The Southern Tea – "Days Are Long But The Years Are Short"

Host: Lindsie Chrisley
Co-host: Kristin
Date: January 7, 2026

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and conversational episode, Lindsie and her friend Kristin usher in 2026 by reflecting on parenting milestones, co-parenting dynamics, changing family traditions, and their goals for the year ahead. With a tone balanced between humor and deep vulnerability, the pair discuss everything from bowel movements to birthday parties, childhood memories, household routines, and the joys and struggles of shared parenting after divorce. Through relatable anecdotes and candid revelations, the episode offers reassurance, laughs, and honest advice for anyone navigating parenthood, family drama, or personal growth into the new year.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming 2026 & Year-in-Review

• Both hosts agree that 2025 was a particularly tough year, echoing feelings of exhaustion and hope for a fresh, easier start in 2026.
  • "2025 almost took me out." – Lindsie (01:33)
• The tone is both realistic and optimistic, acknowledging challenges but setting intentions for a better year.

2. Parenting Milestones & Emotions

• Jackson Turns 13: Lindsie shares her emotional experience with her son Jackson’s 13th birthday, the significance of such milestones, and the bittersweet feelings as time with children passes quickly.
  • "I was just bawling my eyes out whenever I woke up…The days are long but the years are short." – Lindsie (01:49, 22:26)
• Navigating shared custody on special occasions, and the “glory moments” that parents can feel they're missing after divorce.

3. (TMI) Real Talk: Health, Bowel Movements, and Relationships

• Lindsie opens up about not having had a bowel movement for 10 days, leading to a humorous yet real discussion about bodily functions, relationship boundaries, and how comfort with partners grows over time.
  • "How much information is too much information, giving it to your partner?" – Lindsie (02:44)
  • "No information is too much information." – Kristin on marriage intimacy (03:40)
• They discuss remedies, the importance of diet and routine, and the unique loyalty to “your own toilet”.

4. Shared Parenting & Sleepovers

• Birthday Logistics: Lindsie describes the chaos of organizing Jackson’s birthday party and the complexities of hosting sleepovers, especially as kids age and family dynamics shift.
  • Handling waivers, cakes, balloons, and the stress of being “the sleepover house”.
• Co-Parenting Positivity: Lindsie, her ex Will, and current partner David work together cordially at events, debunking the myth that blended families can’t collaboratively celebrate milestones.
  • "The amount of family strife...it's everybody." – Lindsie (10:25)
  • "Will was carrying the presents, David was carrying the cake, and we were all sitting at one table having a cordial, I would say a friendly conversation." – Lindsie (39:12)
• They discuss routines, boundaries, and how healing and maturity make such arrangements possible even post-divorce.

5. Holidays, Family Struggles, and Mental Wellbeing

• Both hosts reflect on the complexities of family during the holidays, feelings of isolation, and the surprising normalization of family rifts.
  • "I think that it's way more common than not." – Lindsie (11:23)
  • Discussing high suicide rates around holidays and how it's often not discussed but needs gentle awareness.
• The importance of self-awareness: Lindsie identifies as a recluse, with Kristin noting her tendency to withdraw when under stress.

6. Disney Vacation Review

• Lindsie shares a detailed take on her recent Disney World trip, choosing Yacht Club over Animal Kingdom Lodge and why she and Jackson decided not to return to Animal Kingdom in the future.
  • "Yacht Club was far superior. The food offerings were better, the accommodations better, the bathrooms in the hotel rooms—a drastic difference." – Lindsie (17:27)
  • Critique that Animal Kingdom is more for “zoo-type” kids and justifying park selection based on what a family will actually enjoy.

7. Teaching Kids About Money

• Discussion touches on Jackson wanting a debit card and the transition to giving allowance for real-world financial literacy.
  • "They should learn how to manage their own money." – Lindsie (20:09)
  • Kristin suggests a structure for teaching budgeting, savings, and responsible spending even at young ages (20:58).

8. Birth, Boundaries, and Rethinking Traditions

• Lindsie reflects on her experience with a crowded delivery room, and how, in hindsight, she would prioritize intimacy over accommodating everyone for special moments.
  • "If I had the opportunity to do it again, it would just be me and my spouse." – Lindsie (25:09)
• They talk about the growing trend of “no visitors” postpartum, connecting it to the yearning for rest, privacy, and less performance for others.
  • "I love the idea." – Lindsie on no-hospital-visitors (27:20)

9. Event Planning, Productions, and Minimalism

• The hosts debate the necessity of big weddings, showers, and milestone celebrations, with a shared preference for minimal, meaningful gatherings if they could do it over.
  • "If I had to do it all over again...there would be no production of anything." – Lindsie (31:23)
  • Kristin prefers no baby shower or sprinkle, disliking being the center of attention.

10. Co-Parenting Clip & Analysis

• Lindsie plays a viral audio clip (Khloe Kardashian co-parenting with Tristan), then discusses its relevance to her own life: healing after separation for the sake of children, challenges when ex-partners are in and out of the home, and how boundaries differ by family.
  • "Tristan's not back in. He's just the father of my kids. So he's going to be around his kids. And I'm really grateful..." – Khloe, via clip (33:37)
  • "We both individually did equal amount of work and we've both been able to arrive at the same place. That's why we can do the things we do and it not affect us on a personal level." – Lindsie (39:02)

11. Upcoming Travel & Personal Goals

• Mexico Trip: Lindsie preps for an impromptu Mexico getaway, discusses her penchant for buying new outfits for every day of vacation, and reflects on fast fashion and overconsumption.
  • "Do we think it's over consuming if you purchase a bathing suit for every single day of your vacation and you don't rewear?" – Lindsie (51:48)
• Organization Drive: Lindsie details her goal to declutter throughout January, sharing her master list and encouraging audience participation via social media.
  • "For the rest of January, I'm going to just, like, post on Instagram the area that I'm cleaning out." – Lindsie (54:13)
• Pilates Instructor Training: Lindsie is excited about her upcoming 66-hour instructor certification and reflects on how Pilates has been foundational to her healing and wellness.
  • "That has been something that has saved my world, my soul, my emotions for years." – Lindsie (56:04)

