From Prison to Parenthood: Bobby & Ari’s Story

Summary

Podcast Summary: Barely Famous – "From Prison to Parenthood: Bobby & Ari’s Story"

Host: Kail Lowry
Guests: Bobby Jones and Ariana Jones
Date: May 29, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode of Barely Famous delves into the raw, real story of Bobby Jones—a former incarcerated teen dad turned entrepreneur—and his 21-year-old daughter, Ariana. Together with host Kail Lowry, they navigate a conversation about the challenges, misunderstandings, and triumphs of rebuilding life, trust, and family after incarceration, offering candid reflections on fatherhood, resilience, entrepreneurship, generational healing, and the power of honesty.

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Episode Structure

1. Meeting Dad in Prison & Early Childhood Memories
2. Family Disclosure, Honesty, & Impact of Stigma
3. Viral Threads Controversy & Misogyny Online
4. Financial Lessons: Saving, Independence, and Teaching Money Values
5. Tattooing, Apprenticeship, and Entrepreneurship
6. Parenting Evolution: From Prison to Present
7. Open Conversations, Ownership, & Stigma
8. Sibling Dynamics and Birth Order
9. Generational Cycles, Teen Parenthood, and Breaking Patterns
10. Marriage, Infidelity, and Accountability
11. Shifting Family Dynamics and Adulthood
12. Building Empathy, Apologies, and Owning Your Past
13. Perspective & The Importance of Transparency
14. Final Reflections: Doing Better, Unlearning, and Looking Ahead

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1. Meeting Dad in Prison & Early Childhood Memories

[02:28–05:11]

• Kail introduces Bobby and Ariana, emphasizing that Bobby’s first meeting with Ari was while he was incarcerated.
• Ariana recalls learning about her dad's incarceration:

  "They told me later on. Obviously, I didn’t know anything when I was younger, I was just living..." – Ariana [02:48]

• She shares how her family waited until she was about 12 or 13 to explain why her dad was in prison, and that her reaction was surprisingly casual:

  "I thought it was cool...I was like, did he kill somebody? Like, oh my God. Like, my cousin told me, like, I think he killed somebody. And I was like, oh my God, like, my dad’s murderer. But it was chill." – Ariana [03:07]

• Bobby clarifies:

  "So at that time, I was incarcerated for robbery." – Bobby [03:34]

• The family had originally told Ari that her dad was “away at work”—she recalls visiting the prison building without understanding what it really was.

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2. Family Disclosure, Honesty, & Impact of Stigma

[05:12–07:24]

• No big “sit down” moment—information unfolded naturally.
• Ari was unaffected emotionally on learning the truth; she neither resented nor judged her dad.
• Kail reflects on how this contrasts with many people’s expectations.
• The family normalized discussing Bobby’s incarceration, and Ariana describes the event as “no big deal.”

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3. Viral Threads Controversy & Misogyny Online

[06:08–08:47]

• Ariana purchased her own (used) Mercedes, and Bobby posted congratulatory comments on social media.
• The post went viral on Threads, resulting in a storm of negative, mostly misogynistic comments questioning her independence and making crude jokes about OnlyFans.
• Ariana’s reaction:

  "At first I was like, oh my God...but then I was like, okay, they don’t know anything. It’s fine." – Ariana [08:26]

• Bobby defends Ariana’s discipline and savings, pointing out she works hard and is financially responsible.
• Memorable moment:

  "The only way for it to happen is reality, is it had to have been an alternative income source that dad doesn't... Or dad bought it." – Bobby [08:05]

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4. Financial Lessons: Saving, Independence, and Teaching Money Values

[10:01–11:18]

• Bobby credits his father for teaching him to avoid loans, and he has passed this lesson to Ariana.
• Ariana is praised for being “coachable” and uncomfortably frugal, which Bobby says is a virtue in today’s economy.
• The family has open conversations about debt, discipline, and future investments.

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5. Tattooing, Apprenticeship, and Entrepreneurship

[16:08–18:01]

• Ariana is now 21, a tattoo artist, and completed her apprenticeship under a program started in a Delaware prison.
• Bobby and family encouraged her to pursue tattooing when she expressed interest, showing active parental support.
• Bobby describes the family’s evolution with pride, emphasizing openness to his daughters’ choices.

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6. Parenting Evolution: From Prison to Present

[18:06–20:16]

• Bobby admits his transformation didn’t begin perfectly with Ariana’s birth; instead, his drive to “get right” needed to come from self-worth:

  "As much as I love Ariana to death, it just wasn’t her presence, like, really didn’t kick me into gear the way it needed to...It wasn’t until I found, like, worth in myself, value in myself, did I start, like, moving in the right direction." – Bobby [18:06]

• Ariana holds no resentment, understanding her dad’s need to change for himself before the family.

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7. Open Conversations, Ownership, & Stigma

[20:31–22:13]

• The family engages in honest, sometimes heated conversations, but Bobby highlights the value of having “uncomfortable enough conversations that they are comfortable.”
• Ariana says her dad’s prison history makes her non-judgmental:

  "Yeah, I don’t care, like, at all. You’ve been to prison? Okay. Like, period. So did my dad." – Ariana [21:57]

• Past stigma and disclosure no longer bother either of them, and Bobby finds empowerment and release in owning his story publicly.

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8. Sibling Dynamics and Birth Order

[28:00–32:34]

• Ariana and her younger sister are best friends, both interested in tattooing.
• The younger sibling is following Ariana’s footsteps but is described as even more “chomping at the bit” to start.
• The sisters have complementary personalities—Ariana lives for the moment, Abigail is more visionary.

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9. Generational Cycles, Teen Parenthood, and Breaking Patterns

[32:34–36:40]

• Bobby and Heather were very young (17 and 18) parents, but Ariana and her sister have avoided repeating the pattern—Bobby credits both their strong-minded natures and parental vigilance.
• Ariana reflects on strict rules and awareness of family outcomes as factors in avoiding early parenthood—and emphasizes not all influence is intentional, “bad” examples can help steer better choices.

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10. Marriage, Infidelity, and Accountability

[42:22–81:42]

• Bobby is candid about the marriage’s ups and downs, infidelity, and his own flaws as a partner:

  "I always say: I was a good father, but, you know, there were times where I was a really bad husband, and that impacted them, and it impacts being a good father." – Bobby [33:48]

• He describes a turning point: quitting drinking [70:28], prioritizing change for the sake of his marriage and family.
• Both Bobby and Ariana acknowledge Heather (mom)’s resilience for “not bashing Dad to the kids” during tough times. Ariana only in adulthood recognizes the pain her mother was experiencing.
• Ariana:

  "I try to remember that my parents...this is my parents' first time living as well. Like, my mom’s just a girl. She’s just a girl." – Ariana [82:42]

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11. Shifting Family Dynamics and Adulthood

[100:03–103:08]

• Ariana still lives at home, pays rent, and the family discusses the value of contributing and preparing for independence.
• Bobby emphasizes that the door is always open; kids don’t have to “launch” at 18.

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12. Building Empathy, Apologies, and Owning Your Past

[48:29–53:14]

• Bobby stresses that both in business and at home, “explaining the why” is essential—“gone are the days” of “because I said so.”
• He is quick to apologize, something he learned through personal development and reflection—his humility has helped shape Ariana’s own ability to apologize and have hard conversations.
• Memorable moment:

  "I just walk around the house with a sack of sorries, just handing them out to everybody." – Bobby quoting a comedian [53:04]

• Ariana says her empathy and ability to see multiple perspectives started as a survival skill but is now a strength.

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13. Perspective & The Importance of Transparency

[98:54–99:29]

• Ariana and Bobby discuss the importance of validating the child’s experience rather than comparing to previous generations, especially as struggles change.
• Today, their family conversations are less “bash sessions” and more honest, mutual understanding.

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14. Final Reflections: Doing Better, Unlearning, and Looking Ahead

[93:14–97:25, 102:42–103:08]

• Bobby on generational progress:

  "As long as you’re doing better than the generation before you, you can only hope that it’s just going to continue to get, get better." [93:19]

• Ariana recognizes both positives and negatives from growing up around parental conflict—she’s developed empathy, but is also unlearning “toxic” relationship skills.
• Both agree: "Negative things can sometimes have a positive impact." – [92:47]
• They stress the value of staying open, honest, and connected, with Bobby intent on being a “resource” for his daughters “that extends far past them turning 18.” [53:32]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "We definitely have uncomfortable enough conversations that they are comfortable." – Bobby [21:14]
• "I thought it was cool [meeting Dad in prison]." – Ariana [03:04]
• "You’ve been to prison? Okay. Period. So did my dad." – Ariana [21:57]
• "As much as I love Ariana to death, it just wasn’t her presence, like, really didn’t kick me into gear...it wasn’t until I found worth in myself..." – Bobby [18:06]
• "It’s just that my parents—this is their first time living too." – Ariana [82:42]
• "You can’t always teach it [entrepreneurship]. Or you don’t always grasp it." – Kail [26:55]
• "I want to be an available resource to them...that they can call me...I don’t want there to be some fear, like, I can’t tell Dad." – Bobby [53:32]
• "If you can be transparent with your kids...don’t hold on to it longer than it has to be held. They need understanding too." – Bobby [88:30]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Prison/childhood story: [02:28–05:11]
• Viral car-buying controversy: [06:08–08:47]
• Tattoo/entrepreneurship journey: [16:08–18:01]
• Parenting after incarceration: [18:06–21:12]
• Sibling/business dynamics: [28:00–32:34]
• Breaking the teen parent cycle: [32:34–36:40]
• Marriage, infidelity, and healing: [42:22–81:42]
• Financial education & rent at home: [100:03–103:08]

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Tone & Language

The conversation is candid, unfiltered, sometimes humorous, sometimes emotional—capturing the real, messy, and ultimately uplifting story of a family forging their own path from adversity to empathy and open dialogue. No topic is off-limits, and all participants share with honesty, humility, and pride in how far they’ve come, with a strong focus on breaking generational cycles and learning together.

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Where to Find More

• Ariana: @ariinks on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
• Bobby: "Bobby Jones" on Facebook, @Mr.Brightside on Instagram

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Takeaway

This episode exemplifies the power of real, transparent parenting, the impacts (both good and bad) of being open with family history, and how owning one’s story can break cycles and create a more connected, understanding generation. Ariana and Bobby’s relationship, battle scars and all, shows that transformation is possible—and that the journey never really ends.

Transcript

[Kaleena]

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[Bobby Jones]

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[Kaleena]

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[Bobby Jones]

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[Kaleena]

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[Bobby Jones]

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[Kaleena]

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[Bobby Jones]

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[Kaleena]

by Granger for the ones who get it done. Okay, guys, we're back. You asked for it and we're delivering. Killer is going on tour. We're super excited for the fatherless behavior tour, 23 cities, three countries, all in one summer. And you guys can check out tour dates and see if we're coming to a city near you on klow.com and if you want early access to information and announcements, head over to Patreon because you might get it before everyone else. Welcome to the show. Things are going to get weird. It's your fave villain, K, and you're listening to Barely Famous. All right, welcome back to Barely Famous. You guys remembered Bobby Jones. Bobby Jones is the owner of Bright side here in Delaware, and we're bringing we brought him back for part two with his daughter Ari. And if you don't remember, go back and listen to that one first because Bobby first met Ari while he was incarcerated. So that's where we're going to start this episode off. Welcome back to the show, Bobby. And welcome to the show, Ari.

