Frankie Muniz shared a lighthearted family update on Instagram Saturday, one day after opening up about reaching what he described as “rock bottom.”
In two playful photos taken in Scottsdale, Arizona, the “Malcolm in the Middle” star sat in the front of a car with his estranged wife, Paige Price, while their 5-year-old son, Mauz, smiled from the back seat.
“Post soccer shenanigans with the fam,” the 40-year-old actor captioned the Saturday post.
Muniz also celebrated his son’s achievement, writing, “Our little dude got a medal for excellence in sportsmanship!”
The upbeat family moment came shortly after Muniz posted a far more somber reflection about what he called a “nightmare” period in his life.
“The last 6 weeks of my life have been a nightmare I’m praying to wake up from,” he wrote Friday, alongside a contemplative image of himself sitting on a couch.
He said the past several weeks had felt “heavy” and confusing, adding that it seemed as though “everything” was unraveling at once. “I wouldn’t wish this season on anyone,” Muniz wrote.
The former child star said the difficult stretch had given him an opportunity to spend time alone, look inward and recognize the parts of his life that needed attention as he worked toward becoming “a better version” of himself.
Muniz recalled reading that reaching “rock bottom” can sometimes serve as a wake-up call. He said such a moment can push people to make long-overdue changes and pursue a better life.
He also expressed hope that, five years from now, he would look back on the experience with gratitude, believing the future highs he reaches will be possible because of what he endured.
Looking ahead, Muniz said he was ready to take on the “uncomfortable, unglamorous, necessary work” of personal growth and view the current chapter as a starting point rather than an ending.
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“If you’re in a low place right now too, you’re not broken,” he wrote. “You’re being rebuilt. Let’s keep going!”
Although Muniz ended the message on a hopeful note, the post prompted concern from some followers. One commenter urged the actor, who also competes as a race car driver, to “ask for, and accept help.”
Price, 33, later shared a seemingly cryptic message of her own on Instagram: “Life is all about perspective. If you ask the grass, the zebra is the monster and the lion is the protector.”
Her post featured a soothing video of her making a wax seal.
Before posting the family photos, Muniz had shared an unexpected Saturday morning video focused on tire safety.
The couple’s relationship has drawn attention in recent months. In July, Muniz posted and then deleted a playful social media announcement about their divorce, writing, “Following a period of separation that we kept private, Paige and I have decided to move forward with ending our marriage.”
The announcement included footage of the family of three dancing together and emphasized that Muniz and Price planned to co-parent while maintaining “a deep friendship.” However, some social media users criticized the cheerful tone of the post.
Price defended Muniz in the comments, writing, “Frankie, I am so sorry that you felt the need to delete an old funny video of our family because people are so cruel to you. This world is so f–ked.”
Muniz and Price eloped in October 2019 before holding a wedding ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona, in February 2020.