Teen Mom star Ryan Edwards is grateful for the new relationship he is building with his teenage son, Bentley.
While preparing to celebrate his eldest child’s 16th birthday on the Thursday, January 30, episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, Ryan, 37 was asked to reflect on the positive changes he’s seen in his parenting journey.
“Does it feel good to be there for Bentley and show up to events now that you are sober and being on the right path?” Ryan’s fiancé, Amanda Conner, asked. “How does that make you feel?”
After struggling with addiction for many years, Ryan explained how his sobriety has helped repair his once-distance relationship with Bentley.
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“If he ever needs me, I’m here for him and I know that for a little bit, he was worried about me going to jail and then me going to rehab and all this stuff,” he shared. “You hate to worry your kid. As a parent, it should be the other way around.”
While Ryan — who shares Bentley with ex Maci Bookout — admitted that his son will likely “always worry a little bit,” he is trying to focus on the positive. (Ryan also shares Jagger, 6, and Stella, 4, with ex-wife Mackenzie Standifer.)
“At least I’m here,” Ryan continued. “I enjoy everybody getting along with everybody. It makes it so much easier and I know he enjoys it.”
During Thursday’s episode, Maci, 33, and her husband, Taylor McKinney, teamed up with Ryan and Amanda, 33, to help plan Bentley’s 16th birthday.
Although Maci previously butted heads with Ryan during the peak of his addiction, the former 16 and Pregnant star previously explained to Us how she was able to build a healthy coparenting relationship with her ex.
“I think it was two years ago when we were in LA and Ryan and I sat down with Coach B. I couldn’t tell you the last time before [then] that I had even spoken to Ryan,” Maci exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this month. “Us basically just sitting down and committing to starting fresh, and I think that was the real [deal]. We haven’t taken a step backward since then, so that was the turning point.”
During a February 2023 episode of Teen Mom: Family Reunion, both Maci and Ryan agreed to put any past drama behind them and move forward in a positive way.
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While Maci credited Dr. Cheyenne Bryant for her help, she also credited time for helping things improve.
“I think naturally on its own time, we’ve been able to build a solid foundation,” she explained. “Everything is going really well and I kind of feel like the audience deserves to see this.”
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter airs on MTV Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
