Jenelle Evans is defending her parenting decisions.
Following online speculation about the whereabouts of the Teen Mom alum’s son Jace Evans, she shared that he is now living with his dad Andrew Lewis in Florida due to his ongoing behavioral problems.
“Jace is now staying with his father but also his grandmother on his other side, whom he has not seen since he was a baby,” Jenelle—who now lives in Las Vegas—explained in a May 13 TikTok video. “You guys are looking at it as a negative situation, but everyone behind closed doors is looking at it as a positive thing for him.”
The MTV star has been open about how her 15-year-old’s mental health journey—including his ADHD diagnosis, major depressive disorder and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)—has taken a toll on the entire household.
“With defiant disorder, it’s very hard to deal with,” she said. “Kids act out on purpose because they want attention. They have no remorse. They have no empathy for what they did.”
Although Jenelle—who is also mom to Kaiser, 9, from a previous relationship, and daughter Ensley, 7, with estranged husband David Eason—had been navigating Jace’s health struggles alongside her mom Barbara Evans for years, they chose to keep it behind closed doors.
“We never wanted to put it in front of the media and explain it because it was Jace’s privacy,” she explained. “Now we’ve gotten to the point where it’s happened too many times, multiple incidents for years and years and years. Something had to be done.”
The 33-year-old said that the situation came to a head following an altercation with Jace—who previously lived with his maternal grandmother in October 2023—that led her to call Andrew.
“I said, ‘Hey, I need help,'” she recalled. “I was in a panic attack. I was crying my eyes out. I was like, ‘For once, I need your help. I need you to take over this situation because all of us have put forth effort as much as we can give.'”
“Separating the chaos to protect my two younger kids is very important, also for him to protect himself,” Jenelle added. “When you’re co-parenting, if both sides of the family can come together to help solve these issues before they turn into adults and really get themselves in trouble—it’s really important.”
Despite the criticism surrounding the decision, Jenelle said she’s doing what’s best for her entire family.
“You can say all you want,” she emphasized. “You can say I’m not taking care of my kids. Being a mother is doing the best interest for your child and I am doing the best interest for my child.”
For a glimpse into Jenelle’s world, keep reading.
Some Bunny Loves You
Jenelle Evans celebrated Easter 2023 with her kids Jace, Kaiser and Ensley, as well as then-husband David Eason and his daughter Maryssa.
Mama Knows Best
The Teen Mom alum was joined by her own mother, Barbara Evans, for a Mother’s Day celebration in May 2023.
Snow Place Like Home
Jenelle hit the slopes with her kids and stepdaughter Maryssa.
Let’s Swim
Jenelle and her son Jace, who she shares with ex Andrew Lewis, took a dip in the local lake.
Field Trip
Kaiser, whose dad is Jenelle’s ex Nathan Griffith, enjoyed the day at the WonderWorks amusement park with mom.
Spooky Squad
For Halloween 2022, Ensley—who Jenelle shares with her ex David—dressed up as the titular heroine of the 2009 flick Coraline. Meanwhile, Kaiser went trick-or-treating as Freddy Krueger.
Family Vacation
The entire family—including Jenelle’s mom Barbara and stepdaughter Maryssa—had a blast vacationing in Puerto Rico.
Forever Flock
Jenelle captioned this photo with her three kids, “All of momma’s ducks in a row.”
All Grown Up
“He’s almost taller than me,” Jenelle captioned this mother-son snap with Jace on Instagram. “#GrowingUp.”
‘Tis the Season
Jenelle rang in Christmas with Kaiser and Ensley in December 2022.
Birthday Girl
David and Jenelle celebrated Ensley’s 6th birthday in January 2023,.
Fun Times
Jenelle took Kaiser and Ensley to Medieval Times.
Life’s a Beach
Jenelle and David had some fun in the sun with the kids at the beach in August 2022.
A Special Place
In 2022, the family spent Fourth of July hiking North Carolina’s Beacon Heights Trail, where David proposed to Jenelle back in 2016. The former MTV star wrote on Instagram, “So happy to share this view/experience with our kids!”
Like Mother, Like Daughter
“Wonder where she gets all her sass from,” Jenelle joked of her look-alike daughter Ensley. “#Twinning.”
Milestone Memories
“#HappyBirthday to Jace!” Jenelle wrote on Instagram in August 2023. “You’re growing into a such polite young man. I’m happy as long as you’re happy!”
Back to School
Jenelle sent her kids back to school in August 2023.
