got divorced. And until I got remarried, I don't think I realized how stressed I was," she told the magazine. "I feel so much relief. I don't think I realized how stressed I was being a single parent. It was really, really stressful. It's not easy on anybody."

Read Witherspoon's full interview when Marie Claire's October issue hits stands on September 20th.

Comments

[dbrockskk]

09:42 PM on 09/08/2011

she could've had jake, some girls have all the luck

[dapalmlv]

09:13 PM on 09/08/2011

90% of the celebrities that people admire are head cases and insecure people. And guess what? Their crap stinks just like ours, they are nothing but play actors that never wanted to grow up!

[Tracey J Hasting]

09:47 AM on 09/08/2011

Being a single parent is very very stressful, scary, anxiety ridden, guilt inducing and lonely. I am honored to care for my children every day. But I have not had vacation since 2005, while seeing my ex be the visiting hero and provider of vacations to his mothers beach house. That is really hard because I want to be a happy mom that is not always tired and lonely. If the children had two parents that only sought their own pleasures my children would be uber !@#$%!!!!!. So I very much feel compelled to be as dedicated as I am. Dad will now marry the woman that has threatened my life, slept with my husband, gone to Ireland with my then mother in law and then husband, fabricated a bogus accusation that had me investigated by my state capital and written a personal letter to threaten me. My children know they deserve better than a selfish dad and really appreciate me and the sacrifices I make. That is what makes it all worth it, they are such nice people. How will I ever meet anyone being so dedicated however is the $64,000 question?

[Lawson Meadows]

02:28 AM on 09/10/2011

Tracey,

Your story is too common, and you are right about stress levels, which can be beyond the imagination of most people.

You dedication to be a fine example for your kids is not just admirable, but necessary. A parent's job is to ensure their kids find and pursue interests about which they are passionate, help them develop the tools to do that, and establish values that focus on and support the right motivations toward the right goals.

One thing upon which you can rely is that kids are keen observers and though they may get briefly excited about life’s superficial fluff, they also tend see the truth and understand when their best interests are being considered by adults, even when they exhibit a bit of a snippy attitude over it.

As the primary parent, you are placed in the discipline position as well as that of parenting responsibility: at times that sucks! But, raising kids is not a popularity contest. As long as you are sincere and truthful, they will know it. Also, (not that you do), but no “bad talk” about their dad or anyone else associated with him; kids often see that as attempts to manipulate: just show them your love, keep it civil, and set the right examples!

Finally, that lonely part… in most towns there are services you can tap, from churches to social service agencies. Having someone to talk with is a big benefit.

Wishing you the best,
Lawson Meadows

[lola85]

05:13 PM on 09/11/2011

What a wonderful, thoughtful post.

[Annie12]

09:42 PM on 09/07/2011

I bet having more money than your husband spells relief too.

[Melissa Rashid]

09:01 PM on 09/07/2011

I really like Reese Witherspoon. She's a good actress, I always enjoy her movies, and she's got good southern values. You won't see her in any scandal. Her ex maybe but she was too good for him. I'm happy for her.....I'm glad she found a good man. If young girls want to look up to Hollywood stars, she's a much better example than most.

[cmaurand]

09:09 AM on 09/08/2011

Just wish she'd lose the dark eye makeup that hide's her eyes.

[dbrockskk]

09:42 PM on 09/08/2011

"hides"

[jimall3]

07:34 PM on 09/07/2011

Reese is a beautiful woman and a talented actor. But her chin is too big.

[Jennifer Hagan]

08:32 AM on 09/08/2011

How can she fix it? She can't. So, it makes her interesting. she is interesting and not plastic.

[ttrand]

06:24 PM on 09/07/2011

I'd rather be rich and unhappy than poor and unhappy.

[Helena Williamstom]

05:27 PM on 09/07/2011

I think the stress came from an ex-spouse who was extremely jealous of her career. And the fact that it lead to their divorce. For some reason, having millions of dollars at your disposal and raising two children alone doesn't equal stress. Single parents correct me if I am wrong.

[Melissa Rashid]

08:50 PM on 09/07/2011

I think I'd do pretty well with millions of dollars. I could afford to give my children nice clothes, extracurricular activities, a housekeeper to help with the mess, a nanny to help on outings....plus I could afford to go shopping and get pedicures and massages. Doesn't sound stressful at ALL.

[homebody]

08:38 AM on 09/08/2011

Walk a mile in her shoes then you can determine the cause of the divorce. In many cases, being a single parent is a result of choice. Choice to choose the father of your child by producing with that person and for many, like me, choice to divorce instead of being patient and waiting until the kids were out of school.

[logic123]

09:23 AM on 09/08/2011

You sound miserable.

[Adrienne Williams]

03:02 PM on 09/07/2011

So being married to a man keeps the stress away? lol okay Reese...

