- ♪ MTV ♪
- Allie, this is Jay.
- I know.
- So what'd you guys think
about me and Jay the other today?
- Pretty cool. - Yeah?
- Yeah, I like Jay.
- Do you think that this will continue
to be a long-distance relationship or--
- I have a new job possibility that will let me move closer.
Let's just--let's just keep what we got going
and build off of it. - Mm-hmm.
- Stella, are you excited to go to BPK?
You're getting older. BPK is pre-K.
- Stop growing up. - Yes.
- Say "Hi" to your dad.
- Hey. Have a good first day, okay.
- I was thinking we should go have dinner.
Me, you and-- - Novies?
I'm glad you invited me, Nova. I'm having a blast.
- That's great.
- We gotta do this more often.
- I feel like we're going in circles in our relationship.
- Me and Ashley are definitely at a rough spot.
I have to serve 15 days in county jail
for this DUI situation.
- I strongly suggest you file for a separation.
- I love my relationship, so I do want to save it.
- If we're gonna do it, then we actually need to really do it.
- Yeah. - Deal?
- Deal.
- So Vee comes into my office and she's like,
"I told Javi about your pregnancy with Lux."
- I wish, obviously, right now that I never did that to you.
- Right, of course. - Because what the [bleep]?
- How are things going with co-parenting
with each of the dads?
Do you Jo speak? - No.
And then Javi, honestly, changes by the minute.
- How are you and Chris?
- At this point, for co-parenting,
when I text, I don't get a response, so I'm done.
- Are you excited for your dad to come home and be all better?
- I love you, baby.
- [crying]
Daddy.
- Oh, you want Dad? - [crying]
- So I went and looked at a house
and I put in a cash offer. - Oh, that's good.
- Are you happy? We just got a new house.
I just want to give my daughter stability.
I never had that growing up.
She definitely is missing Sean.
I'm trying to do my best to kind of make up for that.
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
[exiting pop music]
♪ ♪
- Buckle up.
♪ ♪
How was school today?
- It was great.
Somebody said he was gonna marry me.
It was Mason.
- Mason said he's gonna marry you?
- Yeah.
- What do you think about marriage?
- I think that's great. - You think it's great?
♪ ♪
- ♪ No, I never thought I'd be on the wrong side of love ♪
- I'm glad that Bar and I are trying to work things out,
but it's hard to commit to the process
when he's still facing jail time from last year.
♪ ♪
- Boo! - [laughs]
- Ah, I couldn't even get you.
Why does she not get scared at all?
[laughter]
- Got you, Daddy. - That's 'cause you just
started running like a brick.
How was school?
- Good. - Yeah?
- Did you tell your dad what
somebody said to you at school today?
- No, that-- [chokes]
[laughing] No, he's not.
- I know.
I mean, he said it.
- All right, you better tell Mason to back up, kay?
So I got--
I got court tomorrow at 1:30.
Basically, long story short, with the DUI situation
where I was supposed to turn myself in
for, like, the 15 days or whatever it was gonna be.
Basically, I'll talk to the judge.
There's not gonna be, like, a lawyer or nothing.
Tell him everything I got going on
and see if he'll allow me
to get one of the other disciplinary actions.
I was supposed to turn myself in on the 14th,
which is only 11 days away.
- I mean, I'm just over it, like,
I hate to seem callous but I'm just--
- It's not callous. I'm over this [bleep] too.
- I don't really have an opinion.
I'm just tired of this [bleep].
I'm just ready for this [bleep] to be wrapped up.
- Me too. I'm tired of dealing with it.
- I've got so much other [bleep] to think about
that this is just...
something I'm not-- - Some irritating [bleep].
- Something I'm not going to think about.
- Bar, what do you hope happens tomorrow?
What do you want to happen tomorrow?
- I ain't gonna lie, bro.
Like, I'm tired of talking about this case.
Bro, like this is not-- it's a [bleep] up on my end.
Not to downplay it,
but this is not a [bleep] murder case.
I'm tired of talking about it.
I just--let me [bleep] go to court
and see what the outcome is.
Y'all--I get anxiety from talking about it so much.
- I get it. I know.
- The next step for me and Bar relationship-wise
would be talking and hashing out
all the issues that we have.
But I feel like we can't do that yet
because these court processes
take forever to conclude.
