One of America’s most adored TV personalities for years, Kelly Ripa is intelligent, funny, and vivacious every morning on Live with Kelly and Mark. The talk show presenter has been going through one of the most difficult changes a parent can go through lately, despite her constant grin.

While juggling rigorous occupations, Kelly and her husband, actor Mark Consuelos, have been parenting their three children, Michael, Lola, and Joaquin, for decades. The couple is now formally approaching their “empty-nest” era as their youngest son, Joaquin, moves out to begin his own independent path.

Kelly acknowledged that the experience has been bittersweet in an open moment on Live. She smiled through tears as she remarked, “You spend all those years getting them ready to leave, and then when they do… you’re never really ready.”

Michael, her oldest son who has been pursuing a career in entertainment like his parents, also made news lately when Kelly disclosed a humorous and really human family characteristic. She said, “We both have this awful habit of laughing during serious moments.” It served as a reminder that despite their wealth and notoriety, the Ripa-Consuelos family has the same peculiarities and growing pains as everyone else.

However, fans lately started to worry after false internet articles alluded to “tragic news” about Kelly’s son. Fortunately, there is no truth to such rumors. Michael and Joaquin are both doing well; one is developing his acting career, while the other is working toward his academic and professional wrestling objectives.

The true tale is one of pride, love, and transformation rather than tragedy. As they rediscover life as a couple and support their children from a distance, Kelly and Mark are learning to accept this new phase of life together.

Kelly once said, “Family is everything,” to People magazine. It’s quite difficult to see them fly away, even when you wish they had wings.