kelly ripa emotional family photo

Kelly Ripa shares rare family photo of her three children – and it's bittersweet!

The Live star shares children Michael, Lola and Joaquin with husband Mark Consuelos

US Managing Editor
Updated: September 5, 2021

Kelly Ripa is a doting mom to three grown-up children, and at the start of the month she reflected on new beginnings.

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Now that she and Mark Consuelos are empty nesters, the Live with Kelly and Ryan star looked back at a time when all her children were being taken to school together.

Kelly shared a sweet throwback photo of Mark with a young Michael, Lola and Joaquin, all ready for their first day of term.

VIDEO: Kelly Ripa reveals touching meaning behind her children's names

In the caption, the former Hope and Faith star wrote: "#tbt 2008 First day of school," alongside a series of love heart emojis.

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Fans were quick to react to the photo, with many commenting on just how quickly the time had gone.

Kelly's good friend Isaac Calpito wrote: "Crying," alongside a crying face emoji and a love heart emoji, while another wrote: "Don't you wish you can turn back the clock?" to which Kelly replied: "Yes," with a sad face emoji.

Kelly Ripa reminisced about her children after becoming an empty-nester 

A third added: "When the kids actually liked us – miss those days," alongside a crying face emoji.

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The TV star has been in The Hamptons over the past few days and has been getting used to life without any of her children at home.

Kelly and Mark's youngest son Joaquin flew the nest last month to attend the wrestling programmes at the University of Michigan.

Kelly and Mark Consuelos are doting parents to Michael, Lola and Joaquin

The famous couple are incredibly proud of their son's university admission as at one point they never thought that he would have the opportunity to go.

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During an episode of Live back in February, Kelly explained to her co-host Ryan Seacrest: "Mark and I were Facetiming the other night, and you'll be surprised to know - because you're nothing like this at all - Mark got very emotional and choked up and said, 'I never thought he would be able to go to college,' because he was profoundly dyslexic and dysgraphic."

Kelly and Mark became empty-nesters at the end of August 

Joaquin is the first of the Consuelos children to attend university outside of New York, with his older siblings both having chosen to study close to home.

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Kelly recently shared a selfie of her and Mark sitting on the sofa looking sad, shortly after dropping Joaquin off. "So far we are crushing this empty nest thing," she wrote.

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