[Ariana Jones]

Thank you.

[Bobby Jones]

Thanks for having us.

[Kaleena]

Okay, so last time you were on the podcast, you told your story from start to finish foster care to building a business. And during that, I learned about you, which I had never known that you had a child while you were incarcerated. And obviously you don't remember meeting him, but what do you know about meeting your dad while he was incarcerated?

[Ariana Jones]

I pretty much know, like, everything that went on. They told me later on. Like, obviously I didn't know anything. When I was younger, I was just living. But then once I got old enough,

[Kaleena]

I was just living.

[Ariana Jones]

They just told me everything.

[Kaleena]

How did you feel about it?

[Ariana Jones]

I thought it was cool.

[Kaleena]

You did?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, I thought it was kind of

[Kaleena]

cool because you only knew your dad as he was, whatever age you were at.

[Ariana Jones]

Well, they wouldn't tell me why he got locked up. I was like, why was he in prison? They were like, oh, we'll tell you when you're old enough. I was like, did he kill somebody? Like, oh, my God. Like, my cousin told me, like, I think he killed somebody. And I was like, oh, my God, like, my dad's murderer. But it was chill.

[Kaleena]

It was, selling drugs is no big deal. I'm just kidding. Remind everybody why you were incarcerated.

[Bobby Jones]

So at that time, I was incarcerated for robbery.

[Kaleena]

Okay, so it wasn't drugs.

[Bobby Jones]

It wasn't murder either.

[Kaleena]

It wasn't murder either. Thank God. Okay, so how old were you when they decided to tell you?

[Ariana Jones]

I think like 12, maybe 13, somewhere somewhere around there.

[Kaleena]

And you were like, okay, that's cool. Like, that's fine.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Okay. Did you guys have, like a sit down? Because this is very, like, kill coded. That's something I would be like, oh,

[Ariana Jones]

yeah, it just came out, like, naturally, like one day. It wasn't like a serious thing. Like, this is what happened. Like, it was just like, yeah, this is what I did. Probably in the car on the way somewhere. I don't remember.

[Bobby Jones]

But do you usually go.

[Kaleena]

Did you. Do you feel like your feelings about your dad changed at all?

[Ariana Jones]

No, not at all.

[Kaleena]

Did you just keep going about your day? Yeah, just like that.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

How were you a part of the conversation?

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, I mean, it's. It's funny. The way that I remember it is, like, we would. We, you know, she found out, and then we would go on to ask her, like, do you remember when, like, dad was away at work and you had to go see him at work, and my wife would, like, describe the building to her and she was like, oh, yeah, I remember that. And it wasn't work. That was jail. We were going to visit your dad.

[Kaleena]

So up until that point, you thought he was still away at work?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, I guess so. Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

Well, no, no, no. Just at certain points. Right. Because she was, I think when. When I finally got out of jail for the last time, she was almost four. Yes. It was 2007 when I got released, so she was actually just a little bit over the age of three. So.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

So probably very, very small memories, still very young memories.

[Bobby Jones]

But she said she could remember the building. Like, she remembered the idea of going to visit. Right. Yeah.

[Kaleena]

I was around 12 years old when I started asking about my dad. Did you start asking questions or had someone told you that he went to prison?

[Ariana Jones]

Well, he would talk about it like he was open about what he had gone through. So I would ask why. And then my mom would be like, just stop.

[Kaleena]

Like, your mom didn't really want to go there yet.

[Ariana Jones]

Not right now. Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Okay. And so then when you found out, it was just no big deal. It was like, okay. That's what that was.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah. I didn't really care. I don't really care about things, like, that much. I'm just like, oh, that's crazy.

[Kaleena]

Oh, that's crazy. How old are you now?

[Ariana Jones]

I'm 21.

[Kaleena]

Oh, my gosh. First of all, you, in a good way, you look like you're 16, so that's amazing. I wish that I looked that much younger than I am. Okay. And then on Facebook, I just saw that you got a car. I thought you were much younger. I thought you were, like, 16 years old. And I thought you bought her her first car, but that's not the case at all. Can you explain to me about this Threads viral post?

[Ariana Jones]

So he posted a Facebook post basically just saying he was proud of me for buying my first car, or technically my second car, but buying the first car of my own. And I noticed he was on Threads a little while ago, and I was like, oh, my God. Like, did that share to Threads? So I checked, and it had like 600 comments. And I was like, did you see your Threads account? Like, people are just shitting all over me. Sorry.

[Kaleena]

All over you? Why?

[Bobby Jones]

You can curse.

[Ariana Jones]

Just tell. Tell her what they were saying.

[Bobby Jones]

So they're basically saying that she was a spoiled brat. Okay. And that for a car. I'm sure she bought it. Dadd. I bought it. And then it was a lot of like, yeah, you saved money on only fans to buy this car. It's Like, a lot of those.

[Ariana Jones]

Kind of like, wait till he finds your only fans account. He won't be so proud. Then I was like, oh, and by

[Bobby Jones]

the way, it's like, it's a 2017 Mercedes. Like, it's a used Mercedes. Like, it's a beautiful car. I'm not trying to take anything away from it, but people were reacting like it was some brand new amg, like, fresh off the lot. And I was really proud of her. She's been working since she was in high school, since her senior year, high school. And she's been saving. Religious. She doesn't spend. Like, she, you know, I feel like most people her age, they make money, they spend it.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, big time.

[Bobby Jones]

And she was super disciplined. She knows she could have gotten a loan for a car that was newer and better, but she stayed disciplined, didn't drain her bank account, just did what she needed to do to get a reasonable car that was a luxury brand that she liked. And her car had been in an accident, so she got a little bit of help from the insurance company. Not, not even close to half. But you know, again, that even if

[Kaleena]

it was half right, it was just.

[Bobby Jones]

It was crazy the way they were coming at us. And it was okay. Like, we, we, we don't. She. I asked her, I was like, do you want me to delete it? She's like, no, I'm cool.

[Kaleena]

That also feels like a lot of misogyny. That had to be men that were making those comments. That was not from women.

[Ariana Jones]

There was a few.

[Bobby Jones]

And they can't understand how somebody could afford to do that. Right. So. Because. Because their spending habits don't allow for something like that to happen. So the only way for it to happen is reality, is it had to have been an alternative income source that dad doesn'. Or dad bought it. And so.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, but that doesn't hold weight for you, right? Like, you're not going to listen to them.

[Ariana Jones]

No. At first I was like, oh, my God. Like, oh, my God, what's going on? But then I was like, okay, they don't know anything. It's fine. They were also so concerned for the deer and, like, hating deer. They were like, so your daughter killed an innocent animal and then treated herself to a Mercedes and you're proud of her? I was like, oh, my God. Like, I was so sad for the deer and it ran off so jolly after running into me.

[Bobby Jones]

I didn't run her car. She drove. She drove a Beetle before this. And it, like, it took out the whole side of it. But I Got to tell you guys this quick story about this accident, because she calls us, and she's like, so chill, okay? And she's like, like, laughing and smiling. We got her on FaceTime. She's showing us damage, and she's in Milford. And I was like, do you need me to come get you? She's like, no, the car's still driving. And she was like, but, dad, will you go get me mozzarella sticks from Olive Garden? And I'm like, baby, listen, it's like 8:30 at night. I'm, like, chilling, right? And she's like. I'm like, baby, I will come to Milford right now for you, but I am not going to Olive Garden and getting mozzarella sticks, okay? So we're all at the house just waiting patiently for this girl to show up so we can assess the damage of her car. We check her location. Olive Garden.

[Kaleena]

I love that for you.

[Ariana Jones]

And then I found out I couldn't open my door to get out, so I had to call them to see if they could bring it out to me. And my car just looked insane. But I needed something to take the edge off. So

[Kaleena]

she's disciplined enough to. To save for her own car at 21 years old, which, like you said, is kind of unheard of, right? Knowing what you went through as a child and growing up, did you guys ever have conversations about, like, discipline, saving money, things like that, or was that kind of never really.

[Bobby Jones]

You know what? I will give my dad a ton of credit. He's always been against loans and financing things. And so, you know, um, it's funny because I feel like I didn't get my first car loan until I had money, which really doesn't make any sense. Like, so I always paid for my cars until, you know, whatever. It doesn't make much sense. So now I'm, like, trying to revert back to the mindset of, like, trying to eliminate debt, right? And with. With Ariana, I was always, like, preaching that. I was like, if you can avoid having a car payment, understand that, like, even if you get a low interest rate, that only represents what your payment's going to be, not what you actually end up paying on top of the purchase price of the car. So she's very coachable. Again, I know everybody speaks very highly of their kids, but she's very coachable. And so when you talk to her about things, she's going to listen, and she'll find her own way with it, and she'll apply it in the way that she feels appropriate. But she's very coachable, so she listened and saved. And you can see how uncomfortable she is when she spends money. She's like, I don't want to do this. I don't want to do this.

[Kaleena]

Because she's like, so.

[Bobby Jones]

So she. She feels better about it going into sa.

[Kaleena]

Right.

[Bobby Jones]

You know, and we've talked about investing, so. And we're going to be doing some of that at some point soon.

[Kaleena]

So how much of your dad's childhood do you know about?

[Ariana Jones]

Pretty much everything. Yeah, I would say.

[Kaleena]

So then did your dad talk to her about the loan thing, or you kind of learned that from him and then passed it down.

[Ariana Jones]

Passed it down.

[Kaleena]