We have been dealing with the same court case
for almost two years now,
and it just feels like we can't move on.
He still has to check in with these people.
He has to pay lawyers, he has to go to court.
Is he gonna even be here for therapy?
Is he gonna be locked up?
We can't commit to therapy until Bar figures out
what the outcome of these court cases could possibly be.
And I'm just ready to put it all to bed.
- ♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
- I'm excited that Jaylan could get a job
in Charleston and move soon.
He's in town for the weekend again
but long distance isn't easy.
- Wait until it's done and then put your cheese in it.
- No, no, no. - Yeah, or it'll still be slimy
and you won't know if they're done or not!
- No, you cook it. - I know what I'm doing.
I did it yesterday and they loved it. Back up.
- Mommy, he know what he's doing.
He's good at it.
- Is he good at it? - Yeah.
♪ ♪
- Jaylan's home now,
and will be back later in the week.
It's hard being so far apart, but while he's not here,
I can focus on my new career path.
Last year, I started an online course
to get my real estate license,
and in a few weeks, I'm taking the exam.
What's up?
- Hey, baby. What's going on? - Hi.
I've just been studying for this real estate exam.
I'll be nervous at first when I go to take it.
- It'll be good. You already-- you went through school.
You studied for it. You'll be good.
- Look at this.
- Oh, my God. Are those your notes?
- Yeah, yeah.
- So I heard from the employer today.
All I got was,
"Hey, brother, let's talk Tuesday.
I want to officially bring you on board."
- Mm-hmm.
- But the opportunity might not be in Charleston.
It might be close to Morgantown,
which is, I think, about two hours north of you.
So either Morgantown
or that's pretty much it.
And my job won't be remotely most of the time.
It would be, from what I was told, in person.
Most of the workflow might require working in a facility.
- So you wouldn't be able to live nearby?
- No.
- I think Morgantown is a lot closer than Augusta.
But it's not gonna be easy to see each other.
I have three kids.
I have, you know, this stuff with my real estate.
But it's just--it might be a little difficult.
- We're taking it a step at a time.
- Yeah. - Closer is closer.
So I mean, two hours versus what, eight hours?
- It's not like I can just drop everything
and come and see you.
I'm constantly doing [bleep].
You're constantly doing [bleep].
So sometimes it is difficult to, like,
make time for each other.
- I'm doing everything I can. - Yeah.
- Why don't you get back to your studies?
Miss you. - Miss you.
[soft emotional music]
- ♪ If you let me go ♪
♪ I will do the same ♪
♪ ♪
- Last night, we had to take Stella to the hospital.
Stella has been complaining of her heart bothering her,
her heart beating too fast.
So we just packed a bag and we ran to the ER.
I tried not to show Stella that I was scared.
I tried to be strong. I tried to not let her know
that I was very concerned.
Obviously, it was a very, very scary situation.
We got home late last night.
But today, she has an appointment
with a cardiologist.
You want one of these over there or no?
- No. - You just want water?
No, I'm gonna pack you a juice, just in case.
She's just--I'm packing her a little snack.
I don't know how long we're gonna be there for.
I don't know what tests they're gonna run on her.
So tell Grandma what we're doing today
and tell Didi what we're doing today.
- Tell me. - Tell them.
Why are we going to the doctor?
- 'Cause I'm sick. Sick, sick.
- What's going on with your little hearties?
- It's getting fast. - It's what?
- It's getting fast! - It's beating too fast?
She was telling me that her heart is--
was hurting and that it was beating really fast.
It's been going on for, like, the last month,
two or three weeks.
- I hope it's--
that it's nothing, you know, but--
- But for her to say it more than once
on different occasions, obviously, something is up.
- That's weird.
- I know.
- Considering her history.
She gotta go to ER.
Let me pack her bag.
- How is Stella doing?
- Um, she has two holes in her heart.
So people live their lives with holes in their heart
and they're fine.
She just wants to keep an eye on it.
To see like all those, like,
stickers on her to get her EKG
and them trying to find, like-- - Oh, my God.
- It broke my heart.
And we're gonna see the doctor that we saw
when she was first born. So that's a good thing.
She'll have, like, all her records and stuff.
- How many days old was she when they first realized
she had a heart condition?
Like, three or four days, right?
- Yeah, she was like a week old.
- That was scary. She was so little.
