Mina Starsiak Hawk Opens Up About Her Estrangement From Mom Karen E. Laine

On August 12, Mina Starsiak Hawk took to Instagram to share pictures from her son Jack's 5th birthday bash. But as fans scrolled through the photos, they noticed one key person missing from the celebration—her mom, Karen E. Laine. Mina, the beloved Good Bones host, spilled new details about her strained relationship with her mother during an episode of her "Mina AF" podcast on September 20.

Now, here's the thing: Mina didn't shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. She opened up to her listeners, saying, "You can still judge me for not inviting my mom to Jack’s birthday party. You can dislike me for it. You can still think I’m the problem, which I’m for sure part of the problem. But let me tell you, I’m working on it. It’s not easy, but I’m trying my best." It was a raw and honest admission that resonated with many listeners who tuned in.

Behind the Rift: A Complicated Family Dynamic

Mina isn’t just a star on HGTV; she’s also a mom to two adorable kids—her 3-year-old daughter, Charlotte, and her son, Jack, both of whom she shares with her husband, Steve Hawk. During the podcast, Mina explained that her estrangement from her mom isn’t tied to one specific incident. Instead, it’s a collection of moments that have piled up over the years, creating a rift that feels nearly impossible to mend.

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“It’s not been one thing that my mom and I can go back to, and I can say, ‘OK, I forgive you and we’re going to go past this one thing,’” she explained. “It’s a cumulative situation from the time I can remember when I was 3 of things that have created the situation that we’re in now. And let me tell you, it’s incredibly hard to undo.”

Repairing Relationships: One Step at a Time

Mina first revealed her strained relationship with her mom and brothers, Tad and William Starsiak, during an earlier podcast episode on August 28. Since then, she’s managed to mend fences with William. “William and I are good, we’ve squashed it,” she proudly shared during the latest episode. But the road to reconciliation with others in her family remains uncertain, especially as the final season of Good Bones airs on HGTV.

“I’m not sure if I’ve ever been at a point where I would say, ‘I’m good, I got it, I’m not the problem, you figure your stuff out and then come talk to me,’ and those are actually words my mom has said to me,” she confessed. “I’m not sure if she meant them at the time. I’m not sure if she felt them then or still feels them now. But here’s the truth: when you’re trying to engage with someone who doesn’t think they have an active role in the current relationship status, it’s like banging your head against a brick wall.”

Setting Boundaries: A Necessary but Painful Choice

Mina, the owner of Two Chicks and a Hammer, has made the tough decision to step back from certain family members. “My brother Tad said some really awful stuff to me, and I’m sure he would say that I’ve said some awful stuff to him too,” she recalled. “But the most recent stuff he said to me, he can’t say it’s not what he said. He can’t say I misunderstood. It’s in text and it’s black and white, and that was kind of my final straw there.”

After having a heartfelt conversation with her husband, Steve, Mina realized that Tad wasn’t someone she wanted in her life moving forward. “He’s just not a good person for me to be around,” she concluded. Now, Mina is very deliberate about which family members she communicates with regularly.

“Charlotte’s birthday was this past weekend, and my mom didn’t call or text or give her a card or drop a present on the door,” Mina said, her voice cracking with emotion. “And I know she feels like she has very valid reasons for not working on developing relationships with my kids. But I just can’t understand that. It breaks my heart.”

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At the end of the podcast episode, Mina opened up about the challenges of navigating life after setting boundaries with her mom and brother. “My life is crazy, and I have a lot of really, really amazing people in it who support me,” she shared. “But I also have people in it who don’t. And for those who don’t, I’m not going to waste my energy and effort on them. I’ve got to focus on what’s truly important.”