Kristin Cavallari has set a new standard in dating, shaped by her experiences as a mother.
The former reality TV star revealed that a man without children and who doesn’t want them is now a “deal breaker” for her.
Kristin Cavallari, who shares three children with her ex-husband Jay Cutlerhas also previously reflected on past relationships and parenting lessons that have influenced the way she approaches dating.
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Kristin Cavallari sets a new rule for dating as a mom
Cavallari opened up about a new non-negotiable in her love life, shaped by her experiences as a mom.
On a recent episode of “Let’s Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari,” she was joined by actress Sarah Shahi to talk about co-parenting and relationships after divorce.
During a quick segment on dating preferences, Cavallari said a man who doesn’t have kids and doesn’t want them is now a deal breaker for her.
“It became a new deciding factor for me,” she said. “Someone who doesn’t have children and doesn’t want them, I tell them: ‘You won’t understand my life.'”
Shahi agrees, pointing out that motherhood broadens a woman’s emotional perspective and that a potential partner without children might struggle to relate.
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Both women agreed that parenting changes priorities, making such a partner incompatible. Cavallari, 39, shares three children, Camden, Jaxon and Saylor, with ex-husband Jay Cutler.
They were married for almost seven years before divorcing in 2020.
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The TV personality revealed a parental awakening moment she experienced as a single mother
On the “Let’s Be Honest” podcast, Cavallari also shared a moment of parental awakening after friends of her sons, Camden, 13, and Jaxon, 11, heard her discussing adult topics on her podcast with her former partner, Mark Estes.
She called the incident a “real eye-opener” and said it made her reconsider what she shares publicly.
“At the end of the day, I don’t care what Jax and Camden think of me. They’re my kids,” she told guest Rachel Bilson. “But I can’t say things that might affect them and their friends.”
The “Laguna Beach” star explained that she has since “found this way of saying things without just saying them.”
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Why Kristin Cavallari Broke Up With Mark Estes
In 2024, Kristin Cavallari dated TikTok star Mark Estes, 26, but their relationship ended after seven months.
Sources said Us every week At the time, different long-term goals contributed to the split.
At the time, a source said that although Estes wanted to “settle down and start a family,” Cavallari was happy with her life and her three children, and the 13-year age gap also played a role.
The source added, “As they started to get more serious in their relationship, issues began to surface. They continued to have conversations about the future, but were not aligned.”
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The reality star claimed she only had one ‘big’ date in 2025
During an episode of her podcast, Cavallari revealed that she only went on one “big” date last year, but mostly focused on herself.
“I didn’t date anyone this year, guys. I didn’t date anyone,” she said. People Magazine. “I just went on a date, and it was a great date…I went on a date. But I was excited about going on a date.”
Cavallari then added: “I needed this year to just focus on myself.”
Despite her claim that she wouldn’t date in 2025, Cavallari had already revealed earlier that she had a brief romance with retired NHL player Nate Thompson.
She described their romance in an April 2025 episode as “the most honest, pure, amazing, quote unquote, relationship I’ve ever had.”
The reason Kristin Cavallari ended her brief romance with Nate Thompson
Cavallari praised Thompson, a retired hockey player, as a father and someone who had worked on himself, noting that they had established a deep bond in a short period of time.
“Honestly, it’s one of the deepest relationships I’ve had, especially in such a short period of time,” she said at the time.
Their relationship ended in March after Cavallari realized she “just didn’t want to be in a relationship” at that point.
Cavallari has since admitted that she’s taking a slower approach to dating. The reality star reflected on her romantic life, crediting longtime friend and hairstylist Justin Anderson for providing much of the support she might otherwise seek from a partner.
“Apart from sex, obviously,” she joked, acknowledging a lack in that area.