Ryan Gosling Says Time with Daughters, 9 and 7, Is 'Going Super Fast': I Hear the Clock Ticking'

The 'Barbie' actor shares his two kids with partner Eva Mendes

<p>Steve Granitz/FilmMagic</p> Ryan Gosling at the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Ryan Gosling at the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Ryan Gosling knows he wants to prioritize spending time with his family.

In an interview with Variety, the Barbie actor, 43, opened up about the four years he took off of acting, in which he decided to focus on fatherhood. The star is dad to daughter Esmeralda Amada, 9, and Amada Lee, 7, whom he shares with partner Eva Mendes.

"Just to be with my family. I didn't want to miss anything," Gosling said of his break. "My priorities changed, and I wanted to be with my kids."

"It's going super fast. I hear the clock ticking. I don't know how much time I'm going to get and I don't want to spend it in the wrong place. I know I'm not spending it in the wrong place if I'm with family."

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<p> Sonia Recchia/Getty </p> Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes

Sonia Recchia/Getty

Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes

Related: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes Are 'All About Their Girls' and 'Enjoy Family Time': Source (Exclusive)

In August, a source told PEOPLE that the pair "very much enjoy family time" with their daughters, adding that they're "hands-on parents and have little help."

"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."

<p>Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage</p> Ryan Gosling at the 'Barbie' premiere

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

Ryan Gosling at the 'Barbie' premiere

Earlier that month, Mendes, 49, revealed on Instagram that her household has specific rules when it comes to social media. On a video of herself shaking her head and fingers in disapproval, she captioned the post "When my kids ask me if they’re old enough to go on the internet, social media or anything requiring wifi 😂."

After sharing the post, Mendes took time to respond to social media users who weighed in on her parenting style. "I'm just sharing what I feel now, but I know it's gonna get harder as they get older,” the mother of two wrote regarding the topic.

"We are in the internet century so eventually everyone will need or want to access the internet sorry,” a commenter claimed, prompting Mendes to add, "Yes true, but in my house, children do not have access to the internet. It's too dangerous. Just like drinking or voting or getting a driver's license (etc..) isn't allowed for children, the internet falls under that category for me. Especially social media."

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