Joanna Gaines Opens Up About Daughter – Goodbye Feels Harder

Joanna Gaines has already watched one of her children leave for college. But she has a surprising confession. Watching the second one go will be “even harder.”

While Chip and Joanna Gaines‘ oldest son, Drake (20) left for college two years ago, seeing 18-year-old daughter Ella fly the nest this fall will be even harder.

In an interview with People, Joanna says, “Ella, our second kiddo, she’s graduating this year, so we’re going through that again with another kid leaving the nest and trying to stay emotionally stable.”

Chip asks Joanna, “Do you think this is going to be harder [than with Drake?]”

Joanna confesses, “Yes. I think there’s an emotional difference. With Ella, we love to go to antiques shops, plant shops and go get coffee — that’s our rhythm. I kind of feel like I’m losing a friend in my everyday life.”

“It feels like what’s coming this summer will be a tidal wave of emotions, and I am not going to brace; I’m going to stand there and take it with him,” Joanna says referring to husband Chip.

The Gaines’ second oldest child, Ella Rose Gaines, graduated from high school May 25.

In an emotional Instagram video on that day, Joanna let the Cyndi Lauper song “Time After Time” hint at her feelings as you hear Ella’s name being announced as she takes the stage to get her diploma. Then the Gaines crew bursts into cheers. Joanna captioned the post, “So very proud ❤️💙❤️”

The video ends with Joanna giving her older daughter a big hug.

Joanna Gaines Says Daughter Ella Is Determined to Carve Her Own Path

While Drake Gaines attends the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas about an hour from the Gaines’ Waco farm, Ella is casting her sights on more exotic adventures.

Joanna Gaines says Ella is determined to carve her own path. “She’s excited about going somewhere and just being known for her,” Joanna reveals. “She’s like, ‘I don’t want anyone knowing that you’re…I just want to go and be myself.'”

And while Joanna admits that it will be hard to see her daughter leave, she also says, “I’m excited for her to learn. She’s about to see some stuff. She’s going to teach us stuff.”

While the Gaines’ have not revealed where Ella will attend college, in a May interview with Today.com, Chip said that Ella was exploring colleges farther from home.

“We can’t wait for her to decide. Ella has thought about Korea, she’s thought about sunny Southern California,” Chip says. “She’s not going to be in the Central Texas area when she goes on to her next chapter. She seems excited to be able to spread her wings and do something very unique and outside the bubble.”

And while Chip and Joanna may not be, Chip says Ella is ready. “With Drake, we needed to send him to college to teach him basic survival skills, like how to do laundry,” Chip told Today.com. “Ella is on the exact opposite end of the spectrum. It feels like we’re sending this young lady off to become the next president of the United States. It’s very the sky’s the limit with Ella.”