Mother’s Day, Sibling Bonds, and Parental Wisdom: Highlights from the New Heights Podcast with Donna Kelce

With Mother’s Day as the backdrop, NFL brothers Travis and Jason Kelce welcomed their mother, Donna Kelce, back onto their hit podcast “New Heights.” In this heartfelt, humorous episode, the Kelces delivered laughs and real talk, giving fans an inside look at the values, mishaps, and unfiltered advice that built the foundation for their close-knit and sports-driven family.

Celebrating Mom the Kelce Way

Mother’s Day, as both brothers agreed, is definitely a “real holiday.” For the Kelces—and millions of families—showing up, spending time together, and sharing laughter is what moms truly want. As Donna put it, all any mom wants for Mother’s Day is “to be with their children,” and maybe some flowers or chocolate. Both brothers shared how, as adults, logistics sometimes get in the way, but a call or a visit means everything.

Donna’s own life, even when her NFL sons are off training or playing, is far from boring. She described her recent trips to the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and a spontaneous re-route from Haiti to St. Thomas due to civil unrest. Whether globe-trotting or chatting with her sons, Donna embodies the modern mom: nurturing, independent, candid, and always plugged in.

On Sibling Rivalry—and Friendship

One of the most revealing segments came as a listener asked how to get her two young sons to be as close as Jason and Travis. The Kelce brothers, only two years apart, admit that their relationship included plenty of competition—especially when Travis was roped into being on the receiving end of Jason’s slap shots in the driveway.

Donna, however, noted that the closeness wasn’t manufactured. “There’s only so much you can force… you have to find out what your kids’ personalities are.” Her advice? Give your kids the room to develop passions, let them lead their own interests, and embrace family activities that foster connection. Jason pointed out that, as parents, making sure each child feels equally celebrated, and encouraging siblings to support each other’s achievements, is crucial. From attending each other’s games to cheering on every small or big win, shared joy made competition constructive, not corrosive.

“Sibling relationships shouldn’t be built on competition alone,” Jason observed. The Kelce parents made a point to involve both brothers in each other’s important moments and always maintained a sense of humor—something evident in their easy banter and family stories.

Getting Kids Into Sports—the Right Way

Sports play a central role in the Kelce household, but when a listener called in asking how to get her two sons to try something outside their beloved contact sports, the family’s philosophy was clear: let kids drive their own interests, but parents can and should create opportunities.

Donna explained, “You drove it. You said what you liked; you wanted to do. If you wanted to be in a play, you were in a play.” She and Ed, the boys’ father, made sure to introduce new activities and scout out teams or clubs with familiar faces and good coaches. Still, they never pushed the boys into something they didn’t want. The lesson: exposure, encouragement, and flexibility matter more than pressure.

Should You Follow Your High School Sweetheart to College?

When a mother asked for advice about her 17-year-old son choosing college based on following his girlfriend, all three Kelces agreed: don’t. Not because young love is necessarily doomed, but because college is a vital time for individual growth. Travis put it best: “You don’t go to college to be with someone else. You go to college for yourself, to learn, to grow.”

Donna, with both humor and empathy, underscored the value of casting a wide net. “I think people should go as far away as they possibly can,” she recommended, noting that real relationships survive distance—and if they don’t, it wasn’t going to last anyway. Ultimately, trying to dictate these choices rarely works; open dialogue and firm values are key.

When Kids Say Wild Things in Public—And CPS Gets Involved

One of the episode’s best running jokes came courtesy of a voicemail from a mother whose 5-year-old keeps telling strangers in public that her mother “stole her”—so often, in fact, that police and Child Protective Services have been called.

Ed Kelce’s phone-in advice: “Shut the [expletive] up,” he laughed, embodying the old-school, no-nonsense approach. Donna added a dash of classic parenting wisdom, counseling the listener to “pay attention to the things you want them to do, not the things you don’t want,” and admit that these antics—for better or worse—are feats of creativity and attention-seeking. Travis, always the wild card, admitted he was probably the kid most likely to do something like that just to see the reaction.

Growing Up Kelce—The Power of Humor

The Kelce family’s dynamic is equal parts genuine affection and relentless teasing. Jason joked about his lack of “game” with girls in high school, and Donna doubled down: “You’ve always been the coolest kid.” Family stories ranged from lost boys at the store to mischievous ploys to get attention. Donna said she learned to roll with it—parenthood, after all, is about navigating the chaos with humor and love.

Even as the conversation veered into modern parenting challenges—like screen time, or the pressures of specialization in youth sports—Donna and her sons circled back to the same themes: let kids be kids, let siblings find their own dynamic, and keep a sense of humor about it all.

Mother’s Day, Every Day

The show wrapped with a reminder for listeners to call their moms—never underestimate the power of a quick check-in, a thoughtful card (or a last-minute run to CVS), and the ever-hilarious re-gifting of Father’s Day cards repurposed for Mother’s Day (just cross out “Dad”).

The real secret to raising two future NFL stars? According to Donna Kelce, it’s not micromanaging, special techniques, or strict rules; it’s love, opportunity, and a lot of laughter. Above all, the episode was a tribute to all mothers—biological, adoptive, step, and otherwise—reminding us that appreciation and connection never go out of season.

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