Jenelle Evans is shedding some light on her and Jace’s rocky relationship.
Hours after her 16-year-old son shared screenshots of their heated text exchange on social media, the Teen Mom alum insisted that the eyebrow-raising messages she sent him were taken out of context.
“My children are my whole world,” Jenelle, who shares Jace with ex Andrew Lewis, wrote on her Instagram Stories Aug. 19. “Everything I do is to try and protect, guide and love them.”
“Like any parent, I set rules and boundaries, and sometimes that isn’t easy,” she continued. “Jace posting our private texts was his reaction to being rightfully disciplined and while it hurts to see those moments shared publicly, I know it comes from a place of struggle.”
Alleging that her son has also “been in trouble with the law these past few months,” Jenelle—who is also mom to Kaiser, 11, with ex Nathan Griffith as well as daughter Ensley, 8, with ex David Eason—went on to share an update on the teenager’s mental health journey.
“Navigating Jace’s different medical diagnoses has not been easy but I have never stopped fighting to make sure he has the resources, love and support he needs,” she shared of her son, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, major depressive disorder and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). “I will always stand by him, no matter what challenges come our way, and I will continue to work on being the best mom I can be to all three of my kids.”
As for what the explosive texts said? Well, Jace shared a series of conversations between the two that he claimed demonstrate how “unstable” his mother is.
“You’re the one saying you’re going to have my custody taken,” Jenelle wrote in one of the texts, per Jace’s Instagram Stories. “F--K YOU. You won’t get a damn thing from me anymore including a phone.”
In a separate screenshot, she seemingly implied that her son lied about his previous abuse allegations against David. (David was indicted by a grand jury on child abuse charges, which he's denied in posts on social media, last January. The case is still pending.)
“Just like the way you lied about David strangling you,” she wrote in a message to her son. “You make things worse on yourself.”
The latest update comes one month after Jenelle shared that Jace had moved back in with her after a few weeks living with his dad due to ongoing behavioral problems.
"Jace, he's doing good, he's back at home, he's not living with his father," she told People at the time. "He'll be starting 11th grade. And he's just been, you know, he's been getting into skateboarding recently, so that's his thing."
And the reality star, who added that he had been home "for a few months now," couldn't help but reflect on her son’s growth over the years.
"It's really crazy because you see the transition from a little boy to a young man, and he'll be 16 in August, and it's just really crazy," she continued. "It just flies by so quick. So I'm just really cherishing every moment I can before he turns 18 and decides to leave."
For more of Jenelle's life, 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.