Remember when Maci Bookout was the shining star of MTV's reality series Teen Mom? The Tennessee teen who got pregnant with baby Bentley the first time seemed like she had it so together that she didn't really belong on the same show that's brought us human trainwrecks like Amber Portwood and Jenelle Evans. But rumors that she's in for a custody battle with ex-fiance Ryan Edwards are dragging down this ubermama's reputation big time.
The Star (I know, I know, but hear me out) is claiming Edwards is filing for full custody of Bentley because Maci has taken up the party girl lifestyle. OK, so it's just a tabloid, buuuuut, let's examine the evidence here.
Sadly, it seems the rumors we didn't want to be true about Maci being dumped by her menschy boyfriend Kyle King may have some meat to them after all. Kyle has been tweeting pictures of Bentley over the past few days with comments like "rough" and "miss u lil buddy." And Maci's grandpa Bookout has passed away, a major life moment that can send anyone over the edge. Partying it up and dropping her baby boy with daddy would fit the MO of a post-break-up, post-family death teenage girl.
And crazy as it sounds, Ryan really seems to have gotten his act together. He spent last season of Teen Mom being egged on by his mom to file for custody of the little boy, and he seemed to be taking things out on Maci out of spite more so than any real desire to be his son's number one.
But now the tables have turned. He's the one in a steady relationship with Dalis Connell, a student at nearby Tennessee Tech, and he's doing grown up things these days like helping fund-raise for the Ronald McDonald House and chilling at HOME with his son watching Cars 2 instead of partying with his boys.
It's not a stretch to think Ryan is finally up for playing happy families with his girlfriend and son. In that sense, a move for full custody falls right in line with his path to adulthood.
And it's good to hear! Bentley needs a grown-up daddy!
But that doesn't mean he doesn't need his mommy too. Maci has done such a good job under the combined pressures of being a teen mom and a reality star at the same time. Even if she's caved under recent pressures, she seems like the girl who can right the apple cart.
Here's hoping any changes in custody for these two put them on equal footing. Shared custody with two good parents would be the very best thing to happen to Bentley.
Did you see Maci headed down this path?
Image via MTV