NEED TO KNOW
- Bunnie Xo is opening up about raising a teenager
- The podcaster told Today that being a parent to a child between the ages of 13 and 17 is “not for the weak”
- Bunnie Xo is a stepmother to Noah Buddy and Bailee Ann
Bunnie Xo is getting real about raising a teenager.
During a conversation with Today, the podcaster, 45, opened up about what it’s like to raise two teens. Bunnie Xo, whose real name is Alisa DeFord, told the outlet that being a parent to a teenager is “not for the weak.”
“Having a teenager is not for the weak,” she jokingly said. “I tell everybody this: 13 is when the dark goes over their eyes, and you’re just like, ‘Hello? Where are you?’ ”
She added, “13 to 17, that is like a nightmare and then, I swear to God, right at 17 and a half, they become your best friend. Bailee is my best friend. I love her to death.”
Kayla Oaddams/WireImage
Bailee Ann, Jelly Roll and Noah Buddy
Bunnie Xo is a stepmother to husband Jelly Roll’s two children from previous relationships: Noah Buddy, 9, and Bailee Ann, 17. In May, the Dumb Blonde host shared more comments on parenting teens on Instagram, as she jokingly lamented about how she’s trying to “gentle parent” her Bailee Ann, despite how frustrating it might be.
“I’m sorry I told you to shut the f— up,” Bunnie Xo mouthed as audio on the video plays.
“But maybe if you weren’t such a f—— a——— oop,” she said, stopping herself. “That is. I lost my temper and was just trying to get you to hear me because you won’t f—— let me finish a sentence. Ugh, that’s not it!”
“When you grew up in the streets but now you’re trying to gentle parent a teen,” words across the screen read. In her caption, Bunnie Xo added, “Namaste 🙏🏼.”
Despite all the ups and downs that come with raising teenagers, Bunnie Xo and the 17-year-old maintain a close relationship. In February, she posted a TikTok showing her rushing home from her podcast recording to see her stepdaughter get ready to go on her first date.
On Friday, Feb. 14, she posted a TikTok video showing the moments before the teenager completed the major milestone. “Can she stop growing 😭 #baileeandbunnie,” she captioned the video.
In the clips, Bunnie Xo and her sisters came together to celebrate the special moment. Bailee Ann came downstairs and showed them all her outfit — a red cropped shirt, ripped baggy jeans and sneakers — before doing a little spin for them and asking if they approved.
After the approval, the family jokingly drilled her for more information about the 16-year-old boy who was taking her out, asking everything from how he looked to what’s his social security number.
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Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo
While the podcaster loves being a mother to her stepchildren, she is open about her desire to welcome more children into her family. In a video shared to her Instagram on Monday, June 16, the podcast host revealed that she had a “huge win” after getting a phone call related to her IVF journey. Bunnie Xo got emotional as she received the call in the short clip.
“When you just got the call you’ve been waiting on for 5 months since this ivf journey started,” she wrote. “All the tears, the hopelessness & the struggle, God finally said, ‘Here.’ 😭.”
In the comments of her post, Bunnie Xo clarified that she isn’t pregnant yet, but has taken a step forward in her journey. “This is not a pregnancy announcement – we won’t announce that,” she said. “This is just a huge win for us 🙏🏻🤍💫✨.”
