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The isolation that comes with social distancing and quarantining amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can be a devastating feeling and TV host Kelly Ripa is feeling quite upset. Even though she’s in quarantine with her family, her kids won’t hug her during this time.

Kelly Ripa Announces New Role As Persona Nutrition's Celebrity Brand Ambassador
Kelly Ripa | Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Persona Nutrition)

Ripa got teary-eyed when talking about quarantine

During the Apr. 8 episode of Live With Kelly and Ryan, Ripa and Ryan Seacrest chatted about the quarantine situation and, well, Ripa admitted it’s been tough. She’s missing hugging her parents and her kids, who “won’t hug” her right now.

The co-hosts were discussing how families can watch Who Wants to Be a Millionaire together during this time of social distancing when Ripa broke down.

“Look, I’m not going to lie, OK? I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I’m currently not speaking to two of my three kids right now, OK? I’m not talking to two of them because… just because, we’re all in the same boat together, right?,” she explained. “Like, I haven’t gotten to hug my parents… I want to hug my parents. I miss hugging my parents. And my kids, like, won’t hug me. And I’m like, ‘Guys we’ve all been in lockdown together. We’re fine. You can give me a hug. It’s fine.'”

Ripa added, “Anyway, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying. Maybe I’m just going to get my period, who knows? Sorry… Sorry, did I shout that? Did my inner monologue come out? Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.” 

Seacrest offered up a virtual hug.

Ripa shared her concerns about her kids

In addition to feeling bummed about not getting hugs from her kids, Ripa shared some of her concerns about her children dealing with disappointment and anxiety.

When Ripa and Seacrest discussed that the New York State Education Department announced that the June 2020 Regents exams had been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, she said, “It’s so funny because my youngest, Joaquin, 17… he’s so different than my other two kids (Michael, 22 and Lola, 18), who would have been dancing, just dancing around the house. They would have been so excited” about the canceled tests.

She added, “But he has this level of anxiety from it. He felt so prepared for his exams.” Her son is “not relieved” about the tests, but more than that, she said that the coronavirus situation is “playing into every sense of anxiety that he has in his life.”

“It’s the uncertainty of everything that’s making him very anxious,” Ripa added.

Her son’s graduation isn’t happening

As for her son Michael, Ripa said, “I feel so bad” for him. “He was supposed to graduate in a couple of weeks. And I really feel bad for my dad who delayed having knee surgery that he can’t obviously have now for so many myriad reasons. He was so looking forward to, you know, watching his grandson graduate from college,” she noted.

She continued, “It was such a big talking point in our house. Not only is, it was at Yankee Stadium but then his film school, they have a separate graduation, and that was supposed to be at Radio City. So, two such iconic establishments that you know we’re not going to get to experience. And again, these are small problems considering that so many people are losing their loved ones and [are] very, very sick. But it just, it is what it is, you know I mean. Michael, by the way, is not bothered at all.” 

Seacrest suggested they could hold a “mini-ceremony for him.”

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