Okay. Okay. Well, that's exciting. I mean, I. It's hard because money is so, like, on one hand, I want to be like, oh, you know, money comes, money goes. Right. But on the other side, it's like, okay, well, in this economy, you don't really have that. The luxury of saying money comes and money goes, because it's kind of fucked up around here these days. All right, let's talk about Merit Beauty. When I was in LA recently, I hired a makeup artist to do my makeup, and she was using Merit Beauty. And I said, oh, my gosh, I love this brand. And she was using products that I didn't have from them yet, which I thought was really cool. And if anyone knows me, they know if a routine is going to take more than five minutes in the morning, it's not happening. That's why I love Merit Beauty, because they believe great makeup should be effortless. They have clean, thoughtfully curated essentials to help you get a fresh, polished look in minutes. With products you can actually swipe on, blend with your fingers, and move on with your day. Okay? The motto less is more, and your routine in the morning should feel that exact same way. Merit is a minimalist beauty brand that makes elevated makeup and skincare designed to help you look put together in minutes. Merit's best sellers are proof that less is really more. The flesh balm, which I have, gives you that natural, healthy glow without overdoing it. And one was sold every 30 seconds in 2020, 2024. That's how good it is. Then there's the minimalist, which works double duty as both a foundation and a concealer so you can get quick coverage without layering on a bunch of products. It's time for your makeup and skincare to meet the reality of your daily routine with Merit. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering my listeners their signature makeup bag with your first order@merit beauty.com that's M E R I T beauty.com to get your free signature makeup bag with your first order. Meritbeauty.com your outdoor space should feel like you. And I know mine didn't for the longest time until I found Wayfair and the pieces that actually matched the vibe. I was going for every style every outdoor space. Whether your vibe is modern, coastal, farmhouse or eclectic, Wayfair has options to help you create an outdoor space that's uniquely yours. Wayfair makes it simple to narrow down what works for your style and your budget. I recently just refreshed my entire front porch. I got new seating and I got really cute vases with fake trees in them and I opted for the ones that came with the fake trees inside the pots already because they were Wayfair verified and I absolutely loved that. That's definitely a newer feature. Over 20 million verified 5 star reviews help make the right call. These are real customers, real feedback, real homes. I do offer a lot of reviews on Wayfair after I purchase things, you guys can shop with Wayfair Verified and this is your shortcut to the good stuff. Their team of product specialists vets everything by hand using a 10 point quality inspection so you know you're getting a quality piece no matter what your budget is. Get prepped for patio season for way less head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R.com Wayfair every style Every Home Wayfair Every style Every Home. You can want healthy, loving relationships more than anything and still find yourself repeating the same painful patterns. Maybe you overthink. Maybe you people please. Maybe you shut down, push love away or feel afraid to fully trust. And even when you know something needs to change, it can be hard to know how to actually change it. At the Personal Development School, they help people heal those patterns at the root. Through powerful courses, live classes, practical tools, and a deeply supportive community. They help people understand their attachment patterns, rewire subconscious beliefs, and create real transformation from the inside out. They're the number one online platform for helping people build the best relationships of their life. Because it's not just about learning why you struggle. It's about healing the parts of you that learned to survive in ways that may no longer serve your relationships. Today, the Personal Development school has a 99.7% NPS score in helping people adopt achieve the results they want in their relationships and dating life. The Personal Development School helps people grow Heal and build the best relationships of their life, starting with the relationship to yourself. If the world were like a Sleep Number mattress, everything would adapt for your comfort. Because as your life changes and your body changes, Sleep number mattresses adapt and shift to give you personalized comfort night after night. And now it's the final days of our everything's on Sale event. Save up to $1,200 on mattresses. Our Memorial Day event ends Monday. To experience a whole new world of comfort, visit a Sleep number store or go to sleep number.com.

[Bobby Jones]

sleep number to a good life Sleep.

[Kaleena]

What are your plans now moving forward? You have your car, dad, supportive. Mom, supportive. What's next for you? Do you go to school or anything?

[Ariana Jones]

No, no, I just tattooed.

[Kaleena]

Oh, that's right. So for those of you guys who are listening to this or watching it, Larry Normale is a tattoo shop owner here, and we talked to him about the apprenticeship program that he started in a prison here in Delaware. And so you apprenticed under Larry? Yeah. Right. Okay. And so now you're tattooing full time. Are you still apprenticing? How does that work?

[Ariana Jones]

No, I ended my apprenticeship probably, I think, in 2022. So I started tattooing when I turned 18 in 2022.

[Kaleena]

Okay.

[Ariana Jones]

And I apprenticed my senior year. So once I started tattooing, I was technically not an apprentice anymore.

[Kaleena]

Okay.

[Bobby Jones]

It was so funny. We were all. The whole family was sitting in our living room watching Ink Masters, and. Right. Was Ink Masters Masters. Yeah. And our youngest was actually like, hey, I'll. I'll be. Maybe I'll be a tattoo artist when I get older who wasn't even in high school yet. Meanwhile, Ariana is about to be a senior or was. Just. Just became a senior or something like that. And she was like, oh, my gosh, that's a great idea. And of course, Ariana was in way better position to take this. Take action on that idea. And so I was like, if you're serious, I'll call Larry tomorrow. And we did, like, literally the next day, we called Larry. I paid Larry for apprenticeship, and she went in there, and she would go to. She would go to school her senior year of high school. She would go in for, what, an hour and a half, two hours after that?

[Kaleena]

Are you kidding me? Do you still work for him, like, at one of his shops or somewhere else?

[Ariana Jones]

I work at the lab in Wilmington now.

[Kaleena]

Okay.

[Ariana Jones]

But I worked at artistic for, like, two years. First two years of my career.

[Kaleena]

That's amazing.

[Ariana Jones]

Love him.

[Kaleena]

Anyway, so you start your parenting journey while you're incarcerated. And she, you don't get out until she's about three years old. So how did that.

[Bobby Jones]

I finished. Yeah, I was out I, and went back, but I was officially done with all of my prison by at the point where she was like three and a half.

[Kaleena]

How did that shape or start your parenting journey?

[Bobby Jones]

You know what? I, I, I, this would probably come off the wrong way, but as much as I love Ariana to death, it just wasn't her presence, like, really didn't kick me into gear the way it needed to and the way it should have. Right. Okay. I knew that I had to get me right first. And so when, when I came home from prison, it was all about, how can I make decisions that are going to, you know, going to move me in the right direction? Because I couldn't even go and be with them because, you know, I had burned so many bridges with me and Heather's family, with Heather's family, that I couldn't go and stay there because I wasn't welcome. Like, Heather would have had me, but her family wouldn't have. And so, like, I had to work hard and get a place. And then as soon as I did, Heather and Ariana moved in. We all moved into the same house together. Their presence definitely was a motivation. I just, in hindsight, I look back and I'm like, it wasn't until I, like, I found, like, worth in myself, like, like, value in myself, did I start, like, moving in the right direction.

[Kaleena]

No, I think that makes sense because I think so often you hear of stories where it's like, oh, I, you know, I was about to have a kid and that's what kicked me into gear. But that's not always the case, you know, like that. That's not always how it plays out. And until you have your head on straight, you can't think like that. So if you're not clear up here, you're not going to worry about, you know, your partner or child or anything like that. So for you, do you hold any resentment towards him for that, or do you feel like, no, that's just his story?

[Ariana Jones]

No, I don't.

[Kaleena]

Good. That's good. Because I feel like for, for a lot of people, they might be like, well, why wasn't I enough? Right. But it's clear that they are enough. Right. It's just that you needed to get your together before you could move forward.

[Bobby Jones]

Exactly.

[Kaleena]

So knowing how your dad grew up and then he was able to start this business, has that shaped your drive or your motivation at all?

[Ariana Jones]

Definitely. I feel like he definitely motivates me a lot. He used to give me, like, Monday motivational speeches every morning before school, and I would record them and post them on my Instagram, and all my friends loved them. And he's just, like. He's always been motivating me, like, giving me very good advice. And his story, like, helps me in a way, too.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, no, absolutely. Do you guys feel like you have become closer or have you always been close? And by becoming closer, I mean, like, as you're an adult now, you know, you're kind of able to reflect back on your parenting and your entire childhood. Do you feel like you're closer now or have you always been close?

[Bobby Jones]

I think it depends on the topic. Right. Because we could. But we could definitely butt heads.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah. Because we're very similar. Like, he's a talker. Like, he wants to talk through things, and so am I. So if we are disagreeing, we will disagree, like, all day. But if we're not, then we can have a really good conversation all day, which is nice. I feel like we're very similar in that way.

[Bobby Jones]

Which are. My youngest, her little sister, and my wife are the total opposite. No, if it's a. If it's. You know, if it's a disagreement or something like that, they're. They're the type to, like. Okay, let me get some space. Yeah, we'll come back to this later when we both forgot about it.

[Ariana Jones]

We're really. My mom will be like, y' all

[Kaleena]

are still going, like, arguing or just talking?

[Ariana Jones]

A little bit of both.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Okay. Same.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. There's times where it's definitely an argument, and I'm guilty of, like, getting a little loud, but, you know, but the cool thing is, is, like, we definitely have uncomfortable enough conversations that they are comfortable. Does that make sense?

[Ariana Jones]

No.

[Bobby Jones]

Okay. So, like, we'll talk about the stuff, like, a lot of people won't talk about, but we do that so often that it's normal.

[Kaleena]

Oh, same.

[Bobby Jones]

Okay.

[Kaleena]

Oh, yeah. At my house, we're the same. Like, my kids probably don't have any freaking filter because we talk about all the things. It doesn't matter what it is, I feel like. But that's actually, in my opinion, has done better for us. And I would imagine for you guys, too.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, I think so.

[Kaleena]

Do you have a different outlook on people who have been to prison because your dad has been in prison?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, I don't care, like, at all. You've been prison. Okay. Like, period. So did my dad.

[Kaleena]

You're like, it adds grit and character. It's fine.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, I don't care.

[Kaleena]

You don't care? Have you. Have your friends ever made comments to you about your dad being incarcerated?

[Ariana Jones]

No.

[Kaleena]

Really?

[Ariana Jones]

No.

[Kaleena]

Have you ever. Have you ever had to explain to anyone, like, oh, you know, my dad went to prison?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah. I would be like, oh, yeah, my dad was in jail. And they're like, oh, my God. Why he was dealing drugs or robbed someone. He robbed someone. Like, whatever.

[Kaleena]

Do you feel like you ever get, like, looks or anything or judgment? No. What about. Because Delaware is so small. You. Have you grown up in Delaware your whole life? Have you ever felt any kind of, like, nervousness or anxious, anxiety about, like, maybe she would have a teacher that you knew that you had known in the past and knew you went to prison? Do you ever think that she would be judged for what you did?

[Bobby Jones]

I don't know. You know, it's an interesting question. I feel like the. My past haunted me more when I didn't talk about it. There's probably a lesson in that. But. But because I talk about it so often, like, I remember I ran into somebody who. He decided that he was gonna, like, bring up my past against me in the argument.

[Kaleena]

Like, you're like, this is Eminem and I'm on eight miles.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. He was like. He was like, I know about you. I know why. I know you went to jail. And I was like, and, bro, tune into anything I've ever talked about, ever, and you'll get that same information. Like, bro, what are you talking about? But I also think, like, you know, there's a part of, like, ownership in that. Right? Like, if I hadn't been on the journey that I'm on now, like, I could own it. If I was still a screw up and still doing that stuff, I'm sure it would be embarrassing for her. And I, you know, I would be embarrassed for her if. If I was brought up in that situation. But that's one of the, you know, that's not the reason, but that's one of the reasons that's behind, like, hey, why do you want to do right? Why do you want to straighten this out? Why do want to, you know, right your wrongs? That's. That's part of it too. You know, it's in there. I wouldn't say it's like a major chunk, but it's in there for sure. You know, you want to make sure that your family's proud of you. Yeah. Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Did you ever think about taking over his business? I know you said you do tattoo. I know that that's, like, a big deal for your work is incredible, first of all. So did you ever think about taking over his business or working for your dad?

[Ariana Jones]

So I actually used to canvas for his business, so knock on doors and, like, try to get appointments for him.

[Kaleena]

And I was this aid gig, or you wanted me to do it for free?

[Ariana Jones]

No, I got paid, but it wasn't that fun. Like, it was actually terrible. I hated it a little bit. Sorry.

[Bobby Jones]

Okay.

[Ariana Jones]

I would, like, probably then I thought about it. But no, ever since I started tattooing, like, that's definitely what I want to do forever.

[Kaleena]

But so for the conversation surrounding, like, entrepreneurship or your child getting a job, right? Like, that's a conversation all parents have to have with kids. My oldest son is 16, and he has not had, like, a traditional job yet. What was that conversation like? Because you had the business, so did you say, hey, why don't you do this for your first job?

