The hosts of HGTV's Fixer Upper have a devoted fan base, and Chip and Joanna Gaines show their love for them by sharing parts of their home life with the world on social media. The Gaines have four children: Emmie, 6, Duke, 8, Ella, 9, and Drake, 11. The kids sometimes pop in on the show as unintentional guests, but other than that they remain largely out of the spotlight. However, Chip and Joanna Gaines' quotes about parenting in their various interviews demonstrate just how tight the family is.
Although they already have four children, last year Joanna expressed an interest in having another child. She told The Today Show, "I'm trying to talk [Chip] into another child. But he's not interested." Don't worry, everyone was smiling as Chip chanted, "Num-ber FIVE!" as his wife spoke.
Because of that interview, rumors quickly spread that they were pregnant or that there was marital discord. So Joanna wrote a blog post to clear things up, encouraging fans to simply stick to the Gaines' social media accounts for updates on the fam. She wrote:
So many things are happening right now and it feels like we are moving at the speed of light. At times, it’s even hard to keep our own parents in the loop. It’s true. At this point in our career we can honestly say, we’ve heard it all —from reports of us moving our family to Vegas to us having more or less children than we actually have. So remember, you can’t believe everything you read.
Take it from Joanna — or rather, from her own words and those of her husband: These two may be wrestling with the rumor mill on a regular basis, but they definitely have a lot to say about their kids themselves.
On How To Balance Work & Kids
In a blog post back in April, Joanna wrote of her children,
I explain that I have to work just like they have to go to school. I also let them know what I'm doing at work that day — whether it's filming the show or going into the office — and what time I'll be home. Taking a few seconds to let them in on this other huge part of my life has really helped them understand that Mom and Dad have a big job to do.
The Early Years Are Tough
In a Mother's Day blog post this year, Joanna wrote of her days as a stay at home mom,
It was important I kept myself creatively fed during those years, so I never let myself be filled with feelings of discontent," she writes. "I hope if you're in this season now you'll take the time to allow yourself a few minutes a day to do what you love, too. I found it was the thing that kept me balanced and energized.
Hard Work Pays Off
In a post for Motherly this year, Joanna wrote,
Motherhood can be difficult. It’s not an instant gratification thing all the time. When your kiddos are just babies and you’re changing diapers or listening to whining constantly, it can feel overwhelming. But I want to encourage you, because one day you’ll be sitting around a table for your birthday breakfast and you’ll realize that their little hearts are thankful for you. And they do notice things like mom’s homemade meals.
They Try To Keep Things Normal
Joanna told People last year, of the couple's efforts to keep their kids grounded, despite their fame,
[Our kids are] so young and we want to give them the chance to have a normal childhood. ... They don’t really understand that we have a show.
It's Not All About The Kids
The Gaines make sure they have a weekly date night, even with their busy schedules.
“We really enjoy the problem solving, but there comes a point when we need to focus on us," Joanna told Billy Graham on his radio show. "We have the weekly date nights where we try our hardest not to talk business."
Clearly, the Gaines' parenting quotes show that they really seem to have their work-family balance figured out. Things aren't perfect, but they're taking everything in stride — and that's what really counts.
