Respectfully Unhinged: The Gray Area

Some of y’all have asked where John is, and now I’m telling you.In this episode, I’m opening up about our family’s reality, and the moment my nine-year-old son Jordyn told me, “I know my dad is in prison.”We’re talking motherhood, autism, absent parents, difficult conversations, and the things we can’t always protect our children from.Because our kids understand more than we sometimes realize, and sometimes the hardest part of being a mom is navigating truths you wish they never had to know.A little vulnerable, a little emotional, and a whole lot of real.

What if the thing keeping you stuck is your own mindset? 👀 This episode gets real about gratitude, jealousy, comparison, and learning to clap for others while you’re still waiting on your breakthrough. Plus, a little life update because things have been changing around here! Sometimes we’re so busy watching God work in everybody else’s life that we miss what He’s doing in ours. Check your spirit, baby. Your winning season starts within. ❤️

It’s my 25th birthday, I’m standing in my dad’s bathroom in complete disbelief, and suddenly my life is changing faster than I can process. John is screaming with excitement, I’m terrified, and we’re barely a month into our relationship. And just when I think I’ve got enough to deal with, everything takes another unexpected turn.Y’all… this story is WILD, and we’re just getting started. 🎙️💀

No storyline. No agenda. No particular point we’re trying to make. 😂 Just me talking, oversharing, giving my unsolicited opinions, laughing at my own mess, and letting the conversation go wherever it wants.Basically, it’s the kind of conversation you’d have with your best friend when you sit down to “talk for a minute” and somehow three hours later you’ve covered relationships, life, random bs, and everything in between.So grab your drink, get comfortable, and come hang out with me. Because sometimes we don’t need a topic… we just need to talk.

Life has been lifing, so naturally I had to come back and unload the entire plot. 😂 From Gianna starting middle school and Mr. Inmate finally being outside the gates, to complicated feelings, old loves, situations , wishy-washy people, and a night at the Chris Brown & Usher concert. I’m catching y’all ALL the way up. Basically, this is your “Previously on Lauren’s Bullshit.” 😂

In this episode of Respectfully Unhinged, I sit down with my daughter to talk about one of those big childhood transitions that somehow sneaks up on you.. going from elementary school to middle school.We talk about the excitement, the nerves, making new friends, growing up, leaving behind what’s familiar, and all the emotions that come with realizing your little kid isn’t so little anymore. From her perspective as a new middle schooler to my perspective as a mom trying to prepare her for this next chapter, we get real, laugh a LOT, and probably overshare a little. 😂Because apparently, they go from recess to real problems overnight. 😭Come listen as we talk about growing up, navigating change, and figuring out this next chapter together.

After leaving y’all hanging for a month, we’re finally getting back to the story. One phone call, four hours of catching up, and one unexpected question, “When can I see you?” led to a four-hour drive and an emotional reunion I’ll never forget. For the first time in over a month, I was face-to-face with someone from a very complicated chapter of my life… and suddenly, everything felt real.

Some relationships don’t end with hate. Sometimes there’s still love, history, attachment, and feelings but that doesn’t mean you belong together.In this episode, I’m unpacking last night’s emotions, old wounds, mixed signals, and the realization that you can still care about someone without going back.No names. No exposing anyone’s story. Just my perspective, my truth, and everything that exists in the gray area.

Tonight’s episode is a little different because I sat down with someone who knows me way too well… because yes, y’all… this was my ex!🤪😂We talked about our history, relationships, mistakes, loyalty, growth, prison, the things that happened between us, and where we stand now.There were questions I probably should’ve thought twice about asking, answers I definitely wasn’t expecting, and a few moments where we both had to be completely honest.No script. No rehearsed answers. No pretending.Just two people with a whole lot of history finally having the conversations we probably should’ve had a long time ago, which we have but this one is raw.And because he told me nothing was off limits… I made sure of it. 😂This one is personal. This one is real.

Life has taken some unexpected turns lately, and before we get back into the story, I have a few things to catch y’all up on.And if you haven’t figured it out yet… this story is about John, Jordyn’s dad.I met my son’s father in prison, and trust me, that’s only the beginning.We’re going back to where it all started and finally getting to the story behind that phone call: “I’ve been looking for you…” and other banter!