[Bobby Jones]

So I. I really believe that foundationally, a sales position for any person who is young and going to be entering a career field at some point in the future should do that, because it just, like, it conditions you for rejection like you'll never experience in any other career field. Right? Like, when you're out knocking doors and people are slamming the doors in your face and cursing you out and telling you to kick rocks and all the other explicit language, you know, you don't. You're not gonna take it personally anymore when people tell you no to an interview, a job interview, or just an ask in general or, you know, somebody in the dating. You know, when they're dating, I mean, rejection just doesn't become personal anymore, and you can move differently after that.

[Kaleena]

Well, I think, too, for. For you or for anyone in sales that does something like that. Like, it's also teaching you confidence because you have to build up the courage to even. I'm 34 years old. I don't think I would have the balls to knock on someone's door and ask to, like, try to sell something, girl.

[Ariana Jones]

I was so scared. Like, I was scared. I was so scared.

[Kaleena]

It was terrible, because now I have to go home and tell my kid, you're 16. You have to go work for Bobby.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think it helped me a lot. I was really shy and, like, scared to talk to people. So then after doing that, definitely, like, I opened up a little bit and, like, was more outgoing and, like, not as scared to talk to people. So that was nice, but it wasn't Fun? No, not at all. And once I turned 16, they were like, girl, like, you need to do something with your life. Like, what are you gonna do? My mom was like, are you gonna go college? Like, you need to figure this out. Yeah, it's like, I don't know. I just like to draw. Like, leave me alone. Like, you need to sell those drawings. You need to sell those paintings.

[Kaleena]

So entrepreneur mindset. What does Heather do? Does she work for Bright side, too?

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, she works with me. And she also is a real. She's a realtor.

[Kaleena]

Okay. So she's in sales. And so you guys have. I feel like anyone in sales has to have an Entrepreneurial. Yes, Entrepreneur. Say the word.

[Bobby Jones]

Entrepreneurial.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, entrepreneurial. Whatever. You guys get what I'm saying? Mindset.

[Bobby Jones]

Yes.

[Kaleena]

But you can't always teach it. Like, I think that you could there. Certain people can learn it, but you can't always teach it. Or you. You don't always, like, grasp it. I always say, like, I built my business mind over years. Like, it took a long time. But you. It sounds like you were coachable, you were receptive, and you were like, okay, I'm going to figure this out. And then you became a tattoo artist, which I love. Has it helped you in tattooing at all?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, definitely. Like, talking to people.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Ariana Jones]

And I guess, like, selling myself a little bit on social media. Like, selling my tattoos.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Do you ever want to work for yourself and have your own shop job? Okay. Some people. There are people that I think do better working for other people, and then there are people who do better owning a business. I have decided over the last three months, I don't want to own a business anymore.

[Ariana Jones]

Too late.

[Kaleena]

Can I pass it off?

[Bobby Jones]

No.

[Kaleena]

Okay.

[Bobby Jones]

That's like the meme that goes around, and it's like me and my wife decided to not have any kids. The children are taking it pretty hard.

[Kaleena]

I cannot. That's so true, though. But do you feel like your other kids, your siblings, also have the same mentality? Like, you're.

[Bobby Jones]

She's gonna be a tattoo artist too. She's 17.

[Kaleena]

Oh, they're both grown.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. She's chomping at the bit, too. Like, I'm. I'm trying to keep her ready to go back to school and finish her senior year, but she is chomping at the. She's so ready.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Opposites or are you guys this. Are you guys pretty similar?

[Ariana Jones]

Probably exactly the same.

[Kaleena]

Like, best friends or.

[Ariana Jones]

Best friends.

[Kaleena]

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[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, first of all, you know, she was our. She was our first draft, you know what I mean, at parenting. So we've learned a lot along the way. We did a lot of things right with the second one, but we learned them here with her first.

[Kaleena]

I'm using that from here on out. Elliot's my first draft. Just bear with me here.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, first of all, Heather was 17 when you were born. I was 18. Right. So we were just kids. We were still figuring it out. You know, I mean, I was in and out of prison for another three years after she, you know, was born. So, you know, we. We learned on the journey. We really did. I remember our first job at Walmart. Heather was working at Walmart too. She was working 4 to 11, and I was working 7 to 4. We did a handoff at the time clock. She would bring the kids in and I would. And. And I would grab them and clock out, and then she would clock in and go for her shift.

[Kaleena]

You're kidding.

[Bobby Jones]

I'm dead serious. But. But because of that, like, they never went to daycare, so, I mean, we were able to. We were able to stay present and, you know, have influence on them, which I think is great. And by the way, like, first of all, you know, on top of, like, me figuring it out as a father, you know, I was still figuring it out as a husband for a long time.

[Kaleena]

Honestly, a person.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. And. And while I was on this journey of, like, personal development and getting better and, you know, like, hey, I'm going to start a business and all these other things, like, there were plenty of areas of my life that I was still failing in at a high level throughout that journey. So that obviously impacts the kids. But, you know, I always say, like, I was a good father, but, you know, there were times where I was a really bad husband, and that impacted them, and it impacts being a good father.

[Kaleena]

There's an Eminem song that's about being a good father and not a good husband. Have you ever heard it? I'll send it to you, probably.

[Bobby Jones]

I don't think there's an Eminem song I haven't heard, but

[Kaleena]

I don't remember you mentioning the fact that you were also a teen dad in the last episode. You may have. I just don't have the greatest memory. But that's another odd stacked against you and also inadvertently, your kids, because they say, statistically speaking, the children of teen parents become teen parents, but you've already. You're already out of that. So you're 21, and then your. Your other daughter is. You said 17, right? So. So how does that make you feel? Like, hearing that and knowing that, like, your kids did not follow in your

[Bobby Jones]

footsteps in that way, it makes me proud. But again, I don't know that there's some things like, these kids are just. I hate saying, like, or taking credit for some of it. You know what I mean? Like, they're so strong. Minded on their own. That I do believe that part specifically has nothing to do with me. I think that they were able to witness. They have a cousin who was pregnant at 15. You see how much life changes.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

You know, and I don't think that that was anything that interests them.

[Ariana Jones]

Also, we. My mom wasn't gonna let that happen because I. She was going through that phone. I didn't have Snapchat. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere, which I really didn't want to do a lot of things either. I wasn't the type to be, like, drinking and sneaking out and stuff, so I also just didn't like anybody at my school that much. Like, they. It just wasn't giving, so.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Ariana Jones]

And my sister doesn't either. She doesn't even talk to me, to barely anybody at school like any boys. She's like, ew. Like, ew. They're so cringe, which they are. So.

[Kaleena]

No. But I do think you have to take a little bit of credit for that, because when you really put things into perspective, right. Like, you and your. Your wife were teens, in theory, you could have just said, you know what? I got to get my together, and you could have left that. You could have left Ari with Heather and just gone about your life and did whatever, and you don't know how she would have turned out. So, like, the fact that you were 18 years old, your frontal lobe is. Is not developed. You're in and out of prison, low income at the time. Right. So all of these odds stacked against you, and now you're having a kid and you're barely. You're trying to, you know, keep this job that at the time you liked a lot. Right. The Walmart one.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

You could have just said it. I don't want to do this. And so you do have to take a little bit of credit because y' all decided that was. That had to have been a choice for you and Heather to continue to work it out.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Takes intention. And, you know, again, you know, I do think that there was plenty of things that were happening with me and that probably the girls were like, yeah, I definitely don't want to experience that in my relationship too. So, you know, as much as I could say, okay, there were good things that influenced them. There's probably some bad stuff that influenced them in a good way, if that makes sense.

[Kaleena]

Yeah. I say that to my oldest all the time.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Because. And I always worry, I'm like, you're going to be 25 and look back and say, I traumatized you. But in some ways, I do think that it's like, you have to learn the hard way by doing it yourself. But if you actually watch it happen to, like, a parent or a sibling, you might be less likely to do it. So in some ways, what you're saying, like, the bad thing that impacted them in a positive way, like, that does happen.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Do you. Do you feel that way?

[Ariana Jones]

Definitely.

[Kaleena]

Like, even just hearing stories about your dad or your. The relationship between your parents, do you think, like, okay, well, I don't want to do that based on what I've heard or what I've seen.

[Ariana Jones]

Definitely.

[Kaleena]

Do you and your sister ever talk about it?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

You do?

[Ariana Jones]

We talk about a lot. Hot.

[Kaleena]

So when you found out that your dad had been incarcerated for any period of his life, did you and your sister ever, like, gossip about it and be like, oh, my God, did you know dad was in prison?

[Ariana Jones]

Well, no, because she was younger. She was way younger. It was more me and my cousin that would talk about it.

[Kaleena]

My cousin, the one that thought he murdered someone? Yes. Okay.

[Ariana Jones]

He has a teardrop on. On his hand. Like, you know what that means, right? I'm like, girl. Really? Like, that's crazy. We were besties, so we talked about a lot. But my sister was really young. Wrong.

[Kaleena]

So, okay, so you didn't really tell her. Did your sister also ask questions about him going to prison at any point, or.

[Ariana Jones]

No, I think it was already out. Like, naturally. Like, we didn't. They didn't have to tell her. It was like, she probably knew way younger than I did.

[Kaleena]

Like, what's understood doesn't need to be explained.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, it was like, she knew, like, right out the womb, I guess. She. She's always known.

[Kaleena]

She's like, dad's not in prison for.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

So it doesn't matter.

[Ariana Jones]

Doesn't matter.

[Kaleena]

Yeah. What kind of father would you say that your dad is?

[Ariana Jones]

He's a girl dad. He's a girl dad through and through. He needs to have girls. If he had sons, he probably wouldn't be that good. He wouldn't be the best. He's a really good girl dad.

[Kaleena]

Really?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah. He's so sweet, and he's so, like, uplifting, and he's very motivational, I would say.

[Kaleena]

I would say he's motivational as well.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

I think you could talk to a brick wall also.

[Bobby Jones]

It's also, I'm always with, like. They'll be like, I'm thirsty, dad. I'm like, what do you want? I'm gonna get them anything. They want, like, I. Yes.

[Kaleena]

Like a true girl dad. Not the. Not the girl dads that say they're a girl dad and they're not a really girl. Not really a girl dads and pads at the store.

[Ariana Jones]

Yes.

[Bobby Jones]

But, yeah, so they'll send me to Walgreens to get whatever I. You know, if they're. If they're like, I want coffee, and I'm like, okay, I'll make you coffee. Like, I. Like, it's just whatever they want. Like, I just vote always. I feel like I've always been like that.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah. And you're not a real girl dad if you can't buy pads and tampons.

[Kaleena]

Like, period.

[Ariana Jones]

Period.

[Kaleena]

That is true.

[Ariana Jones]

Literally.

[Kaleena]

No pun intended. No pun intended. Do you feel like. Because there was a little bit of. I'll call it a rough start, the first three years. Did you. Were you kind of, like, shocked at all or thrown off when your second daughter was born? Like, you weren't there for the beginning stages for her life? And those first two years, you're in the trenches, you're sleep deprived. Your. Your patience has worn thin. You. You're pulling your ha. Look like a slob kebab, you know, like, all the things right? Like, and I only say that because as a teen mom with my oldest, like, th. It wasn't necessarily the rest of the parenting. It was one. I was 17 years old, but it was the sleep deprivation. It was the not being able to keep up with my friends. It was the I have to get a job and figure out what the next step is. Do you feel like you were almost like. Like shell shocked for your second daughter because you hadn't been able to be there for Ari?

