Latest news with #Maci
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Mum of giant four-month-old baby that weighs 22lb accused of child abuse by sick trolls
Maci Mugele has been trolled by people online after she shared clips of her "giant" baby who weighs 22lb 8oz at just four months old - but insists he's perfectly healthy A mum has been trolled for sharing videos of her "giant" baby that weighs a whopping 22lb at just four months old - but doctors insist he's healthy. Maci Mugele has shared clips of the baby - that some have branded "chunky" - on TikTok to songs like the I Like Them Chunky song by Users have accused the mum of "child abuse" while others have called the baby "cute". Gunner weighed 8lb 1oz and measured 19.5 inches tall when he was born on February 19 but has since shot up to 22lb 8oz and now measures two-and-a-half feet long. The 21-year-old says that Gunner measured big throughout her pregnancy and continues to "eat more than the average baby". The mum-of-one says she never expected it to go viral and rack up more than 20 million views. Maci, from Chandler, Oklahoma, US, said: "He always measured a week or two ahead [when I was pregnant]. "I could just tell that he was pretty big and everybody already told me that my stomach was bigger than average. You only have two scans throughout your pregnancy so I went to an ultrasound place and paid for an ultrasound to be done to see how big he was. "They told me that he was measuring quite large for how far along I was. I think I was like 34 weeks when he was measuring at 6lb 3oz. "The doctors said that he's healthy but sometimes people just have big babies. He's big for his height as well so I think that contributes to him being bigger. "Ever since the second day in the hospital he has eaten more than the average baby - doctors always told me he was eating a little bit more than the normal baby, which is fine they said." Maci says Gunner is in the 100th percentile for his weight and the 90th percentile for his height. The hospital lab worker says she was surprised by some of the reaction and pointed out that she didn't see how it could be cruel to feed a baby when they are hungry. Maci said: "It made me upset to realise that there are people like that in this world that feel so comfortable saying these things about a baby. That's just so sad to me and I would never want people to say things about him like that. "I thought that people would think it was cute if they saw it, but I didn't realise how horrible people can be. I don't know how it's cruel or abusive that I feed him whenever he's hungry. I feel like it would be abusive if I didn't feed him when he was hungry and crying. "Like the doctor said, he's perfectly healthy and has no problem with his weight." Since sharing the clip online, the video has gone viral, racking up more than 20 million views, likes, shares and comments. Some users were quick to criticise Gunner's size in the comments, labelling it "child abuse". One user said: "Absolute unit, he has booked in to put my new windows in next week." Another wrote: "This should be child abuse." A third added: "Girl the box your supposed to use is baby formula not mass gainer." Other social media users defended Gunner's size, calling him 'cute' and many predicted that his size now is simply a good indicator that he will be tall when he gets older. One user wrote: "The amount of people who are calling a BABY fat. He's got the chunk because he's going to be tall. It's kind how it works. They gain a lot of 'chunk' and shoot up. It's literally how kids grow. Another added: "Chat he is healthy. That is all that matters. Yes he's a big baby but if you're so bored that a baby bothers you then something is clearly wrong, not with the baby, with you." A third person said: "I love chubby little babies so much! The chunky little rolls look at his squishy little face! Everyone saying watch out for how much he'll eat as he's older this isn't the best indicator." Another said: "Omg I wasn't ready. Those chubby little rolls. The cuteness aggression is severe right now."
