When Kylie Kelsey told Taylor Swift, “Taylor, maybe we could have a fifth baby in November 2025, it excited Taylor.” But Kylie’s eventual decision, “Actually, no. I need to be honest with myself and Taylor’s fear. Travis wants kids, but I don’t know if I’m ready,” led to their conversation about being ready for motherhood, partner expectations, and knowing your own limits, which would teach Taylor to be patient about timing.

November 28th, 2025. 2:30 p.m. Taylor Swift sat in Kylie Kelsey’s warm and chaotic Philadelphia kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee while the sounds of children playing echoed from the living room. She’d flown in from Nashville that morning to spend the weekend with her future sister-in-law while Travis was traveling with the Chiefs.

And she always found these visits both comforting and slightly overwhelming. Kylie’s house was everything Taylor’s wasn’t lived in. Noisy, full of toys and fingerprints and the beautiful mess that came with four children under 7 years old. Wyatt, now six, was helping four-year-old Elliot build something elaborate with Legos.

2-year-old Bennett was in the middle of what appeared to be a full-blown tantrum about the color of his sippy cup. And baby Finley, now 8 months old, was napping upstairs after what Kylie had described as the nap battle of the century. I don’t know how you do it, Taylor said honestly, watching Kylie effortlessly negotiate with Bennett about the sippy cup while simultaneously starting preparations for dinner.

For kids, Jason, schedule your own life. You make it look so easy. Kylie laughed, though there was a tired edge to it. Easy is definitely not the word I’d use. Controlled chaos, maybe. And that’s on a good day. But you love it, right? Taylor asked, genuinely curious. She’d been thinking about children more and more lately, especially since Travis had started dropping increasingly obvious hints about wanting to start a family soon after their June wedding.

“I love my kids more than life itself,” Kylie said without hesitation, finally resolving the sippy cup crisis by offering Bennett a completely different cup. “But loving them and finding it easy are two very different things.” Taylor nodded, stirring her coffee absently. “Travis keeps talking about kids like a lot.

and I want them too, I think. But sometimes I feel like I’m not ready, and then other times I’m desperate to be a mom, and I can’t figure out which feeling is real. Kylie paused in her dinner prep and looked at Taylor with understanding. That’s completely normal. Anyone who tells you they were 100% ready to become a parent is either lying or has a very short memory.

Really? Really? I was terrified before Wyatt, convinced I’d be a terrible mother. With Elliot, I worried I wouldn’t be able to love another baby as much as I loved Wyatt. With Bennett, Kylie glanced at her 2-year-old, who was now happily drinking from his new cup. I was scared about the terrible two’s face, and honestly, I was right to be.

And with Finley? Kylie trailed off. What about with Finley? Kylie sat down across from Taylor, her expression becoming more serious. with Finley. I wasn’t sure if I wanted another baby or if Jason wanted another baby and I was just going along with it, Taylor felt a chill of recognition. And how did you figure that out? Honestly, I’m still figuring it out, Kylie admitted, which is actually something I wanted to talk to you about.

Here’s what Kylie said next that would completely surprise Taylor. Jason and I have been talking about having a fifth baby, Kylie said, her voice carefully neutral. Taylor’s eyes widened. “Really? Maybe,” Kylie said. But there was something hesitant in her tone that Taylor immediately picked up on. “Jason’s been hinting at it for a while now.

He loves being a dad, loves the chaos, loves having a full house.” And part of me thinks, “Maybe we could do it again. That’s so exciting,” Taylor said though she was watching Kylie’s face carefully. “How do you feel about it?” Kylie was quiet for a moment, absently wiping down the counter that was already clean. I don’t know. That’s the problem.

I really don’t know. What do you mean? I mean that when Jason brings it up, I automatically start thinking about logistics instead of getting excited. Kylie said slowly as if she was working through her thoughts as she spoke. I think about how we’d need to get a bigger car, how I’d have to rearrange the kids’ rooms again, how we’d manage five different schedules.

I don’t think about holding a baby or watching the kids with another sibling. Taylor leaned forward. And that bothers you. It bothers me because I remember being so excited when we talked about each of the other kids. Kylie said, “Even when I was scared, I was excited. This time I just feel tired thinking about it.