[Bobby Jones]

I mean, sure, but I also. Because I wasn't there for Ariana, right? Like, it was like, okay, I can't. Can't. I can't about this because I left my wife by herself to do it last time.

[Kaleena]

Did you have a new appreciation for her?

[Bobby Jones]

Oh, I had an appreciation. I mean, that. That's the part that I think hits home for me the most, is like, I left my wife behind to have our child. Our first child was the. Was the thing that always tears me up. You know, as much as I hate that I missed the arrival of Ariana, like, my wife had to figure all this out for the first time by herself. I missed three months of the. The pregnancy and then the. Her delivery, and then a couple of months after that, like, the most traumatic part of a pregnancy, the most shell shocking moments of having a child just you know, suddenly in your arms. I wasn't there for her in all of those moments. So when, when this time came for Abigail, our youngest, I, I like I needed a man. I up like I needed to make up for the fact that I wasn't here for her the last time, you know, so I couldn't really complain much. Yeah. But yes, it was definitely a shell shock because you just don't realize, you know, you, you think you know, but you don't know.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, those, those every two hour wake up calls, I mean, and they're coming hard and fast and you're like, what the do I do? Cuz now I'm exhausted and so did you. Not to be invasive and you could tell me to off but good. Like did you ever. Was there ever friction with Heather? Because she had already gone through it and you hadn't gone through that yet. So do you feel like, I mean, I would argue that that happens regardless of how many kids you have with a newborn either way, but because she had already done it and then now you have a new one or do you feel like it was like a new, like a fresh start almost?

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, I don't think. I think Heather was very good about not holding me, you know, holding resentment about me not being there or anything like that. So it wasn't, it wasn't like, you know, it wasn't anything like that for, for her. And I, I think there were, you know, bumps in the road along the ride just because again, what we were putting ourselves through and by the way, like prior to Abigail arriving, like we had decided we were gonna have a second child. And then we were like, what the hell are we thinking? We can't afford a second child. And then like three weeks later we were pregnant. So it was immediately like kind of the opposite. Right. It was like, you know, I felt guilty about having Abigail because I could barely afford this one and so were in this situation. We're like, okay, we're gonna have to figure out how to make this work. And we did. You know, I think, you know, I think those fears are probably in anybody's mind who's about to have a baby. Surprise, surprise.

[Kaleena]

Honestly, surprise or plans.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, true. Yeah, but, but yeah, I mean again, any of the, any of the issues and the bumps in the road with Heather and I have never really been about, I mean rarely been about parenting issues. They've been because you know, again, as I stated before, I wasn't a good husband. We have ran into issues where it's like, like Arian excited about getting into real estate investing. And so, like, I like, just impulsively can act on real estate deals. And so, like, I would bring her a deal or two. And Heather's like, shouldn't we, like, kind of talk about this as parents first before we like. And I'm like, oh, yeah, you're right, my bad. And I. And meanwhile, she's fired up, ready to go on it, you know, so we have to, like, pull back. So there's been, there's been more parenting issues later in their, you know, in their development as they're starting to reach adulthood than there were in the beginning. So I think we saw eye to eye mostly, right, don't you think, on most parenting decisions when you guys were younger?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, I think so. She would probably make the decision.

[Kaleena]

You would just say, yes, that's the way it should be.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, she's probably right about that.

[Kaleena]

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[Bobby Jones]

Probably not. Anything that stands out, like, super obvious to me. I think I was. I mean, obviously being on a personal development journey, there definitely were changes that happened, but I don't think that there's anything that sticks out that was like, oh, crap, it's too late for Ariana. Let me, let me get. For Abigail. So do you think. So do you think that there's anything that.

[Ariana Jones]

I think that you guys were just a little bit more lenient with her.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Ariana Jones]

But nothing too crazy.

[Bobby Jones]

Now what's, what's. Here's an interesting observation about this and I think that this applies to most, you know, sibling, you know, so you have your first and then you have your second and maybe however many after that. But the second one matures a lot faster because it's, you know, it's growing up behind your first. So to me, this wasn't like, hey, listen, we're going to do things for Abigail that we didn't do for Ariana at a certain point in life.

[Kaleena]

Life.

[Bobby Jones]

But, but because she was growing up behind Ariana, she was able to handle that stuff much more, much differently and much better because she was growing up, you know, a little faster. Right. Because she's. They have a five year gap. Right. So. So it was significant.

[Ariana Jones]

Grown.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Ariana Jones]

Like since.

[Bobby Jones]

I've been calling her a grown ass man since she was like six. Okay.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

It's the second born. Yeah.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Honestly, if you look at the birth order, have you ever, like, looked some of it. Some. Sometimes it's spot on. I feel like the, the second one is usually a lot feistier.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

I'm a middle child.

[Kaleena]

Are you. Does the, does the birth order apply to you as the middle child?

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. Yes and no. We didn't grow up all, you know, the, you know, together the whole. But, but, but yeah. I mean, there was obviously an element of me like chasing my older brother. He's three years older than me, so I was always like, interested in. In what the older kids were doing and not so much what the people my age were doing.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, I definitely experienced that as a mom, too. Like, my middle kids don't quite. Can't quite keep up with the older kids, but they're a little bit too old to do what the younger kids are doing. But there's also seven kids for me.

[Bobby Jones]

Nothing wrong with that.

[Kaleena]

Have you taken any lessons from fatherhood into your business?

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, and probably vice versa. I think one of the biggest things is, like, people need to understand why something is important. So, you know, gone are the days where you can say, do this and do it because I said so. Right. Like, you just can't. You can't father that way or parent that way. And you. If you want success and you can't lead a team that way. Right. You have to explain to people why this is important. Right. And, like, make them make sure that that part's clear. And if the why is clear, then the other things become that much more clear.

[Kaleena]

That applies. Yeah. So that applies to business and, like. Like you said, the leadership in your business and how you handle your employees and things like that. But also in parenting, I definitely think that, like, as time goes on, especially with millennials as parents, though, though, like, we are explaining the why to our kids, we're not doing the do as I say, not as I do. Right. Like, we're. We're explaining, we're apologizing. We're doing all of those things.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. I'm quick to apologize. I was just about to ask you, do you team member? I don't care if it's a team member or my kids. Like, what do you think?

[Kaleena]

Does your dad apologize to you?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, he always does. Like, yeah, I was about to say something, but, yeah, he always apologizes right after anything, and I think I picked that up from him too. Like, I think that sometimes it's hard for people to apologize. It's, like, very uncomfortable for them.

[Kaleena]

Right.

[Ariana Jones]

And I think watching him, like, have humility and be able to apologize to people has helped me do that as well.

[Kaleena]

I mean, that's a really good quality to have.

[Bobby Jones]

We. We were in New York. What was this a month or so ago for Abby's. And we were at. What was that place called? Where we did the pictures?

[Ariana Jones]

I don't know what it was. Oh, something real. I don't know.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, we were at this. It's a little trendy TikTok spot in New York where you take these, like, nostalgic photos in a photo booth. Or whatever. And there was this, like, this. So sign on the. This little, like, table bench thing, whatever. And it said, don't sit here. It didn't say, don't sit things here. Right? So we set all of our stuff up there, right? And so this guy comes over there and he's like, hey, guys, don't put stuff up here. And I kind of got a little snippy with him. I was like, all right. It said, don't sit there. It didn't say, don't sit things there. Right? And, like, I kind of got a little argumentative with him. And like, later on, like, I'm Talking, talking, like 10, 15 minutes later, we're still taking photos and stuff like that. And I'm looking around the whole place trying to find this guy because I'm like, I want to apologize to him. Like, I. I don't know why I got short with him. He didn't deserve that. He was just doing his job. Right. And so, like, I sought him out to go and apologize.

[Kaleena]

Did you find him?

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, I did. Yeah.

[Kaleena]

And your kids watched it?

[Bobby Jones]

I think so, yeah.

[Kaleena]

Or they at least knew that you were looking to apologize.

[Ariana Jones]

I've seen you apologize.

[Bobby Jones]

Okay.

[Ariana Jones]

And it goes a long way. I feel like people will just, like, brush it off. Like, okay, he probably didn't take any type of way, like, it's over with now. But I think that people really apprec. Apologies, especially when you're a stranger and you don't feel like they need one. You know what I mean?

[Kaleena]

Yeah. How did you figure that out, though? Like, to. To be quick to apologize to parent in this way when that's not how you were parented?

[Bobby Jones]

Well, I just. I think it helps you grow out of it. Right.

[Kaleena]

How did you get there?

[Bobby Jones]

Well, probably personal development, some of the books that I've been listening to. But, like, there's a. There's a degree of, like, okay, if I'm going to make corrections on a specific behavior, it's going to require me being accountable for when I do it. Right? Like, and part of accountability is to say, okay, listen, I recognize it. I recognize that it was wrong. And if I do, they probably did. So it's like an act of discipline for me. It's like, hey, listen, if I feel strongly enough about this to go and apologize to someone over it or about it, it's also subconsciously going to help me not do it in the future. Right. It's going to help me start to rewire that action now. I still haven't lowered my Voice enough. That's the one I'm still working on. I still apologize for it, but I got to get it to program, so I don't do it as often. But. But, you know, that's it. Like, I don't think that there's any pride in, like, acting like you're perfect. I don't think there's any pride in that. You know, like, it also is, like, you. That. That can be unhealthy, too, because you could be like, oh, you know, I'm not perfect, and then just continue the behavior. That's not healthy either. Right. It's. It's. There's a. There's a place where it's like, okay, I'm gonna be accountable to this, and I'm gonna work on improving it. And I think apologizing to people, something wrong is the. Is a. Is a great start to that, I would agree.

[Kaleena]

And to your point, it is. It can be really difficult to apologize, but sometimes it's. It's dessert. I'm sure that guy was pleasantly surprised that you apologized to him.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, I think so, too. The way he reacted. I think, you know, especially New York, you probably don't get many apologies at all.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, for sure.

[Ariana Jones]

Not.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, there's a comedian. I think it's. I can't remember his name, but he's like, I just walk around the house with a sack of saris, just handing them out to everybody, you know,

[Kaleena]

my life right now. Bobby, what would you. How would you describe yourself as a father right now?

[Bobby Jones]

I don't know, man. She says girl, dad like that to me. That's it. I just. I don't know. I. I want to be a resource for them that extends far past them turning 18.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

I want to be an available resource to them. Right? Like, that they can call me. They can be comfortable talking to me about things, and we can. You know, we can find a solution for it. You know, we've had uncomfortable conversations. We've had plenty of laughing and comfortable conversations. But, you know, I don't want there to be, like, some fear, like, I can't tell dad, or I can't talk to dad about this.

[Kaleena]

One of my biggest fears as a parent, and maybe you have this, too, is like, because if I get, like, if I have an emotionally charged reaction. Reaction to something my kids do, then they will become sneaky, not tell me. And, you know, I have another layer with them being black and brown. Right. Is like, I don't ever want them to get into a situation where they feel like they can't call me, you know, so do you ever feel like you don't want to cross the line between friend and parent, but now that she's an adult, maybe you can start to breach, like, teeter the line a little bit. And how do you keep the balance between friend and parent?