12. Domestic Violence Registry News

• Discussion of Tennessee launching the first domestic violence offender registry on January 1, opinions on public access to these registries, and personal experiences with checking local offender databases.
  • "I fully support. I think everyone should be doing it." – Kristin (59:42)
  • "What's so crazy is ... I used to have, like, these crazy, intrusive thoughts after I had Jackson and I would, like, drive on the shoulder of the road...I was, like, deep in the sex offender registry for, like, where I lived..." – Lindsie (61:27)

13. Household Rules, Cleaning Standards & Parenting Boundaries

• Lindsie and Kristin listen to and react to a TikTok video about strict household routines—no shoes inside, no food outside the kitchen, frequent cleaning, etc.—and discuss what "deep cleaning" means at their homes.
  • "I will always maintain the mentality of kitchens are made for eating, couches are made for sitting, beds are made for sleeping." – Lindsie (70:58)
• Lindsie explains her reasoning for enforcing boundaries about school clothes and clean sheets, and how parenting styles evolve when a child reaches adolescence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On parenting milestones:
  "It's so true when older people tell you, like, the days are long, but the years are short."
  — Lindsie (22:26)

• On intimacy in relationships and oversharing:
  "No information is too much information. The amount of conversations and text messages exchanged about, oh, my gosh, my bowel movements are getting better..."
  — Kristin (03:40)

• On family drama at birthday parties:
  "The amount of family strife…I'm like, so it's everybody."
  — Lindsie (10:25)

• On co-parenting progress:
  "We both individually did equal amount of work and we've both been able to arrive at the same place. That's why we can do the things we do and it not affect us on a personal level."
  — Lindsie (39:02)

• On decluttering and consumerism:
  "Do we think it's over consuming if you purchase a bathing suit for every single day of your vacation and you don't rewear?"
  — Lindsie (51:48)

• On the domestic violence registry:
  "I think everyone should be doing it. I fully, fully, fully support."
  — Kristin (59:42)

• On parenting nostalgia and list-making:
  "I have prayed over every list that I have made and feel so confident stepping into a new year."
  — Lindsie (74:07)

Important Timestamps

• Emotional Reflection on Jackson’s Birthday: 01:49–03:40
• TMI Confessions, Laxatives, Prune Juice: 03:40–07:31
• Holiday Family Struggles & Mental Health Around Christmas: 10:25–13:13
• Co-Parenting at Birthday Party: 20:09–22:26
• Disney Resort Review & Animal Kingdom Rant: 17:14–19:12
• Allowance & Teaching Money Skills: 20:09–21:43
• Birth Room Boundaries & Regrets: 22:26–27:20
• Co-Parenting Audio Clip (Khloe Kardashian) & Analysis: 33:37–39:02
• Mexico Trip Prep, Overconsumption Chat: 43:53–51:48
• Domestic Violence Offender Registry: 59:42–63:14
• Strict House Rules & Cleaning Standards: 65:43–70:58
• Weekly Devotional for Entering 2026: 74:07–76:21

Segment Highlights

[01:49] Parenting Milestones:

Lindsie becomes emotional over Jackson turning 13 and reflects heavily on childhood photos, “The days are long but the years are short.”

[17:14] Disney Resort Review:

A practical rundown of Disney’s Yacht Club vs. Animal Kingdom Lodge; Lindsie decisively votes for the former.

[22:26 & 25:09] Rethinking Birth Milestones:

Lindsie candidly regrets a full delivery room and emphasizes intimate, pared-down life events.

[36:11 & 39:02] Co-Parenting Growth:

Both hosts assert that intentional healing and mutual effort are necessary for amicable, cooperative co-parenting.

[51:48] Consumerism & Decluttering:

Lindsie and Kristin lightheartedly riff on vacation “fast fashion,” overconsumption, and January decluttering goals.

[59:42] Domestic Violence Registry:

The hosts react to new Tennessee legislation creating a public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders and link it to personal vigilance and safety routines as parents.

[65:43] Cleaning Standards Rant:

A TikTok mom’s rules spark exchanges about cleaning definitions, parenting styles, and household expectations.

[74:07] Affirming Devotional for 2026

Lindsie shares an encouraging devotional, expressing faith, gratitude, and hope for the new year.

Tone & Language Highlights

• Friendly, honest, and sometimes unfiltered—Lindsie in particular maintains her signature "no topic off-limits" style.
• Relatable and encouraging, with supportive validation from Kristin.
• Occasional humor and frankness about motherhood and womanhood ("The first poop after childbirth...is worse than the delivery of the six pound baby." – Lindsie, 05:43).

Useful Takeaways for Listeners

• You’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed at milestones, managing complex family situations, or rethinking what’s right for your household.
• Boundaries matter—whether around co-parenting, event planning, or household habits.
• Routine and planning —even in domestic life—can provide comfort and clarity amid chaos.
• Healing is possible after divorce or family drama, but it takes time, intentionality, and emotional labor from all sides.
• It’s okay to change your mind, re-evaluate traditions, and adapt rules as your family grows and changes.

Closing

This episode is a rich mix of life advice, parenting confessions, and practical wisdom, all delivered with the warmth and honesty that defines The Southern Tea. Whether you’re reflecting on family, starting fresh, or contemplating your own traditions, Lindsie and Kristin offer reassurance and community for navigating the unpredictable journey into another year.