“John Mellencamp’s Heartwarming Family Tradition: The Special Birthday Gift He Gives to Kids and Grandkids Every Year!”.hienca

John Mellencamp’s thoughtful approach to celebrating birthdays is a hallmark of his family connections, as revealed by his daughter, Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave. In a recent chat with PEOPLE, the 43-year-old star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills shared her joy as she celebrated two significant occasions: her oldest daughter, Slate’s birthday on Sunday, October 6, and her father’s birthday the very next day, October 7. Teddi highlighted how her dad always has a way of making each family member’s special day memorable, demonstrating the strong bonds they share.

During a recent interview with PEOPLE, Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave shared heartwarming insights into her family’s birthday celebrations, especially highlighting the special occasions of her daughter Slate and her father, rock legend John Mellencamp. “We were in Washington, D.C., at our national horse competition,” she recounted, mentioning that they celebrated Slate’s birthday on October 6, followed by her dad’s on October 7. “It was so nice having him there to watch Slate compete,” she added, revealing that her daughter is now turning 12.

However, Teddi admitted that keeping track of her father’s age can be a bit tricky. “I can never remember my dad’s birthday. I’m like, ‘Are you 75?’ He’s like, ‘I’m 73,’ I think. I don’t know. But yeah, he’s in his 70s.” (For the record, he’s 73!)

The birthday celebrations also feature a sweet tradition initiated by John Mellencamp: “My dad’s tradition is that our birthday present every year is that he pays you the amount of dollars that you are.” Teddi noted that Slate was particularly excited about this tradition this year, as she received $12 for turning 12.

Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave humorously clarified that there are no multipliers for age in her father’s birthday tradition; the dollar amount is always equal to the age. “Unfortunately, no [multiplier]. I got $43 this year,” she shared with a laugh. Teddi also playfully mentioned that she occasionally reciprocates by gifting her dad the same amount as his age, which can get quite pricey as he gets older. “It’s pretty pricey,” she joked.

As for John’s birthday style, Teddi doesn’t expect any changes. “He’s been doing it this way for so many years. I don’t think he’s changing,” she noted, emphasizing the charm of this long-standing family tradition.