Chip & Joanna Gaines Joke About Realities of Raising Teens: ‘They Aren’t Notorious for Compliments’ (Exclusive)

Even Chip and Joanna Gaines aren’t immune to a little teenage angst.

The founders of the Magnolia Network opened up in this week’s cover story about the realities of raising four teenagers (and a preschooler), what their kids think of their parents’ success, and their hopes for the future.

“What we’ve realized about our kids is that they want to feel as normal as possible. So they never talk about it. I think they like the idea of ​​going under the radar, feeling normal,” says Joanna. The couple share Drake (18), Ella (17), Duke (15), Emmie (13) and Crew (5).

“We understand that. But maybe they’ll be proud of this one day,” she adds, referring to the lifestyle empire she and Chip have built over the past 20 years, which started as a small home improvement store in downtown Waco, Texas, and grew to the hit HGTV show, product lines, books, and from 2022, its own TV network.

Joanna Gaines Jokes ‘I’ve Been A Little Dumb All Those Years’ To Chip As She Embraces Her Adventurous Phase

Joanna Gaines/Instagram

On rare occasions, their teenagers betray their admiration for their parents’ projects, The upper part of the fixator the stars can’t help but enjoy it.

Just before the opening of their latest project, the 33-room boutique Hotel 1928 on November 1st, Joanna gave Ella and Emmie a sneak peek. “They kept saying, ‘I can’t believe there’s something like this in Waco. We feel like we’re in New York,’ That was the biggest compliment,” she says. “I thought, ‘Ah, they’re finally impressed.’ It felt like a big win.”

Chip and Joanna Gaines on ‘Beautiful Moment’ of Change After 20 Years: ‘Part Two of Our Marriage’ (Exclusive)

Joanna Gaines/Instagram

“Teenagers aren’t known for compliments,” adds Chip. “I’m sure we’re not the only parents who come home and are like. I wonder if these teenagers like us, much less the work we do.”

“They’re working on their own stuff,” says Joanna.

A timeline of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ relationship

Chip Gaines/Instagram

Although they would like some of their offspring to one day join the family business, priority no. 1 is to let your children discover their own paths.

“Obviously at some point it would be so much fun to have one or two of our kids work with us, but that’s definitely not what we say out loud to them,” says Joanna. “Chip is very good at saying, ‘You need your own identity. When you get out of college, go do some things on your own. Learn some things. And then, if you want to come back years later and teach us, we’re here.’

Kimberly Salmon

Joanna Gaines uses magnolias to transform her farm into a winter wonderland in the run-up to Christmas

Find out more about Chip and Joanna Gaines in this week’s issue peopleon newsstands on Friday.

Fixer Upper : Hotel is now airing on Max and the Magnolia Network.

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Source: HIS Education