Kris Jenner Says Growing Older Makes Her Really Appreciate Family

Making gingerbread houses has been a longtime favorite holiday tradition for Kris Jenner. The mogul mom brought the tradition into her home right after her oldest daughter, Kourtney Kardashian, was born—and continued it with all her children after. But while making these festive edible houses is fun, it can be a time-consuming process, especially when done from scratch. 

“I remember taking on an ambitious project once when I promised a bunch of kids I would make everybody gingerbread houses and didn't realize how long it took to make gingerbread,” says the mom of six. “I was doing it for a very long time.” 

Nonetheless, Jenner loves to share her beloved tradition. On Giving Tuesday, Jenner and her daughter, Khloe Kardashian, visited the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) to make gingerbread houses with some of the children and their families who are using the services. Founded in 1974, RMHC helps families with sick children all around the world stay together by providing housing near health care services, while making sure they are also supported and involved in their kids' care.

Through conversations, including with a mother whose 6-year-old was awaiting a heart transplant, Jenner says they were able to better understand the importance of families staying close and connected during what’s likely the most difficult time of their lives. “RMHC just keeps families together,” says Jenner. “As a mom and a grandmother of 12 kids, I really find that extraordinary.”

The reality is that the worry of having a sick child in America is often compounded by the cost of medical bills and traveling for care. For some families, that travel can be extensive. For example, rural Americans live an average of 10.5 miles from the nearest hospital, according to the Pew Research Center. And the challenges are often greater when children need specialized treatment for life-threatening illnesses, including cancer. One report of 354 caregivers of pediatric cancer patients found 29% of them moved after the child’s diagnosis. One third of the caregivers also said they had to quit or change jobs, only adding to the financial burden.

But no matter where families are from, the difficulties aren’t erased and support during stressful situations is critical as research shows it can bolster resilience. That's where RMHC comes in. With the help of donations, in 2021 alone, it offered 1.8 million overnight stays, saving families in need more than $500 million in lodging and meal costs.

“You never expect there to be something horrific, like a child that gets very sick and has to have a heart or bone marrow transplant, something really serious,” says Jenner. “There's so many different patients that we either met or heard about from their families, and they were just so grateful to all be together.”

Being together is something Jenner values, too. The Kardashian clan has been known for their festive Christmas Eve parties, but Jenner says celebrating at home with her big family is what she’s most looking forward to this holiday season. "Just being with with each other makes us really happy," she says.

And this year, there’s a lot for the family to be grateful for, including two new additions: Kylie Jenner’s and Khloe Kardashian's baby boys. Another blessing is still being able to celebrate with grandma MJ, who has made appearances on both Keeping Up with the Kardashians and the family's new Hulu reality show, The Kardashians.

“I just feel so grateful to still have my mom with us—she's 88,” says Jenner. “The older I get, the more I appreciate my family and everyone around me; it makes me really happy. I'm happy to be home.”