So, so, so tiny.
Where's this office at?
- Girl, I have no idea. Let me see.
Good question. - Check.
- Ugh, is it downtown?
- What? Lu lives downtown.
I don't know if you want to call him.
Let him know.
- I told him all the information.
He was like, "Yeah, I'll be there."
And then last night, he was, like,
"Um, I don't want to film,
so I don't know if I'm gonna go."
- Did he ask you any questions about her?
- If she was okay. - You said it was okay.
- I hope it's nothing serious for real, though.
Because I just can't handle that.
- No. No, I know you can't.
- None of us could. - Yeah.
- You're gonna be okay, right? - Mm-hmm.
- Gotta pinky promise me you're gonna be okay.
Yeah?
I hope we can go to this appointment
and they do another echo,
and everything comes out A-okay.
That's what I'm praying.
But obviously, I don't know what to expect.
And it's very sad
that I'm doing all of this by myself
and trying to figure this out by myself.
Not having, you know,
Stella's dad's support, it hurts.
But then at the same time,
this is just something that
we've been doing since day one,
and I don't know anything else.
So I've just been doing what I gotta do for my children.
[rapid heartbeat]
[upbeat music]
[electronic music]
- It's bittersweet not working with Vee anymore,
but I know it's best to focus on
our co-parenting relationship.
Lincoln's at football now and Lux has a game later.
So I'm dropping off Isaac and Creed
before we head to the field.
♪ ♪
Off to-- - Nana's.
- And then-- both: Football!
- Well, you guys have football.
- I don't want to play football.
- Oh, you know this isn't even all my chapters.
- No, I know. But I was just saying that--
- Why do I have to play football?
- Lux, this is the thing.
You wanted to sign up for football.
I did not make you play football.
And now that you're committed to the team,
you have to be there.
So whether you sit on the bench
every single week,
or you play every single week,
either way, you need to be there
because you committed to it.
While this season is still going on,
you have committed to football.
- I don't want to play football!
Mommy, I don't want to play football.
- I heard you. I heard you.
And I already told you what I-- I said what I said.
- Mom, can we come inside? - No.
- Why?
- 'Cause we gotta go to football.
- I don't want to go-- - Lux.
- Bye, Lux.
- Bye!
[indistinct]
Why do we have to go to football?
- Lux, I said we are done with the conversation.
I have already-- I'm not repeating myself again.
- But, but, but, but--
What if I can't play football?
- You don't have to play football.
If you want to sit on the bench,
you can sit on the bench, but you need to be there
for the days that we signed up.
- I want to play football. - You do?
- I don't want to play football.
- Boy, if you don't-- I can't.
I'm gonna need several more shots of espresso for this day.
- I sure don't want to play football.
- Lux.
- Okay, okay, okay.
I'm not gonna say it again.
♪ ♪
[upbeat rock music]
- Kloie really misses Sean,
but he's almost done with his three-month program,
so he's supposed to be back soon.
But I just talked to him and his counselors,
and they had some news.
I love you. - I love you.
- Love you. - Sup?
- Hi. - Hi.
Hi, Kloie.
- I'm cold. We're snuggling.
- How are you feeling?
- You know, I think I'm overwhelmed.
- How did your FaceTime with Sean go?
He should be coming home soon, right?
- I don't know.
They said they're gonna recommend
him to stay, like, one more month
after the 90 days. - Does he need it?
- I just am letting him just pick what he--
- He must know that it's a lot on you.
Like, I understand he's trying to get better,
but I just feel, like--
- I'm doing all this [bleep] by myself.
I'm trying to move a house, renovate.
I'm at work every day. I don't know.
I'll figure everything else out here.
Like I always do.
But the center invited me and Kloie down for a visit
because it's been a long time
and I think we're--we're both getting antsy on both ends.
But would you want to go to Texas with me and Kloie?
I figure you could probably help me with her.
- Yeah, it'd probably take some stress off you
when I have Kloie.
Kloie, I'm going with you guys on the airplane.
- Uh... - We get to kick it.
- Kick the airplane?
- No. We get to hang out in Texas.
- You get to see Dad and you get to tell Dad
all the stuff you've been doing.
And we'll show him pictures. - The airplane hurts my ears.
- Oh, yeah. - Yeah, same.
- Same-sies.
I think I'm excited.
