Emma Roberts Shares Photos With Rarely Seen Son Rhodes, 5, Igniting a Stir

A soft family moment, posted without much explanation, quickly turned into a conversation starter when the "We're the Millers" actress offered followers a rare glimpse into a personal celebration she usually keeps out of the spotlight.

The understated carousel invited fans to linger, drawing attention not through spectacle but through intimacy.

On January 16, 2026, Emma Roberts shared an Instagram carousel documenting a belated birthday trip for her son, Rhodes Roberts Hedlund, whom she shares with her ex, Garrett Hedlund.

Inside the Carousel

In the caption, she wrote, "so nice we had to go twice! the best belated birthday trip for Rhodes #5 🎂 ♥️ thank you @universalorlando #universalorlandoresort #epicuniverse 🧟‍♀️🦖⭐️🌏🍦," signaling a joyful return visit to Universal Orlando Resort rather than a traditional party.

A moment shows Emma smiling warmly in white oval sunglasses and a white short-sleeve top as she sits beside Rhodes on a brightly colored amusement park ride, the two leaning close together on a curved pink seat, while other riders and vibrant park structures blur in the background.

In another moment, the scene widens to reveal a whimsical, video-game–inspired attraction filled with oversized mushrooms, layered platforms, colorful blocks, and castle-like structures, as Emma and Rhodes walk hand in hand down a staircase toward the immersive space below.

Moments That Say More Than Words

A more intimate family frame captures Garrett crouching as he holds Rhodes between himself and Emma, who leans in to kiss the child's cheek, with a sign reading "Hot Set: Production in Progress" standing just behind them in what appears to be an outdoor studio or theme park courtyard.

Another image centers entirely on Rhodes, perched atop a pink carousel animal as he grips a twisted pole and gazes off to the side, surrounded by other brightly colored figures that heighten the playful atmosphere.

The final photo shows Garrett gently guiding Rhodes toward two costumed characters dressed in red during a meet-and-greet. In contrast, another recognizable character in a striped hat stands between them, arms open in welcome as the child becomes the focus of the interaction.

Fans Zero In on One Detail

As the images circulated, fans zeroed in on Rhodes' appearance, filling the comments section with affectionate observations written in full, expressive bursts. One commenter remarked, "hes literally your twin [sic] 😭."

Another wrote, "Same eyes as mommy😍😍." A third added, "Oh my goodness, he got your eyes. So cute." One fan declared, "Wow he has your exact face ❤️."

Another blended both parents into the praise, saying, "How does he look exactly like you but also exactly like @garretthedlund 😍 Genetics are wild."

Motherhood at the Center

Although Emma is sparing with glimpses of her son, she has been candid about how deeply motherhood shapes her life. In an interview with Tatler, she said that despite her career achievements, her focus remains firmly on raising Rhodes with kindness, intelligence, and respect. She said:

"I definitely think about how I can help him be the utmost gentleman. I want him to be respectful and intelligent at school but also in life. What it means to be a man is being rewritten right now and I hope my contribution to the world can be raising an amazing boy who turns into an amazing man. I want him to feel that there's nothing he couldn't ask or tell me."

Emma also spoke openly about her long-standing desire to become a mother, her diagnosis of endometriosis, and the period of uncertainty that followed:

"I wasn't upset but I just felt the heaviness of the moment. I sat with myself and thought,' Luckily, I know older women who are great role models of the fact that you don't need children to be happy. I either would or would not be a parent. Whichever one it was, I wanted to be in radical acceptance of it."

She froze her eggs, but ultimately conceived naturally.

A Modern Family Dynamic

Emma and Garrett, who began dating in 2019, welcomed Rhodes in December 2020 before later ending their relationship. In a 2022 report, multiple sources told People that the former couple broke things off, following a rocky few months in their relationship.

"It's sad, and they are trying their best to co-parent. It's been hard," an insider added.

In the end, the post resonates not because of where the trip took place or who appeared in the frame, but because of what it revealed without overexplaining. The carousel captured a mother savoring time, a child fully immersed in joy, and parents navigating a shared commitment with care and intention.

In offering a glimpse that felt unfiltered and unforced, Emma Roberts reminded followers why moments like these linger longer than headlines, quietly turning a simple birthday getaway into something far more memorable.