[Bobby Jones]

I think, you know, again, you. You gotta give them space and freedom to make decisions. Right? That's one thing. Like, like I've, I've always, like, I've tried to encourage, like, okay, what do you want to do in this situation? Or what do you, like, you know, like, buying the car. Just recently I was like, hey, if you're, you know, if you're being conscious of, like, maintenance costs in the future, you might want to stay in Honda or Toyota, right? She did not buy a Honda or Toyota. And that's okay. Like, that's all right. Like, you know, she, she's gonna make her own decisions, and I, I trust that nine times out of 10, they're probably going to be the same decision I would have made or better.

[Ariana Jones]

Better.

[Bobby Jones]

Right. And so, like, I, I feel like giving them the freedom and the space. Like, I've always been an advocate for this. And she'll tell you, like, baby, you should take a trip. Like, take a trip by yourself. Go travel somewhere by yourself. She's like, oh, you know, but she's very interested in doing so. Mom is like, don't do that. You know, but. And it's not because mom doesn't want her to make her own decisions. It's just that Mom's afraid of the world that we live in. But, you know, the, the reality is, is, like, she's gonna probably be scared and she's probably gonna be intimidated, but at the end of that trip, she's probably gonna feel so much more empowered and, you know, liberated and just, you know, capable. And so I, I'm a big believer that, you know, if, if I'm a resource for them, but I let them, you know, fly the coop and get out. I think that's like, just the perfect balance of, you know, let them, they're gonna make mistakes. That's inevitable. I'm still making mistakes, so what kind of jerk would I look like if I, like, get mad at them for making mistakes? It's gon happen. Just, you know, hopefully we can keep them small and, you know, not too expensive. Yeah.

[Kaleena]

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[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Alessandra is a big advocate for travel as well, so. So Alessandra just said. I doubt you guys heard it, but Alessandra just said, there's no growth and comfortability, and I feel like that rings true for your story. Do you feel like you would ever leave Delaware? And it's so small, and I feel like Delaware to especially Dover. I don't know what's going on here. Like, there's. It's hard to sustain a business around here these days, and not necessarily for you because you offer a service. So I think it's a little bit different. But, like, restaurants, aunts, small shops are having really a hard time around here. Would you ever leave Delaware?

[Ariana Jones]

Definitely.

[Kaleena]

Would you support. Would mom support?

[Ariana Jones]

She would, but she would be sad.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Ariana Jones]

And she would be like, are you sure? Are you sure?

[Bobby Jones]

So Abigail, our youngest, has, like, their whole, like, journey, like, mapped out on her, like, vision board in her mind. Yeah.

[Ariana Jones]

She's the one that wouldn't be okay with it until she can come with me.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

So would you wait for her?

[Ariana Jones]

I don't know. Maybe. Probably.

[Bobby Jones]

What. What's the plan that you guys have, like, discussed, you and Abby? If it goes her way.

[Kaleena]

What's the plan?

[Ariana Jones]

So we're going to start our own tattoo shop, and we're going to have a cafe.

[Kaleena]

She also does want a tattoo. Like, she's ready.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah. She has a tattoo station, like, at our house, and she tattoos fake skin and stuff and practices.

[Kaleena]

You're going to have two tattoo artists. I don't know any other sisters that own a tattoo shop. You guys could have a TV show for that. We will do a YouTube, a YouTube series, all the things. Okay. So would you. You wouldn't stay in Delaware, then?

[Ariana Jones]

I don't know. We haven't thought that through. But I wouldn't be opposed to going somewhere else.

[Bobby Jones]

I think that's the cool thing about tattooing is it does provide the ability to just pack up your stuff and go.

[Kaleena]

You could literally be a traveling tattoo artist and literally just go anywhere.

[Bobby Jones]

She. She's got. Don't you have a guest spot coming

[Ariana Jones]

up in, I'm gonna guess, spa in New York City soon?

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. So she'll do, like, guest spots at different locations. So if she. If she wants to travel, she can just reach out to local tattoo shops in that area and start promoting it and then land a few clients in that area and just go tattoo at that shop for a little while. But they wanted to. And I don't know if the idea is still in place, but Abigail wanted them to own a tattoo shop in London for a couple years, or tattoo in London for a couple of years or in that area, and then. And then come back and start their own shop. Yeah.

[Kaleena]

So are you going to do it?

[Ariana Jones]

Well, sure.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, She's. No, that would be really cool. We're going to London. The podcast is going on tour, and London is on our list. It's August 10th in London, and I've never been, so I'll let you know how it is. Have you. Have you been before?

[Ariana Jones]

No.

[Kaleena]

Okay. Yeah. I don't know anything about London. I was just excited to go, so it's like, whatever. But actually, I met some of my favorite tattoo artists because they were traveling for guest spots and things like that. Or I used to go to all the tattoo convention conventions. It was like the New York one, the Philly one, and then you meet the people that tattoo on the west coast, but they're coming over here for the convention, so that's really cool. That's a great idea. Like the two sisters owning this tattoo shop. Did you always draw? Did you always do art?

[Ariana Jones]

I always was drawing growing up. I was always getting, like, markers and pencils for Christmas and stuff.

[Kaleena]

And your sister, too, or. Not really.

[Ariana Jones]

Not really at that time. She likes drawing now, but I think that I was drawing a little bit more than her. Her. She has other interests as well. I think that I've always just been like, art girl, and she likes a bunch of different things. That's, like, the difference between us. We're like the same person, except she has extra things going on. I don't know.

[Kaleena]

She's.

[Bobby Jones]

She's definitely, like, a visionary. Like, she just definitely thinks, like, Whereas Ariana is super big about enjoying the moment. Like, she is such a blast to be around because she just brings fun to, like, so many different rooms and conversations and like. Like, even, like, maybe I shouldn't say this in the podcast because sis and mom are going to hear it, but, like, sometimes when I'm sitting, like, we'll be sitting in the kitchen at the island, hanging out, and we're having great conversation, by the way. I'm not saying it's not good conversation. But when she shows up, I know we're. Whatever fun we're having.

[Kaleena]

It's next level. Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

It's about to get better. Like, it's just. It just really is that with Ariana. And so, like, I think they balance each other very well. Well, because she helps Abigail smell the roses a little bit in the moment, whereas Abigail's just chasing the future a little bit.

[Kaleena]

Okay.

[Bobby Jones]

Which is also healthy and, you know, and. And cool. So there's a perfect balance, I think, between the two of them. And then Abby is also a car enthusiast, which is not Ariana. Like, Ariana, even with this car that she just bought, she's like, I don't know, like, tam seats and a panoramic sunroof.

[Ariana Jones]

And a sunglasses holder.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, and a sunglasses holder.

[Ariana Jones]

That's all.

[Kaleena]

Okay.

[Ariana Jones]

Abby's like, you should research a little bit more. Like, I don't know. Like, I don't even want to. I'm scared. Like, I don't want to search things up.

[Bobby Jones]

So we did buy them both their first cars, but, you know, they were. She had a Volkswagen Beetle and Abigail had a little Genesis coupe. It's a 20. They were. It's funny because they both ended up with the same year car, even though they're five years apart. But it just worked out that way.

[Ariana Jones]

And they got me that car because one day I was like 10 or something. Like, wow, I like that car. Like, that's why they got me that car was like, that's it. That's the one right there.

[Kaleena]

She said she liked it, she wanted

[Bobby Jones]

a Beetle, and that was it. She never. She never wavered.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

I mean, I always wanted a Beetle. I never got a Beetle.

[Ariana Jones]

They're so cute.

[Kaleena]

They are so cute. They should bring them back. I know they did briefly, but it did. I don't know if it worked out. They need a new market campaign.

[Ariana Jones]

When I'm old, I'm going to get another one, but light blue.

[Kaleena]

I want a. A vintage Bronco. Like. Like O.J. simpson style Bronco.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

What? What's wrong? What's wrong? No. That's so funny. Have you ever tattooed your dad? Because he has tattoos. I see you have tattoos.

[Ariana Jones]

This was like, my first one of. My first shaded.

[Bobby Jones]

This was right out of apprenticeship. She went from doing that kind of tattooing to this, and I knew she could do it. And I said, if you're gonna up up on me. So, yeah.

[Kaleena]

That's incredible.

[Bobby Jones]

That was her first piece out of. Out of her apprenticeship.

[Kaleena]

To be able to tattoo on, like, skin and Then did you do pig skin instead?

[Ariana Jones]

Stuff, Fake skin. It's like silicone, rubbery type of thing. Not real pig skin.

[Kaleena]

But yeah, I couldn't do it. I don't like needles. I also don't think I could sit for a tattoo these days. I know I kind of asked you this. If you feel judged by anything that your dad, like his past and stuff, cuz he grew up in Delaware as well. Do you ever feel misunderstood in any way, being the child of teen parents and also a dad that has been to prison? Or do you feel like that's a moot point? It doesn't really come up. It doesn't really impact you anymore anymore.

[Ariana Jones]

I think that people would be sometimes jealous that my parents were younger because they're like, kind of cool.

[Kaleena]

Yeah. So is that a thing?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, they would. Like, my parents are pretty cool. And they'll be like, dang, like your parents are cool. Or they'll be like, your mom is hot. I'm like, okay, like, that's a bit much. But yeah, like, not really. I didn't go to like a private school or anything. Nobody judged me. Like, that wasn't like a crazy thing that my dad went to prison. Like, it was just chill.

[Bobby Jones]

But also it's like a you don't know what you don't know situation. So for us, this is like so normal. Right? Like, I mean, it's just like you

[Kaleena]

don't know any different.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. Like you just kind of carry on your life. I feel like it's. It's funny hearing the question because, like, I would have never thought that, like, it's just been. It's just been so like openly discussed. Nothing like hidden. And I think because I talk about it so publicly, like, we own it. We own it. You know what I mean?

[Ariana Jones]

Because he's doing better now. Like, it's.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, that's.

[Ariana Jones]

I think it's just like.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, it shows the, the. The positive outcome and it shows that you can overcome adversities like that. So I feel like that's a good point. Especially around here. Because, like, I said things. This is such a weird area these days. I don't know what's going on. It feels like there's like nobody here anymore. Everyone's moving, but you know, especially it being like a small town. Like I said, you don't know if a teacher that you had was her teacher. You know what I mean?

[Ariana Jones]

So there teachers.

[Kaleena]

You didn't have many teachers because you weren't in school. You were getting into trouble.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

Did you get Your diploma?

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, ged While I was in prison.

[Kaleena]

I feel like you did say that on the last episode.

[Bobby Jones]

I don't know if it's real, but I have one.

[Kaleena]

Wait, is that a thing? It's not accredited. I'm just kidding.

[Bobby Jones]

I'm just kidding. I mean, I've never had to, like, use it for anything.

[Kaleena]

Right.

[Bobby Jones]

My career path.

[Kaleena]

But have you ever gone back to the prisons to do any, like, talking or anything like that?

[Bobby Jones]

So. Not the adult prisons. It's. It's funny. I've been talking to Larry about doing that. Yeah. But the juvenile facilities. And I spoke at the Youth Justice Conference. That was actually one of my first speaking engagements. Excuse me. And it was, like, 550, like, prosecutors and judges. It was kind of a crazy situation. And. Yeah. So, I mean, I. You know, again, I. I think it's about owning it. Right. And, like, you know, the. I feel like there's a moral obligation there because, like, there's a relatability that somebody who doesn't have that experience can provide.