The Irish Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Mum accused of ‘child abuse' after showing off ‘giant' 4-month-old baby whose size is ‘off the charts'
A MUM says her 'giant' 22lb baby turns heads in the street - as he's 2.5 feet long and wears clothes for toddlers at only four months old. Maci Mugele shared the clip of her four-month-old baby Gunner Mattheyer on TikTok to the I Like Them Chunky song by last month, when she was hit with backlash about his size. 9 Maci Mugele received backlash when she shared a clip of her baby boy Gunner Mattheyer Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Gunner is now four months old, weighs 22lb 8oz and now measures two and a half feet long Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media A number of users left negative comments on the clip about Gunner's weight and suggested it was 'child abuse' - while others said his 'chunky rolls' are 'cute'. Maci says that her baby is 'healthy' and doctors have reassured her that he's just Gunner weighed 8lb 1oz and measured 19.5 inches tall when he was born on February 19 but has since shot up to 22lb 8oz and now measures two and a half feet long. The 21-year-old says that Gunner measured big throughout her pregnancy and continues to 'eat more than the average baby'. More on babies The mum-of-one says she never expected it to go viral and rack up more than 20 million views. Maci, from Chandler, Oklahoma , US, said: "He always measured a week or two ahead [when I was pregnant]. "I could just tell that he was pretty big and everybody already told me that my stomach was bigger than average. "You only have two scans throughout your pregnancy so I went to an ultrasound place and paid for an ultrasound to be done to see how big he was. Most read in Fabulous "They told me that he was measuring quite large for how far along I was. "I think I was like 34 weeks when he was measuring at 6lb 3oz. Love Islander reveals if his unborn baby is a boy or a girl at incredible gender reveal party with The Challenge star girlfriend "The doctors said that he's healthy but sometimes people just have big babies . He's big for his height as well so I think that contributes to him being bigger. "Ever since the second day in the hospital he has eaten more than the average baby - doctors always told me he was eating a little bit more than the normal baby, which is fine they said." Maci says Gunner is in the The hospital lab worker says she was surprised by some of the reaction and pointed out that she didn't see how it could be cruel to feed a baby when they are hungry. 9 Maci, 21, during her pregnancy with Gunner, who was 8lb 1oz at birth Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 A number of users left negative comments on the clip about Gunner's weight and suggested it was 'child abuse' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Maci said: "It made me upset to realise that there are people like that in this world that feel so comfortable saying these things about a baby. "That's just so sad to me and I would never want people to say things about him like that. "I thought that people would think it was cute if they saw it, but I didn't realise how horrible people can be. "I don't know how it's cruel or abusive that I feed him whenever he's hungry. "I feel like it would be abusive if I didn't feed him when he was hungry and crying. "Like the doctor said, he's perfectly healthy and has no problem with his weight." 9 Maci says that her baby is 'healthy' and doctors have reassured her that he's just big for his age Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Maci, pictured with partner Blake, says that Gunner measured big throughout her pregnancy and continues to 'eat more than the average baby' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media CRUEL BACKLASH Since sharing the clip online, the video has gone viral, racking up more than 20 million views, likes, shares and comments. Some users were quick to criticise Gunner's size in the comments, labelling it 'child abuse'. One user said: "Absolute unit, he has booked in to put my new windows in next week." Another wrote: "This should be child abuse." A third added: "Girl the box your supposed to use is baby formula not mass gainer." 9 Gunner weighed 8lb 1oz when he was born in February Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Maci says Gunner is in the 100th percentile for his weight and the 90th percentile for his height. Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Lots of people have defended her for her 'cute' baby Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media NEW FAN BASE Other social media users defended Gunner's size, calling him 'cute' and many predicted that his size now is simply a good indicator that he will be tall when he gets older. One user wrote: "The amount of people who are calling a BABY fat. He's got the chunk because he's going to be tall. It's kind how it works. "They gain a lot of 'chunk' and shoot up. It's literally how kids grow. Another added: "Chat he is healthy. That is all that matters. "Yes he's a big baby but if you're so bored that a baby bothers you then something is clearly wrong, not with the baby, with you." A third person said: "I love chubby little babies so much! "The chunky little rolls look at his squishy little face! Everyone saying watch out for how much he'll eat as he's older this isn't the best indicator." Another said: "Omg I wasn't ready. Those chubby little rolls. The cuteness aggression is severe right now." What is baby led weaning? Starting your baby on food can be a daunting, scary process. And while mums have depended for years on purees and soft, easy to eat foods for their babies, there's another approach that often causes controversy. Namely baby led weaning (BLW). Instead of spoon-feeding your baby pureed or mashed foods, BLW means offering them "only finger foods and letting them feed themselves from the start", "You can offer a range of small, finger-sized pieces of food," they added. "Some parents prefer baby-led weaning to spoon feeding, while others combine a bit of both. "There's no right or wrong way – the most important thing is that your baby eats a wide variety of food and gets all the nutrients they need."