At the same time, I'm kind of just, like,
nervous and I'm anxious.
- So what are you nervous about? Like--
- I feel like we haven't been seeing each other.
So I feel like it's just gonna be like meeting a whole new...
- Or barely talking to each other either.
- A whole new person.
'Cause he's changed a lot, you know?
- Yeah.
- We don't want him to feel--
or me to feel like this is something that's stressful,
or it's gotta be over-emotional in a negative way, you know?
[soft emotional music]
I think I'm really anxious to see Sean
'cause it's almost, like,
I'm not going to see the same person
that left my doorstep months ago.
I'm also worried about
what kind of connection we're gonna have.
His recovery has, you know, been something big.
It shifted everything.
This has been a real test on us.
I don't really know what to expect.
♪ ♪
[upbeat music]
- I had to leave early to do work at my salon,
but Bar has court later today.
I hope he gets everything taken care of
because we can't work on healing our marriage
until this whole court process is behind us.
- This DUI situation been going on for a long time.
I'm just tired of it. I know Ashley tired of it.
But I'm trying to avoid serving that time
just because at this point,
I haven't really had to explain to Holly anything.
Just because I feel like she's only four years old,
I don't want to have to explain to her unless that time came,
and it's not necessarily here.
The whole point of the justice system
is to try to help people reform and be better.
You know, it wouldn't necessarily be
the smartest idea to snatch someone away
from everything they're doing
to try to better their life to make them serve time
on something that's well over a year old.
So hopefully, I can just get in there and knock this out
and this is the last time I gotta hear about it, apart from
whatever disciplinary action there may be.
♪ ♪
- Oh, [bleep].
Girl, I don't know if I even told you.
I think I told you, like, a while back
that he might have to turn himself in.
- You did tell me about it, yes.
- So basically, that's just been like,
pushed and pushed and pushed
and pushed and pushed. - Right.
- And so I guess, he went to court today and like,
yeah, he probably hasn't even seen the judge
'cause it's-- it's like, early but--
- Yeah. - Yeah.
So he's gonna, I guess, see whether, like,
he can exchange the turn-in time
for, like, um, house arrest or something.
And we can't move forward with therapy
until this court thing is behind us.
- Yeah, but it's kinda-- - I'm like, do it.
It's hanging over your head. - Yeah, just get it done.
- What you just don't want to do is to be in jail
during a holiday. - The holidays, yeah.
Well, hopefully they go a little easy on him.
- I mean, I don't know.
- ♪ I'm traveling alone ♪
♪ Oh, now I'm traveling alone ♪
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- I have chili on my pants. - Yeah, I know.
- And on my shirt. - It's not even that chilly.
- That was a horrible joke.
I don't ever want to hear that joke again.
- I wasn't joking. - You see how fast I can go?
- I hope she falls.
- How do you get it to turn?
[laughs]
- It sucks that Jaylan might not be moving
to Charleston after all.
Even though we'd be living in the same state
if he gets this job,
it'll still be long distance,
since we'll be two and a half hours apart.
[knocking on door] Come in.
Oh, look at you.
Nice. Okay, spinning around.
Uh-huh. - What's up?
- Preparing for this exam.
- Are you nervous? - I'm so scared.
I just want to pass it.
- I was gonna ask you how's the dating?
- I'm glad that me and Jaylan
kept it on the low for a little while.
I mean, it's going well. Is it scary? Yeah.
I'm scared as [bleep]. - Of course it is.
Because now that your kids, like, know him--
- My kids love him. - So then you think,
"Oh, gosh, if something happens,
it's gonna affect the kids."
- And now something's come up with Jaylan's work.
At first, we were thinking
he would get to move closer to Charleston.
But if Jaylan gets this new job,
he said that he would be getting relocated
to Morgantown. It's almost three hours.
- Would you be willing to relocate there?
- Because of custody laws,
I couldn't do that
until Ali and Aleeah are at least 14.
- No, you can. - They're 12.
I'm not going to court
and fighting that battle again.
- Even at 14, you have to fight that battle.
- No, you don't.
- You still have to go to court.
But it'd be easier because the kids will have a say.
- They'll have a right to where--you know what I mean?
- Where they want to go.
When does he actually have to make that move?
- I mean, I'm not sure.
We're not sure yet. We'll find out.
We'll have to see what his work says
and kinda go from there.
