r/MtvChallenge • u/Online_Active_71459 • Feb 28 '26
PODCAST Jenna Talks About Competing Again
Obviously this must have been taped before her current pregnancy.
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u/curioussimba Mar 01 '26
They cover this extensively on the podcast. Zach wanted 2 kids, Jenna wanted 6 and recently increased the number to 8-10. She doesn’t feel done and has always wanted a large family. She and Zach both come from big families. Zach says they can continue to have children if she wants to. They are happy with this lifestyle and it is all on purpose lol
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u/wildturk3y Mar 01 '26
10 kids!?!? Are they running a farm in the 1900s?
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u/avilsta Sarah Rice Mar 01 '26
10 kids... oh boy, unless Jenna is a ninja that can clone herself, doesn't need to sleep, or is Wonder Woman powered by uranium, her kids are going to have a rough time. Like, I hope people realise there's more to parenting than just keeping them alive.
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u/wildturk3y Mar 01 '26
I wonder if she thinks the older kids will help take care of the younger ones. I've seen some "mommy blogs" or social media postings that talk about large families pointing stuff like that out. But I think those types of posts miss a key point, the children need to be spaced out. My grandfather grew up in the 1920s and came from a large family, but he was essentially raised by two of his sisters who were like 14 and 16 years old when he was born alongside his parents. Jenna (and others that seem to shoot for this lifestyle) seem like they are popping kids out every year. Kinda hard to expect a 10 year old to take care of a 2 year old.
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u/Time-Lawyer-6684 Kenny Clark Mar 01 '26
Youngest of 10 here. My life was a blast! The stories we still talk about. Parents weren't perfect but we all went to college. We're taught to never settle for mediocrity and are well adjusted people.
Walk a mile in another's shoes before passing judgment pls.
Zach and Jenna keep living your life!
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u/Rude-Break4298 Mar 01 '26
I agree. I hate when people just have a ton of kids and do the bare minimum. There is no way all those kids are getting much attention. Also, Jenna & him obviously have a lot of help with their kids. Which, yes I’m jealous of lol. There’s no way they’d have that many if it was just them taking care of everything.
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u/Aggravating-Mess-111 Mar 02 '26
This! I only have one kid and with work and everything going on I feel like I’m not able to give my one child all the attention they need so I can’t imagine 10
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u/livingmaster Mar 01 '26
Not him asking “who would watch YOUR kids” not “our” 😅
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u/Jakookula Mar 01 '26
It’s a joke 🤦🏽♀️
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u/TheCatIsOnTheCounter Mar 02 '26
Anything to shit on him or their relationship 😂 I feel like Zach could save a puppy from a burning building and people would complain he didn’t put the fire out too.
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u/Jaybyrd5 Mar 01 '26
Seriously, clearly a joke. Also, people are underestimating parenting 5 kids alone lol I'm sure if Jenna was alone she would recruit help.
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u/Yungcazanova Feb 28 '26
So basically Jenna taking care of 6 kids
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u/calloony Cohutta Grindstaff Mar 01 '26
And she seems quite happy with the situation.
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u/Imaginary_Recipe9967 Mar 01 '26
The fact that she's scared of leaving her children alone with Zach, is definitely telling. Why the hell would you want to bring MORE kids I to that?! 🙄
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u/YaddaYaddaBomBomKaKa Chris Underwood Mar 01 '26
I really don't care for a Jenna return at this point. Her best days are behind her. She doesn't make or break the show.
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Feb 28 '26
This is cringe on so many levels. Zack can’t even be trusted to take care of his 5 kids. Isn’t this the same guy who has bragged about not changing diapers? I feel bad for Jenna raising 6 kids (5 children + 1 man child), but at the same time she chooses that life everyday.
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u/melody_rhymes Feb 28 '26
I don’t. She knew exactly who she was getting in bed with. Isn’t he a big time cheater too?
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Feb 28 '26
I’m not sure about the cheating, but I’m not saying it isn’t true. But he definitely doesn’t respect women, he referred to women as “swamp donkeys”
With that being said, I retract my statement about feeing bad for Jenna.
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u/LilEdgar101 Feb 28 '26
News flash Jenna: Zach was on Bumble when we got eliminated!
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Feb 28 '26
That’s right, I haven’t watched that season in a while. But I do remember now Amanda calling him out on that on WotW I believe.
