Why Joanna Gaines Says She’s a Different Kind of Mom With Son Crew, 6: 'I'm Always in a Tug-of-War with Time'
The Magnolia founder and author, who is releasing a new children's book inspired by her youngest child Crew, says she's more relaxed as a mom these days
Kimmie Salmon
Joanna Gaines has written a new children's book inspired by her son CrewJoanna Gaines is leaning into having a younger child in the house, now that her oldest four kids have entered their teenage years and are gaining more independence.
"My older kids are at that age where they’re kind of starting the exit," says the 46-year-old in a conversation with PEOPLE in advance of her new kids book. She and her husband Chip, 50, welcomed Crew in 2019.
"Knowing that they’ll be gone in the next few years, I’ve made a conscious decision to create micro-moments, to feel in the now with our family, just be really more intentional with our time together. And hopefully, try and slow it all down a bit!"
She's enjoying slowing down and being able to give Crew some quiet one-on-one time.
"I feel like I'm always in a tug-of-war with time, " she says. "So even though things are still really busy, my spirit feels more grounded."
That effort coincides with releasing a new children's book, The World Needs the Wonder You See, inspired by days with Crew, who she says has always exhibited wonder at the world around him.
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"I just love watching him and how he moves throughout his day," Gaines says. "He’s always looking out the window, the first to notice something. He has the childlike faith like, 'If I just look, I’ll find something.'"
She adds, "A lot of us have that when we’re younger, but then I feel like we stop expecting wonder because we’re so busy. And he’s just inspired me to live like he does."
Related: Joanna Gaines Reveals Why Son Crew Brings Her These Sweet Gifts ‘Every Day’ (Exclusive)
When she decided to write the book, her first order of business was to interview Crew on her porch.
"I did about a 15-minute interview with him in 2023," she says. "I just said, 'Crew, what do you see?' And that was really what started this concept of the illustrations, and the story happening in the book."
She says that he's really taught her to make sure to take time to put her phone down, take some breathers, and look around at nature.
"I feel like as adults, our problems get bigger — the weight of our work, the weight of our responsibility. But we all have a childlike heart in us," she says. "So now and then, I’ll go out in the garden and just go stare at a bloom, look at all the wonder in that flower the way Crew does with a bug. And there’s something about that perspective shift that floods you with gratitude, and just thankfulness for all that is out there for us."
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While she says she's still grappling with how quickly her older kids Drake, 19, Ella, 18, Duke, 16, and Emmie, 15, became young adults, having a little one around is a blessing.
“With my older kids I feel like it all went so fast,” she says. “Having Crew makes me feel younger, and really anchors me. It’s been such a gift.”
The World Needs the Wonder You See by Joanna Gaines comes out Jan. 28 from Tommy Nelson and is available now for preorder, wherever books are sold.
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