[Kaleena]

Right.

[Bobby Jones]

You know what I'm saying? So if I'm talking to somebody and I'm like, hey, listen, I understand how you feel. Right. I can say that because I do understand how you feel, not because I'm assuming how you feel. And now I feel like I can relate, you know?

[Kaleena]

Right. Like, you empathize on a different level because you've been there.

[Bobby Jones]

Correct? Oh, yeah. When I'm at the. When I'm at the. The youth detention centers, I'd be like, one of you little. I would be like, one of you little. Is in my. Is in my bed right now.

[Kaleena]

That's how.

[Bobby Jones]

That's how much I was here. Like, one of y' all are sleeping in my bed.

[Kaleena]

Right.

[Bobby Jones]

You know what I mean?

[Kaleena]

Right. Like, that's the room you were in.

[Bobby Jones]

Exactly, yeah.

[Kaleena]

What does taking accountability look like to you now?

[Bobby Jones]

You know, that's. That's a good question. Because my journey. My journey as. My journey to improve as a husband is still ongoing, and I have been in a development mode for that over the last, you know, know, few years especially, and probably last six, seven years. So I. I'm. I'm putting a lot of effort into that right now, and it does require that. And we're moving into a different phase of our marriage because we can actually be with one another, you know? And it's, like, weird. Like, now we're like, oh, we don't have to be here anymore because both

[Kaleena]

of them are driving, like, almost empty nesters.

[Bobby Jones]

Almost. I mean, I'm so happy that they're still there and they can stay as long as they'd like. They know that. But, you know. Yeah, but. Yeah, right, like, and what are we going to do with our time? There's nights where her and her sister are going out for, you know, a dinner of their own. And, like, we're like, okay, what are we doing? And I don't want to find us lost in that. You know what I mean? What do you mean? Like, I don't want us to be, like, you know, trying to, like, you know, figure ourselves out again. I want to be intentional about it. I don't want to, like, just find ourselves in a place where we're like, you know, almost like strangers to one another. Because I've been Dad and she's been Mom. I want us to be, you know, husband and wife and, you know, to. To kind of like, be a little bit more clear about this is like, you know, again, as I stated before, I haven't been a perfect husband. And I have found myself in situations where if I didn't make corrections to the way I was behaving, I was going to lose my wife. And I want to be very clear. I love that woman to a scary, unhealthy level. And like I said before in the last podcast, like, I'll fight anybody for her. And that sounds like something so cool and tough, like, I'll take on any enemy for her, but I wasn't willing to make changes myself. And that's crazy, right?

[Kaleena]

Like, that's. It is Most men.

[Bobby Jones]

That is most.

[Kaleena]

Most men, 100% somebody over their partner, but then will not make the changes in themselves whatsoever.

[Bobby Jones]

So most of my development right now is, you know, how can I. How can I show up as the husband that I want to be? And I found myself a few years ago in a position where if I didn't make some changes, she was going to leave me. I knew that. And so I put something on a platter for her, and I was like, hey, I'm going to quit drinking. I want you to see something tangible that is an immediate shift that I'm going to make in our. In our marriage. And I want you to see it. There's going to be a lot of changes that come along with it, but those aren't as tangible. You're not going to see them right away. But I had to, like, bring something to her because she was fed up. And, And. And, you know, I. I love that woman to death, man. And so I'm happy to Say I haven't had a drink since September 16th of 2020 24. And with that, I mean I, my, my, my relationship with my daughters has improved. So, you know, as, as a part of that as well. But my, my marriage has improved dramatically and I'm here for it.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, no, I think we're all here for it.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

So for you as his daughter, do you, do you see things in your parents marriage that you want to take away and bring into your own? Because I'm sitting here with. Right. I have kids with four men. Because I, it just has never worked. Right. And that's something that I always ask is like, what is the secret to growing together instead of growing apart? Because you do have to choose to grow together because so often you grow apart and it's like, okay, we're going to get divorced, but it shouldn't be that way. But you guys keep choosing each other time and time again. So is that something that you would bring into your relationship, moving forward, like moving into, you know, another stage? I don't know what your relationship status is, but into a relationship.

[Ariana Jones]

I think that's something that I admire about them is that like no matter what, they still choose each other at the end of the day and they're not willing to give up on what they have.

[Kaleena]

Right.

[Ariana Jones]

So I would definitely bring that, try to bring that into my future relationships or relationship. Yeah.

[Kaleena]

What would you say is the secret to growing together in that way? Because I need help.

[Bobby Jones]

You know, just again, it's funny, my, my, my grandfather, he passed in 2015 and before he passed, I asked him and my grandmother how the heck, you know, they pulled off of, I think, I can't remember like 55 something years of marriage, you know.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

And, and they said something pretty raw and real. And what it was was that if he ever wanted to leave, I didn't want him to leave. And if I ever wanted to leave, he didn't want me to. One of us was willing to fight for it. And I was like, man, that's kind of like definitely not in the script of the Notebook, you know what I'm saying? But, but real, you know, and it's like, it's like, okay, I, I know that, that this person, first of all, like, there's a degree of like, ah, how to put this into words. But like, I think sometimes people misunderstand me to say, like, okay, I feel like you're just with her because like, you owe her. You owe it to her for her putting up with what you did and sticking by your side through jail and all that stuff. And that is not it at all. Do I owe her 100%? I do. It's because. Because she's my other half. Like, she's the person that I'm choosing, so I owe her the best version of me I can provide her, period. Not regardless of what you did. And so, like, again, I. I don't want to talk from a place of expertise on this, because I'm. I'm definitely on a journey here, but. But just intentionally choosing each other and being considerate. And then, like, now I find myself in moments where I'm like, yo, I don't want to. Want to be without her. Like, if I have to go somewhere, I'm like, dang, how can I get her to come with me, like, on almost everything, right? It's like, I just want her with me, you know? And so, like. And that's. You know, that's relatively new for us because there have been times where we're throwing crap across the kitchen and, you know, like, it's. You know, we've. I mean, we've seen it all. Like, let's face it. I'm not sitting here to sugarcoat anything about, you know, I'm. I'm here to be real, real with your audience, you know, so we've seen it. We've seen the ugliest stuff during those

[Kaleena]

ugly times because it's. I don't want to say. It's easy to say when things are good, but when things are so bad, like, you're in the trenches, how do you say, I'm still going to hold on?

[Bobby Jones]

Well, oh, man. I mean, listen, if you. If you have a. A true commitment to this person, why would it be shaken in moments of danger? Diversity. Right? Like, I feel like that's bro. Like, people act like they love somebody, and then the moment things get tough, they're like, no, I can't do this. What?

[Kaleena]

Stop.

[Bobby Jones]

Sorry.

[Kaleena]

I feel attacked.

[Bobby Jones]

I'm sorry. Kale, this is. This is a broad comment, and I. And I do apologize if it offends.

[Kaleena]

I'm not offended whatsoever.

[Bobby Jones]

But, like, my wife and I have seen, I would say, everything that two partners can see, besides major health issues, and I knock on wood. I'm very good. Grateful. I'm very grateful that we've been healthy, and I hope that we stay healthy as long as we can. But we've seen it all. I mean, we. We had to suddenly take in my niece because my sister had a baby out of nowhere, and then we had friends adopt her from us. And I'm telling you, that might sound like something simple to go through and like the fact that somebody's adopting it so it's no longer your responsibility. But we loved this little girl and love her very much, and we still have a great relationship with her. But like, the, the. The stuff that happens to you during that process is just.

[Kaleena]

It's crazy because you have to think about the fact that you have to go through this in the first place is, you know, I'm not here to exploit your sister's pain or anything like. Or is it your sister's child like that alone.

[Bobby Jones]

We didn't even know. I didn't even know she was pregnant or anything. Like, it was just a shock to us. And by the time we found out about her, she was in foster care care, which I'm like, you're not letting

[Kaleena]

your niece go to foster care?

[Bobby Jones]

No, no, we love that little girl to death, don't we? Yeah. And so, you know, she came to our house and, and we all, you know, took her in, embraced her as our own until some very good friends of ours adopted her. I won't go into too much more detail about that for, for just their sake, you know, but, you know, and then in another, with her cousin, another custody battle, we had some just heinous, heinous accusations come from the other party of that custody battle that actually landed me in a position where I found myself turning myself into the state police for a crime I 100% did not commit. And had I ended up in jail for that, which I was certainly going to, I would have got my ass kicked pretty much every day now.

[Kaleena]

So you. But you were going to do that to save somebody else?

[Bobby Jones]

No, I wasn't saving anybody else. These were the accusations that came. The detectives and the state police took it, took it seriously. Seriously. And it was all made up. And luckily the Child Protective Services found out through their own investigation that it was a made up story that they coached this child to say. And they found out as I was talking, walking into the police station to turn myself in. I'm literally walking in and the detective calls me and is like, hey, we just found out that the story is false. So you're free. Oh, it's. It was terrible. It was terrible. We had to go to lunch. I had to say goodbye to my family. Like, it was awful.

[Ariana Jones]

And we were supposed to go to Ocean City that weekend. I was like, bro, for real, like,

[Bobby Jones]

so I'm just saying, like, bro, like,

[Ariana Jones]

there's just been terrible.

[Bobby Jones]

There's just been God awful things, like, you know, infidelities. There's been, you know, there's been awful things that have happened in our relationship, but we just were willing to show back up and fight for the other person and just be there and.

[Kaleena]

Can I ask a personal question? Yeah, you can tell me. Know, you can ask infidelity in a town like this, and y'. All. Y' all got through it. Yeah. Infidelity alone is something that not everybody can get through. But infidelity in a town like this, I would argue, is harder tenfold.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. And you know what? Again, what that requires is showing up consistently, you know, and owning it and understanding. Like, listen, this was something. I mean, you got to understand why it was happening. For me, unfortunately, in our relationship, I compartmentalize things to an unhealthy degree. As I stated earlier, I loved Heather. I would fight for her against any enemy. Right. But I wasn't willing to take that same level of protection that I would assign to Heather and then assign that same level of protection to our relationship. Does that make sense?

[Kaleena]

Yes.

[Bobby Jones]

Like, the covenant between the commitment that I had to her wasn't as one, wasn't as worth. Wasn't worth protecting as much as protecting her was. And I disconnected those things in my mind.

[Kaleena]

But really, they need to be one in the same.

[Bobby Jones]

Of course they do. Right. Right. What a freaking narcissistic way to just justify behavior that shouldn't be tolerated in the first place. And I did it so that in my mind, as I did these things, they weren't as punishing to me or to my conscience.

[Kaleena]

It was almost like it didn't happen because you didn't connect the two. It was like you compartmentalized. So if you don't mind me asking this. And again, we can edit it out if you don't want to. How do you explain those types of things if you had to, to your kids? Like, if there is infidelity, if there is, you know, troubles in the mar. Marriage that your kids maybe sort of know about, like, how do you explain that to the kids? Do you say, you know, we're going through a tough time, but we're gonna get through this? Do you not tell them anything? Do you hope that they don't know anything?

[Bobby Jones]

Well, I think it depends on the age. Right? Like, yeah, like, it does depend on where they're at. But, you know, my daughters have been.

