Kody Brown’s Sister Wives journey has been a rocky road. Once the patriarch of a large, proud, polygamous family, he is now at odds with many of his children and former wives. In the years since, his relationships have dissolved one by one until he was only left with a close relationship with his current wife, Robyn Brown, and their kids. As Sister Wives fans have witnessed, Kody’s challenges when it comes to being a father have been on display for the world to see — and often led to contentious discussions among viewers.
In the beginning, Kody was an active father who loved playing a huge role in his kids' lives. Yet, as the family expanded, so did the dissension. His authoritarian style of parenting was at odds with his kidlets blossoming independence, and the divide only grew as the years passed. Some of his adult children have openly criticized him, and others have distanced themselves completely. Now, Kody must work to restore his relationships with his children — if, he’s willing to take the first step.
Sister Wives' star's relationship with his children has changed over time
In the early years of Sister Wives, Kody appeared to be a doting father. He made time for his children, participated in their activities, and worked to provide for his large family. But as the kids grew older, cracks in these relationships started to show. Many of Kody’s children have spoken out about his shifting priorities, particularly after he married Robyn in 2010.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, tensions reached a breaking point. Kody imposed strict guidelines that not all his children agreed with, leading to major conflicts, especially with Janelle’s sons, Gabriel and Garrison. His decision to spend most of his time with Robyn and their children further alienated his older kids.
As of 2025, Kody remains close only to the children he shares with Robyn, while his relationships with his other children remain strained.
"He’s made it clear where his priorities lie,"
Paedon Brown, Kody’s son with Christine, once said.
Kody Brown tried to control his kids’ public statements
Kody's strained connections with his kids weren't only about personal issues; they affected his work life, too. In a YouTube interview in 2023, his son Paedon shared that Kody tried to add rules in their contracts to stop them from saying bad things about him.
"He was trying to convince the network to put it in writing that we couldn’t say anything bad about him online,"
Paedon claimed.
Christine reportedly disagreed with this approach, refusing to allow her children to be silenced. This conflict underscored the growing divide between Kody and his older kids, many of whom felt he was more concerned with his public image than his role as a father.
Kody’s struggles with authority created more distance
Kody’s need for control has long been a source of tension in his family. He often emphasized his role as "the man of the house," but as his children grew up, they began challenging this mindset.
Paedon once posted on TikTok,
"Any man who has to say ‘I am the man of the house!’ is no true man of the house."
His comment resonated with many Sister Wives fans, who had witnessed Kody’s struggles with maintaining authority. His older children, particularly his sons, resented his expectations, leading to ongoing conflicts.
Rather than adapting his parenting approach, Kody doubled down, insisting that respect should be given, not earned. This only pushed his children further away, leaving him isolated from most of them.
Can Kody rebuild his relationship with his children?
Kody has expressed a desire to reconnect with his kids, but he expects them to reach out first.
"I’m here when they’re ready,"
he said during a recent Sister Wives episode. However, Robyn has suggested that Kody should take the first step instead of waiting.
"If he really wants to mend things, he has to go to them,"
she told TLC cameras.
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Robyn may have a pretty good idea of what follows. Many of Kody's children are grown and have lives of their own. Help them with reconnection: Most likely, they will not prioritize reconnecting with their dad on their to-do list, especially if they are still hurt about what happened before. If Kody truly wants to heal things with them, he needs to be the one to initiate that healing.
As far as fixing the damage he did in the past, it won't be easy, but if he really cares about restoring those relationships, he has to acknowledge how he put them at risk and act to right that wrong. Whether he will actually take those steps is something we’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, fans of Sister Wives keep tuning in to see how the family story plays out.
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