” “Tired? How?” Kylie sighed deeply, glancing toward the living room where Bennett had moved on to dumping out an entire box of crayons. Taylor, can I be completely honest with you about something? Ofcourse. I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water with four kids. Finley still isn’t sleeping through the night consistently.

Bennett is in full terrible twos mode. Tantrums, defiance, the works. Elliot is starting to have some anxiety about starting kindergarten next year. And Wyatt is growing up so fast that I feel like I’m missing important moments with her because I’m always dealing with whoever needs the most urgent attention. Taylor felt her heart clenched with sympathy.

“That sounds overwhelming.” “It is overwhelming,” Kylie confirmed. “And the thing is, I love being their mom. I love each of them individually, and I love our family. But I’ve started to wonder if adding another baby would mean I’d be even less present for the kids I already have. Have you talked to Jason about this?” a little, but he’s so excited about the idea, and he’s such a great dad, and part of me feels guilty for not being as enthusiastic as he is.

” Taylor nodded, understanding the feeling of pressure from a partner’s expectations all too well. “What do you think you want to do?” “I think,” Kylie paused as if saying it out loud would make it real. “I think I want to focus on being the best mom I can be to the four kids I have, instead of stretching myself even thinner with a fifth.

” As soon as the words left her mouth, Kylie looked almost surprised by her own clarity. Actually, she continued, her voice becoming stronger. I don’t think I want a fifth baby at all. I think I’ve been trying to talk myself into it because Jason wants it, but what I really want is to have the bandwidth to be more present for Wyatt and Elliot and Bennett and Finley.

Trust me, what Taylor confessed next revealed her own complex feelings about motherhood. Kylie, Taylor said slowly. Can I tell you something that I’ve never said out loud to anyone? Please do. I’m terrified that I want kids for the wrong reasons, Taylor admitted. Like, sometimes I think I want them because Travis wants them so much or because it’s what people expect or because I have this romantic idea of what motherhood will be like.

But then other times I see you with your kids or I see Travis with his nieces and I feel this overwhelming urge to have a baby right now and that scares you. It scares me because I can’t tell which feeling is real, Taylor said, her voice becoming vulnerable. What if I have a baby and then realize I wasn’t ready? What if I’m a terrible mother? What if I resent giving up parts of my career? What if I don’t love it the way everyone says I will? Kylie reached across the table and took Taylor’s hand.

Taylor, the fact that you’re asking yourself these questions probably means you’ll be a great mom when you’re ready. How can you be sure? Because terrible mothers don’t worry about being terrible mothers, Kylie said simply. They just assume they’ll be great. The fact that you’re thinking seriously about what motherhood means and what you want from it, that’s actually a really good sign.

But how do you know when you’re ready? I don’t think anyone ever feels completely ready, Kylie said honestly. But I think there’s a difference between the normal fear that comes with a big life change and the kind of uncertainty you’re describing. What do you mean? I mean that when Jason and I talked about having Wyatt, I was scared but excited.

When we talked about Elliot, I was worried but hopeful. Even with Bennett and Finley, despite my concerns, part of me was genuinely looking forward to meeting them and adding them to our family. And with the hypothetical fifth baby, with the fifth baby, I realize I’ve been trying to convince myself to feel excited instead of actually feeling excited, Kylie said.

and that’s telling me something important about where I am in my life right now. Taylor nodded thoughtfully. So, you think if I’m constantly going back and forth about whether I want kids, that means I’m not ready? Not necessarily, Kylie said carefully. I think it means you’re being thoughtful about one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make.

But, Taylor, can I ask you something? Sure. When you imagine yourself in 5 years, what do you see? Taylor considered the question seriously. I see myself still making music, but maybe in a different way, less touring, more intentional projects. I see myself married to Travis, settled somewhere. And I see I do see kids.

I see myself as a mom. And how does that image make you feel? Happy, Taylor said immediately, then paused. But also terrified. Terrified of what specifically? Terrified that I won’t be good enough. That I’ll mess them up somehow. that I’ll lose myself completely in motherhood and never find my way back to who I am as an artist.

Here’s what Kylie told Taylor next that changed her entire perspective on timing. Taylor, Kylie said gently, can I share something with you that I wish someone had told me before I had kids? Please. Motherhood doesn’t erase who you are. Kylie said it adds to who you are.Yes, it changes you dramatically permanently, but the core of who you are doesn’t disappear.

