Custom image by Cesar García Kody Brown’s fractured relationship with his adult children is now jeopardizing the Sister Wives star’s marriage to Robyn Brown. The former polygamist famously had eighteen children between his four wives, Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, and Robyn. Kody was an attentive father during the show’s early seasons, but he was spread thin. Kody divided his time between his wives’ four homes, meaning he only saw his children for 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 as 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. Rather than owning up to his mistakes, Kody cut off communication with those he felt had wronged him. In Sister Wives 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 voiced her disgust with Kody’s actions.
Kody And Robyn Spent Their First Thanksgiving Without Their Plural Family
The Holiday Was Soon After The Family’s Breakup
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 proved to be 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 used to have large Thanksgiving celebrations with upwards of 50 people. Their gatherings grew smaller as the children grew up, and the family splintered, but they still maintained their plural family culture. Despite Meri’s strained marriage to Kody, she joined him and Robyn for their family’s Thanksgiving dinner in 2021. They made the best of the situation, and the children 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 their current situation. Polygamy had been Kody’s entire identity, and he admits he failed in his mission. Robyn, who was still clinging to hope that the family could be reunited, was devastated to spend Thanksgiving without any of the extended family. The somber holiday left them both in a vulnerable state.
Robyn’s Past Experiences Make Her Relate To Kody’s Children
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” on Kody to reach out to his kids, which led to an explosive argument. She admitted she was “losing respect” for Kody because of his callous behavior and was “so worried about these kids.” Robyn understood the pain Kody’s kids were feeling, and she tried desperately to help him see their point of view.
Robyn urged Kody to at least continue reaching out to his children despite their cold reception.
Robyn displayed an uncharacteristic level of empathy by siding with Kody’s kids. She had experienced similar abandonment from her father after her parents’ divorce. Robyn’s father disappeared from her life, and it left a lasting impact on her. She worried Kody was following a similar path, and she resented him for it. Robyn urged Kody to at least continue reaching out to his children despite their cold reception. Unlike Kody, she knows even though they are now young adults, they are still his children and need their father.
Kody Called His Children A “Trigger Point”
He Repeatedly Avoids Taking Responsibility For The Estrangement
Kody’s estrangement from his children has led to harsh criticism by both Sister Wives viewers and his wives.Kody frequently cites his divorces as having started the estrangement, but his lackluster parenting began years earlier. As Kody’s children became adults, he stopped putting in effort with those who moved away. He spent the 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 the estrangement started before the divorces.
Kody is extremely sensitive to discussions about his children and calls them a “trigger point.” He perceives their hurt as rejection of him, which is detrimental to his fragile ego. Now, Kody is infuriated that their alleged rejection puts his marriage to Robyn at odds. Kody speaks dismissively of his children, calling them “these people who have created the biggest rift in my life.” He is hung up on the way his children have treated him while refusing to dig deeper and consider the source of their pain.
He admitted his children claim he was never present for them, and his defense is that he had four wives to split his time between. Unfortunately, Kody is still missing the point.
Kody laments that his children blame him for their estrangement. He admitted his children claim he was never present for them, and his defense is that he had four wives to split his time between. Unfortunately, Kody is still missing the point. He chose to live in polygamy, which benefitted him but left his children without a father most of the time. Kody’s choice dramatically impacted his children’s lives, yet he resents them for being hurt by it. Kody’s refusal to accept any of the blame leaves his family at a standstill.
Can Robyn Persuade Kody To Change?
Kody Will Have To Swallow His Pride For The Sake Of His Marriage
Robyn has shouldered much of the blame for the family’s dissolution due to her strong influence on Kody. She has been known to manipulate Kody into giving her special treatment, which is part of what drove the plural family apart. However, in this case, Robyn’s controlling tendencies may prove to be beneficial.
Many members of the Brown family haven’t seen each other in years, and the Sister Wives season 19 cast came face to face at a recent family wedding.
If Kody truly values his marriage to Robyn, he will put more effort into making 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 their relationships. Robyn may have her flaws, but she should be praised for forcing Kody to face the consequences of his poor parenting.
Unfortunately, Kody has historically been unwilling to make sacrifices for his wives. When faced with a similar dilemma with Janelle, Kody refused to reconcile with their sons Hunter Brown, Garrison Brown, and Gabriel Brown, even though it ultimately ended their marriage. He admitted he has been sabotaging his marriage to Robyn after losing everything else in his life. Kody’s stubborn personality has been evident throughout Sister Wives, and he may be willing to risk everything for the sake of his own pride.