For me and where I'm at in my life,
if I--just being 100% honest with you.
I'm 29 but
now that I have made the decision that I want,
like, that companionship, it's like that would suck.
- Yeah.
♪ ♪
[chill hip-hop music]
- You ready? Come on. Let's go.
Come on.
♪ ♪
- When did you text Luis? Yesterday?
- Yeah.
He's the one that messaged me about filming.
And then he never wrote back after that.
So I don't know.
It's just like, at the end of the day,
like, why are you using cameras
as an excuse to not come around?
Because you don't come around when the cameras are not here.
The last time we saw Luis was on the first day of school.
That was in August.
- God, I hope he comes-- - We're in November.
You know what I mean? - I hope he comes today.
- Been almost four months.
- Are you preparing yourself for scenarios?
- No.
- She'll be okay.
- Exactly.
I'm not gonna think of the worst.
'Cause the worst is not gonna happen.
Trying to stay positive.
- I just don't want it to be a defect.
- Yeah. - You know?
'Cause defect's a whole new-- gotta deal with it.
I just want her to have a happy heart.
- Same.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- I'm so nervous and stressed out over this.
- The cute little lady.
Oh, bendito.
Come on, mama.
Knowing that Luis made any type of excuse
to not come and be there for his child,
knowing that this was such an important appointment
for Stella, this is her heart, this is her health,
this is something that
any parent would just be there,
no excuses whatsoever,
would just show up for their child,
and I'm pissed.
♪ ♪
[upbeat music]
- ♪ Ah, oh, oh, oh, ah, adrenaline ♪
♪ ♪
- Who? - Thor.
- You know what Thor also likes to do?
Play football. - Yes, he does.
- I'll hold it and you go be Thor
and play football.
both: Go, Thor! - Whoo!
[laughter] - Oh, wait, I think he has it.
He does have it. Lux has the ball.
Go, Lux!
Go, Thor! Go, go, go!
- Run! - Go, Thor, go!
- Go!
- Keep going, keep going, keep going!
[cheering]
- Yeah, Thor! - [chuckles]
- [crying] - It's okay.
You did so good! You did so good.
- [crying]
- Thank you, buddy.
You did so good.
- It's okay. - Yeah.
- [wailing] - It's okay.
You did it. - No, I did not.
- You did it. Yes, you did.
- No, I did not!
- Yeah, look, he said--
- No, I did not.
- You did it, buddy. I'm so proud of you.
- No, I did not. - Yes, you did.
Yes, you did. Didn't you hear-- - No, I did not.
- Look, you did it and it's over.
- You did it for the team.
- Lux knew he signed up for football and he knew
that he would have to be there for every game.
Even if he chose not to participate,
committing to activities
will follow my kids into their future.
And so I want to set them up for success.
You know, I want to set the tone for the real world
and what it's gonna be like as an adult with a job
or going to school or things like that.
I just want them to be well-rounded
and be able to commit to the things that they say.
- ♪ Baby, hold me down ♪
- We're getting ready to head to the airport and visit Sean.
I know he's working on himself,
but it's hard being his only source of support,
while also parenting alone for three months.
I feel drained,
and last night, we talked more about his extension,
and we both got upset.
Wow, you look really grown.
With her coffee, her little jumpsuit, and boot.
- Come on. You look cute.
- Okay.
Morning. - I'll take those for you.
- Thank you.
- I really like going to the airport.
- Yeah, I love the airport.
♪ ♪
[phone ringing]
- Okay.
Hello? - Hey.
- I mean, I just--
I don't--I don't know, like, what do you mean where I'm at?
- I mean, he's--
I never told him that he needs to leave or anything.
He said he had thought about staying,
and I said, "Then that's what--
"if that's what's best for you,
"then you need to do what's best for you.
And I'll just figure it out."
I just don't want to hear this
right before I go on to a flight.
I understand what my role is and what I need to do
to, like, support him
and make sure that he's doing everything that's best for him.
That's what I've been doing this whole time.
- All right, thanks. Bye.
Didn't like that at all.
They're just being annoying to me.
Like, almost like they were, like, lecturing me.
- Already intense
and we're just on the car ride to the airport.
- I'm just overwhelmed with all this.
Sean not being here,
my life has definitely been harder.
But also, Kloie having a healthy and happy dad
is the utmost important thing
out of this whole experience.
