In the high-octane world of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, where every move is documented and every milestone is celebrated with global fanfare, it is often the quiet, private moments of family connection that resonate most deeply. For Khloé Kardashian, a mother who has navigated the complexities of public life and high-profile relationships with a signature blend of grit and vulnerability, her three-year-old son, Tatum Thompson, has become a living bridge to a past she holds dear. In a series of recent revelations, the Good American co-founder has opened up about the startling and spiritual similarities between her youngest child and her late father, the legendary attorney Robert Kardashian Sr., suggesting that the family patriarch’s spirit may be closer than anyone imagined.
The most poignant evidence of this connection emerged during a recent appearance on the podcast Khloe in Wonder Land. Speaking with the renowned Theresa Caputo, better known to the world as the "Long Island Medium," Khloé shared an anecdote that sent chills through her family and fans alike. While the world knows Kris Jenner as the "momager" extraordinaire, her grandchildren have long referred to her by the affectionate moniker "Lovey." It was a name Kris chose specifically to distinguish her role as a grandmother. However, Tatum, whom Khloé shares with her ex-partner Tristan Thompson, has strayed from the family script in a way that feels nothing short of divine.
According to Khloé, the toddler has taken to calling his grandmother "Honey." To a stranger, it might seem like a typical, sweet endearment from a child, but within the context of the Kardashian history, the word carries immense weight. "Honey" was the specific, private nickname that Robert Kardashian Sr. used for Kris during their marriage. The revelation of this choice was staggering for the family, particularly because, as Khloé emphasized, no one had ever coached or encouraged Tatum to use the term. It simply appeared in his vocabulary, directed toward the woman his grandfather once loved.
The impact on Kris Jenner has been profound. Khloé described how the family matriarch is often moved to tears—or as she put it, "starts bawling"—every time the little boy utters the name. For Kris, it is a hauntingly beautiful echo of a chapter of her life that ended decades ago. Robert Sr. and Kris separated when Khloé was only five years old, and the patriarch tragically passed away in 2003 following a battle with esophageal cancer at the age of 59. For a three-year-old born nearly two decades after his grandfather’s death to naturally adopt his grandfather’s private term of endearment is a phenomenon the family views as a spiritual link.
This "Honey" incident is not an isolated occurrence, but rather the latest in a series of "glimmers" that Khloé has observed in her son. Since Tatum’s birth via surrogate in July 2022, the 41-year-old reality star has been vocal about the "freakish" resemblances between the toddler and the men in her family. It isn’t just about physical features, though those are undeniable; it’s about the essence of his personality. During a 2024 appearance on the SHE MD podcast, Khloé went into detail about the specific traits Tatum inherited. She noted that her father possessed a very distinct sense of humor—dry, sarcastic, and often "crazy" in its silliness. To her shock, she sees those exact same comedic timing and personality quirks manifesting in Tatum.
"He has so many characteristics of my dad," she told Caputo, reflecting on the "sweetest, most affectionate" nature of the boy. This sentiment was echoed in a 2023 post on X (formerly Twitter), where she noted that Tatum serves as a constant reminder of both her father and her brother, Rob Kardashian. The resemblance to her brother is so striking that it has become a frequent topic of conversation among the sisters. Kim Kardashian, in a birthday tribute to her nephew, once referred to him as "Rob’s twin," a sentiment that Kris Jenner has also championed. On Tatum’s first birthday, Kris expressed her awe at how much he looked like her only son, writing on Instagram that she was "honestly in awe" of the resemblance.
The spiritual narrative surrounding Tatum is one that Kris Jenner has fully embraced. In an episode of the family’s flagship Disney+ and Hulu series, The Kardashians, Kris shared an even more ethereal detail: she believes Tatum actually communicates with his late grandfather. She recounted instances where the toddler appeared to be saying goodnight to Robert Sr., despite never having met him. "You have a 3-year-old telling you about his conversations with his grandfather," Kris remarked during the episode. "It’s extraordinary." For a family that has often spoken about their faith and their belief that their father is watching over them, these moments provide a sense of comfort and continuity.
Beyond the spiritual and the uncanny, Tatum’s life has been a journey of milestones that Khloé has carefully shared with her millions of followers. For the first several months of his life, Khloé kept Tatum’s face and name away from the spotlight, a stark contrast to the immediate public introduction of her firstborn, True Thompson, who is now seven. It wasn’t until March 2023, while wishing Tristan Thompson a happy birthday, that she finally shared the first clear photo of Tatum’s face. The image featured Tristan alongside True and his eldest son, Prince, whom he shares with Jordan Craig, marking a rare moment of blended family unity.
Since that debut, the world has watched Tatum grow through a digital scrapbook of "firsts." Fans have seen him celebrating the Fourth of July with fresh watermelon, donning a red plastic firefighter’s hat at his cousin Psalm West’s fourth birthday party, and navigating the messy joys of making slime with his mother. There have been quiet moments on balconies with big sister True, and festive holiday celebrations where the siblings wore matching pajamas and showed off their "Christmas dance moves." Through it all, the "village" that supports Khloé has been ever-present, with her best friends Khadijah and Malika Haqq often pictured cradling the tot.
Even Tristan Thompson has reflected on the profound impact his son has had on his life. In a moving tribute for Tatum’s first birthday, the NBA star spoke about the lessons he has learned through his son’s arrival. He described Tatum as a "gift" and a reminder that "every loss comes a lesson." For Tristan, the boy represents a chance for reinvention and a "reminder of God’s grace." While his relationship with Khloé has been defined by its public ups and downs, their commitment to co-parenting Tatum and True remains a central pillar of their lives.
As Tatum continues to grow, the "glimmers" of Robert Kardashian Sr. show no signs of fading. Whether it is a sarcastic look, a dry joke, or the simple, heart-stopping use of the name "Honey," the toddler remains a living testament to the power of family legacy. For Khloé, who has spent much of her adult life mourning the premature loss of her father, Tatum is more than just a son; he is a reminder that those we love never truly leave us. They simply find new ways to say hello—sometimes through the voice of a child who knows exactly what to call his "Lovey." In the end, the story of Tatum Thompson is a story of how the past and the present can collide in the most unexpected and beautiful of ways, proving that even in a world of cameras and headlines, the most significant connections are the ones that happen in the quiet spaces of the heart.