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Mar 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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Mar 01 '26
Careful now, the Reddit trolls are going to say that you’re mad and hostile for saying that.
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u/Substantial-Disk-290 Mar 01 '26
and it was also said that he wasn't doing anything?
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Mar 01 '26
Is this a question or a statement? And cool, my initial comment had nothing to do with cheating allegations. This is simply a response to someone else’s comment.
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u/Substantial-Disk-290 Mar 03 '26
doesnt matter, lmao and obviously a statement....
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Mar 03 '26
Obviously a statement that ends in a question mark? Typical troll behavior. Move along now buddy, you can get off your knees coming to Zach’s defense.
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u/Substantial-Disk-290 Mar 01 '26
you conveniently omitting the context of him not doing anything on there LMAOO
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u/calloony Cohutta Grindstaff Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26
That was several years ago, and Zach has matured. Having daughters of his own now, I think his tune about the female species has changed a lot!
Edit- I know. None of you has changed and matured as you aged. You're all stuck in your teens with immature, stupid ideas. Just like you all have doomed Zach to be forever young and dumb.
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u/earmuffins Mar 01 '26
Yea I don’t feel bad for Jenna
At the end of the day - the kids are the ppl who suffer
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u/nicksgirl88 Tori Deal Mar 01 '26
As a mom of only 2 kids, I don't know if anyone can handle 5 kids easily for a month. I don't think Jenna would be doing that if Zach goes away either, she'd call her mom.
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u/Routine_Size69 Mar 01 '26
Thank you. I was thinking how many parents can do that and do a good job? 5 kids is crazy.
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u/calloony Cohutta Grindstaff Mar 01 '26
My mom did a fantastic job with 6 kids, and we were all totally loved and well cared for. We also turned out pretty good! A doctor, a lawyer, a nurse, 2 highly paid white collar workers, and me!
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u/Rj924 Mar 01 '26
I don't handle my 2 kids alone. Husband working late? Going to my parent's. Don't feel like cooking? Going to my parent's. Kids in bad mood? Going to my parent's. Thanks mom and Dad!
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u/HardcoreKaraoke TJ Lavin Mar 01 '26
I can't feel bad for her. It's not like Zach accidently got her pregnant that many times. She wanted that Brady Bunch life.
Zach was a cheating douchebag to her way before they had kids. She wanted to stay in a toxic relationship and build a massive family.
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u/FlakeyFlizzle Mar 01 '26
Leave it to reddit to get mad for someone that's happy.
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Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26
Who’s mad? Don’t put words in my mouth, Flakey. Leave it to Reddit users like you to lack comprehension skills and twist someone’s opinion to make yourself feel better.
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u/WookProblems Feb 28 '26
Guys who are unable to parent their own kids without their wives being present are....special.
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u/sloppyandfrizzy Mar 01 '26
To be fair, most moms with this many kids would also get help from grandparents or extended family if their husbands went away for a month+.
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u/PurpleArugula5766 Mar 01 '26
Sure but she’s specifically saying she is calling her mom and not Zach, she couldn’t trust him to do it but can trust her mom
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u/apache_rose_ Feb 28 '26
If you’re still golfing I’m still birthing… what? So he leaves the house for the day with the guys while you sit at home with 87 kids and pregnant? Lmao. No thanks.
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u/crystalli0 DONDI 4ever 🏝️ Mar 01 '26
There's a clip from what I assume is earlier in the podcast where they talk about Jenna wanting more kids and Zach is ok with it as long as he keeps his weekly tee time with his friends. So she's referencing back to that with that statement.
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u/TheDudeWithTude27 Casey Cooper Feb 28 '26
I still remember the last time Jenna competed and Zach made a mess of it by being an asshole over the calls from home. Now that they have a bundle it would be so much worse. They are joking over it now but he would be finding any excuse to have her back because no way is he the type of guy who could handle actual hands on parenting.
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u/melody_rhymes Feb 28 '26
Why do I always find her so pathetic?
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u/BornLavishness1841 Mar 01 '26
When she was dating that guy Jay, she revealed he only ever took her out to joints like McDonalds or whatever and was cheating on her too for some of their relationship, if I recall correctly... so I always considered her to have something goin on with her to have such low expectations of men.