Say it doesn't make us closer,
say we don't end up with each other in the future,
as long as he's happy and healthy
and he can be a good dad to Kloie,
then I feel like I've done my job as being a good mother.
[gentle guitar music]
♪ ♪
- This hurts.
- Are you okay, Stella? - Yeah.
- The heart doctor was nice. Right, Stella?
- Yeah.
♪ La, la, la, la, la, la, I can do my best ♪
- Yeah.
- That's right. - I love that.
That's all we can do, Stella, is our best.
[soft emotional music]
♪ ♪
- She got it. - [laughing]
- Ah!
Ah! Get it, Stella. - [laughing]
- Stella! - Hi.
- How's your heart? Let me hear it.
Let me hear it. Let me hear it.
Ooh, it sounds healthy to me.
- So my Stellita had a appointment today.
How was it?
It was good?
What did we do? - Put jelly on my chest.
- Put jelly on your chest
and took pictures of your heart?
How was school today? What did you do?
- Nothing. - Nothing?
All right, well, your sister had a doctor's appointment.
Remember when she was born, she had holes in her heart?
- Yes, I know. - They closed.
So thumbs up.
She has no more holes in her heart.
But they don't know what's going on with Stella,
so she has to wear a heart monitor for a whole month.
- She's wearing it right now? - No.
On Monday, we're gonna go back to put it on.
It's little stickies with wires,
and she has to wear, like, a fanny pack all day every day,
to hold it.
She can only take it off when she's gonna shower.
- Even when she's sleeping, she has to wear it.
- And the heart monitor's just gonna keep track
of her heart for a month
and make sure everything's okay.
- ♪ Oh, I'm so worried, yeah ♪
♪ I never see blurry, yeah ♪
♪ Oh, I'm so worried, yeah ♪
- One, two, three.
- ♪ I am four. I would really like to see ♪
♪ La, la, la, la, la ♪ - Hit that note.
- Today was a long day. I'm tired.
I just hope these next 30 days aren't difficult for Stella.
Luis texted me.
- He did? - Yeah, but I never responded.
- What did he write?
- "How was the appointment?"
I need to figure out what I'm gonna do.
Just don't say nothing.
- It's okay to say you're not okay.
It's okay to say, "I'm overwhelmed."
It's okay to say, "I'm stressed."
- I'm okay.
- No, you're not.
You hold [bleep] in.
And that's the truth.
You totally hold-- hold everything in
and that's not good.
- I'm okay. - No, you're not.
You are absolutely not.
[soft emotional music]
♪ ♪
[upbeat music]
- ♪ I'll just get over you ♪
- ♪ I loved then I lost you ♪
♪ I wish it was different ♪
- I'm not sure what happened at court,
but I'm picking Holly up from school
and we're on our way home now.
♪ ♪
- Hi. - Hey. Hi!
What's up, Boots?
I got something for you.
- What is this?
- Some little--
some little things I found at a place.
- Oh!
- Yeah, so it's chocolate-covered Oreos
and chocolate-covered graham crackers.
- Give her that one. - Thank you, Daddy.
- Thank you, Holly!
- What was the outcome?
What's the verdict?
- Um, they gave me a choice.
Basically, I have until March 4th
to sign up for the work program and start it.
It could be cleaning stuff up.
It could be-- it could be repainting stuff.
It could be a number of things.
Or I have until May 4th to turn myself in.
- Yeah. So what are you thinking you're gonna do?
- Probably, as much as much as I don't want to,
end up doing the work program.
Of course, I don't want to stand out somewhere
and pick up garbage, you know,
but I got to put my pride to the side
and bite the bullet and just-- you feel me?
- Well, I'm glad you figured it out.
And I think that's, like,
taken enough time, you know?
I was worried about all of that stuff.
- I beg that y'all please hear me when I say
I am trying to work on myself. I make music.
You know, I [bleep] take my daughter for walks all--
I do a whole bunch of stuff that is positive,
every single day.
So please help me focus on that stuff.
♪ ♪
- ♪ Oh, whoa ♪
- Jaylan got into town earlier today,
and the thought of continuing a long-distance relationship
makes me really anxious,
so I'd like to discuss it with him.
Look how pretty the leaves are. - It is.
I think October is probably the prettiest month.
October, November. You know what I mean?
