Teen Mom’s Kailyn Lowry Slams Claim She Chooses Men Over Her Kids

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Kailyn Lowry is defending her actions as a mom of seven.

Former Teen Mom 2 star Ashley addressed concerns that she prioritizes romantic relationships over her children. This came after she allowed her boyfriend of less than a year, Isaac “Ike” Knighton, to move in with her and her kids.

Kailyn explained in a recent online video that she definitely considered who this person was before letting him meet her children. She clarified it wasn’t a casual encounter, like meeting someone on a dating app. While she doesn’t mean to suggest everyone on apps is unsafe, she wanted to make it clear she didn’t rush the introduction after just one meeting.

Kailyn began dating Ike after ending her relationship with Elijah Scott last summer. She and Elijah share three children: a 3-year-old son named Rio, and 2-year-old twins Verse and Valley. Kailyn has known Ike for a long time, saying they’ve been acquainted since high school.

Kailyn admitted she wasn’t looking for a serious relationship with Ike, but she said they both felt an immediate connection after their first time together.

I’ve definitely experienced some really difficult and unhealthy situations before, so when I met Ike, the connection felt instantly different. It wasn’t like anything I’d felt before, and it was a welcome change.

She explained that when there’s a natural connection and attraction, it’s undeniable. She also emphasized that her own happiness is essential, stating that she needs to feel fulfilled as an individual before she can be a good mother. And while she doesn’t depend on men for her happiness—pointing to her past experiences where relationships have caused her pain—she acknowledged that they haven’t brought her joy.

Kailyn shared that she and Ike were serious about their relationship and wanted to fully commit, so they decided to move in together relatively soon after they started dating to learn more about each other.

The podcaster acknowledged on January 15th that the situation wasn’t perfect, admitting it was a selfish desire. However, with seven children, they felt they rarely got to prioritize their own needs. Ultimately, they expressed a longing for a deeper connection and didn’t want to simply go through the motions in life, according to reports from multiple news sources.

Kailyn, who has four children – Isaac (16) with Jo Rivera, Lincoln (12) with Javi Marroquin, and Lux (8) and Creed Romello (5) with Chris Lopez – shared that past relationship struggles have made her feel very alone.

She confessed she’d always felt lonely, even when she was in a relationship. But with him, it was different – she finally felt like she was with someone who truly understood her, like a best friend.

For a deep dive into Kailyn’s large family tree, read on…

I’ve been following this podcaster for a while now, and in a recent Patreon video from January 15th, they were really honest about things. They admitted it’s not perfect, and that wanting something for themselves might seem a little selfish, especially with seven kids! But they explained they don’t want to just go through life on autopilot – they genuinely want a fulfilling connection with someone, a real partnership. It was a surprisingly vulnerable thing to share, and I really appreciated their honesty.

Kailyn, a mother to six children – Isaac (16) with Jo Rivera, Lincoln (12) with Javi Marroquin, and Lux (8) and Creed Romello (5) with Chris Lopez – shared that past relationship struggles have made her feel very alone.

She explained that she’d always felt alone, even when she was in a relationship. But with him, it was different – she finally felt like she was with someone who truly understood her, like her best friend.

For a deep dive into Kailyn’s large family tree, read on…

Kailyn Lowry became a mom at 17 when she and her high school boyfriend, Jo Rivera, had their first child, Isaac Elliott Rivera, on January 18, 2010.

Despite divorcing a year after the wedding, Kailyn and her ex-husband, Jo, have found a way to successfully co-parent their children. Kailyn shared on X (formerly Twitter) after attending Jo and his wife, Vee Rivera’s, wedding in 2018 that they’ve both grown a lot since they were younger, and she couldn’t ask for a better stepmother for her children.

On his 13th birthday, she shared how she’s watched her oldest son grow up alongside her, but feels he’s mature for his age. She described him as a kind, talented, and witty young man – a devoted Olivia Rodrigo fan who also loves music and basketball – and praised his compassionate nature.

She explained that she’s particularly inspired by his willingness to question and go against what’s considered normal. His curiosity and open mind allow him to develop his own unique perspectives and beliefs.

In June 2025, Elliott shared on his mother’s podcast, Barely Famous, that he prefers to be called by his middle name and also came out as gay. Kailyn praised him, saying he’s accepting of everyone as they are, not how others expect them to be, and that more people should follow his example.