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Mum accused of ‘child abuse' after showing off ‘giant' 4-month-old baby whose size is ‘off the charts'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUM says her 'giant' 22lb baby turns heads in the street - as he's 2.5 feet long and wears clothes for toddlers at only four months old. Maci Mugele shared the clip of her four-month-old baby Gunner Mattheyer on TikTok to the I Like Them Chunky song by last month, when she was hit with backlash about his size. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Maci Mugele received backlash when she shared a clip of her baby boy Gunner Mattheyer Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Gunner is now four months old, weighs 22lb 8oz and now measures two and a half feet long Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media A number of users left negative comments on the clip about Gunner's weight and suggested it was 'child abuse' - while others said his 'chunky rolls' are 'cute'. Maci says that her baby is 'healthy' and doctors have reassured her that he's just big for his age. Gunner weighed 8lb 1oz and measured 19.5 inches tall when he was born on February 19 but has since shot up to 22lb 8oz and now measures two and a half feet long. The 21-year-old says that Gunner measured big throughout her pregnancy and continues to 'eat more than the average baby'. The mum-of-one says she never expected it to go viral and rack up more than 20 million views. Maci, from Chandler, Oklahoma, US, said: "He always measured a week or two ahead [when I was pregnant]. "I could just tell that he was pretty big and everybody already told me that my stomach was bigger than average. "You only have two scans throughout your pregnancy so I went to an ultrasound place and paid for an ultrasound to be done to see how big he was. "They told me that he was measuring quite large for how far along I was. "I think I was like 34 weeks when he was measuring at 6lb 3oz. Love Islander reveals if his unborn baby is a boy or a girl at incredible gender reveal party with The Challenge star girlfriend "The doctors said that he's healthy but sometimes people just have big babies. He's big for his height as well so I think that contributes to him being bigger. "Ever since the second day in the hospital he has eaten more than the average baby - doctors always told me he was eating a little bit more than the normal baby, which is fine they said." Maci says Gunner is in the 100th percentile for his weight and the 90th percentile for his height. The hospital lab worker says she was surprised by some of the reaction and pointed out that she didn't see how it could be cruel to feed a baby when they are hungry. 9 Maci, 21, during her pregnancy with Gunner, who was 8lb 1oz at birth Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 A number of users left negative comments on the clip about Gunner's weight and suggested it was 'child abuse' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Maci said: "It made me upset to realise that there are people like that in this world that feel so comfortable saying these things about a baby. "That's just so sad to me and I would never want people to say things about him like that. "I thought that people would think it was cute if they saw it, but I didn't realise how horrible people can be. "I don't know how it's cruel or abusive that I feed him whenever he's hungry. "I feel like it would be abusive if I didn't feed him when he was hungry and crying. "Like the doctor said, he's perfectly healthy and has no problem with his weight." 9 Maci says that her baby is 'healthy' and doctors have reassured her that he's just big for his age Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Maci, pictured with partner Blake, says that Gunner measured big throughout her pregnancy and continues to 'eat more than the average baby' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media CRUEL BACKLASH Since sharing the clip online, the video has gone viral, racking up more than 20 million views, likes, shares and comments. Some users were quick to criticise Gunner's size in the comments, labelling it 'child abuse'. One user said: "Absolute unit, he has booked in to put my new windows in next week." Another wrote: "This should be child abuse." A third added: "Girl the box your supposed to use is baby formula not mass gainer." 9 Gunner weighed 8lb 1oz when he was born in February Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Maci says Gunner is in the 100th percentile for his weight and the 90th percentile for his height. Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Lots of people have defended her for her 'cute' baby Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media NEW FAN BASE Other social media users defended Gunner's size, calling him 'cute' and many predicted that his size now is simply a good indicator that he will be tall when he gets older. One user wrote: "The amount of people who are calling a BABY fat. He's got the chunk because he's going to be tall. It's kind how it works. "They gain a lot of 'chunk' and shoot up. It's literally how kids grow. Another added: "Chat he is healthy. That is all that matters. "Yes he's a big baby but if you're so bored that a baby bothers you then something is clearly wrong, not with the baby, with you." A third person said: "I love chubby little babies so much! "The chunky little rolls look at his squishy little face! Everyone saying watch out for how much he'll eat as he's older this isn't the best indicator." Another said: "Omg I wasn't ready. Those chubby little rolls. The cuteness aggression is severe right now."
