When it comes to putting family first, Chip and Joanna Gaines are setting an example that resonates with parents everywhere. Take Chip, for instance. He recently confessed, “I’m not going to lie. I absolutely hate golf.” During a round of golf with his sons, Drake, 13, and Duke, 9, Chip humorously referred to golf as "my nemesis sport — the anti-baseball.” But here's the kicker: despite not enjoying the game, Chip was all smiles because he was spending quality time with his boys. "But you know what I don’t hate? Time well spent with these beautiful boys," Chip gleefully admitted.
Family Comes First for the Gaines
At the heart of everything Chip and Joanna Gaines do is their family. For this dynamic duo, being good parents is their top priority. “Being good parents is Chip and Joanna’s first priority,” an insider exclusively revealed to Closer Weekly. Recently, Chip and Joanna faced some criticism when a USA Today opinion piece questioned the time their busy work schedules allowed them to spend with their children—Drake and Duke, along with daughters Ella, 11, and Emmie Kay, 8. Chip was furious. “Chip hit the roof. He spent hours ranting to Joanna about it,” the insider shared. Chip quickly fired back, not letting the outrageous claim stand unchallenged.
View this post on InstagramWe take #Demoday seriously in this family. I love my crew! #FixerUpper Photo: @matsumoto818
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Chip’s response was clear and resolute: “For the record: If there’s ever a need with my family, I’ll shut this circus down so fast it will make your head spin.” Chip and Joanna, who are expecting their fifth child this summer, believe deeply that with God’s help, anything is possible. “But Jo and I believe that with God, anything is possible, including having an amazing family and a career you love,” Chip firmly stated. Joanna was proud of her husband for standing up for their family values, and she fully supports his stance. “They always put their family first,” the insider emphasized, “and they both would move heaven and earth for their kids.”
The Journey to Success
The Gaines family's journey to fame wasn’t easy. Chip and Joanna, who tied the knot in 2003, worked tirelessly on their business ventures before Fixer Upper premiered in 2013. “They were completely broke before the show and they learned the value of hard work at a young age,” the insider shared. Their determination to succeed stemmed from a desire to provide financial security for their children. Yet, even as their careers took off, they never neglected their parental responsibilities. “Joanna’s driven to be successful in life, but she’s also a mom who loves her kids deeply. She balances everything really well,” Clint Harp, a close family friend and co-owner of Harp Design Co., told Closer.
View this post on InstagramWe can’t believe tonight’s the series finale of #FixerUpper. What a ride it’s been! I’ll be sharing some blasts from the past today leading up to the final episode at 9/8c on HGTV. We’re excited for what’s to come – check out Jo’s blog for an update from us. (Link in profile)
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Joanna admitted that being a working mom isn’t always easy. “As a working mom, it’s the hardest when my kids grab onto me as I’m walking out the door and say, ‘Mommy, please stay home!’ ” she said. To help her children understand, Joanna explains that spending time with them is her favorite thing in the world. “I explain that I have to work, just like they have to go to school. 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,” she added.
Family-Centric Decisions
Chip and Joanna ensured their kids were always close by during the filming of Fixer Upper. “They involved their brood in the filming of Fixer Upper so that they could spend time with them on camera and off,” the insider shared. The couple also made a pact with their children—and each other—that they would never travel more than 30 minutes outside of the Waco area for their renovation projects. “We insisted we would never travel more than 30 minutes outside of the Waco area for our renovation projects,” Joanna noted. Chip added, “It’s not worth it to take on some big deal and leave the kids for weeks.”
As the show’s popularity soared and it became HGTV’s highest-rated series, Chip and Joanna expanded their Magnolia brand into various ventures. Their success paid off, with each having a reported net worth of $8 million. However, the demands on their time began to concern them. “Suddenly, filming the TV show looked like ‘the job’ that had seduced me into giving it my precious time that I had always promised would be reserved for my true loves, my family and my business,” Chip said. In a bold move, Chip and Joanna announced in September that they’d be stepping away from their show at the end of its fifth season in April.
“It was really easy for us to feel like we could do it all when the show and the business were in the early stages,” Chip reflected, “but the bigger things got—and they got big fast—the less energy we had to devote to everything. And I had this sense that if I kept my foot on the gas, we might be headed for disaster.”
Pulling the plug on their show was a crucial decision for their family, especially with another big surprise announced in January: the pending birth of their fifth child. “We’re both so excited,” Joanna beamed, “It was a total surprise. But when we found out, it solidified that it was the right decision to leave [the show] when we did.”
View this post on InstagramKicking off the official launch of my cookbook, Magnolia Table, on the @todayshow this morning! We’ll be on during the 8 a.m. hour (in your local time zone). #MagnoliaTableCookbook
By stepping back a little, “Chip and Joanna are able to spend more time working from home, which makes it easier for them to balance family life and their businesses,” the insider shared. The new arrival—a boy!—has already brought the couple together for some exciting new projects at home.
Chip and Joanna are using their design expertise to create their baby’s room. “It’s been eight years since they last did a nursery, and they’re enjoying every moment of getting it ready,” the insider revealed. All the kids are pitching in by making crafts for the baby. “Joanna spends hours painting and building things with them. And Duke and Emmie are always asking to feel their mommy’s tummy when the baby kicks,” the insider added.
Expectations of sibling rivalry are low. “Chip and Joanna’s kids are so well-behaved and grounded. They’re all rooted in their religious upbringing, and they’ve been brought up to share things and respect and be kind to each other,” the insider noted.