Lincoln Marroquin was born on November 16, 2013, about a year after his father, Javi Marroquin, married the star of Teen Mom 2.

Kailyn described the boy as a big sports fan on her 2022 Barely Famous podcast. He spends a lot of time playing basketball and football, and for his 10th birthday, he had a party themed around his favorite NBA player, Allen Iverson.

As a parent, you often look to people you admire for inspiration, and that’s exactly what happened when my brother was naming his youngest son! He told me that the name Verse actually came from a suggestion – Lincoln recommended the name Iverson, a nod to the basketball legend Allen Iverson. Being a huge basketball fan himself, it’s no wonder that was on his radar and ultimately inspired the name Verse!

She described her brother Lincoln as wonderful, writing in a 2022 birthday post that he’s dedicated, intelligent, good-looking, and simply the best brother anyone could ask for.

Lux Russell Lowry enjoys a diverse range of interests, including football, wrestling, solving Rubik’s Cubes, and the music of Michael Jackson.

Kailyn’s first child, Lux, was born on August 5, 2017, with her ex-boyfriend, Chris Lopez. While they continued a complicated relationship for a few years, Kailyn shared with TopMob News in 2020 that they weren’t currently speaking. She expressed hope that they could improve their communication eventually, and wished for a positive outcome for their children, whatever that might look like. She emphasized that she didn’t harbor any negative feelings towards Chris.

Lux is a remarkably quick child! Kailyn celebrated his sixth birthday with a WWE party, sharing that he “came into this world at lightning speed & has kept us on our toes every single day since.” She expressed her immense love for her energetic little boy.

Before her son, Creed Romello Lowry-Lopez, was born on July 30, 2020, Kailyn revealed she had a difficult time deciding whether to continue with the pregnancy. She told TopMob News shortly after his birth that keeping it a secret for so long stemmed from her uncertainty, and she deeply struggled with the decision.

I always knew things were tough between her and Creed’s dad, Chris. But the moment she saw his ultrasound, that was it – she knew what she had to do. It completely changed everything for her, and I could see the determination in her eyes.

Kailyn shared with TopMob that, like her other children, she instantly fell in love with the new baby. All three of her older kids were eager to hold him and have been very affectionate.

On his third birthday, shared with his sister Lux, she wrote a list of nicknames for him – Creed, Romello, Mello, Romey, Rome, Biggie, and Bigs. She explained she couldn’t find the right words to express how much she loved her energetic little boy, and would share those feelings privately instead.

Kailyn chose to keep the birth of her fifth son, Rio, private for a while after he was born in November 2022 because she wanted to share his story when she was ready, in her own way, she told People magazine.

Despite a difficult start to life – he needed care in the NICU because of breathing problems and fluid in his lungs – she says he’s been a wonderful baby.

New father Elijah Scott is also earning praise. His ex-fiancée shared that he’s been a unique partner, especially compared to other fathers of her children. While his job is physically demanding – he works with concrete – he’s deeply committed to family, both his own and theirs. She feels they’ve been a great team and a good match.

Kailyn says having her son Rio made her want to enjoy life and keep things lively. She jokingly admitted that going from four to five kids was surprisingly tougher, explaining that her fourth child has a very strong personality. She described her fifth child as an exceptionally easy and sweet baby, saying she might have had even more children if they’d all been like him.

Cut to…

In late October 2023, Kailyn welcomed her twin babies, Verse and Valley, becoming a mom of three with her partner, Elijah. This marked a new chapter for her as a mother to both a son and daughters.

Valley, named after the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania where Kailyn spent her childhood, needed a bit more time in the NICU than her brother because she was having trouble with feeding.

Kailyn shared on her January 2024 podcast, Barely Famous, that she’d never experienced a baby who didn’t wake for feedings or show any hunger. Her baby would simply sleep through scheduled feeding times, never giving any signals she wanted to eat, and wouldn’t even take a bottle when offered.

Even though Kailyn is concerned about how her twins will reconnect after being apart for a while—she hopes to rebuild their close connection—she’s very happy her family is together at last.

She shared how happy and content she was, saying, “We’re even adding to our house because of it! I feel incredibly lucky to have these wonderful babies.”

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2026-01-23 00:18