If anything, becoming a mother has made me more myself in some ways. How so? Because it forced me to figure out what really mattered to me. Kylie explained. Before kids, I could be wishy-washy about my priorities. I could put off making hard decisions about how I wanted to spend my time and energy. But with kids, you have to choose.

You have to decide what’s truly important because you literally don’t have time for everything. That sounds overwhelming. Can be, but it’s also clarifying. Like, I used to worry about a lot of things that don’t matter at all. I used to stress about perfect houses and perfect schedules and perfect everything.

Now I care about whether my kids feel loved and secure. I care about being present for the moments that matter. Everything else is just noise. Taylor absorbed this, thinking about her own relationship with perfectionism and control. But what about career? Taylor asked, “How do you balance wanting to be a good mom with wanting to have your own identity?” “Honestly, it’s a daily negotiation,” Kylie admitted.

“Some days I feel like I’m nailing it, and other days I feel like I’m failing at everything. But I’ve learned that balance doesn’t mean giving equal time to everything. It means being intentional about your choices.” What do you mean? I mean that some seasons of life are more focused on family and some are more focused on other things.

When Finley was born, I basically put everything else on hold for a few months because that’s what our family needed. But now that she’s older, I’m starting to think about what I want to do next for myself. And you’re okay with that flexibility? I’ve had to learn to be okay with it, Kylie said. Because the alternative is driving myself crazy trying to do everything perfectly all the time.

Taylor nodded, feeling like she was beginning to understand something important. Kylie, can I ask you something else? Of course. How do you handle it when Jason wants something different than what you want? Like with the fifth baby. Kylie smiled rofully. That’s actually something I’m still learning. For a long time, I thought being a good wife meant wanting the same things my husband wanted.

But I’m realizing that’s not fair to either of us. What do you mean? I mean that Jason fell in love with me, not with some version of me who always agrees with him. And if I pretend to want things I don’t actually want, I end up resentful and he ends up confused about why I’m not happy.

So, what are you going to do about the fifth baby? I’m going to tell him the truth, Kylie said. And as she said it, Taylor could see her becoming more resolute. I’m going to tell him that I’ve been trying to convince myself to want another baby because he wants one, but that what I actually want is to be more present for the kids we already have.

And you think he’ll understand? I think he’ll be disappointed initially, Kylie said honestly. But I also think he’ll respect my honesty. And ultimately, I think he wants me to be happy more than he wants another baby. You’re really sure about this decision? I’m getting there, Kylie said. And Taylor could hear the certainty growing in her voice.

Actually, talking to you about it is helping me realize how sure I am. I don’t want a fifth baby. I want to focus on being the best mom I can be to Wyatt, Elliot, Bennett, and Finley. Wait. until you hear what realization Taylor came to about her own situation. Kylie, Taylor said slowly. Listening to you figure this out is making me realize something about myself.

What’s that? I think I’ve been trying to force myself to make a decision about kids on Travis’s timeline instead of my own. Taylor admitted like he’s so excited about starting a family that I’ve been feeling guilty for not being ready right now. And how does it feel to think about it that way? Relieving, actually. Taylor said, surprised by her own response.

Because it means my uncertainty isn’t a character flaw or a sign that I don’t want kids. It just means I’m not ready yet. Exactly, Kylie said encouragingly. And there’s nothing wrong with not being ready yet. You’re 35, not 45. You have time to figure it out. But what if Travis gets impatient? What if he wants to start trying right after we get married? Then you’ll have an honest conversation with him about where you are and what you need.

Kylie said firmly. Taylor, if Travis loves you, and he obviously does, he’ll want you to feel good about the decision to have kids, not pressured into it. You think so? I know so. And honestly, if he can’t respect that you need more time to feel ready for something as life-changing as becoming a parent, then maybe that tells you something important about whether he’s ready to be a good father.

Taylor felt a weight lifting off her shoulders that she hadn’t even realized she was carrying. I think I’ve been so focused on trying to figure out if I want kidsthat I haven’t really thought about when I want kids, Taylor said. And when do you think you want kids? Taylor considered this carefully. I think I want to be married for a while first.

