And Just Like That, The Kardashians are Relatable. Allow Me to Explain.

A Look Inside Our Reality Show

The Kardashians (from left: Khloé Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian Barker, and Kylie Jenner)

Living a parallel life to the Kardashians wasn’t exactly on my 2025 bingo card. After all, what could a middle-aged suburban mom of two possibly have in common with this globe-trotting, Midas-touched dynasty of femme fatales? But before you assume I’ve hit a multi-million dollar jackpot, let me explain.

In Season 6, Episode 9 of The Kardashians on Hulu, the family celebrates Tristan Thompson's brother Amari’s 18th birthday. Known for their extravagant parties, this gathering felt markedly different for the Kardashian clan—yet instantly familiar to any parent of a medically fragile child.

You see, Amari has a severe form of epilepsy that causes him to experience multiple seizures a day. With this in mind, Khloé (who apparently planned the event herself), chose to host the party at Tristan’s home, opting for a simple celebration with festive balloons and a pile of presents—rather than the usual Kardashian style of opulent venue and over-the-top décor. Though beautiful and heartfelt, the atmosphere carried the unmistakable weight of an occasion meant to be joyous, but tinged with quiet worry. It was the familiar dance so many caregivers have mastered of smiling through sadness, putting on a brave face for a happy moment, all while holding your breath, waiting for the inevitable shift.

Not long into the party, after some slightly strained exchanges with the youngest Kardashians (the children of Kourtney, Khloé, Kim, and Kylie) and a sweet sing along of "Happy Birthday", Amari suffered a seizure. Though his caregivers were by his side and the episode passed quickly, its effect on the partygoers was instant and profound. It was a moment I’ve lived through countless times as a mom during my own thirteen-year journey with my son and it immediately brought me to tears. However, my sadness was almost immediately replaced with gratitude. It's not often that you see someone with a disability featured so prominently on prime-time television. Taking care of someone with profound needs is not glamorous. It's not a lifestyle others will covet and want to emmulate. And it's certainly not what you think of when you hear the name "Kardashian". Yet here it was, for all to see and hopefully, understand. In that, I felt seen.

Over the years, we’ve found ourselves in countless situations like this. There was the seizure inside the bounce house at our dear friends' child's birthday party, triggered by overexcitement. The seizure at the family picnic from overheating. The one at the local petting zoo, caused by the pure joy of feeding a cow. And just last year, there was the seizure on Christmas morning, right in the middle of opening presents. These moments, much like the one portrayed on The Kardashians, are gut-wrenching. You feel a deep physical pain from the fear and helplessness. You mourn the happy day you had envisioned, yet somehow, you push forward. It’s a pain my family shares with so many others in similar situations, and seeing it reflected on TV was unexpectedly cathartic.

In the moments after Amari's seizure at the birthday party, Kris (Jenner) stepped away from the table to compose herself as tears overwhelmed her. Khloé, who has experienced many of Amari's seizures before, rushed to her side to provide comfort and reassurance. "He's okay," she said. "Have you never seen one before?" "No," Kris replied tearfully. "Okay, it's okay. He's okay. Everything's fine." If I had a nickel for every time I've had that exact conversation with an overcome family member or friend, I'd be--well, I'd be a Kardashian.

So, what can we take away from this unexpected episode of one of my all-time favorite TV shows? (Don’t judge—I’d totally change my name to Karinne if I could.) Here are the top three things I think they portrayed beautifully, which could really make a positive impact on how our medically fragile children are viewed in the community and how we as caregivers and family members can grow from the gift of having them in our lives.

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1. Inclusivity Starts at Home

   Early in the party, Kim Kardashian was speaking with her daughter and another child as they hesitated, looking at Amari in his wheelchair, unable to speak. "Are you girls a little bit scared?" she asked. "There’s no need to be," she added, "but it’s okay if you are." This kind of honest conversation, though sometimes uncomfortable, is crucial for parents to have with their kids. After all, it's natural to feel wary of people, places, and things we don't understand. But when parents show how to treat those who don’t fit the "typical" mold, those fears start to fade. Children go from fearful to curious, and from curious to comfortable. "I think it’s so important that they play with him and really get to know him," Kim said to the camera. And she’s absolutely right. In a world that celebrates countless "Awareness Months," true inclusivity isn’t just about raising awareness—it’s about fostering real connections and understanding. Just ask the siblings of children with special needs. They’ve grown up alongside these experiences, and if there’s one thing they know, it’s how to see the person beyond the diagnosis.

   
   

2. Release Control to Gain Perspective

   This one is tough—especially for those of us who are natural fixers. When we see a problem, we instinctively search for a solution, no matter how creative we have to get. But when it comes to a chronic medical condition, uncertainty is a constant companion, lurking in the background. For me, it feels like a fifth member of our family who tags along wherever we go. Emergencies can arise without warning, and no amount of meticulous planning can guarantee complete control. Every outing is approached with caution, and even when you think you've anticipated every possible scenario, something unexpected always seems to slip through the cracks. Khloé summed the experience up perfectly when she said,"My mom is someone that always wants to help somebody else and she normally can fix problems. So in this situation I think she feels so terrible because it's something she has no control over whatsoever and she doesn't know what to do and she feels really helpless."

   
   

   After thirteen years of living this reality day in and day out, I have learned, despite my resistance, that I have to find a way to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. It's been said that the brain of a parent of a child with special needs mirrors that of a combat soldier in that we're both always on the lookout, scanning for threats, evaluating our surroundings for danger or the enemy. Living in this heightened state of vigilance takes a toll, which is why learning to find peace within the chaos isn’t just important—it’s essential. For the well-being of both ourselves and our families, we must find ways to adapt, establish a new normal, and create space for joy amid the unpredictability.

3. Feel Your Feelings (All of Them)

   We often feel the urge to fix the pain of ourselves or others—it's just human nature. When we see someone crying, we instinctively offer a hug or a comforting pat on the back, telling them, "Don't cry." But what I really admire about this episode of The Kardashians is how it embraced the sadness, the tears, and the helplessness that families of medically fragile children experience. "Today was rough. It was rough," Kris said, reflecting on the day’s events. "I'm glad I was here. I'm glad I was here for Amari. I'm glad I was here for Khloé."

   
   

   At the end of the day, after the excitement has calmed and things return to "normal," it's the presence of the people who showed up—those who supported, interacted, and embraced your child as part of the family—that stays with us. In this journey of what I call "Advanced Placement Parenting," we often yearn for the carefree, joyful moments we imagined before our child's diagnosis. But when we finally learn to accept--and deeply feel--the full range of human emotion, the high highs and the low lows, that's when we’re truly living.

Amari Thompson and Khloé Kardashian Photo: Khloé Kardashian/Instagram