Celebrity Parents Why Blake Lively Says It's 'Very Important' for Her 3 Daughters to See Her as a Working Mom "Being a mother is completely all-encompassing ... but just having your [own] identity is, I think, very important," Blake Lively tells PEOPLE By Nicholas Rice Nicholas Rice Instagram Twitter Nicholas Rice is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE Magazine. He began working with the brand as an Editorial Intern in early 2020, before later transitioning to a freelance role, and then staff positions soon after. Nicholas writes and edits anywhere between 7 to 9 stories per day on average for PEOPLE, spanning across each vertical the brand covers. Nicholas has previous work experience with Billboard, POPSUGAR, Bustle and Elite Daily. When not working, Nicholas can be found playing with his 5 dogs, listening to pop music or eating mozzarella sticks. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 11, 2021 10:33 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Gotham/GC Images Though Blake Lively knows the importance of being a parent firsthand, she wants her three daughters to understand that they can have another identity outside of motherhood as well when the time comes. While chatting with PEOPLE about her recently launched non-alcoholic mixer line Betty Buzz and its new partnership with British Airways, the 34-year-old actress explained that she wants to inspire her daughters — James, 6, Inez, 5, and Betty, 2, whom she shares with husband Ryan Reynolds — to be whatever they want to be when they are older. And having her three little ones see her wear multiple hats is "very important," Lively says. "I want to be as present of a mother as humanly possible and I want them to feel my presence, but I also think the best way to be the best mother is to show them that you can have a life and have a passion and have an identity outside of just being a mother," the star shares. "I mean, being a mother is completely all-encompassing, and that doesn't mean there are a lot of mothers who don't have the opportunity to work as well, but just having your [own] identity is, I think, very important," she continues. "And teaching them that they can maintain themselves and that everything is possible [is crucial]." "So it is very important for them to see me working. I bring them along, though. I mean, it's amazing they're not hidden under my skirt right now," Lively adds with a laugh. "I bring them everywhere. It's so inappropriate, but I'm very lucky to be at a job that allows me to do that." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. Steven Ferdman/Getty Images Ryan Reynolds Was 'Quietly Terrified' About Possibly Raising a Son: 'We Love Having Our Girls' Lively and Reynolds, 45, have been together since 2010 when they met and starred together in Green Lantern. They wed in 2012 after a year of dating and later welcomed their three girls in 2014, 2016 and 2019. Earlier this month, Reynolds announced that he is taking a step back after a successful year to spend more time with Lively and their kids. The actor — who starred in and produced the summer blockbuster Free Guy, and whose latest film, Red Notice, recently hit Netflix — explained to The Hollywood Reporter why he is planning a "sabbatical" from filmmaking. "I'm just trying to create a little bit more space for my family and time with them," Reynolds told THR at the WSJ. Magazine 2021 Innovator Awards. "You know, you don't really get that time back." Lively's Betty Buzz drink line is currently available online and at select retailers across the country.