Kody Brown's fractured relationship with his adult children is now putting the Sister Wives
star's wedding to Robyn Brown. The former polygamist had eighteen children between his four wives, Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown and Robyn. Kody was a caring father during the show's early seasons, but he was in short supply. Kody split his time between his wives' four homes, meaning he only saw his kids a fraction of the time. Kody's bonds with his children began to weaken as they grew older.
During the COVID pandemic, Kody blamed his adult children for keeping the family apart while they continued to attend work and social gatherings. Meanwhile, Kody's marriages to Meri, Janelle and Christine disintegrated, and his children sided with their mothers. Instead of owning up to his mistakes, Kody cut off communication with those he felt wronged him. In Sister Wives In season 19, Kody's estrangement from his children emerged as a source of tension in his marriage to Robyn. The two ended up in a heated debate, in which Robyn expressed her disgust at Kody's actions.
Kody and Robyn spent their first Thanksgiving without their plural family
The holiday was right after the family split
Sister Wives Season 19 captured the immediate aftermath of Kody's divorces from Meri, Janelle and Christine, including the first holiday season following the breakups. Thanksgiving was a particularly painful time for Kody and Robyn. While Christine and Janelle were thrilled to spend the holiday with their children, Kody and Robyn's day was spent mourning what they had lost.
The Browns often held large Thanksgiving celebrations with more than 50 people. Their gatherings diminished as the children grew older and the family divided, but they still maintained their plural family culture. Despite Meri's strained marriage to Kody, she joined him and Robyn for the family's Thanksgiving dinner in 2021. They made the best of the situation and the kids were happy to see Meri.
During season 19, which took place in 2022, Robyn and Kody spent their first Thanksgiving alone with their five children. Meri had just ended her marriage to Kody and thought it would be “weird”To join them for Thanksgiving. This forced them to face the reality of the current situation. Polygamy was Kody's entire identity, and he admits he failed in his mission. Robyn, who still had hope that the family could be reunited, was devastated to spend Thanksgiving without any of her family. The dark holiday left them both in a vulnerable state.
Robyn's past experiences make her bond with Kody's kids
She understands the pain of abandonment
In Sister Wives season 19, episode 4, Kody's estrangement from his children was revealed to be a source of dispute in his marriage to Robyn. Robyn put “pressure” requested Kody to reach out to his children, which led to an explosive argument. She admitted that she was “losing respect”To Kody because of his insensitive behavior and was“so worried about these kids. Robyn understood the pain Kody's children were feeling and desperately tried to help him see their point of view.
Robyn asked Kody to at least continue to reach out to her children despite the cold reception.
Robyn demonstrated an unusual level of empathy as she sided with Kody's kids. She had experienced similar abandonment from her father following her parents' divorce. Robyn's father disappeared from her life and it left a lasting impact on her. She feared that Kody was heading down a similar path and resented him for it. Robyn asked Kody to at least continue to reach out to her children despite the cold reception. Unlike Kody, she knows that even though they are now young adults, they are still his children and they need their father.
Kody called his kids a “trigger point”
He repeatedly avoids taking responsibility for the estrangement
Kody's estrangement from his children sparked harsh criticism from both of them. Sister Wives spectators and their wives. Kody often cites his divorces as the beginning of the estrangement, but his lackluster parenting began years earlier. As Kody's children became adults, he stopped making an effort with those who moved away. He spent pandemic social distancing with Robyn and went months without seeing or even speaking to his other wives' children. It was this attitude that caused Christine and Janelle to lose interest in Kody, proving that the distance began before the divorces.
Kody is extremely sensitive to discussions about his children and calls them “trigger point.” He perceives their pain as a rejection of him, which is damaging to his fragile ego. Now, Kody is furious that the alleged rejection puts his marriage to Robyn in conflict. Kody speaks dismissively of his children, calling them “these people who created the biggest rift in my life.” He is stuck with the way his children have treated him, while at the same time refusing to dig deeper and consider the source of his pain.
He admitted that his children claimed he was never there for them, and his defense is that he had four wives to divide his time with. Unfortunately, Kody still doesn't get it.
Kody regrets that his children blame him for their separation. He admitted that his children claimed he was never there for them, and his defense is that he had four wives to divide his time with. Unfortunately, Kody still doesn't get it. He chose to live in polygamy, which benefited him, but he left his children fatherless most of the time. Kody's choice has dramatically impacted his children's lives, but he resents them for being hurt by it. Kody's refusal to accept any blame leaves his family paralyzed.
Can Robyn persuade Kody to change?
Kody will have to swallow his pride for the sake of his marriage
Robyn took much of the blame for the family's breakup due to her strong influence on Kody. She is known for manipulating Kody into giving her special treatment, which is part of what tore the plural family apart. However, in this case, Robyn's controlling tendencies could be beneficial.
If Kody truly values his marriage to Robyn, he will try harder to make amends with his children. They are hurt by their father's abandonment. Regardless of his motivation, Kody reaching out is the only way to save his relationships. Robyn may have her flaws, but she should be commended for forcing Kody to face the consequences of his bad parenting.
UnfortunatelyKody has historically been unwilling to make sacrifices for his wives. When faced with a similar dilemma with Janelle, Kody refused to reconcile with his sons Hunter Brown, Garrison Brown, and Gabriel Brown even though it would end the marriage. He admitted he has been sabotaging his marriage to Robyn after losing everything in his life. Kody's stubborn personality was evident throughout Sister Wivesand he may be willing to risk everything for the sake of his own pride.