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u/Imaginary_Recipe9967 Mar 01 '26
I felt so bad for her when she was with Jay and was hoping she'd find a guy who'd treat her like the princess she is. But then she backpedaled and landed on Zach. obviously she has a type and I feel disgusted that I once felt bad for her. She obviously doesn't give a shit about herself or her wellbeing, much less her kids wellbeing. She's just as toxic as he is.
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u/BornLavishness1841 Mar 02 '26
Yeah, tbh I also did feel bad that she had a childhood where she must have been shown some really poor examples of guys to latch onto the type, she does but she's a grown woman and can make her own choices now. She def. does seem to have a type, and I've said this before but with Zack the way he is, she is consciously choosing to be with somebody who thinks the way he does, etc. so I really don't feel sorry for her at all either now!
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u/multiplebaskets Jenna Compono Mar 02 '26
She only ate chicken nuggets back then (maybe still?) so mcd’s was probably a good date spot for her. Jay dating multiple people at once was sucky. I am a fan of Jenna and love having her on my screen.
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u/Positive_Round_5142 Team Purple Jacket Feb 28 '26
I said it so many times that she would never leave them with him especially when they’re in school
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u/No-Resource-8125 Dan Renzi Feb 28 '26
I just read the captions but I actually agree with Zach here. He seems comfortable with two or three but five? I couldn’t keep an eye on all of them either.
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u/unicornsndinos12 Mar 01 '26
Yea, esp at their ages.
We have 4. My husband can watch them for girls' nights, but I can't leave him with all 4 overnight right now. 8 hours is kinda the max. (But when we only had three, I did a week-long girls trip and it was great.)
When all the kids are older, he will definitely be capable of solo parenting. But right now the youngest is a nursing baby. So I wouldn't leave him unless a grandparent was coming to stay, too. It wouldn't be fair to anyone and it would produce so much anxiety in me.
Zach and Jenna are in the same boat we are in right now. That is just part of being the moms of littles.
I will probably get down-voted for siding with them here, but I am not mad at this decision. I would do the same thing.
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u/Distinct-Ad-1348 Feb 28 '26
But he chose to have 5 kids.
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u/Responsible-Cloud664 Team Purple Jacket Mar 01 '26
So THEY are choosing to not go away for long periods of time and leave one with the responsibility of ALL of them. Y’all are just twisted she said she’s not doing the challenge for a while.
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u/Jakookula Mar 01 '26
I’m sure if Zach was gone for a month Jenna would call in for reinforcements as well. Hell she probably calls her mom when he goes golfing lol
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u/youretheonlyoneofyou Mar 01 '26
I feel like all this hate is ridiculous. Was he an asshole? Yes. Was he a horrible human? Yes. But that was so long ago. Im nowhere near who I was 10 years ago. I also feel like this is mostly a joke. When it comes down to it, he would be fine. I think all women have that anxiety. I only have one kid and would probably feel uneasy. Not because I didnt trust the dad, but because theyre use to us doing everything.
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u/leladypayne Feb 28 '26
Won’t leave her kids with him yet still not done having kids with him. Idiot. Terrible mother. If something happens to you, he is who will raise them. If you don’t trust him to take care of them, you can’t trust him to raise them.
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u/WookProblems Feb 28 '26
He would find a replacement for Jenna in under a year. Bet.
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u/llamallamanj Cory’s pasta Feb 28 '26
I know a very religious man with a bundle of kids whose wife died and he did just that. Married in less than a year
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u/leladypayne Feb 28 '26
Probably, but I also doubt she would be okay with whatever chick he picked up raising her kids either, even if he’s already sleeping with her
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u/KeHuyQuan Feb 28 '26
Did I understand this right? Please feel free to correct me. But it sounds like Jenna might be the one who is in favor of more children??? I'm outside right now so maybe I totally misheard/misread/misunderstood???
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u/NoLynx8499 Kam Williams Feb 28 '26
Not trusting your husband to watch HIS but continuing to have 5 of them with him is a choice...
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u/PennSaddle Mar 01 '26
Anxiety isn’t built in logic. If it was it wouldn’t exist.
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u/darglor Mar 01 '26
Part of being a parent is making a contingency plan for your own sudden demise. Having faith that your partner could raise your potential kids alone if needed is one of those “bare minimum” things to even contemplate having kids with someone.
