Kelly Ripa calls out husband Mark Conuselos' parenting of 3 kids for surprising reason


Kelly Ripa revealed that she once hired babysitters to work eight-hour shifts to help her husband, Mark Consuelos, look after their kids


Kelly Ripa in black blazer and lace dress and Mark Consuelos in navy suit © Getty Images
6 hours ago
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Kelly Ripa opened up about the first time she left her husband, Mark Consuelos, to care for their three children. During an episode of LIVE on May 19, the host recalled the candid story about leaving Mark at home with the kids while she filmed a show in a different state. 

The behind-the-scenes video was shared on the show's official Instagram page and captured Kelly discussing the topic with the audience during the commercial break. "We were shooting this show in Chicago. Joaquin was like 6 months old, and I hired babysitters to work in eight-hour shifts, like nurses," she shared.

Kelly explained that the last babysitter was still on shift when she returned home a few days later. "She said to me, 'You can’t die, because he doesn’t know where anything is,’” she recalled. "So, I was like, ‘Good note. Oh, my god. I can’t die!'"

Kelly in green floral dress© Instagram
Kelly shared the story with the LIVE audience

Following the post, fans of the show flocked to the comments to react to the amusing anecdote. "Ha ha! It’s amazing how dads can watch us moms take care of the kids every single day but when they have to do it on their own, they suddenly become lost! That’s my husband for sure!" penned one social media user.

"My husband cannot even find a new tube of toothpaste that is obviously in the closet where we have kept toiletries for 26 years," added another fan. "Sentiments shared by moms everywhere." A third follower wrote, "My Dad would have been completely lost too if my mom left him alone with us as babies!"

Kelly Ripa and Joaquin Consuelos embrace in a sunny throwback photo shared on Instagram© Instagram
A throwback of Kelly Ripa and Joaquin Consuelos

Family life

Kelly and Mark tied the knot in 1996, when they eloped in Las Vegas a year after meeting on the set of the soap opera All My Children. They went on to welcome kids Michael,  Lola, and Joaquin together.

Michael, the couple's eldest son, currently lives in Brooklyn while working on the production side for Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York and The Real Housewives of New Jersey and has also worked as a production assistant on the sitcom The Goldbergs.

Lola is currently pursuing a career in music in London. Meanwhile, Joaquin, who is represented by CAA & Untitled, is set to portray the character Colby in Hulu’s pilot Foster Dade, adapted from Nash Jenkins’ novel Foster Dade Explores the Cosmos.

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos pose at the opening night after party for the Roundabout Theatre Company production of Noel Coward's "Fallen Angels" on Broadway at Bryant Park Grille on April 19, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/WireImage)© Getty Images
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos share three kids

On May 1, Kelly and Mark celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary."Today is our 30th wedding anniversary," shared Mark on the show. "30 years. We did it!"

"A high-five? The 30th is the high-five anniversary!" said Kelly. "How'd that happen? It wasn’t supposed to work out. Two kids meet on a soap opera…" Mark recalled. Kelly then called their marriage "the smartest, best decision I ever made in my life."

"It was just a thing that was destined [to happen]. Destiny. I mean, 'cause I had a lot of choices," said Mark. "Oh, you wish," replied Kelly. 

"It’s funny, if you would have asked me if I wanted to get married, if I thought about getting married, like, maybe a week before I asked you to get married, I’d be like, 'I’m not getting married,'" added Mark. "It was the most ludicrous idea until you asked, and then I was like, ‘Hmmm, okay!'" said Kelly.

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