Jenelle Evans has been on our screens since she was 17, and honestly, it’s been a lot. We’ve watched her go from a teenager on 16 and Pregnant to a mom of three navigating a life that feels more like a soap opera than reality. If you’ve followed the "Teen Mom" saga, you know the names Jace, Kaiser, and Ensley. But the headlines usually only tell half the story, or they get the messy custody details tangled up in old news.
Right now, in 2026, things look way different than they did back in the "Land" days. The swamp is effectively drained, David Eason is officially an ex-husband, and the kids are growing up fast.
People always ask: "Does she actually have her kids?" The answer is complicated. It's always been complicated with Jenelle. To really understand the world of jenelle evans kids, you have to look at each child’s situation individually because they are all living very different lives right now.
The Jace Saga: A Decade in the Making
Jace Vahn Evans is 16 now. Think about that for a second. We literally watched him be born. For 13 years, his grandmother, Barbara Evans, had legal custody while Jenelle fought—sometimes passionately, sometimes sporadically—to get him back.
She finally won full custody in early 2023. It was supposed to be the "happily ever after" moment she’d been shouting about on TikTok for years. But real life isn't a 30-second clip. The transition was brutal. After a series of run-ins with the law, multiple instances of Jace running away, and a terrifying incident involving David Eason, the situation shifted again.
Where is Jace now?
Technically, Jenelle still holds legal weight, but the "physical" reality has changed. After the 2024 split from David, Jenelle moved to Las Vegas to pursue a fresh start. Jace initially went with her, but it didn't stick.
As of late 2025 and into 2026, Jace is back in North Carolina.
He’s living with Barbara again. It’s a choice that Jenelle has defended as a "positive thing" for his mental health, though critics call it another cycle of abandonment. Jace himself has actually been more vocal lately, sharing updates on social media. He’s working a job, doing online school, and keeping up with probation requirements. He seems... okay? Maybe even better than okay. He’s thriving in the stability of North Carolina, even if that stability comes from the grandmother Jenelle spent a decade vilifying.
Kaiser: The Middle Child in the Middle of a Storm
Kaiser Orion Griffith is 11 years old. If Jace is the "first born" drama, Kaiser is the "heartbreak" story for many fans. Born to Jenelle and Nathan Griffith in 2014, "Rollison" (as he was affectionately nicknamed by the fandom) has spent his entire life in the middle of a custody tug-of-war.
Nathan Griffith’s own struggles with the law and mental health have made it difficult for him to be a consistent primary parent.
Current Custody Status
Jenelle has primary custody of Kaiser. He moved with her to Las Vegas and seems to be the child most frequently seen in her "day in the life" content.
- The Vegas Move: Kaiser is currently enrolled in school in Nevada.
- Nathan’s Role: Nathan has visitation rights, usually every other weekend, but distance and personal issues often make this inconsistent.
- Health and School: Jenelle often posts about Kaiser’s accomplishments, like his interest in 3D printing and his performance in school.
Honestly, Kaiser seems to be the "stable" one right now, which is ironic considering how much chaos he’s witnessed. He’s growing up to look exactly like Nathan, but Jenelle is adamant that he’s thriving under her "new chapter" parenting style.
Ensley: The Princess of the Swamp (No More)
Ensley Jolie Eason turned 9 in early 2026. She is the only child Jenelle shares with David Eason, and her birth in 2017 was supposed to "solidify" their family. Instead, it was the beginning of the end.
The most famous incident involving Ensley happened when she was just two—the "Nugget" incident, where David killed the family dog after it nipped at Ensley’s face. That led to a temporary loss of custody for all the children. It was a dark time, but Jenelle eventually got her back.
The Post-David Era
Following Jenelle and David’s official divorce in July 2025, a judge declared David "not fit and proper" to have custody. This was a massive win for Jenelle.
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- Sole Custody: Jenelle currently has sole legal and physical custody of Ensley.
- Supervised Visits: David is only allowed supervised visitation, and even then, he has to jump through a ton of legal hoops, including psychological evaluations.
- The Boat Factor: At one point, David was living on a boat and tried to have Ensley visit him there. The judge shut that down immediately.
Ensley is Jenelle’s shadow. In Las Vegas, she’s involved in extracurriculars and is frequently featured in Jenelle’s social media ads and "get ready with me" videos.
Reality vs. Instagram: What’s the Truth?
If you look at Jenelle’s Instagram, everything is gold. The sun is shining in Vegas, the kids are smiling, and the "haters" are ignored. But the court records tell a story of a woman who is still paying thousands of dollars to an ex-husband she despises and a mother who had to send her eldest son back across the country because she couldn't manage his behavioral needs.
Jenelle often uses the phrase "breaking the cycle." To her, that means having the kids under her roof. To the public, the cycle looks like it’s just changing zip codes.
There is a huge divide in how people view her parenting. Some see a woman who survived an abusive marriage and is doing her best to provide a stable life in a new city. Others see a mother who prioritizes her "image" and new relationships over the deep, consistent therapy her children—especially Jace—clearly need after years of trauma.
The Logistics of the Evans Family in 2026
| Child | Age | Current Location | Primary Caregiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jace | 16 | North Carolina | Barbara Evans |
| Kaiser | 11 | Nevada | Jenelle Evans |
| Ensley | 9 | Nevada | Jenelle Evans |
The fact that the kids are split between states is the biggest takeaway for 2026. Jace’s move back to North Carolina was a quiet admission that the "full family" dream Jenelle sold wasn't sustainable.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers
Following the lives of jenelle evans kids can be exhausting. If you’re looking for the truth amidst the TikTok filters and tabloid headlines, here is how to navigate the noise:
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- Check the Court Filings: North Carolina and Nevada court records are public. If Jenelle says she has "full custody," but there’s a new filing for a protective order or a change in visitation, the paperwork is the only thing that doesn't lie.
- Follow the Kids’ Perspectives: As Jace and soon Kaiser reach their teens, they are starting to speak for themselves. Jace’s recent updates suggest he values the peace of North Carolina over the "content creation" lifestyle of Las Vegas.
- Look Past the "Divorce Party": Jenelle celebrated her divorce from David with a massive party in NYC, but she is still legally and financially tied to him through Ensley. The "fresh start" is still very much entangled with the past.
- Acknowledge the Nuance: It is possible for Jenelle to be a "better" parent than David Eason while still struggling to meet the complex needs of a child like Jace. It’s not always black and white.
The real story of Jenelle Evans’ children isn't found in a 15-second clip of them eating tacos in Vegas. It’s in the years of court documents, the therapy sessions we don't see, and the resilience of three kids who have had to grow up much faster than they should have.