Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are still figuring out their holiday game plan — and they’re not ruling out a pared-down approach when it comes to their three adult children.
At the top of Live with Kelly and Mark on Thursday, Nov. 20, the couple debated the possibility of not giving gifts to their three now-adult children: Michael, 28, Lola, 24, and Joaquin, 22.
The topic began while Ripa, 55, teased an upcoming segment about Black Friday shopping deals, noting that the sales seem to start earlier every year. “You can’t start too soon,” she said. “I’m not kidding, I saw Black Friday sales in August!”
But Consuelos, 54, quickly pointed out that Ripa typically has a wrapped her holiday prep as summer comes to a close. “You usually get most of your shopping done by then,” he said.
Not this year, though. “Yeah, I’m way behind,” a stressed Ripa admitted. “As you know, I’m way behind.”
Adela Loconte/Variety via Getty
That led Consuelos to pitch an unconventional idea: “Maybe we’ll just give the gift of each other this year?” he said, an idea that Ripa appeared to appreciate. “Yeah, the gift of us,” she said.
Consuelos wasn’t done there. He suggested a simpler solution to the children’s gifts, too. “Kids are old now,” he said. “I’m not getting them anything.”
Ripa was initially taken aback, asking her husband of 29 years, “You’re not getting them anything?”
“They get money!” Consuelos clarified. “Give them like a check or something and say, ‘Merry Christmas!’ ”
Kelly Ripa/Instagram
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The idea wasn’t immediately rejected by Ripa, at least. “Yeah… maybe!” she said, pondering the concept (though sounding only half-convinced).
Moments later, Consuelos wavered. “I don’t know. That sounds bad,” he says. “That sounds really bad.”
Whether Ripa and Consuelos stick to the plan or get swept back into holiday gifting tradition remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be unheard of for the two to pair their Christmas celebrations back this year. Earlier in the show, the couple admitted that they were doing the same with Thanksgiving.
“We’re lucky, we’re getting out of dodge,” Ripa said, after admitting she was “not ready” for the holiday. “We are hosting this year, but we’re not doing anything. Does that make sense? ”
Live with Kelly and Mark airs weekdays on ABC (check local listings).