I want Travis and me to have some time to just be us, to travel together, to figure out our life as a couple before we add kids to the mix. That sounds really smart. I think I want to get through this transition with my career, figuring out how to step back from touring without losing myself entirely, Taylor continued, her thoughts becoming clearer as she spoke.

And I want to make sure that when I do have kids, it’s because I genuinely want to be a mom, not because it’s what everyone expects or because my biological clock is ticking. How long do you think that might take? Maybe a couple of years, Taylor said tentatively. like maybe when I’m 37 or 38. Old enough to feel more settled in my marriage and my career, but young enough that pregnancy isn’t automatically high risk.

That sounds perfect, Kylie said warmly. And Taylor, 2 years from now, you might feel completely different. You might be desperate for a baby or you might want to wait even longer. And either of those things would be okay, too. You really think so? I really think so. The most important thing is that you make the choice based on what you actually want, not on what other people want or what you think you should want.

Here’s what happened when Jason came home. That changed everything for both women. At 6:00 p.m., Jason walked through the front door looking tired but happy. Immediately scooped up by Bennett, who had been waiting by the window for Daddy’s car. The 2-year-old launched into an animated but largely incomprehensible story about his day, complete with dramatic gestures and sound effects.

Wow, buddy, that sounds like quite an adventure, Jason said, lifting Bennett into a bear hug before spotting Taylor and Kylie in the kitchen. Taylor, what a nice surprise. How are the wedding plans going? Good, Taylor said with a smile. Though, I think I’m driving myself a little crazy with all the details. She’s been helping me figure some things out, Kylie said, giving Taylor a meaningful look.

Oh, yeah. What kind of things? Jason asked, settling Bennett on his lap while Wyatt and Elliot came running to greet him. Just life stuff, Kylie said carefully. Jason, can we talk later tonight after the kids are in bed? Jason looked between Kylie and Taylor, clearly sensing something important had happened, but not wanting to press with children around. Of course, he said.

Everything okay? Everything’s great, Kylie said. And Taylor was surprised to hear how genuine she sounded. really great. I just have some thoughts I want to share with you. Later, after dinner and baths and the extended bedtime routine that came with four children under seven, Taylor found herself helping Kylie clean up the kitchen while Jason got Finley settled for the night.

Are you nervous about talking to him? Taylor asked quietly. A little, Kylie admitted, but also relieved. Like, I’ve been carrying this uncertainty around for months, and now I know what I actually want. That feels good. I’m proud of you, Taylor said sincerely. I’m proud of you, too, Kylie replied. For giving yourself permission to not have everything figured out yet.

Can I ask you one more thing? Anything. How do I tell Travis that I want to wait without making him feel like I don’t want his kids specifically? You tell him exactly what you told me. Kylie said that you do want kids, that you want his kids, but that you want to make sure you’re ready to be the mom they deserve.

and you tell him that waiting doesn’t mean you love him less. It means you love your future family enough to want to do it right. Taylor felt tears in her eyes. That’s beautiful. It’s also true, Kylie said. And Taylor, if Travis is half the man I think he is, he’ll understand. He might be disappointed about the timing, but he’ll understand.

When Jason came back downstairs, Taylor took it as her cue to leave, hugging both of them goodbye and thanking Kylie for the conversation. Have a safe flight back, Kylie said. And text me after you talk to Travis. I want to know how it goes. I will, Taylor promised. And you text me after you talk to Jason. Deal.

Here’s what Taylor realized on the flight home that changed everything for her. As Taylor’s private jet flew through the clear November night toward Nashville, she felt clearer about her future than she had in months. The conversation with Kylie had helped her understand that her uncertainty about children wasn’t a flaw or a sign that she didn’t want them.

It was a sign that she was taking the decision seriously. She thought about Travis and how excited he got when he talked about their future family. She thought about how patient he’d been with her career demands and how supportive he’d been of her decision to step back from touring. If anyone would understand her need for more time, it would be him.

She alsothought about Kylie’s courage in being honest about not wanting a fifth baby, even though it might disappoint Jason. That kind of honesty, about your own limits, about what you actually wanted versus what you thought you should want, was something Taylor knew she needed to practice more. By the time she landed in Nashville, Taylor had decided to have an honest conversation with Travis about children as soon as he got back from his road trip.