- It is. - It is.
- Come on.
It's gonna get a little chilly.
- Ready to go run?
- [chuckles] Let's just take a walk.
- Yeah, we'll walk.
- [giggles]
- I knew you were gonna do that.
You take my favorite side. I don't like it.
- [laughs]
- So, yeah, my employer called me today.
I did get hired. It's gonna be Morgantown.
- Mm-hmm.
Can you work remote?
- I need to come in-person for a little bit.
I just don't-- I just don't know right now.
- At first, I was like, if it's still gonna be long distance,
why don't he just stay in Georgia?
- Because it's eight hours versus two hours.
- It's still driving every--
if you have to be at an office every single day.
Like, that's a-- I didn't want you--
- Georgia's out of reach, babe.
Georgia's completely out of reach.
I can't--like, even a weekend at Georgia,
that's--that's like a plan-- - I think long-distance
is long-distance either way you look at it.
It's not like you just can, like, go on a date
or go to the movies, or--
- I mean, but it is, though. It is.
- Be like, "You know what? I'm having a [bleep] day."
Like, it's nice to have that physical--
- But babe, I think that we still have that.
I won't really say--I won't really call it me sacrificing,
but, like, I'm doing things to show
that I want to be around you.
Like, doing everything I can with this job
to be closer to you.
- I'm thinking realistically.
And now my kids are invested.
They [bleep] love you.
I have three little hearts that I would never want to hurt.
And that was my whole, like--
I was afraid to even
let you guys meet for a little while.
- I'm thinking we think of all the things that could happen,
then--then it won't--
you know what I mean, then it won't be good.
But if we sit back and look at the positives of it,
or like, we pick out-- - I definitely look at both.
I've never wanted to be in a long-distance relationship.
And I, like, I am.
Like, I want to because it's with you.
Anyone else, I'd be like, "[bleep] this."
I really don't know how it's gonna pan out.
You really do not know how it's gonna pan out.
- We don't know but I think-- - We're just winging it.
- Okay, then let's stop talking about it like it is--
like, we like, out here mourning
when we should be, like-- you know what I mean?
I feel like we should be just...
- I'm not mourning. - Like, celebrating the moment.
And this is kinda getting to me in a way.
Like, I'm not even gonna lie. Like, I felt like we should--
I feel like we're just, like-- we keep, like,
attacking the issues.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
[upbeat music]
- ♪ You know I got something ♪
- It’s tough parenting \hon my own sometimes,
but it’s important my kids understand
the value of commitment.
\h\hThe kids are with their dads this week,
\h\hand I have to go to Atlanta for work.
♪ ♪
Does yours have meat in it?
- No, she only wanted beans.
- I hope I don’t \h[bleep] myself.
- [chuckles]
- If you do, wait till I leave. \h\h\h\h\h- No, I’m so serious.
All right, what’s the plan \h\h\hfor today’s podcast?
- We’re gonna talk about-- \h\h\h\h- Gentle parenting.
- What is, like, the, you know,
\h\h\h\hCliff’s Notes of gentle parenting?
Like, what is it?
\h- It’s like understanding your child on their level.
So, like, when you’re screaming \h\h\h\hand yelling at your kid
\h\h\h\h\hfor having-- for having a meltdown,
they already don’t understand \h\h\h\h\h\h\htheir feelings,
\h\h\hso you’re helping them to understand their feelings
or like giving them \h\hthe opportunity
to decide to talk to you \h\h\hwhen they’re ready.
- I was not gentle parented \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hat all.
\h\h\h- I was terrified to do something wrong.
- Lux, the other--
\h\h\hhe didn’t really want to play football.
\h\h\hAnd I was like, "Well, you signed up.
\h\h\h\h"You wanted to sign up. I didn’t force you to do this.
So now you have to show up \h\hand sit on the bench."
When he calms down and I can have a conversation with him
about why he was upset,
Lux will literally tell me, \h\h\h\h\h"I’m mad at you.
I’m upset with you. \hYou made me sad."
I’m not gonna yell at him when he’s already having a meltdown
because now we’re both having \h\h\h\h\ha [bleep] meltdown.
- Right.
\h\h- I’m not down for the meltdowns.
\h\h\h- No, they’re not a fun time for anybody.
- Who’s the hardest child \h\h\h\h\h\h\hto parent?