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
March Madness returns to Seattle with Memphis Penny Hardaway feel-good story, Sonics mems
March Madness is finally back in Seattle. The best of the first-round games not just inside Climate Pledge Arena Friday but in the entire, 68-team tournament may be Memphis-Colorado State. And the best story of Memphis-Colorado State may be an 11-year-old girl who has inspired Penny Hardaway. Hardaway, the superstar of the 1990s, Sonics-era NBA, is Memphis' coach in his hometown. He was coming off what he acknowledges was 'a really bad year' last season. Following a conference tournament championship and another NCAA tournament appearance the year before, his storied Memphis Tigers finished the 2023-24 season fifth in their league. They lost to 12th-seeded Wichita State in their first game of the American Athletic Conference tournament. That ended, for him, a lost year. His Tigers didn't earn a berth in the NCAAs, or any postseason tournament, last season. There were questions around Memphis whether the city's local hero should perhaps be... fired? Early this season Hardaway's Tigers beat defending national-champion Connecticut then national power Michigan State in the Maui Invitational in November. But in mid-January Memphis lost a league game at Temple on national television. Eleven-year-old Maci Barrett was at that game with her mother. Maci is a Tigers fan — and a huge fan of Taylor Swift. 'I'm a Swift-ie,' Maci later told Hardaway. As you may know, Swift-ies love making friendship bracelets. Her mom inspired Maci to make one. For the down Hardaway. She did. Maci presented it to the glum coach following that Memphis loss at Temple Jan. 16. Maci had strung Tigers blue-and-white beads together with letters. They formed five words.. 'I believe in you, Coach.' Hardaway earned over $120 million in his NBA playing career from 1993-2008. He still makes handsome residuals from his Nike Lil' Penny campaign during his playing days. He immediately put on Maci's homemade bracelet. Because she believes in him. 'I've been holding on (to it) for dear life,' Hardaway said, in a Memphis Tigers Facebook video, 'and kind of taking it through everything.' Since Maci's gift — of belief — Hardaway and his Tigers have roared. They've won 16 of their last 17 games. They've won The American tournament. They raced past UAB by 12 points in the conference championship game last weekend. Memphis has the fifth seed in the NCAA tournament Hardaway has been seeking all season. His Tigers (29-5) begin their March Madness run Friday at 11 a.m. against 12th-seeded Colorado State (25-9), champion of the Mountain West Conference. It's the first, and seemingly best, matchup of the four first-round games at Climate Pledge Arena. And Maci will be there. Executives from Memphis-based FedEx, a big supporter of University of Memphis and its athletic programs, heard about Maci's belief bracelet she gave Hardaway. FedEx flew Maci and her family from Tennessee to Seattle so she can attend her hero's NCAA tournament games here. The coach is looking forward to seeing her for the first time since her gift-giving in Philadelphia. 'Yes, I am looking forward to that again, because it won't be in such a somber spirit,' Hardaway said Thursday at CPA, before his Tigers' morning shoot-around. 'Like, after we lost at Temple I was kind of down. And she really lifted my spirits. 'Now meeting her for the second time, understanding what's happened, is pretty cool. And it's a feel-good story.' A Memphis win over trendy lower-seed pick Colorado State would make it a feel-even-better story. The winner of that one advances to the second round Sunday at Seattle Center. That Sunday game will be for a spot in the regional semifinals next week in San Francisco. Colorado State is a slight favorite. The Rams are only the third 12 seed to be favored in a tournament game since 2005. CSU Is one of the two lower-seeded teams oddsmakers have as a betting favorite in this tournament's first round. The other is North Carolina, an 11. The Tar Heels are favored over six seed Mississippi. A 12-seed has won 55 games in round one in the 40 years since the NCAA expanded the field to 64 teams in 1985. Fourth-seeded Maryland (25-8) of the Big Ten plays 13th-seeded Grand Canyon (26-7), champion of the Western Athletic Conference, in Seattle's other West region game Friday. The second game of the afternoon session is at about 1:35 p.m. The evening session is two East Region games: fourth seed Arizona (22-12) from the Big 12 against 13 seed Akron (28-6) of the Mid-American Conference at about 4:35 p.m., then fifth-seeded Oregon (24-9) of the Big Ten against 12 seed Liberty (28-6) from Conference USA, around 7:10 p.m. Tickets were available on secondary online markets Thursday with falling prices for Friday afternoon session. The evening session with relatively local Oregon plus Arizona's notoriously rabid, well-traveled fans is a more expensive ticket inside the NHL Kraken's home arena that seats 18,300 for basketball. Many around college hoops see Memphis-Colorado State with Kansas-Arkansas as this tournament's best first-round games. Memphis' leading scorer PJ Haggerty (21.8 points, six rebounds, four assists per game) against the Rams' leader Nique Clifford (19 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists per game) is the marquee matchup in Friday's first game. 