Chip Gaines is letting us in on a little secret about oldest daughter Ella.
Turns out, Ella broke curfew on prom night. By a lot. And that’s ok.
In an interview with Today.com, Chip told the hosts that he and wife Joanna set a midnight curfew for the high school senior.
“She blew past that,” Chip laughed. “But what do you do? What do you do with this 18-year-old human being that is now legally an adult? She could serve in the army if she had to, and here I am explaining that she has to be back at 12 o’clock.”
In fact, Chip says Ella’s one-word reaction said it all. The teen responded with an exaggerated, drawn-out “whaaaaatttt?”
Chip Gaines says that’s a sign of the times. “When I was a kid, midnight was really late,” Chip said laughing. “I thought that would have given her plenty of time to do everything she’d want to do at prom, but apparently, it wasn’t enough.”
Chip Is Short on Details About His Kids’ Prom
We know from a post on Joanna Gaines’ Instagram account that Ella, 16-year-old Duke and 15-year-old Emmy all went to prom this year.
The post shows Joanna making bouquets for her girls. In the caption, she writes, “Three of our kiddos going to prom this weekend. Garden flowers blooming just in time!✨
This will be the first prom for one, and the last prom for another🥹”
But Chip Gaines has considerably less to share. When Today.com asked him what time Ella actually got home, he admits he has no idea, only saying “it was definitely in the wee hours of the next morning.” In fact, Chip says he was in bed by 9:00p.m. that night, leaving Joanna to wait up.
“Jo is extremely thoughtful in that way and I guess I’m a little bit too lazy,” Chip says.
He’s always not a great source of information about what Ella wore to prom. “There was a dress for sure,” he says. “And she had a pair of shoes on. In regard to the color or pattern … I’m going to have to text Jo.”
Ella Gaines Will Head for College in the Fall
Joanna Gaines has been open about her struggle knowing Ella will leave for college in the fall. She told PEOPLE , “How do I prepare my own heart for it? It’s like you’re losing the one that you go on the weekends to get coffee with and shop at the antique stores. I’m like, ‘Where’s my friend going?’ It’s just being okay with the shift and letting go of what was, and just being excited for what’s to come.”
Drake, the couple’s eldest son, left first. He’s pursuing a degree in business entrepreneurship at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas, less than an hour from Waco where the Gaines live.
But Chip told Today.com that Ella is exploring colleges farther from home.
“We can’t wait for her to decide. Ella has thought about Korea, she’s thought about sunny Southern California,” Chip says. “She’s not going to be in the Central Texas area when she goes on to her next chapter. She seems excited to be able to spread her wings and do something very unique and outside the bubble.”
Chip says Ella is interested in studying business and digital design.
“With Drake, we needed to send him to college to teach him basic survival skills, like how to do laundry,” Chip teases. “Ella is on the exact opposite end of the spectrum. It feels like we’re sending this young lady off to become the next president of the United States. It’s very the sky’s the limit with Ella.”
Comments
Chip Gaines Says Daughter Broke Curfew for Prom (and That’s OK)