Unveiling the Unbreakable Bond: An Intimate Look into Jon and Kate Gosselin's Extraordinary Connections With Their 8 Beloved Children

Jon Gosselin and Kate Gosselin gained fame through their family, although not all their children have had a strong relationship with them. The couple, who were married from 1999 to 2009, became parents in October 2000 with the birth of twins Mady and Cara. Their family grew in 2004 when the sextuplets Collin, Hannah, Aaden, Joel, Alexis, and Leah were born, making them a family of ten.

The family's large brood has been featured in multiple Discovery Health specials before they secured their own TLC show, Jon & Kate Plus 8, in 2007. After Jon and Kate ended their relationship in 2009, the network changed the series' name to Kate Plus 8. Kate was ultimately granted sole legal custody of their children. However, in 2018, Hannah and Collin chose to live with their father in Pennsylvania, where they currently reside.

Although all the children are now adults, their parents remain estranged following a tumultuous legal battle over custody. Jon revealed exclusively to We in May 2023 that the possibility of co-parenting with his ex-wife has likely come to an end. He expressed a sense of relief knowing that their children can transition into adulthood without the burden of having their parents attend family court.

Keep scrolling to see where each of the Gosselin kids stand with their parents:

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Inside Jon and Kate Gosselin's Relationships With Each of Their 8 Children

Jon and Kate Gosselin gained fame due to their family, however, their relationship with all of their children hasn't always been positive.

The ex-spouses, who were married from 1999 to 2009, started their journey into parenthood in October 2000 with the birth of twins Mady and Cara. Expanding their family even further, the Gosselins became a family of 10 in 2004 with the arrival of sextuplets Collin, Hannah, Aaden, Joel, Alexis, and Leah.

The family's large brood appeared in multiple Discovery Health specials before getting their own TLC show, Jon & Kate Plus 8, in 2007. After Jon and Kate's separation in 2009, the series was renamed Kate Plus 8. Kate was granted sole legal custody of their children. However, in 2018, Hannah and Collin went to live with their father in Pennsylvania, where they have stayed since.

Even though all the children are now adults, their parents remain estranged after a bitter custody battle. "At this point, the possibility of co-parenting with my ex is most likely over," Jon exclusively revealed to We in May 2023. "I feel relieved that they can now transition into adulthood without the burden of having their parents involved in family court."

Keep scrolling to see where each of the Gosselin kids stand with their parents:

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Mady

Mady resided with her mother at Kate's home in North Carolina until she left for Syracuse University in New York. However, in May 2023, Jon claimed that he had not been in contact with Mady or her twin sister, Cara, for nearly ten years. According to The U.S. Sun, Jon stated, "The last time I communicated with Mady and Cara was in 2014. I have sent occasional text messages to Mady and Cara, hoping for a response, but I have never received one."

Mady has strongly criticized individuals who make assumptions about her relationships with her parents and siblings on online platforms. In a TikTok video from February 2023, she expressed her frustration, stating, "The comments about my childhood trauma, healing, and my family's situation are not within your purview. It is not your place to perpetuate the notion that we are damaged or unstable child stars. Such remarks are harmful, as my siblings and I are venturing into the world and striving to become productive members of society with successful careers."

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Cara

Cara, Mady's twin sister, resided with Kate until she departed for Fordham University in the Bronx to pursue her college education. In May 2023, Jon disclosed that he had not communicated with Cara or Mady since 2014 and further stated that he would not be present at their respective college graduations. While Mady tends to have a more prominent presence on social media, Cara maintains a lower profile and appears to remain estranged from her father.

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Collin

Since relocating to his father's residence in 2018, Collin has consistently voiced his grievances regarding his strained relationship with Kate. In November 2022, Collin asserted that his time spent in various institutions had significantly contributed to the mounting tension between him and his mother. (Kate had made the decision to admit him to the Fairmont Behavioral Health Institute in 2016, citing his need for specialized assistance.)

"Collin revealed to Entertainment Tonight that our relationship deteriorated further after my time spent there. In fact, even before that, we didn't have much of a connection, and that only contributed to its further decline."

In 2017, Collin publicly reached out to his father, pleading for assistance through a letter. A year later, Jon was granted both legal and physical custody of Collin when Kate and her legal representative failed to show up in court.

When Collin completed his high school journey in June 2023, he omitted any reference to his mother while expressing gratitude to his family members for their unwavering support throughout his educational endeavors. Interestingly, among those acknowledged, he extended a special shout-out to Colleen Conrad, who had formerly been in a relationship with Jon. It is worth noting that Jon's separation from Conrad was confirmed back in August 2021.

Credit: Courtesy of Hannah Gosselin/Instagram

Hannah

Hannah moved in with her father and brother, Colin, in 2018. In an interview for Vice TV's docuseries Dark Side of the 2000s in July 2023, she expressed concern that Colin would be excluded from their activities and have different meal times. She believed that their household did not make an effort to teach Colin what behavior is acceptable and what is not.

According to an insider who spoke exclusively to Us in April 2022, Hannah cares deeply for her siblings but her strained relationship with Kate prevented her from maintaining a connection with them. The source explained that it is a sad situation and Hannah hopes to reunite with her brothers and sisters in the future. Moving in with Jon had no bearing on her love for her siblings, as they were all very close.

Credit: Courtesy of Kate Gosselin/Instagram

Aaden

Aaden, Joel, Alexis, and Leah, along with their mother, reside in North Carolina and have become distant from their father. Unlike Hannah, Collin, and the twins, they choose not to have public social media accounts, resulting in fewer public appearances.

In April 2023, Jon claimed that Kate had discouraged his children from speaking with him while he was attempting to reconcile with them. "There was significant tension between Kate and [me], and my children, being eager to please their mother, were hesitant to communicate with me," he shared with The U.S. Sun at the time. "Although I always wanted to engage in conversations with all of my kids, I didn't want to put them in an uncomfortable situation as Kate had expressed her disapproval of them communicating with me."

Credit: Courtesy of Kate Gosselin/Instagram

Joel

Joel, who resides with Kate, lacks a connection with his father. According to Jon's statement to ET in May 2022, "[Communicating with] the children that live with Kate is exceedingly challenging due to our lack of an open relationship. I believe it was a poor decision on Kate's part as she has isolated me from these kids. I think her parenting choices could have been more effective if she had been more transparent and provided better explanations."

Credit: Courtesy of Kate Gosselin/Instagram

Alexis

Jon continues to be estranged from Alexis, who resides with her mother. However, he remains optimistic that they can reconcile in the future. "Now that they are adults, they may not be as influenced by her and management," Jon expressed to The U.S. Sun in April 2023. "My door has always been open to them, and I hope that now, as adults, they might consider reaching out."

Credit: Courtesy of Kate Gosselin/Instagram

Leah

Leah resides in North Carolina with Kate, but Jon has expressed his belief that they might have the opportunity to reestablish their connection while he is on tour for his DJ performances. "I hope the mere convenience of being in the same location will ignite the interest to meet face-to-face," he shared with Us in May 2023.