However, as revealed in the Jan. 12 episode of the long-running TLC series, he has drawn a clear line: he won’t part ways with his fourth—and now only—wife, Robyn Brown.
"My children will always be my children, and my door is always open to them," Kody expressed, addressing his ongoing estrangement from much of his family. "But they have to walk through that door."
He made it clear that while he’s willing to extend an olive branch to his children, he won’t compromise his relationship with Robyn, the woman he married in 2010. “I’ll be holding my hand out for them, but I’m also holding the hand next to me, and I won’t let go of that hand,” Kody said firmly.
He believes much of the tension stems from his children’s resentment toward Robyn. Yet, he emphasized, “I will not cut off Robyn to have a relationship with my children.”
A divide that runs deep
Second wife Janelle Brown, who shares six children with Kody, has a different perspective. In the Dec. 1 episode, she explained her decision to exclude Kody from their daughter Savanah’s graduation party. "Kody thinks if he leaves Robyn at home, he can attend family events," Janelle said. "But that’s so far from the truth. He’s alienated from 90 to 95 percent of his kids. He’s not wanted at these events—whether Robyn is there or not."
Janelle, along with third wife Christine Brown, has urged Kody to rebuild bridges with their children. Christine told E! News in October, “It’s devastating for the kids to have issues with their dad. I’d love for them to have a good relationship with him.”
She encourages their children to remain open, advising, "Accept him where he’s at and answer the phone when he calls."
Life with Robyn and a smaller family unit
Kody has acknowledged that his life with Robyn and their five children—Dayton, Aurora, Breanna, Solomon, and Ariella—is vastly different from his relationships with his other 13 kids. "It’s kind, it’s pleasant, it’s beautiful. It’s small," he admitted on the Jan. 12 episode.
Yet, he also confessed, “I think I need a lot of attention. It’s been different being in a place where I don’t get as much attention.”
Despite the challenges, Kody remains determined to maintain his bond with Robyn while holding out hope for reconciliation with his children.
Looking ahead
As the current season unfolds, the Sister Wives cast continues to share raw and honest insights into their lives. From Kody’s struggles to reconnect with his children to Christine and Janelle’s attempts to foster healing, the drama offers a poignant look at the complexities of family and relationships.
