Joanna Gaines is celebrating her youngest daughter’s big milestone — and feeling bittersweet about it. As her daughter Emmie Kay turns sweet 16, the former HGTV star reflects on how fast time passes.
Joanna Gaines Celebrates Daughter’s 16th Birthday With Sweet Post
On January 17, Gaines took to Instagram to share a video compilation of Emmie through the years and a look at her daughter getting her driver’s license, then driving away. She ended the video with a look at her sweet 16 birthday decorations, cake, and a spread of delicious food.
“Our baby girl is SIXTEEN and driving!” she noted in the caption.
Gaines continued, “I already miss taking her to school in the morning and to all of her sports and alllll the many places she needed to go.”
She added. “If you’re in the season of life where you feel like a taxi driver for your kids, enjoy the moments and the miles with them. It goes by so fast. 🥹❤️”
Fans flooded the comments section with sweet birthday messages, including, “Happy birthday to your sweet daughter. 16 is a big deal!”
“Jo! I can’t!! ❤️ where did the time go! Happy 16! Emmie Kay,” one fan wrote.
Another fan noted, “Sixteen? Oh my god, time flies.”
“Yes! Goes way too fast! Happy Birthday to your precious 16 year old!” another fan commented.
Joanna Shares Thoughts on Kids Growing Up
Gaines has been adjusting to her kids getting older, as her daughter Ella recently started college.
In an August 19 interview with “Today Show Radio,” she shared some thoughts about the Magnolia empire she and husband Chip built. “Everything’s good. You know I feel like we’re on such a fun journey,” she said. “It’s crazy to think that 25 years ago we started this. And to see where it is now is truly like, it’s still mind-blowing to us.”
As for their kids going to college, Gaines shared that she was “working through all of the emotions, both the beautiful and the ‘Oh, I’m just gonna miss her.'”
The “Magnolia Table” star continued, “I joke, if there’s a parent support group out there, I’ll bring the baked goods … I just feel like, naturally, as a mom, you want to hold them close.”
She added, “So it is that idea of letting them go and you know, experiencing two emotions in one breath. It’s really fascinating and crazy.”