'I see where he averaged 19 and 10 rebounds, so it's kind of impressive,' Haggerty said of Clifford, a big, strong guard. 'But just sticking to our principles, just guard him, contain him, things like that.' Clifford called this opportunity to follow Colorado State's win over Virginia and loss to Texas in last year's NCAA tournament 'a blessing.' 'This is your childhood dreams that you grow up working for,' the Rams' 6-foot-6, 200-pound senior leader said. 'So we're just excited to get this thing rolling.' Memphis scores a ton of points. The Tigers' second-leading scorer, big man Dain Dainja, averages 19 per game. They see the key to advancing past Colorado State is going beyond the points the Tigers believe they will score. 'Just the little things, the things you work on in practice: Defending and rebounding,' Dainja said. 'All the stuff we work on in practice, just translating over here in this tournament.' The Terrapins were second-place finishers to Michigan State atop the rugged Big Ten this regular season. Maryland has freshman star Derik Queen averaging more than 16 points and nine rebounds per game inside. The Terps are well aware Grand Canyon is in the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five years. They know the Grand Canyon coach Bryce Drew — who hit a famous buzzer-beater for Valparaiso to upset heavily favored Ole Miss in round one of the 1998 NCAA tournament — and his Antelopes were a 12 seed last year when they beat fifth-seeded Saint Mary's in round one. 'Yeah, I don't know how they got a 13 seed, to be honest with you,' Maryland coach Kevin Willard said. 'They've won (26) games. They won a game in the (2024 NCAA) tournament. They have a six-year senior, six-year senior. They're a veteran basketball team. 'From my standpoint watching them on film they're probably the most connected defensive team that we're going to play all year.' Arizona in its first year after leaving the Pac-12 had big wins in the heated Big 12, over Iowa State, BYU, Texas Tech, Baylor and in the conference tournament, Kansas. The Zips play to their Kangaroo-inspired nickname. They are fast. They run and push the ball up the floor. They came back from an 18-point deficit in the MAC championship game to beat Miami, Ohio, last week to get here. 'Obviously, we were down 18 the other day, and the disposition and poise and composure of our group has been like that all year,' Akron coach John Groce said. 'Our group continued to fight and swing and battle and found a way. And that's kind of been their disposition. 'So we're excited to compete (Friday). Obviously, they're a very good basketball team. But we've had a good week of prep — and looking forward to the opportunity.' Arizona has a big size advantage over smaller Akron. Seven-footer Henri Veesaar is likely the focal point of the Wildcats' game plan. Akron has never won an NCAA tournament game (0-5). Liberty is another lower seed many are picking for an upset. That's because the Flames can shoot from everywhere, in any setting. They are fifth in the country in 3-point shooting percentage and second in the advanced metric of effective field-goal percentage. Kaden Metheny averages 13.5 points per game and has shot at least 47.6% from the field in each of the last three games to earn Liberty its conference tournament title and NCAA berth. The Ducks should have two big advantages. One is in rebounding. Liberty is 298th in the nation in rebounding percentage. Plus: The crowd Friday night inside Climate Pledge Arena should be full of roaring Ducks who made the drive up Interstate 5. 'A lot of excitement, of course, on Selection Sunday,' Liberty coach Ritchie McKay said. 'And then it's all good up until you see your opponent — and then it's like, 'Oh, man.' 'So we're looking forward to an opportunity, though, and we'll see how it goes.' The Boston Celtics' sale got approved Friday, for a record $6.1 billion. That has renewed hope around the Northwest basketball community the Sonics may be returning in the NBA as an expansion team soon. Most around the league have believed the sale of the Celtics has been a key event that needed to happen before the expansion process can begin in earnest. Hardaway played NBA games in Seattle for 15 years, first in 1993 when it was the old Seattle Center Coliseum, in 1994 when the SuperSonics were in the Tacoma Dome for one season, then in 1995 and beyond in KeyArea. That, of course, was the building before Climate Pledge Arena under the same historic roof. He is among so many who feel it's past time for the league to get back to Seattle since it moved away, to Oklahoma City in 2008. 'Yeah, it was always tough because Coach (George) Karl's teams, that's when they were in their prime with Gary (Payton) and Shawn (Kemp) and those guys, Nate McMillan,' Hardaway said. 'And it was always tough to come to Seattle and play the Sonics. And the fan base was really the sixth man. 'It was, like, not only were they tough, but it always got so loud. And it's unfortunate that there's not a franchise here, because this city was so good for our league.'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Teen Mom 's Maci Shares How She Feels About Ex Ryan's Fiancée Amanda