- Isaac.
\h\h\h\h\hIsaac and I butt heads the most.
100%.
\h- Is that ’cause you’re most alike?
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h- Yes. Wholeheartedly it’s Isaac.
- Who’s the easiest child \h\h\h\h\h\h\hto parent?
- Lincoln Marshall Marroquin.
- You got all three names. \h\h\h- Lincoln’s an angel.
- And what about the other two?
They’re hybrids? \h\h- [chuckles]
They’re hybrids, yes.
\h\hYou just never know what you’re gonna get.
\h\h\h\h- Oh, wow. - Sour Patch Kids.
- They’re both like that? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h- Mm-hmm.
- Oh. Are they similar \hin personality both?
- Yeah.
- Interesting. \h\h\h- Mm-hmm.
\h\h- You think it’s ’cause they have the same parents?
- Yes.
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJavi and I, while we still do disagree,
I think we do have the most in common
\h\h\hwhen it comes to parenting goals,
both long-term and short-term,
\h\h\hand when it comes to commitments, school.
So I would say, in that aspect,
\h\h\hI do think that it is way easier to parent Lincoln
than some of the other kids.
I don’t think that Chris and I \h\h\h\h\hwould see eye to eye
on most of the things.
Lux is with me 95% of the time
and I don’t feel like someone \h\h\hwho can’t even maintain
a schedule six days \hout of the month
\h\h\hshould be able to make parenting decisions with me.
♪ ♪
\h\h- ♪ I’m leavin’ for another place ♪
♪ ♪
\h- We got to Austin and I’m still on edge
\h\h\h\hafter the call with Sean’s counselor.
Plus, I’m nervous to see him again
after so much time apart.
Are you ready?
\h\h\h\h\hI need you to put on your shoes.
We’re gonna go see Daddy.
What are you gonna say to Daddy \h\h\h\h\h\h\hwhen you see him?
- "I’m happy to see you."
- Aww, that is so sweet.
\h\h\h\h- Thank you. - Here’s your jacket.
\hI took the stairs. I’m over here like--
- I want to go with you.
- You want to go with me? \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h- Yeah.
- We’re all going to the same place, dude.
You look cool, Kloie.
- You look tight.
[gentle music]
- I’m good, I’m good, I’m good. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h- Oh, my God.
♪ ♪
I think this whole process \h\h\h\h\his just intense.
It’s a lot going on.
I think I’m definitely \h\ha little nervous.
\h\hWhen I see him and meet with him
and see how he is now,
you know, I feel like \hI’ll be able to tell
if he’s really put in the work \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hto change
and be a lot more self-aware \h\h\h\h\h\hand accountable.
♪ ♪
Are you excited to see Daddy?
This is where Daddy’s staying.
- All right, Kloie, you go.
♪ ♪
- Dad? Hmm.
- I think Kloie’s gonna be really excited to see him.
\h\h\h\h\hShe misses him. She asks about him a lot.
\h\h\hShe definitely keeps bringing it up
\h\hthat it’s been a really long time
since he’s been around.
So it’s gonna be intense
but I think we’re all excited \h\h\h\h\hto see one another.
- ♪ But I got through \h\h\h\h\h\hthe fire ♪
- [gasps] Daddy?
\h\hDaddy! - [laughs]
[both laughing]
\h\h\h\h- Aww. You so excited?
- What’s up, you? \h\h\h\h\h- Hey.
- [giggling] \h\h\h\h- Hi!
- You excited? \h- [giggling]
- Aww.
\h- I love you. [all laughing]
- She’s excited.
[uplifting music]
- ♪ I’ll make you brighter ♪
♪ ♪
♪ I’ll make you brighter ♪
♪ ♪
♪ I’ll make you brighter ♪
♪ ♪
\h\h\h\h- I always thought you were more than enough.
- You made me cry.
\h\h\h\h\h\h- Javi and I got into a huge argument.
And before this fight, he asked me, he’s like,
"Why are we not getting back \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\htogether?"
- The clock is winding down \h\hfor us having to move.
\h\h\h\h\h\h- The first person that’s breaking Stella’s heart
\h\h\h\his her own dad, and that’s [bleep] sad.
- I’m just frustrated. \h\hI shouldn’t film.
\h\h\hCan you do me a favor and pull that camera down?
Hurry up.
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