Collaborating with your ex can be difficult no matter the time of year, but the holiday season often presents a unique set of challenges.
During a December episode of her “Whine Down” radio show, Jana Kramer She admitted she was “struggling” to make plans on Christmas Eve because her two older children — daughter Julie, 8, and son Jess, 6 — are spending the holiday with her ex-husband. Mike Caussin.
“I'm actually starting to feel depressed about it. Because, you know, baking cookies before Santa comes — I can't do any of that,” Kramer said. “I can't make cookies with them, and I can't leave the letter (for Santa). The night before. I can't leave carrots to the reindeer or put out reindeer food. …This will likely be the last year that Julie will write a written letter to Santa.
Keep scrolling to see how Kramer and more stars plan the holidays while splitting up family time with their exes:
Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler
Cavallari and Cutler, who finalized their divorce in 2022, share sons Camden, 12, and Jackson, 10, and daughter Saylor, 9.
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“Any divorced parent can relate and understand this: I didn't have (my kids) over for Thanksgiving this year, so I'm having them before Christmas, Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, which is what I prefer, quite frankly.” He explained. “That would be nice, but then I wouldn't have them for a week. (On) Christmas Day at noon they go to Jay's, and then I wouldn't have them until (January 2).”
Cavallari noted that she usually spends time away from her kids by going on a trip, but this year she plans to relax at home and prepare for her upcoming podcast tour.
“I'm going to get microneedling one day and I'm going to get a facial one day. I'm going to have coffee with a friend I haven't seen in a while. I'm in this mode of resting and taking care of myself,” she said. “I'm just trying to relax.”
Tarek El Moussa and Christina Hall
HGTV stars rock the blues on their parenting vacation Spend Christmas Eve together this year. Tariq's wife, Heather Rae El Moussahe said exclusively Us Weekly About blended family plans.
“We usually have (Tariq and Christina's kids) over on Christmas Day. I had her (on) Christmas Eve, but (this year) I think we'll spend Christmas Eve together,” Heather said. “(For) one of the first times “
Tarek and Christina have daughter Taylor, 14, and son Brayden, 9, while Tarek and Heather, who tied the knot in 2021, have son Tristan, 22 months. Hall is also a mother to son Hudson, 5, whom she shares with her ex-husband Ants Anstead.
Jesse Lally and Michelle Lally
the Valley The stars are still rehearsing their vacation engagement after splitting in October 2023.
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“We're working on our schedule,” Jessie, who shares daughter Isabella, 4, with Michelle, told EXCLUSIVELY. we In December. “This particular year, unfortunately, Michelle's mother passed away right before Thanksgiving. So, I spent Thanksgiving Eve with Isabella and then dropped her off so she could spend Thanksgiving and the weekend with Michelle's family. She'll also be spending Christmas with them this year so they can Of talking about her grandmother and keeping that memory alive for her.
While Jesse recognizes that Michelle's circumstances are unique this year, he acknowledged that “it's going to be a tough Christmas” for him because he hasn't “spent Christmas without” Isabella.
Lindsay Chrisley and Will Campbell
Chrisley's 11-year-old son, Jackson, will spend Christmas with her ex-husband, Campbell, which has dampened her holiday spirit.
“I don't have a tree, and I don't put one up,” she said during an episode in December. Kailyn LowryThe “Coffee Convos” podcast. “I don't have Jackson for Christmas, so it's just something I don't do.”
the Chrisley knows better The alum admitted it was “bittersweet” not to have her son over for the holidays.
“You don't have to worry about doing all these things, but it's also sad. No matter how many years it's been like this, it's still sad. It's lonely,” she said. “And then you hope it'll be over soon.”
Lindsay added that when she gave birth to Jackson on Christmas 2023, she allowed him to go see Campbell and his paternal grandparents on Christmas Eve. Clearly, her ex-husband won't return the favor this year.
“This year, it's Will's full Christmas, and he's not going to offer me the same thing I offered him last year. Why? I don't know,” she said. “I've had to learn through therapy that I have to respect the choices he makes with his time.” . And just because I choose to do something for my child's betterment doesn't mean he has to choose the same thing.
Jana Kramer and Mike Kossin
Kramer and Kawsin's two children will be with Kawsin this Christmas Eve, as Kramer hosted them for the holiday last year. The last time Kramer was away from her children on Christmas Eve, the family simply celebrated Christmas on December 26, which caused some friction with Caussin.
Jana Kramer has been documenting her co-parenting progress with Mike Caussin since their split in April 2021. The actress announced in an Instagram post that she and the former professional football player have called it quits after six years of marriage. One week later, Kramer filed for divorce, something she said she never wanted (…)
“My ex-husband and I fought about it because (he was) like, ‘You can’t change Christmas.’ “And I’m like, ‘You can’t tell me what to do,’” she recalled during a December episode of her “Whine Down” radio show.
Kramer, who also shares son Roman, 13 months, with her husband Alan Russellshe said that even if going to Cossin's house on Christmas Eve was an option, she wouldn't want to.
“That doesn't look good to me,” she said. “Anytime I go to pick up the kids from his house, I don't like it. … I don't like being (there). … He makes himself welcome and comfortable here, and I don't go inside his house.
In addition to her discomfort, Kramer said she didn't want to infringe on the time Caussin spends with Julie and Jess.
“Those are his memories. I wouldn't invite him to do that here with us,” she admitted. “As much as I tried to make it great for everyone and invite him to parties… I don't want him here on our family nights decorating cakes.”
However, Kramer texted Cossin about going to a Christmas Eve church service with him and their children, but said he “hasn't responded” to her yet.
Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman
Joel Schiffman and Hoda Kotb.
Jeff Kravitz/Film MagicOn the December 24 episode of Today with Hoda and JennaKotb revealed that her ex-fiancé will be in her family's Christmas plans for 2024. “For us, our Christmas isn't a big deal because it's me and my kids and my mom and my sister Joel. We're getting together,” she shared. (The former couple split in January 2022 and have two daughters, Hailey , 7 years, and Hope, 5 years.)
She continued: “This is the group, and it's just a cozy Christmas. So, tonight we're going to make cookies for Santa and the carrots. He always seems to like cookies more.”
Kotb was upset by Schiffman's inclusion in her holiday celebrations Via Instagram earlier that month. In a photo of her family's Christmas stockings, one labeled “Dad” can be seen hanging above the living room fireplace on a pole.
