Kourtney Kardashian has always been a hands-on mom.
Literally, in fact, right from the moment she took matters into her own hands 10 years ago and guided her firstborn son into the world—a scene later watched by 4.8 million Keeping Up With the Kardashian viewers. Hey, the doctor asked if she wanted to, and she did!
Today, that wee baby boy, Mason Disick, is celebrating his 10th birthday—no, thank you for asking, but we do not know where the time went—and that means Kourtney now has a decade of mommy memories behind her.
Mason, of course, was joined by sister Penelope in 2012 and brother and birthday twin Reign in 2014, and his circle of cousins has expanded to seven. But his birth is where the Kardashian baby boom all started, Kris Jenner’s first grandchild and the first member of the next Kard generation.
“You teach me so much every single day and changed my universe the second I met you,” Kourtney paid tribute to her son on his fifth birthday in 2014. ”You have taught me what life is all about and I am truly blessed and honored to be your mommy.”
From his meme-able birth to his cowboy-themed 2nd birthday, to last year’s Fortnite-themed festivities, getting to watch Mason grow up has been one of the biggest perks for devoted Kardashian fans. At the same time, over the past 10 years we’ve watched Kourtney come into her own as a mom, blazing a trail for her sisters and brother, juggling work and play, and figuring out the whole co-parenting thing with her kids’ dad, Scott Disick.
It’s been a journey for one and all, happily punctuated with all sorts of funny, sweet, harrowing and altogether memorable moments.
For starters, of course, there was the extremely calm lead-up to Mason’s debut, when Kourtney—her water having broken—paused to finish her laundry, shower, shave her legs and put on some makeup before heading to the hospital.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Asked later about the experience, Kourtney said giving birth to her son was “surprisingly easy.”
“I always thought your first is supposed to be really hard, but it was easy,” she told Life & Style. “I have an amazing doctor. He actually delivered me! The room environment was just so relaxing, and everyone I wanted to be there was there—Scott, my mom, Kim and Khloe. No one under 18 is allowed in, so my little sisters Kendall and Kylie couldn’t come in. Actually, you’re only allowed to have two people in the room because of the swine flu—so we snuck Kim and Khloe in!”
The swine flu shout-out may be a blast from the past, but as many sisters as possible crowding into the delivery room is the way it has been for this family every since. Kourtney was right by Khloe Kardashian‘s side, too, when her younger sis welcomed daughter True Thompson in April 2018.
Asked if she was already thinking about having another baby, Kourtney said not yet, but she felt that the 18-month age difference between her and next-youngest sister Kim Kardashianmight be a model to go by.
In the meantime, she immersed herself in being a mother of one, making her own baby food, getting rid of her microwave (she read about toxins and decided she’d rather be over-cautious than sorry), taking long walks with Mason in lieu of sprinting back to the gym to get in shape (“carrying him around is like carrying 20 pounds all day,” she told Parenting in 2011), letting him sleep in her bed (she became a proponent of attachment parenting and “co-sleeping just kind of happened naturally,” she told Redbook) and basically adjusting her schedule to suit her son’s.
“I don’t want to judge, but I’ve also met women who think it’s cool to be out or away from their baby, and I don’t get that, either,” Kourtney told Parenting. “When I am out or away, that’s when I most want to be with Mason. I do have help when I’m working. It’s important to have one person I trust, so I know Mason is taken care of. But every time I am not working, he is with me. Even on an airplane, he is with me even if the nanny is also on the plane.”
As for date nights with Scott, “we would be just as happy having a slice of pizza sitting in bed with our son,” she shared.
Kourtney also breastfed Mason for 14 months.
“I’m sure all the family thinks I’m [she mimed “a little crazy”] for having them in the bed and breastfeeding for a long time, but whatever,” she told Redbook in 2014. Khloe has made fun of Kourtney’s hyper-vigilance, such as her various concerns about plastic toys (she’s an advocate for wooden blocks, etc.), but Kourtney shrugs off any and all teasing.
