Kelly Ripa had some joyful and emotional news to share with viewers during a recent episode of LIVE with Kelly and Mark, leaving both her co-host and the audience laughing, clapping, and perhaps even feeling a little sentimental. For Ripa, who has always been candid about her family life, this update marked a poignant milestone as she and her husband, actor Mark Consuelos, prepare to close one chapter of parenthood and step into another.

With her trademark enthusiasm, the beloved talk show host proudly declared, “Our newborn baby is graduating in two weeks!” Her co-host and husband Mark looked on with a smile, as the studio audience erupted in applause and cheers. Of course, Ripa wasn’t talking about a literal newborn but about the couple’s youngest child, Joaquin Consuelos, who, in her eyes, will always be her baby — no matter how grown up he gets.

Joaquin, now in his early twenties, is set to graduate from the University of Michigan, marking the end of his undergraduate journey and the beginning of whatever comes next. For Ripa and Consuelos, like so many parents, this milestone brings a mix of pride, nostalgia, and the wistful sense that time has passed all too quickly.

“We’re not ready yet to leave Ann Arbor,” Ripa admitted, referring to the university town that has become a second home for their family over the past four years. She joked that they have been “begging him to go to grad school” so they have an excuse to keep visiting — and to hold onto a piece of this special chapter a little longer.

Consuelos, never one to miss an opportunity for a playful quip, teased his wife about her own secret desire to go back to school. “Once Joaquin graduates, you can go to school, and he won’t be weirded out by his mom in class,” he said, eliciting laughter from both Ripa and the audience.

Ripa playfully entertained the idea, musing about what she might study if she enrolled as a student herself — or if she could perhaps serve as an adjunct professor instead. For the audience, this humorous banter was a reminder of what makes their dynamic so endearing: it’s authentic, affectionate, and deeply relatable.

Of course, for Ripa, watching her youngest reach this milestone brings back memories of when they first left Joaquin at college — an experience that many parents know all too well can be surprisingly gut-wrenching. Back in 2021, the couple openly shared their feelings on LIVE about how difficult it was to say goodbye.

“We dropped him off at school and we gave him a hug — it was actually brutally painful… It was really hard,” Ripa confessed at the time in an episode that touched many viewers. She spoke about the house feeling emptier, the routines shifting, and the heartache that comes with realizing your child is growing into their own person, apart from you.

Yet, if there’s one thing Ripa and Consuelos have shown over the years, it’s that they cherish every phase of parenting. Joaquin is the youngest of their three children. Their eldest, Michael, has already embarked on a successful career of his own, and their daughter, Lola, has made headlines for her own ventures and for sharing her unique perspective on growing up in the public eye.

As Ripa and Consuelos navigate the transition to becoming empty nesters, fans of the couple can’t help but root for them. They’ve always invited viewers into their family’s big and small moments — from everyday stories about parenting mishaps to major milestones like this one. Their willingness to speak openly about both the joys and the struggles has kept them relatable despite their celebrity status.

Ripa, who balances her busy career with her devotion to family, often jokes about what life will look like when all their kids are fully independent. She’s floated ideas about taking more trips with Mark, spending time pursuing hobbies she never had time for before, or even, as she mused this week, going back to school herself — though whether that’s as a student or professor remains to be seen.

Consuelos, meanwhile, has repeatedly expressed how much he treasures family time, despite the demands of his own thriving acting career. It’s clear that for both of them, family comes first — a value that has resonated with millions of viewers for decades.

As they prepare to watch Joaquin don his cap and gown in just a few short weeks, there’s little doubt there will be tears, laughter, and plenty of proud moments to share with fans. If their past is any indication, Ripa will likely share stories from graduation day on LIVE, giving her audience another glimpse into this big moment for their tight-knit family.

In a world where celebrity families often keep their private lives under wraps, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have struck a rare balance: they share just enough to remind us all that behind the glamorous jobs and red-carpet appearances, they too are simply parents watching their kids grow up far too fast.

So, as Joaquin prepares to take on the world beyond the University of Michigan, his parents — and their fans — are cheering him on every step of the way. And perhaps, if Ripa has her way, there might be another graduation in the family soon enough — hers!