Originally appeared on E! Online Amanda Conner wasn't the only one saying yes when Ryan Edwards dropped to his bended knee this January. Count his former fiancée Maci Bookout—mom to their 16-year-old son Bentley—among those thrilled to see the soon-to-be dad of four commit to forever with her former high school classmate. "She has been a game-changer, honestly," the Teen Mom star raved of Amanda in an exclusive interview with E! News. "We're very close friends and she's just got really great energy. She's very authentic and she genuninely loves and cares about Ryan and Bentley so obviously that's all I could ever ask for." And like her husband-to-be, Amanda—who has a son from her previous marriage—is enjoying her own sobriety journey. "I got kicked out of public schools from drugs and fighting and getting in trouble, getting arrested at a young age," she shared last fall on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. "I don't know why it took so long to learn, but I went through the wringer and I'm not going back there." Instead, she's looking ahead to a future that includes the spring arrival of their little girl and making memories with their blended family. "Bentley really enjoys her," noted Maci, also mom to Jayde, 00, and Maverick, 00, with husband Taylor McKinney. "Even my other two kids, they love her and her son, so having her around has been wonderful." More from E! Online Justin Baldoni's 2 AM Voice Memo to Blake Lively Revealed Teen Mom's Catelynn Lowell Reveals Where She Stands With Daughter Carly's Adoptive Parents Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Reveals Ex Kody Brown Spent "Lots" of Their Family Money Instead, she's looking ahead to a future that includes the spring arrival of her and Ryan's little girl and making memories with their blended family. "Bentley really enjoys her," noted Maci, also mom to Jayde, 9, and Maverick, 8, with husband Taylor McKinney. "Even my other two kids, they love her and her son, so having her around has been wonderful." Though, while Bentley is prepared to exercise his considerable eldest sibling skills, Maci joked, "I think he is ready for this to be the last sibling." Nor is he looking to put his expertise to use on any babies of his own at the moment. "We've always had those open communications," Maci explained of speaking to her teen about safe sex in the upcoming season of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, which premieres on MTV Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. "So they're definitely not as awkward as they were in the beginning. I know it sounds odd, but they're normal." As is, remarkably, her once-contentious (as in restraining order contentious) relationship with ex Ryan. Having ironed out the considerable kinks in their co-parenting partnership back in 2023, "We are still doing really well," Maci emphasized. "I honestly think it's gotten here because there was no pressure. We've let it naturally take its course and just our communication's better." And, of course, it doesn't hurt that Ryan—also dad to Jagger, 6, and Stella, 5, with first wife Mackenzie Standifer—has been working to improve himself since his 2023 overdose. "I think Ryan being sober and healthy has created a fresh air for us to breathe in," acknowledged Maci. "But we also made a commitment to try and stay respectful and to maintain communication even if we're feeling some type of way." As for how she handled Bentley feeling some type of way as he witnessed Ryan's various legal troubles, "Therapy," Maci shared of their not-so-secret weapon. "Therapy and honestly doing work on myself and understanding the responsibility and the roles that I play, but also understanding what is not my responsibility." These days, when it comes to her eldest son, "You can almost even physically see how much lighter it is for him," she continued. "There's no tension or awkwardness. It's much less of a chore for all of us, to be honest." Because their happy quartet also includes Taylor, Maci's husband of eight years. "Even when we've had a rough year together, I think at the end of the day, I still choose him," she previously explained to E! of her forever teammate. "I like him. And even if I want to punch him in the face sometimes, I'd rather argue with him or have a rough patch with him than never have a rough patch with anybody else." And she's not the only franchise regular to have found their person. Check out who the rest of the Teen Mom cast is navigating rough seas and calm waters alongside. Maci Bookout & Taylor McKinneyCory Wharton & Taylor Selfridge Amber Portwood & Gary ShirleyAmber Portwood & Dimitri GarciaAmber Portwood & Gary Wayt Leah Messer & Corey Simms Leah Messer & Jaylan Mobley