At the same time, despite her unrivaled devotion to her kids—first Mason, and then the same went for Penelope and Reign—there are certain things that might stress out other moms, but that she never freaked out over.
Such as when Kris was on her about getting Mason’s nursery all set up by the time he arrived: “I was like, ‘People used to have babies in caves; it’s going to be okay,'” Kourtney recalled her reply.
There may be no bigger child-size wardrobes than the ones in the homes of assorted Kardashian parents, but Kourtney also cherishes certain hand-me-downs, and few things were more precious than Penelope wearing a pair of her brother’s pajamas.
Kourtney considered but ultimately nixed the idea of a water birth at home when she was pregnant with baby no. 2, and Penelope ended up being born at the hospital, like her brother. Her mom did, however, help pluck her out when she was halfway into the world, just as was the case with Penelope’s big brother.
“Kourtney just loves to pull out her own children,” Khloe reflected afterward.
Mason insisted that his sister’s name was “Sister” at first, but he eventually got the hang of the new girl in town.
Penelope is closest in age, however, to cousin North West, who was born 11 months later, and Kourtney and Kim have collaborated on several joint birthday bashes for their daughters, including a Moana-themed affair in 2017, a sparkly unicorn bash awash in rainbows, with real horses humanely tricked out to look like the mythical creatures, in 2018, and this year’s Candyland-in-Calabasas extravaganza.
Kourtney has legendarily been set in her ways, once she’s decided on a particular way, and that extends to her preternatural comfort in her own skin. Though some of her day-to-day fashion tends toward the modest, she’s never shied away from posting a full-on hot-mom bikini pic or otherwise flaunt the figure she acknowledges working very hard on.
That level of confidence was on full display when she posed nude for Dujour when she was pregnant with Reign in 2014.
“To me, nudity is not something to be ashamed of. I’m not embarrassed of my body. I’m at my best when I’m pregnant,” Kourtney explained to the magazine. “It’s such an amazing feeling, the transformation that your body goes through. There’s something about that that’s so empowering and beautiful and I just really embrace it.”
So, body positivity, check.
A different, very relatable challenge came the following year, however, when Kourtney and Scott broke up after almost a decade together, some of which brimmed with exhausting drama and very similar-sounding arguments about Scott’s behavior. But they had always managed to power through the bad times and, incidentally, have three kids together.
So, from then on, after it became clearer in the ensuing months that they were going to stay broken up, it was all about putting on a united front for Mason, Penelope and Reign’s sake, and managing their emotions in a productive way. They continued to go on vacation together, Scott remained around for sprawling Kardashian-Jenner holidays, he stayed besties with Khloe and Kris—almost to a confusing extent for the casual observer. But ultimately, that just meant they were making it work—and perhaps only they knew for sure what “it” actually was.
When they were still smoothing out the kinks, though, one of the more unforgettable moments between them was Kourtney having to lay down the law regarding boundaries, since Scott had just been showing up at the house where he no longer lived and treating it as if he still lived there.
“I feel like, if you just wander into my bedroom and go, ‘Hey, can I see all your sunglasses?!’…” Kourtney gave an example.
In that particular instance, Scott pushed back, saying he’d been looking for his sunglasses amid all of her sunglasses… but so it went, a lot, as they figured out their new normal.
“I get it,” Scott eventually relented. “All things that are understandable in this co-parenting life.”
This year, Kourtney had planned to take just the kids on a spring break trip to Finland, but ended up inviting Scott and his girlfriend of two years, Sofia Richie. “They don’t make me feel like I’m left out though, which is nice,” she explained her decision to Khloe. “Or else I wouldn’t go, or invite [Sofia] to come.”
Kourtney has become somewhat of an expert in standing up for herself (as have all of her siblings), due to the unsolicited criticism that still pours in from the Instaverse in addition to the thousands of “aws” and “too cutes!” that any photos of her children attract. Mainly her family photos and assorted captions are a mix of funny (“I love a good massage,” she quipped recently on a pic of Penelope and Reign rubbing her feet while they were on vacation in Costa Rica), nostalgic and truly heartfelt, but…you know, people love to judge.
