Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are officially empty nesters, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped being present parents. Over the weekend, the couple visited the University of Michigan to support their youngest son, Joaquin Antonio Consuelos, and their detailed explanation of their time with him showed just how much they enjoyed their visit.
On the Feb. 24 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, the couple shared details about their weekend with Joaquin. They mentioned that Joaquin went from the stage to the wrestling mat, which left them in awe. The visit gave Ripa and Consuelos a front-row seat to their son’s achievements, proving that even though he’s away at college, they’re still his biggest supporters.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Conseulos joke they had their ‘doubts’ about Joaquin’s college endeavors
During their visit, Ripa and Consuelos had the chance to watch Joaquin perform in a production of A Few Good Men. The couple, who discussed the trip on Live with Kelly and Mark, couldn’t hide their happiness over his performance. “It was extraordinary,” Ripa said, while Consuelos praised the entire cast for their hard work.
The weekend wasn’t just about theater. Joaquin, who is also a member of the University of Michigan’s wrestling team, had his senior night, which was an important ritual in his college athletic career. The proud parents quickly switched from theater mode to wrestling mode, making sure they were there to support him in both aspects of his college life. “To do both programs—Division 1 sports and a demanding theater schedule—is really, really tough,” Consuelos said. “There were doubts that we would get to this point, but I’m really, really proud of him.”
They left a funny message for him on their podcast
However, before wrapping up the episode, they left a funny message for him in classic parent style. They told him they knew he was probably sleeping, but he should get up and go to class.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have never held back when it comes to appreciating their children and showing up for them. In 2021, when Joaquin graduated from high school and announced his decision to attend the University of Michigan, his parents shared their excitement, with Ripa even posting a playful Instagram Story, celebrating the moment in her bathrobe while Joaquin wore his graduation robe. With Joaquin’s parents cheering him on, it’s clear that his journey is just getting started.