She would tell him that she did want kids, but that she wanted to wait until she felt more settled in their marriage and her career. She would tell him that her uncertainty wasn’t about him or about their relationship. It was about wanting to be the best possible mother when the time came. Most importantly, she would tell him that she trusted him to be patient with her timeline, just as she had been patient with his.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Kylie. Just finished talking to Jason. He was disappointed but understanding. said he’d rather have a wife who was honest about what she wanted than one who pretended to want what he wanted. Thanks for helping me figure out what I actually wanted. How are you feeling? Taylor typed back. Clear.

For the first time in months, I feel clear about what I want and when I want it. Thank you for showing me that it’s okay to take my time. Kylie’s response came immediately. It’s more than okay. It’s smart. Can’t wait to see you as a mom when you’re ready. Two days later, something happened that proved both women had made the right decisions.

November 30th, 2025, Travis returned from his road trip to find Taylor waiting for him with a bottle of wine and a serious expression. “We need to talk,” she said. But she was smiling. So Travis didn’t panic. “Good talk or bad talk?” he asked, settling beside her on the couch. “Good talk,” Taylor said. “Important talk.

” She told him everything about her conversation with Kylie, about her realization that she’d been trying to force herself to be ready for kids on his timeline, about her desire to wait until she felt more settled as his wife before she became a mother. Travis listened without interrupting, and when she finished, he was quiet for a long moment.

“Taylor,” he said finally, “I’m sorry if I made you feel pressured.” “You didn’t pressure me,” Taylor said quickly. I pressured myself, but I wanted to be honest with you about where I am right now. I appreciate that, Travis said. And for what it’s worth, I think waiting is probably smart. I want you to feel excited about having kids, not anxious about it. Really, really.

Besides, Travis added with a grin. It’ll be nice to have you all to myself for a while. Meanwhile, Kylie’s conversation with Jason had gone similarly well. He’d admitted that he’d been so caught up in the idea of another baby that he hadn’t really considered how stretched thin Kylie already felt with four kids. They’d agreed to focus on being the best parents they could to their existing children, and Jason had started taking on more of the daily child care responsibilities to help Kylie feel less overwhelmed. The decision also had an

immediate positive impact on their family dynamics. Without the pressure of considering a fifth baby, Kylie found herself more present and patient with Bennett’s terrible twos behavior. She started having individual dates with each child, taking Wyatt to the movies, doing art projects with Elliot, having one-on-one playtime with Bennett, and enjoying quiet moments with Finley without feeling guilty about not giving equal attention to everyone simultaneously.

What do you think about Kylie’s decision to prioritize her existing children over having a fifth baby? Have you ever had to choose between what your partner wanted and what felt right for you? Share your thoughts about knowing your own limits and being honest about them in the comments below. And don’t forget to hit that like button if this story showed you the importance of taking your time with major life decisions.

Looking back from today, December 22nd, 2025, that conversation between Taylor and Kylie marked an important turning point for both women. It helped them understand that being a good partner doesn’t mean always wanting the same things as your spouse. It means being honest about what you want and trusting that love can accommodate different timelines and different needs.

For Kylie, the conversation gave her permission to acknowledge that she was already stretched to her limit with four children and that wanting to focus on being a better mother to them rather than adding a fifth child was not selfish. It was self-aware. The terrible two’s phase with Bennett had been particularly challenging.

and admitting that she didn’t have the bandwidth for another baby while managing his developmental stage was an act of honesty that ultimately strengthened her marriage. For Taylor, it provided clarity that her uncertainty about having children wasn’t a character flaw,but a sign that she was taking the decision seriously.

She learned that wanting to wait until she felt ready wasn’t the same as not wanting children at all, and that her timeline didn’t have to match Travis’s initial hopes. Most importantly, both women learned that honest communication with their partners about their real feelings and needs, even when those feelings might be disappointing, was the foundation of a strong marriage.

By being truthful about what they wanted and when they wanted it, they were able to build relationships based on authenticity rather than accommodation. The decision to wait, whether it was about having children or having more children, became a choice that strengthened their relationships rather than straining them.

And that lesson would serve both couples well as they continued building their lives together, making decisions based on what felt right for their families rather than what they thought they should