As the holiday season approaches, Mina Starsiak Hawk, star of Good Bones, has opened up about her complicated family dynamics. Specifically, her strained relationship with her mother, Karen E. Laine, and her brother, Tad Starsiak, has added a layer of tension to what should be a joyful time of year. Mina recently discussed her plans for Christmas, revealing that neither her mom nor her brother figured directly into her holiday plans.

Mina's Holiday Dilemma

On a recent episode of her podcast, "Mina AF," Mina, 39, shared the challenges she and her husband, Steve Hawk, are navigating this holiday season. The couple, who have two children together—Jack and Charlotte—received not one, but two separate invitations for Christmas celebrations. This situation led to some tough discussions about how they would split their time between the two events.

Mina explained, “My very thoughtful sister plans way ahead of time. She sent out a detailed spreadsheet in September that included everything from pajama sizes to holiday activities, covering everything from Thanksgiving through Christmas.”

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Meanwhile, Steve, 42, was invited to spend Christmas at his grandmother’s house. For Steve, whose immediate family is much smaller due to the tragic loss of his father, mother, and sister within a two-year span, this invitation carried significant emotional weight.

Understanding Steve's Emotional Load

Mina went on to explain the emotional significance of these holiday plans for Steve. “Every conversation about Steve’s family is so heavy for him—and by extension, for me too. I care deeply about making sure he feels loved during the holidays. His core group of people who thought the world of him is so small now. Those are really big shoes to fill, shoes that no one can ever truly fill. But I do my best,” Mina shared.

She admitted that the conversation about their holiday plans could have easily escalated into an argument. However, instead of letting it turn into a fight, the couple decided to tackle the issue head-on with a productive couples’ therapy session. They ultimately agreed to compromise. Their plan? Start the day at Steve’s grandmother’s house and then head over to Mina’s sister’s event later on.

“If we’re a little past the kids’ bedtime, that’s okay. I know how important it is for them to spend time with their grandma and get to know her better. Plus, being with all their cousins is something we both value,” Mina concluded.

A Difficult Holiday Season for the Starsiak Family

This holiday season has been particularly challenging for the Starsiak family. Tensions between Mina, Karen, and Tad reached new heights while filming the eighth and final season of Good Bones. In August, Mina revealed on her podcast that the family dynamic had become strained. “Things have been really tough. I’m not in a great place with my mom and brother right now,” she admitted.

As the holidays approached, Mina’s father, Casey Starsiak, urged his children to mend fences. Mina recounted Casey, 75, telling her, “As the head of this family, I think you need to step up and work on your relationship with Tad. Help him understand where he might have gone wrong, and figure out how you can both move forward in a positive way.”

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Reconciliation on the Horizon?

In a November 21 podcast episode, Mina expressed a willingness to reconcile with Tad—if he apologizes. However, repairing her relationship with Karen seems more complicated. “It’s not one specific thing that my mom and I can pinpoint and say, ‘Okay, I forgive you, and we can move past this.’ It’s a cumulative situation that has been building since I was a child. Undoing all of that is incredibly difficult,” Mina explained.