The Bidens have a phone-free dinner at the White House every night: 'We just sit and talk'

President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden's decades-long marriage has been a pillar of strength for them as they navigated their individual careers, personal losses, and the ups and downs of politics. Now, as they tackle the endless list of responsibilities that come with their new roles, they are once again leaning on each other to stay grounded. Speaking to Kelly Clarkson in an exclusive interview that aired Thursday, First Lady Jill revealed that she and her husband have made it a priority to fit some quality time with each other into their daily schedules.

"How have traditions in general really helped your family? Because now you and President Biden have a date night... y'all have dinner every night?" Clarkson asked Dr. Biden. The first lady responded: "He's so busy, I'm so busy, but we do keep dinner. We have dinner together, no phones — the phones have to be off — and now we're having dinner in this beautiful home, and there's a fireplace in the dining room, and they light the fire, and we just sit and talk for a while. And then he has to go back to work into the night, and I'm grading papers."

Dr. Biden also revealed that in addition to their nightly dinner dates, she and the president make an effort to keep up their tradition of Sunday night dinner with all of their family members. "We try to keep the Sunday night dinners. I mean, It's been a little busy lately, but we still do it, and the kids look forward to it. I think traditions really ground kids," she said. "It was funny, recently, my granddaughters called me and said, 'Nana' — and you know, I love to have a beautiful table with candles and flowers or whatever I can find to put on it — and they said, 'Nana, we're making our own dinner, and we're doing it Nana style. We have our candles.' And so, some of it has permeated. I hope they continue on the traditions too."

The 69-year-old also offered Clarkson some comforting advice on carrying on after a relationship's dissolution. According to CNN, the singer filed for divorce from her husband of seven years, Brandon Blackstock in June last year. "I want to tell you, Kelly, this is what I would say to you if I were your mother," Biden said. "You know, my mother always said to me, 'Things are going to look better tomorrow. And if you can take one day at a time, things will get better.'"

Dr. Biden — who was married to Bill Stevenson for five years prior to her relationship with President Biden — told Clarkson she's grateful her own divorce happened as it led her to her current husband of nearly 44 years. "I look back on it now and I think, you know, if I hadn't gotten divorced, I never would've met Joe. I wouldn't have the beautiful family I have now," she said. "So, I really think things happen for the best. I think Kelly, over time, I don't know how long it's been for you [since the separation], but I think over time you heal. You're going to be surprised, and I can't wait until that day comes for you. You're going to call me up and you're going to say, 'Hey, Jill, you were right!'"

The first lady also shared some valuable words of wisdom on the importance of women finding ways to unwind. "I love to exercise, and I run, I bike — it clears my head, and that's really important to me," she said. "I think all women should have something — it doesn't have to be exercise, although hopefully, it would be — just to take a moment for yourself. So I get up early, and that's my time that I have for myself."