Jenelle Evans has opened up about the ongoing challenges she faces as a mother while navigating her 16-year-old son Jace‘s recent struggles with mental health issues and legal troubles, and asks for understanding during this difficult period.
The former “Teen Mom” star addressed the situation publicly after Jace shared private text messages between them on social media, prompting Jenelle to provide context about their family’s current circumstances and the complex issues they’re working through together.
Social Media Posts Reveal Family Tensions
The situation escalated when Jace posted screenshots of text conversations with his mother across three separate Instagram posts on Tuesday. The posts included private exchanges that revealed tensions within the family and brought their personal struggles into the public eye.
“I am finally putting out how much mother really is,” Jace captioned his first post, according to The Ashley’s Reality Roundup. His final post stated, “I need to go back to NC she is just rlly [sic] unstable,” referring to his desire to return to North Carolina from their current home in Las Vegas.
The screenshots included text exchanges where Jace expressed concerns about his living situation, telling his mother, “I don’t need you, you don’t need me and I don’t understand why ur doing this just because I’m telling the truth. Ur crazy.”
The posts also referenced a 2023 incident involving Jenelle’s ex-husband, David Eason. Text messages showed ongoing disagreements about what occurred. Jace had previously accused Eason of assault. This has led to felony charges against Eason that are still pending, with a trial scheduled for January 2026.
In the text exchanges, Jenelle allegedly wrote, “Just like the way you lied about David strangling you. You make things worse on yourself,” while Jace responded, “I never lied. He tried to do [that [expletive]].”
Jenelle Explains Family Dynamics
Jenelle took to Instagram Stories on Tuesday, August 19, to address the situation after Jace posted the screenshots. The reality TV personality stressed her commitment to her children. She also acknowledged the challenges of parenting a teenager with multiple diagnoses.
“My children are my whole world, and everything I do is to try and protect, guide, and love them,” Jenelle wrote in her Instagram Stories. “Like any parent, I set rules and boundaries, and sometimes that isn’t easy. Jace posting our private texts was his reaction to being rightfully disciplined.”
The mother of three explained that the situation stems from ongoing difficulties in managing Jace’s various medical conditions. “While it hurts to see those moments shared publicly, I know it comes from a place of struggle,” she shared. “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.”
Jenelle has previously discussed Jace’s mental health journey. She revealed in May that he has been dealing with multiple conditions since childhood. She explained that he was diagnosed with ADHD at age 10 and, more recently, received additional diagnoses, including major depressive disorder and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in 2023.
According to TMZ, which spoke with Jenelle after the social media posts, the texts were “taken out of context and posted in retaliation after she disciplined her son.”
In her second Instagram Story, Jenelle revealed that Jace has also been facing legal difficulties in recent months.
“Recently he’s also been in trouble with the law these past few months and is having a hard time adjusting to the rules set before him,” Jenelle wrote. “I’ve been trying everything to help him navigate it but we are butting heads in the process. Please give us grace at this time. This is hard on all of us.”
The family’s custody situation has been particularly complex. Jenelle originally signed custody of Jace to her mother, Barbara Evans, when she was 17. Jenelle regained custody of her son in 2023 after years of legal proceedings.
Earlier this year, Jenelle had sent Jace to live with his biological father, Andrew Lewis, in Florida. However, that arrangement ended unsuccessfully. In June, she told Us Weekly that Jace was “back at home with me” in Las Vegas.
The former reality star requested understanding from the public as the family works through these difficulties privately. She is asking her followers for “empathy, kindness and prayers” during this challenging time.
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‘Teen Mom’ Star Asks for ‘Grace’ as Son Battles Issues Outside of the Spotlight