Why Kate Gosselin Isn’t Spending Thanksgiving With Her 8 Kids

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Kate minus eight.

Just before Thanksgiving, Kate Gosselin shared that she doesn’t anticipate celebrating the holiday with any of her eight children this year. Her ex-husband, Jon Gosselin, will also not be with the kids.

In a recent TikTok video posted on October 22nd, Kate Gosselin mentioned asking her boyfriend, Steve, about Thanksgiving plans. She explained that some of her children already have plans and, because they’re attending college far from home, wouldn’t have enough time off to travel back for the holiday.

The reality star explained that she and Steve, her boyfriend of over a year, talked about how they could spend the holiday together as a couple.

Kate remembered asking him, “What are your Thanksgiving plans?” She thought he might suggest ordering food or buying a pre-made meal, since she doesn’t cook.

Okay, so it looks like there’s a bit of a disconnect between Steve and his girlfriend right now. From what I’m seeing, it seems like he’s playfully teasing her – maybe even a little too playfully – while she’s recovering from leg surgery. It’s a tricky situation because timing is everything, and you really want to be supportive when someone is healing!

She went on to say that he’d responded with, ‘I don’t know, I was thinking maybe we could go dancing.’ She found it incredibly rude, noting that he was over there smiling and seemed pleased with himself.

Although Kate appeared okay with not being with her children for Thanksgiving, she had previously explained how she dealt with the emotional challenge of her twin daughters, Mady and Cara, moving away to college in 2019.

Honestly, after they moved out, I completely fell apart. For the first three months, I acted like they were just upstairs, still here. It was a really unhealthy way of coping, because I just couldn’t face the reality that they were truly gone and I wouldn’t see them again until the holidays. I know it sounds strange, but it was how I dealt with the initial heartbreak.

Kate, who shares 21-year-old sextuplets – Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joel – with Jon, mentioned that sending her younger children to school was easier because they attend classes nearby. Kate and Collin have a strained relationship following his accusations of abuse; in September 2024, her lawyer, Richard Puelo, responded to these claims, stating that the facts speak for themselves.

She explained that it was somewhat easier knowing they could return home on weekends. It didn’t feel like a permanent goodbye, and she’d already experienced having children leave the nest, so she was somewhat prepared.

For a look at Jon and Kate’s eight kids through the years, keep reading.

On May 10, 2025, Hannah, Collin, Alexis, Aaden, Leah, and Joel – a set of sextuplets – turned 21. Their mother, Kate, shared photos from the birthday celebration of Aaden, Leah, Joel, and Alexis.

Hannah celebrated her birthday with her dad and his fiancée Stephanie Lebo.

For Mother’s Day 2024, Kate posted a heartfelt message honoring four of her sextuplets – Alexis, Aaden, Joel, and Leah – just two days after they celebrated their 20th birthdays.

Can you believe it? My babies just turned twenty! It feels surreal watching them grow up, and honestly, it makes me feel a little older too! I shared a little birthday message on Instagram celebrating this huge milestone. Twenty years – where does the time go? It’s a bittersweet moment, but mostly just full of love. And yes, I’m fully embracing the ‘It’s a Pickle!’ vibe – because that’s exactly how it feels!

Hannah shared new pics of herself on her and the other sextuplet’s 20th birthday.

On to the next chapter! The sextuplet graduated from high school in 2023.

Jon posted a photo of his children, Collin and Hannah—two of his sextuplets—graduating high school in 2023. They had been living with him for several years prior to the graduation.

Kate appeared with twin Mady and Cara in New York City in this 2019 pic.

Jon wished his child a happy 18th birthday on Instagram in 2022, adding a heartfelt message: ‘Today is your birthday and we’re going to celebrate! I love you. Love, Dad.’

Wow, our big 15th birthday celebration is finally coming to an end! It was a full day, starting with a surprise gift at 6:30 in the morning before school even started! I can’t believe my ‘babies’ are 15 already – it feels like just yesterday they were little! Every day I’m amazed by them, and I’m so incredibly proud of the wonderful people they’re becoming as they grow up. It’s been amazing to watch them develop such positive qualities.

In a 2018 Instagram post, Kate expressed how quickly time flies, saying, “This was yesterday! Feels like school never ended…and they’re already back!” She included the hashtags #SeniorYear, #EighthGrade, and #ProudMom.

 

Jon Gosselin wished Hannah, Collin, Alexis, Aaden, Joel, and Leah a happy 15th birthday on Instagram, sharing a photo with Hannah and Collin. He expressed his love for them and wished them a wonderful birthday and celebrations throughout the day and weekend, signing the message as ‘Dad’.

Kate shared a funny story about her daughters constantly counting down to their 14th birthdays. She posted that they recently reminded her it was only 12 days away! Kate joked that she told one daughter she was too young to be turning 14, and the daughter playfully questioned if she might actually be turning 11 or 12 instead. Despite their growing up, Kate lovingly insists they’ll always be her ‘babies’ and expressed how much she loves them.

Kate Gosselin expressed her surprise and joy on Instagram, celebrating a significant birthday for her sextuplets, saying she couldn’t believe they were already 13 years old.

Rewind to 2014 whenKate and her children found themselves visiting Alaska. 

In 2014, Kate took her twin daughters, Cara and Mady Gosselin, on a trip to New York City, including a visit to a Manhattan hotel.

Kate Gosselin shared a cherished Christmas memory on Instagram, posting a throwback photo from Christmas Eve 2010 when her six children were all six years old. She described them as incredibly excited and highlighted their sweet smiles, adding hashtags expressing her love for them: ‘#TheyAreMyHeart’, ‘#My8ReasonsToKeepOnKeepingOn’, ‘#NoMatterWhat’, and ‘#TrueLoveX8’.

 

In October 2007, Jon and Kate Gosselin brought their eight children to New York City. Their first activity was an appearance on NBC’s Today show.

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2025-10-23 20:21