For instance, a few (or more) have offered their two cents over the years about Reign’s long hair.
“She really need to cut his hair,” tweeted one observer in October, to which Kourtney replied, “She really need to not worry about kids that aren’t her own. He is a happy boy.”
Kourtney doesn’t clap back all the time (there wouldn’t be enough hours in the day left for anything else!), but when she does… she nails it.
Mason’s hair was pretty long back in the day (his style is all his own now, though, and Kourtney has usually been more of the let-the-kids-wear-what-they-want type), and Penelope didn’t have her first haircut until this year, in February, at 6 years old.
Meanwhile, Kourtney knows that this is part of the cost of living life so publicly—and that’s a life choice she’s been thinking a lot about lately, to the extent that there has been serious chatter about whether or not she wants to continue being a part of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which wraps up its 17th season tonight on E!
“I just decided to spend more time as a mom and put more of my energy there,” she told Entertainment Tonight last month about pulling back a bit from the show, “but I’m not saying goodbye.” (At the time she was filming season 18 with everyone else, as usual.)
Regardless of what she decides in the long run, she’s got everything she needs at home—home being wherever Mason, Penelope and Reign are.
Resting Reign
Reign rests on Kourtney after a busy day planting trees.
Sweet Siblings
Penelope and Reign have a sweet sibling moment while at TreePeople in Los Angeles.
TreePeople Tots
“We spent our morning planting trees with @treepeople_org,” Kourtney shares on Instagram. “Thank you @futureearth for including us in such a beautiful morning taking care of our Earth.”
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Little Ones
Scott couldn’t love his daughter and his dog more. “My little ones,” he wrote online.
Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Great Outdoors
Kourtney and her kids get some fresh air away from home! ”We have everything we need,” she wrote on Instagram.
Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Santa Ynez
“A weekend away.”
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Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Halloweekend
The Disick kids are all fall vibes in Kourtney’s latest Instagram post, which sees Penelope and Reign enjoying pumpkin patches and horseback rides in Santa Ynez.
Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Honey
Penelope and her pup cuddle up for a picture! “baby [lion],” Kourtney wrote on Instagram.
Jackie Nickerson
Family Baptism
“It was very special to be baptized alongside my children, my sister, my nieces and my nephews at Etchmiadzin Cathedral which is often considered the oldest cathedral in the world,” Kourtney wrote, captioning a photo series shared to Instagram from the family’s recent baptism in Armenia.
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Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Fishing in Finland!
After Kourtney and Scott’s family Finland trip aired on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, the Poosh founder shared a few personal snapshots from their April 2019 excursion. In this one, Mason and Reign try ice fishing!
Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
North Pole
Penelope and her little brother bundle up for outdoor activities in Santa Claus’ home town.
Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Sweet Memories
Kourtney reminisces about her stay in Santa Margherita with Penelope and Reign. “happy place,” she wrote on Instagram.
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Instagram / Scott Disick
The Guys
“Living my best life”
Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Santa Margherita
Throwback to Italy! Photo by Penelope.
Instagram / Scott Disick
Listen Up, Dad!
Scott’s youngest has something to say! “Talk to me reign,” he captioned the photo.
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Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Market Monday
“Anything I do with my kids is so much better because I get to experience it at least a little bit through their eyes.”
Plus One
“I love seeing the outfits he picks out.”
Golf Gals
They’re back from Italy, but vacation isn’t over yet for Kourt and Penelope!
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Dreamy
“Once upon a time in Portofino…”
Big Sis
Penelope holds her younger brother’s hand while exploring Portofino.
When in Italy
Just two gals kicking back on vacation! “Mamma,” Kourtney captioned the photo on Instagram.
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Summer 2019
“Focus on what you love and what fulfills you.”
Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Mother’s Love
Instagram / Scott Disick
Kick Back
Mason and Penelope are doing summer the right way! “My floating angels,” Scott wrote on Instagram.
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Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
Seafarers
Just Kourtney, Penelope and North serving looks on a boat in Costa Rica!
Instagram / Scott Disick
Beaming
How sweet are these two? “I use 2 post lots of pics of my cars, but now I post a lot of pics of my kids. I guess I found my real love and passion,” Scott wrote on Instagram.
Instagram / Scott Disick
Quality Time
Selfie time! Scott, Mason and Penelope pose for a quick photo en route to Water World.
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Instagram / Scott Disick
Weekend Vibe
“Lazy day for p and her protector,” Scott captioned this serene shot of his daughter chilling out on her dad’s couch with the family dog.
Backseat Selfie
Penelope takes a ride with dad!
Instagram / Scott Disick
Cuddles
Aw! Scott and Reign kick back on the couch.
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Instagram / Scott Disick
Ahhh!
Penelope and her dad get silly for this selfie featuring something slimy and a matching pair of surprised faces.
Instagram / Scott Disick
Too Cool
Scott and Reign chill out on an outdoor lounge chair looking content as can be.
Instagram / Kourtney Kardashian
A Sibling Swim
Mason, Penelope and Reign take a dip! “happy,” Kourtney captioned the photo.
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Happy Place
Italy is more fun when you have your BFFs by your side!
Peace!
“Yes yall it’s me reigny,” Scott shared.
Bali Bunch
The former couple proved once again that they are winning at co-parenting while on vacation in Bali in 2019.
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Instagram/Scott Disick
Cooling Off
Scott Disick gave his Instagram followers a peek into what looks like an equal-parts fun and relaxing father-son moment between himself and his oldest, 9-year-old Mason Disick. “my love,” Scott captioned the photo with a heart eye emoji.
Instagram/Scott Disick
Guys on the Go!
“All the way up with my little reign,” wrote Scott, captioning a goofy snapshot of himself and Reign Disick—his and Kourtney Kardashian‘s youngest—saying hello to the camera during a cozy looking plane ride.
Instagram/Kourtney Kardashian
Lazy Sunday
“good morning,” Kourtney captioned this adorable photo, which pictures the mom of three hanging out in bed with her two younger kids, Reign and Penelope Disick. A good morning indeed!
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Instagram/Kourtney Kardashian
Cousin Love!
Kourtney shared this sweet picture of Penelope balancing Khloe Kardashian‘s daughter in her lap on True Thompson‘s first birthday.
Instagram/Kourtney Kardashian
Pint-Sized Boss
“CEO of @poosh,” wrote Kourtney, captioning this adorable personality pic featuring her daughter Penelope front and center.
Instagram/Scott Disick
Just Chillin’
Scott shared a sweet snap of Reign hanging out on Dad’s couch one Saturday in March. “Peace and ❤️ from Reigny,” he captioned the photo on Instagram.
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Instagram/Scott Disick
Father-Daughter Bonding
Scott also spent some quality time with his daughter Penelope recently. Captioning a photo of the 6-year-old sporting a pair of pink cowgirl boots and a huge grin, he wrote, “My little dumpling ❤️.”
Instagram/Scott Disick
Twinning!
Scott and Penelope look extra related posing side-by-side in matching sweatsuits.
Instagram/Kourtney Kardashian
Winter Wonderland
Kourtney and Reign enjoy a (slightly belated) white Christmas. “What a night ✨,” Kourtney wrote, captioning a photo series shared to Instagram Dec. 26.
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Instagram/Kourtney Kardashian
“Coparenting”
Kourtney’s Instagram caption basically said it all.
Instagram/Kourtney Kardashian
Fun in the Sun
Kourtney and Reign took Cabo!
Thanksgiving Love
The Kardashian-Disick clan had a Thanksgiving sleepover this year, because they know how to do holidays right.
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Photos
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