Why Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling Moved Their Kids Out of L.A. (Exclusive)

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling are prioritizing their family.

The famous couple, who share daughters Esmeralda Amada, 9, and Amada Lee, 7, moved out of Los Angeles to give their kids a quieter childhood, a source tells PEOPLE.

"For them, the most important job is their girls. Everything else comes second," the insider shares. "And their girls are thriving. They left L.A. to live a bit further north, away from Hollywood. They didn't want the girls to grow up around other celebrity kids."

"Eva and Ryan love their life. It's admirable how they've been able to create balance and boundaries. They care so much about their marriage and just want their girls to live a happy life."

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In August, a source told PEOPLE that Gosling and Mendes are "hands-on parents and have little help," sharing that they "very much enjoy family time" with their daughters.

"When they are not working, they are all about their girls," the source continued. "Ryan is such a fun dad. He is goofy and his girls love it."

"He takes them out by himself for various activities. As a family, they enjoy visiting the desert and the beach. They are a very active family. Eva and Ryan seem happy. They tend to be flirty and hold hands. It's cute."

At the end of February, the actress shared a series of photos on her Instagram as she attended her first fashion week since becoming a mom.

In her caption, the star reflected on the momentous occasion. "Mami's first fashion week in over 10 years!" Mendes wrote, sharing pictures of her outfit from Milan. "Yup, I haven’t gone to a fashion event since I’ve been a Mama. Time flies when you’re mommying. Thanks for getting me out of the house @dolcegabbana !"

After Gosling performed "I'm Just Ken" at the 2024 Oscars on Sunday, Mendes posted an Instagram for her partner, jokingly asking him to come home so they could "put the kids to bed."

Sharing a photo of herself in a pink blazer and a black cowboy hat, Mendes captioned the picture, “You took Ken all the way to the Oscar’s, RG. Now come home, we need to put the kids to bed. 💋”