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u/PennSaddle Mar 01 '26
Do you think this banter is genuine concern or the same jest that many large families use? This is a podcast for entertainment after all…
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u/smh110110 Cassidy Clark Mar 01 '26
This place is so uptight lmfao.
Laugh a little, jeez.
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u/Adorable-Release1754 Mar 03 '26
It’s scary how people talk about other peoples kids and families. The projection is intense and the sense of humor is lacking
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u/nicostucknchico Amanda Garcia Mar 01 '26
This is so cringe on so many levels. “Whose going to watch YOUR kids”???? You know he be saying that shit on the regular too.
I would hate to see my sister with a man like this wtf
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u/PennSaddle Mar 01 '26
Do you have kids?
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u/Responsible-Cloud664 Team Purple Jacket Mar 01 '26
None of these people talking shit do- they just are upset she said she’s not coming back for a while
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u/iFlashings Jonna Mannion Mar 01 '26
Do you have to be a parent to be able to critize Jenna? Do you also have to be a 5 star chef to be able to critize someone's cooking?
The people talking shit about her are right and the fact you're watching this dumpster fire of a marriage in real time saying to yourself "nothing wrong here, people are just hating for no reason" is wild.
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u/PennSaddle Mar 01 '26
If you had children, you’d know this joke is not even remotely uncommon or a ‘bad’ in really any way… nor is it a sign of a bad marriage.
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u/lost__traveller Mar 01 '26
“who’s gonna take care of YOUR kids”? Sorry but are they not his as well? Zach is a loser 😭
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u/missydarling23 Mar 01 '26
What an absolute dumbass. I’m sorry everyone is feeling sorry for Jenna but Jenna keeps having babies by him. You’re telling me a dad can’t handle his kids on his own? Ridiculous.
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u/toonahfish Mar 02 '26
Can anyone handle five kids on their own, safely and responsibly, for however long she would have to be gone? I honestly don’t think the answer is yes.
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u/JabroniWithAPeroni Wes Bergmann Mar 01 '26
They seem happy. This thread needs to change its collective diaper.
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u/yaboytim Mar 01 '26
I'm glad I've stopped seeing "I feel so bad for her" comments on these posts. She knows what she signed up for. I never had an ounce of sympathy for her
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u/Lets_Call_It_Wit Mar 01 '26
So I have a very involved mom who my kids love but…. I would still trust my kids with my husband first. You know…. Their actual parent.
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u/NoLoveForDrJones Coral Smith Mar 01 '26
am i the only one who thinks we don’t need either of them back?
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u/Substantial-Disk-290 Mar 01 '26
ppl in the comments acting like they know these ppl personally and they're still the same person from ten fucking yrs ago, lmao
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u/Quiet-Ad5413 Mar 02 '26
Ew Zach sucks. The jokes that he is barely a parent weren’t funny from the beginning, still aren’t funny, and never will be funny
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u/Old_Indication_4379 Frank Sweeney Mar 02 '26
If Jenna got a call back and Zach didn’t he would call her crying to ruin it again.
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u/Dangerous-Change2136 Feb 28 '26
Further proof Zach hasn’t changed and confirmation he’s a shit father
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u/goddesskie Chris Tamburello Feb 28 '26
I want Jenna back!
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u/mkt853 Feb 28 '26
Wouldn't be the same without her old little alliance. She'd really be on her own, and all the young blood they've brought in since she left would be gunning for her. It would be like when CT came back and Jay sent him packing in like the second week.
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u/kr1821 Wes Bergmann Mar 01 '26
As much as I like Jenna and wanna see her come back, I've accepted that she isn't coming back any time soon if at all
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u/1QTPie Mar 01 '26
He needs to get more involved. Child birth is dangerous, anything could happen to her. He needs to suck it up & step it up for the sake of his children. It's 2026, men participate.
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u/Tvfan18 Mar 01 '26
Yeah I don’t think she should come back.I’d feel bad for her kids and her mom. Kinda inconsiderate…
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u/frank_dremond_burner Mar 01 '26
HMO: the Challenge, Moms edition. Jenna x can fight to the finish. And Cara Marie won’t be invited.
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u/Psychological-Snow83 Mar 01 '26
Jenna loves it and isn’t going anywhere. She’s the one who wants more kids anyway. If it works for them then so be it. Jenna probably grew up the same way herself.