Celebs who have opened up about their partnership during the 2024 holidays

Living with an ex can be difficult no matter the time of year, but the holiday season often presents a unique set of challenges.

In a December episode of the “Whine Down” podcast, Jana Kramer She admitted she was “struggling” to make Christmas Eve plans because her two oldest children — daughter Jolie, 8, and son Jace, 6 — are spending the holiday with her ex-husband. Mike Caussin.

“I’m already starting to feel depressed. Because, you know, baking cookies before Santa comes, I’m not supposed to do that,” Kramer said. “I’m not going to make cookies with them, I’m not going to leave out the note the night before (for Santa). I’m not going to leave out carrots for the reindeer or snow -leave the reindeer food out…. This would probably be the last year Jolie wrote to Santa.

Keep scrolling to see how Kramer and more stars plan to spend the holidays while splitting family time with their partners:

Teddi Mellencamp and Edwin Arroyave

Two months after filing for divorce, Mellencamp reflected on her new normal on vacation.

“In my Bridget Jones days. If I didn’t laugh at myself, I’d cry,” Mellencamp, 43, who shares children with Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 4, Arroyave, 47, explained in a December Instagram post about spending Christmas alone. in a message “First Christmas without my kids, and I know they’re in good hands with an amazing dad, but that doesn’t mean I can’t feel it in some way.”

She concluded: “Ordered $74 of Thai food, ate cookie dough (with baking time) and watched 9 episodes of Lioness. To all my parents going through this, I love you. What are all your feeding tips?”

Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler

Cavallari and Cutler, who divorced in 2022, share sons Camden, 12, and Jaxon, 10, and daughter Saylor, 9. In a December episode of the “Let’s Be Honest” podcast, Cavallari revealed the ex’s holiday parenting schedule.

“Any divorced parent can relate and understand this: I didn’t have (my kids) Thanksgiving this year, so before Christmas, Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, which I honestly prefer,” she said. explain “That will be nice, but then I don’t have them for a week. (On) They go to Jay at noon on Christmas Day, and then I don’t pick them up until January 2nd.

Cavallari noted that she would normally spend time away from her children by going on a trip, but this year she plans to rest at home and prepare for her next podcast tour.

“One day I’m doing microneedling and one day I’m going to do a facial. I’m going to have coffee with a girlfriend I haven’t seen in a while. I am in this mode of rest and taking care of myself”, he said. “I’m trying to calm down.”

Tarek El Moussa and Christina Hall

HGTV stars are beating the holiday coparenting blues Spending Christmas Eve together this year Tarek’s wife Heather Rae El Moussatold exclusively Us Weekly about blended family plans.

“Usually we (Tarek and Christina’s kids) have Christmas Day. He has them on Christmas Eve, but (this year) I think we’re going to spend Christmas Eve together,” Heather said. “(For the first time).”

Tarek and Christina share daughter Taylor, 14, and son Brayden, 9, and Tarek and Heather, who married in 2021, share son Tristan, 22 months. She is also mother to son Hall Hudson, 5, who she shares with her ex-husband Ant Anstead.

Jesse Lally and Michelle Lally

The the valley The Costa Ricans are still catching up on holiday consistency after being split in October 2023.

“We’re working on our schedule,” said Jesse, who shares daughter Isabella, 4, with Michelle. We in december “This year in particular, unfortunately, Michelle’s mom passed away before Thanksgiving. So I spent Thanksgiving with Isabella and then took her so I could spend Thanksgiving and the weekend with Michelle’s family. And this year she’s going to spend Christmas with them again, talking about her grandma. to be able to do it and keep that memory alive.”

While Jess understands that Michelle’s circumstances are special this year, she admits that it’s “going to be a tough Christmas” for her, as she’s never “done Christmas” without Isabella.

Lindsey Chrisley and Will Campbell

Chrisley’s 11-year-old son, Jackson, will be spending Christmas with her ex-husband, Campbell, which has dampened her holiday spirit.

“I don’t have a tree, I don’t put one,” he said in a December episode Kailyn Lowry‘s “Coffee Convos” podcast. “I don’t have Jackson for Christmas so it’s something I don’t do.”

The Chrisley knows the best The alum admitted it’s “bittersweet” not having her son for the holidays.

“You don’t have to worry about doing all these things, but it’s also sad. And similarly, no matter how many years it’s been like this, it’s still sad. It’s lonely,” he said. “And then you hope it’s over soon.”

Lindsie added that when she had Jackson for Christmas in 2023, she allowed him to visit Campbell and his paternal grandparents on Christmas Eve. His ex won’t be returning the favor this year.

“This year, it’s Will’s Christmas day, and he’s not going to offer me the same thing I offered him last year. Why? I don’t know,” he said. “I have had to learn through therapy that I have to respect the choices he makes in the time he gives. And choosing to do something for the betterment of my child does not mean that he has to choose the same thing.’

Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin

Kramer and Caussin’s two children will be with Caussin this Christmas Eve, as Kramer had her for the holidays last year. The last time Kramer was away from his children on Christmas Eve, the family celebrated Christmas on December 26, which caused some friction with Caussin.

“Me and my ex 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 on a December episode of her “Whine Down” podcast.

Kramer, who also shares son Roman, 13 months, with her husband Allan Russellshe said that even if going to Caussin’s house on Christmas Eve was an option, she didn’t want to.

“That doesn’t sound good to me,” he said. “Every time I still go to pick up the kids from his house, I don’t like it. … I don’t like (being there). … He is welcome and pleasant here, I don’t belong in his place”.

Aside from his discomfort, Kramer said he didn’t want to intrude on Caussin’s time with Jolie and Jace.

“Those are his memories. I wouldn’t invite him to do that with us here,” he admitted. “As much as I’ve tried to create a great atmosphere with everyone and invite them to parties… I don’t want to decorate cookies on our family nights.”

Kramer, however, texted Caussini to attend Christmas Eve church services with her and their children, but said she still “hasn’t heard back.”

Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman

In the December 24 episode Today with Hoda and JennaKotb revealed that her ex-fiancé would be included in her family’s 2024 Christmas plans. “For us, our Christmas is not big, because it is me, my children, my mother, my sister, Joel. We come together,” he shared. (The couple split in January 2022 and share daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 5).

He continued: “That’s the team, and it’s just a cozy Christmas. So tonight we will be baking cookies for Santa and carrots. She always seems to like cookies better.’

Kotb teased Schiffman’s inclusion in his holiday celebrations via Instagram at the beginning of that month. In a photo of his family’s Christmas stockings, one named “Dad” could be seen hanging over the fireplace in Kotb’s living room.