Sister Wives: Christine Brown Gets Real About Her Shifting Bond with Janelle

Christine Brown is opening up about her changing relationship with Janelle Brown, especially as more of their kids flock to North Carolina. It's a bittersweet shift, full of emotions and new beginnings.

TL;DR

• Christine Brown feels "crappy" and competitive as her kids, Paedon and Mykelti, move closer to Janelle in North Carolina.
• Paedon's move is deeply motivated by grief over his "best friend" Garrison's death, and a desire to be near Janelle and Maddie.
• Christine and Janelle's long-standing friendship and shared business ventures are becoming increasingly separate, highlighting their individual paths post-Kody.

A Surprising Exodus to North Carolina Changes Everything

If you've been keeping up with Sister Wives, you know that big changes are afoot, especially for Christine Brown. The October 19 episode (and earlier revelations) brought some tough news for Christine, as her son, Paedon, decided to follow his sister, Mykelti, and move all the way to North Carolina. Both are now living closer to Janelle Brown, sparking a mix of emotions for Christine, who’s currently settled in Utah with her husband, David Woolley.

Christine, 53, confessed during a confessional that it's "actually rubbish" to see her kids moving so far away. "Why? Why does he need to move as well? It's hard that my kids don't want to live close to me, yeah, absolutely. What is it about North Carolina that has people moving there? It's insane," she lamented.

Paedon Brown's Heartfelt Reasons for His Big Move

It turns out, Paedon's decision is rooted in something truly poignant: grief. He revealed to his mom that a huge part of his motivation is to be closer to Janelle following the tragic death of her son, Garrison Brown, who passed away by suicide in March 2024. Garrison and Paedon were "best friends," having even joined the military together in 2019. Christine recalled Kody calling them "frick and frack" when they were younger, highlighting their unbreakable bond.

"I mean, Janelle's lost a son, and I lost a best friend. And I really want to be close to her," Paedon, 27, expressed to Christine. He also shared his desire to be near his sister Maddie Brown and her kids, seeking something new outside of Arizona, a place that now holds painful memories.

"I just lost a huge chunk of me, and it's not here," Paedon explained. "I'm trying to find something that isn't here." It's a heartbreaking yet understandable reason for seeking a fresh start.

Mykelti and Tony Also Chose a New Beginning in Carolina

Paedon isn't the only one making the trek to the Tar Heel State. Christine's daughter, Mykelti Brown, and her husband, Tony Padron, also relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, with their three children. Mykelti's reasons are a mix of practical and emotional, including wanting her children to grow up around their cousins (Maddie's kids) and supporting Tony's budding career in chess. Charlotte is even dubbed the "chess capital," making it an ideal professional move for him.

Christine also shared that Mykelti was "exhausted" from trying to keep the fractured Brown family together. This move represented a new beginning for her and her family, a chance to focus on their own unit. While Christine acknowledged the desire for her kids to connect with their "other mom" Janelle, she couldn't help but feel the distance.

Christine's Emotional Struggle as a Mother

Seeing her children gravitate towards Janelle has clearly struck a nerve with Christine. During a candid conversation with her husband David, she admitted to feeling like a "bad mom." "They're picking Janelle instead [of me]," she said, revealing a deep insecurity. She recalled an emotional chat with Janelle where the latter mentioned having "all the grandkids living with me," which made Christine feel like "slapping her."

"Sometimes I feel like a crappy mom because they're not choosing to live next to me. Sometimes I feel like Janelle's a better mom because they're choosing to live next to her."

— Christine Brown, Sister Wives

It's a raw and honest admission that many parents might relate to, especially when children start building their own lives far away. For Christine, who prides herself on close family ties, this geographical shift has undoubtedly been challenging.

The Evolving Dynamic Between Christine and Janelle Brown

Beyond the kids' moves, Christine also confirmed that her relationship with Janelle has fundamentally changed. The two former sister wives, who shared more than two decades of plural marriage with Kody Brown before both leaving him (Christine in Nov 2021, Janelle in Dec 2022), have grown distant. "We haven't talked...for a while," Christine told David, adding that their dynamic is now mostly "business stuff."

Christine explained, "We used to run it more together, but really in life, we used to do everything together and we raised our kids together. And so it's just one more step away from each other."

Navigating Business Ventures Apart After Years Together

Their joint business ventures, which include co-owning rental properties and selling Plexus supplements, have also seen significant changes. Christine expressed a desire to be "more in charge of my business now," a shift that she acknowledged might have "hurt [Janelle's] feelings a little bit."

When David suggested they might be "getting competitive" with each other, Christine didn't disagree, admitting, "Yeah, I always like a good competition. Good competition's good." It seems that as they each forge new independent lives and careers—Janelle with Taeda Farms, her business with Maddie and Caleb, and Christine focusing on her rental properties—their bond is moving from shared endeavors to more separate, albeit supportive, paths.

"We learned how to do things together, and now it's almost like we're learning how to do things apart," Christine reflected. "But it's okay, because, you know, you have to move on and we really have to live our life for the best for us." This sentiment truly encapsulates the new reality for these two women who once shared so much.

What Does This Mean for Their Sister Wife Bond Going Forward?

The latest season of Sister Wives is really pulling back the curtain on the complexities of post-plural marriage life. While Christine and Janelle still share a history and a degree of trust (especially when it comes to their children), the physical distance and their individual focuses are clearly creating an emotional gap. It’s a testament to how profoundly life changes can redefine even the closest relationships. Fans will undoubtedly be watching to see how this dynamic continues to unfold.

New episodes of Sister Wives air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Christine and Janelle Answered Are Christine and Janelle Brown still close? Christine Brown has stated that she and Janelle are no longer as close as they used to be and haven't talked much recently due to living in different states and pursuing separate interests. Their relationship has become more distant. Why are Christine's kids moving to North Carolina? Paedon Brown moved to North Carolina to be closer to Janelle and Maddie, largely driven by his grief over the death of his best friend, Garrison Brown. Mykelti Brown also moved for her husband Tony's chess career and to be closer to Maddie's family, feeling exhausted from trying to keep the wider family together. What businesses do Christine and Janelle run together? Christine and Janelle have co-owned rental properties and also sold Plexus supplements together. However, Christine has expressed a desire to take more individual control of her business affairs, and Janelle is also focused on her separate venture, Taeda Farms. When can I watch new episodes of Sister Wives? New episodes of Sister Wives air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC. Sources

• People.com
• TLC.com
• The Ashley's Reality Roundup
• Soap Opera Spy
• TLCEntertainmentNow.com