[Annie12]

09:44 PM on 09/07/2011

LOL, not in this world.

[mewj6]

10:46 PM on 09/07/2011

Yes it does! I remember how difficult it was when I was divorced and raising children alone. Being divorced is a nightmare! Money does not equate to having a fulltime husband to share in the ups and downs of child-rearing. Thank God my pain, like Reese's, only lasted for a short duration of time. Children really do need involved parents in the home because you can't raise a child from the sidewalk!

[homebody]

08:39 AM on 09/08/2011

Children need to live with their biological parents who actually stay married.

[logic123]

02:11 PM on 09/07/2011

Why exactly is a Reese Witherspoon thread being highly m _ od _ er _ at _ ed ??

[ethiopia1a]

02:05 PM on 09/07/2011

you are NOT a single parent if the father is in the picture and helps support & raise the kids _ even if you live in two separate homes. I AM a single parent cause the father of my kids has no interest in them, never see them and pays as little as the law will allow towards their maintenance. Geesh! Poor ole Reese.

[logic123]

02:18 PM on 09/07/2011

You're right. There's a big difference.

[indywoman]

02:48 PM on 09/07/2011

You are so right!! Also, even single parent households are much much easier with millions of dollars at your disposal. Maybe she has been rich for so long she forgets how hard life is in the real world.

I wonder how Ryan feels to hear her say she was a single parent. How would she like it if he called himself a single parent?? All this aside, I like Reese alot. But, you have an excellent point...she never really was a single parent at all.

[ethiopia1a]

02:05 PM on 09/07/2011

yawn. she's so boring.

[katey2]

01:59 PM on 09/07/2011

I like this girl. Watched a Bio on her. She isn't your typical movie star. She got pregnant, married young and got divorced. That is an old story. She is also a smart business woman. We won't be seeing sex tapes, jail time, rehab or the usual star crap from this one. I'm happy for her.

[Annie12]

09:46 PM on 09/07/2011

So, you saw a Hollywood-produced bio on a Hollywood star and you think you know the truth? I've some some land about 50 miles off the coast of California I'd like to sell you. In the interest of full disclosure, water is covering my place right now, but this global warming thingee will take care of that. I can let you have it for, say, a billion dollars.

[frinkopf]

04:31 AM on 09/08/2011

oh come on--basically, what this poster meant was that Reese isn't relying on her round behind or sex tapes or hootchie-mom=ma stage antics to be famous--she actually WORKS at her profession. Most time, her clothes are on and she isn't appearing in underwear, grinding on old men on stage, or wearing inappropriate necklaces that serve to denigrate her own gender. unlike some other celebs, she has managed to remain pretty much the same color throughout her career and is not selling out her image. so far, she has not written a tell-all book about her sex life nor has she dissed anyone publicly. And that, in these times, is pretty rare.

[UserNameJane]

01:34 PM on 09/07/2011

Im sure Reese could be a very sweet and kind person, but for some reason I just have never been to fund of her. Cant say why, I just I'm just not.

[logic123]

01:40 PM on 09/07/2011

I've never gotten the fascination with her either. The only movie I've seen with her that I liked was Freeway. Then again, I don't go out of my way to watch her movies.

[FlaviaDeLuce]

01:50 PM on 09/07/2011

Same here! Freeway was quite good ( but still crazy) though,.

[UserNameJane]

01:59 PM on 09/07/2011

I'v never seen anything that she has been in, and I'm a serious movie puff. (over 1,000 movies in my collection). Maybe I will find Freeway and check it out.

[Jazmo]

01:17 PM on 09/07/2011

No offense to Reese, because single parenthood simply is not easy, but was she worried about running one kid to soccer while the other goes to ballet and no one has had dinner and oh, the dog just vomited in the back seat? I just don't really know if she has the full picture of the stresses of single parenthood.

[logic123]

01:22 PM on 09/07/2011

Some people can't bare to be alone. I think she's one of those people. I'm a looker and have no problem getting men but I'd rather not be bothered most of the time. Single motherhood (of one child) is fine with me.

[Jazmo]

01:26 PM on 09/07/2011

Plus she's allegedly a good old fashioned Southern girl (despite marrying Phillipe in her 3rd trimester, I believe) and those girls get married. Single parenthood is hard, even with one kid, but like you say, chocolate and cabernet can solve anything!

[dbrockskk]

09:45 PM on 09/08/2011

"bear" unless you mean "naked"

[Jeannines Opinion]

03:02 PM on 09/07/2011

i hear ya on this one.. what the heck "single mom, i am doubtful she doesn't know the real meaning of the word. Money does make life easier and to afford a nanny. Beside running kids to and from, she should work 4 jobs and be a full time student.. THAT and your comment IS A SINGLE MOM!!!! God bless of of us.. or single parent.. don't wanna leave the dads out raising kids alone.