[Kaleena]

I only asked because you're talking about it freely in front of her. And so I just didn't know what that Was like, no, it's a great.

[Bobby Jones]

It's a great question because, like, for of all me, explaining it doesn't justify it, right? I think that's something that needs to be clearly communicated, right? It's just because I can understand why I did it, that doesn't give me an excuse for having done it, right? And so, like, you know, again, as I sit here and talk and act like some great father over here, like, I know where my shortcomings were and part of. Part of my daughter, you know, still loving me past that is that I can own it and I can show up for her mom and I can be there and I can make it right. Like, like, you know, like, if we just give ourselves an opportunity, it's not an easy thing to overcome. Especially because, like, I want to be an example for her. I want to. I want her to look at me and say, those are the qualities I want in a man. And how could she, if that's the things that I'm doing to her mom? So if I can, if in order to reverse that, in order to change that, in order for her to say, five years from now, hey, listen, I want to be with somebody who cares about me the same way that my dad cares about my mom, well, then I'm going to have to show the health up, ain't I? And so that's. That's part of what, What I'm doing here, right? Like, my love for my wife is unconditional. And a part of that is I want my daughters to be proud of the father and the. And the husband that their mother has.

[Kaleena]

So do you feel like that rings true for you? Like you rebuilding trust and you accept him for the efforts that he's put into reverse, sort of the betrayal?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, I think. I think that also for a long time, I would bump heads with my mom a lot, and we didn't have a good relationship. But recently I've realized, like, the reason why she was the way she was was because of him all along. And that was interesting for me to, like, understand. And it helped me come to peace with things because I. I didn't have a good relationship with my mom, and I kind of, like, just thought she hated me or I hated her. And, like, we would just bump heads a lot. And it was just like, a lot of pain that she was going through. And then for me to be like, such a daddy's girl, like, oh, I love my dad, like, that must have been so much harder on her as well. So we all have, like, pretty Deep conversations about everything now. And I've talked to my dad about, like, why he did the things he was doing. And like, I try to understand him because I know that men and women are different. I don't agree or understand and. Yeah, but we talk about it and I. I try to be understanding. And I think that, like, I try to remember that my parents. This is my. My parents first time living as well. Like, and my mom's just a girl. She's just a girl. And I have to understand that and not put so much pressure on them. Yeah.

[Kaleena]

So when did you. When I'm sobbing. Because I always say those two things. I always say, I'm doing this for the first time. I have seven, but I'm the. A mom of seven for the first time. And before that I was a mom of five for the first time, you know, so, like, I fully understand that. But how old do you think you were? When do you feel like you sort of recognize that in your parents, that your mom maybe. Because. And I'm speaking from experiences. Like, I have one child who. He has his dad on a pedestal, and he doesn't understand the things that I've been through with his dad. And so, like, I always say to pretty much everyone, like, you know, when will he know that I'm not the bad guy? Right. So for you, when did that come for you for that? You know, your mom's not the bad guy. Right. It's just that they've had their own story. You have your relationship with your dad, but your mom has a very different relationship with your dad. So when did you realize that they're people?

[Ariana Jones]

I would say, like, in the past, like, two years. I was in my own relationship and I was like, oh, yeah, a man will make you go crazy. Like, like, all right, I see. I see what's going on here.

[Kaleena]

So I. I'm sorry.

[Bobby Jones]

I did not expect that. That was good.

[Ariana Jones]

So, yeah, and then, like, just seeing my mom's pain because, like, there was a time where, like, I literally held my mom when she was crying to me about him.

[Kaleena]

But you couldn't understand it because you had a different relationship with him at that time.

[Ariana Jones]

I did. I didn't understand because. Because I. I was seeing it clearer. I feel like when I was younger, I think I didn't know what was going on. Like, I would be around for the arguments. Like, that wasn't a hidden thing. Like, I was around for all of that. I was sometimes even in the arguments mediating it. But, like, the infidelity wasn't like, thrown in my. Yeah, like, that wasn't so. There was one time where it was like, it was talked about, but there was one time that was like, I was literally there, like, for the reveal of something specific. So that was, like, very traumatic in a way. Like, seeing my mom like that, and it just made me really sad for her. And, like, me and my sister will talk about, like, we were just actually on a walk a little while ago and I was just like, dang, like, mom's just a girl. Like, I just said, like, she's just a girl. And it's just so. It made me so sad to think about, like, how we were, like, idolizing dad. Like, we want to go with dad. And like, we were just like, so, like, just. We didn't really like mom that much because she was just going through so much pain that she wasn't a good time. And then he's just like, want to go to the water park? Like, funny, but I get it. Yes. So it just. It made me sad for her, but.

[Kaleena]

So now you don't hold resentment towards either of your parents, and you want a relationship where you're choosing each other and fighting through it. Like, would you say that? Yeah, because I feel like, you know, obviously, no, there's no justification for infidelity. But your story, like, just from beginning to end, there's. There's so much to be said about it that I feel like in a situation like yours, like, I. That's what I would want, you know, like, in that you started off as team parents in and out of prison, you chose each other all these years. You know, she's 21 and you guys were together before she was born. So you all have been on, you know, pushing through this for over 20 years. Like, that's what I would want. You know, like, we're. We're facing adversities together. We're pushing through. We're choosing each other every time. So would you say that you would want that?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

And I.

[Kaleena]

And.

[Bobby Jones]

And again, that's. That's one of the reasons why, like, I say strongly, like, yo, we've. We've chosen each other despite these things so many times. Like, and that's why I can say, like, I'm not saying every relationship, but there's so many surface based relationships where, like, the moment the road gets rough, people like Jet and I. And I hate that now I do want to go back because I want to make sure, like, I want to give Heather the credit that she deserves for not having bashed me to the kids during those moments. Right. Because the reason why I was looked at as the good guy is that she kept all of these things secret to them, you know, and she rode that pain, you know, on her own mostly. I mean, she has friends and. And friends by. That were by her side. But, you know, like, you know that this realization, this conversation has become something that. That was something that was over the last few years, like, you know, something that you can easily miss in the turmoil of these things is like, hey, listen, like, they're forming this opinion of mine, mom, because mom's freaking protecting you. Now, I would always defend mom to them, but they. That just made me look like a good guy more.

[Kaleena]

Right. Right.

[Bobby Jones]

Why are you saying she's so nice and so great when she's literally just being so mean to you for no reason? And I'm like, no, your mom has her reasons and they're valid and you need to give her some grace. And they were like, no, I understand completely. 100. So.

[Ariana Jones]

And.

[Bobby Jones]

And that's why, like, again, you know, I understand that there's different ages where you can be more and more transparent with your children, but, you know, the. The moments that we couldn't be like, were very confusing, you know, so, like, if you can be transparent with your kids and there's a time where it's appropriate to, like, don't hold on to it longer than it has to be held. Because, I mean, they need clarity. They need understanding, too.

[Kaleena]

Yeah. Because to. To bring it all back to the beginning of the episode. One of the things that you said is that she is coachable and she's receptive. And I think you said something along the lines of like. Like, she'll. She'll kind of. Or maybe I said it, I don't know, like, take your experience and learn from it where not everybody can do that. And it feels like this could be also that is like, she can look at you guys and see that you. She chose you guys chose each other. But also that mom was protecting you and not shit talking you to them. And so all of these things is like, okay, now I have perspective. And then you. As you get further into adulthood, you'll be able to apply a lot of those things to your own life. Is there anything you guys would change or do differently if you could go back in time at any point?

[Bobby Jones]

Oh, I mean, I feel like your answer.

[Kaleena]

Yeah, I feel like I know your answer, but I. Would you change anything?

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. You would? Yeah. And again, I think this goes back to the whole Idea. Even with like my criminal history, like, you know, it's easy to say that things happen for a reason. It's like, you know, like, sometimes that's a cop out. Right. Because even though I believe in like, you know, God and, you know, the steering of this ship and being course corrected at times, and it's easy to say that things just happen for a reason. There were victims to my crimes. Right. And I have remorse around that. Right. So if I could just easily chalk it up, all things happen for a reason, that would be. There would be a lack of empathy in that to the people that were impacted negatively to my actions. And the same would be true for my wife and what, you know, those, those things we just discussed. So if I could go back and take away her hurt 100%, I would. And you know, I, I know that that could change some of the outcome, but I think I'd be just. I think I'd be wrong not to take the opportunity to take some of that pain away.

[Kaleena]

Yeah. What about you? Do you feel like you would want him to change anything about his life or, you know, how you guys feel are today?

[Ariana Jones]

I think that one thing in my childhood that I would probably want to change a little. Like, I think that negatively affected me was just the, the toxicity, like in household, like the arguments, like, and just me. I don't know. I think there's a negative and a positive to. To it because I think that me being a part of the arguments and, and like, kind of mediating it or like being involved in them has helped me be an understanding person and like, understanding both perspectives. Like, I feel like that comes very easily to me now. Like I can understand anyone's perspective and put myself in their shoes. But on the negative side of it, it's like I think that I picked up some toxic habits when it comes to my own relationships, and now I have to like, try to unlearn those habits, which is also hard when that's what I've grown up with. Right. So that would probably be the only thing that I can think of.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah. And I was nodding because she is, she's super good at like, taking the time and, and like switching the shoes for the sake of a conversation and just like really trying to understand how somebody else rationalized their own actions.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

And I think, think that's, you know, you said it fast. I just want to make sure that there's some emphasis on that because I think that's one of the, your greatest qualities is like that, that pause that you take to do that. And, you know, there's, you know, her answer is, you know, something I have to be accountable and aware for. You know, like, that's just real to

[Kaleena]

your point that you said earlier in the episode was that, like, negative things can sometimes have a positive impact. And that's sort of what she's saying too. It's like, obviously it's not ideal.

[Bobby Jones]

It's not going to be in the parenting book that, that we write about. We don't recommend this. However, there was some upside from it.

[Kaleena]

Right. And also, like, she said, like, y' all are just doing this for the first time. And she was the first draft and you know, again.

[Bobby Jones]

And, and my, my childhood was crazy, but more so relationship wise. My wife's childhood was a lot of turmoil because she comes from a broken family. And I think that, know you, you know, we carried that into our relationship 100%.

[Kaleena]

But do you think that you guys did better than your parents?

[Bobby Jones]

Yes.

[Kaleena]

Okay, so then that's. That right there is like, you can't, you're not going to fix everything to 100% true every single time on the first try. And unfortunately for our kids and our kids, kids there, it's just going to keep happening. Right. Like, as long as you're doing better than the generation before you, you can only hope that it's just going to continue to get, get better.

[Bobby Jones]

Which is true. Right. And, and I love that there's like, this, there's a sense of empathy in that. Right. Like, it's. If you get mad at a parent for what they did and then you're like, oh, wait a minute, let me think about, like, my grandfather, my grandmother, that was kind of crazy. Okay. I get to understand a little bit better why my dad or mom was a certain way, but at the same time, like, none of that, like, it doesn't change the experience that they're having.

[Ariana Jones]

Right, right. And I think from the child's perspective, it can be a very frustrating when your parents are like, well, I went through this, so this is nothing. Because we didn't go through that. We, we didn't live your life. And this is our first time living. Like, we literally just, we, we just

[Kaleena]

got, we just got here.

[Ariana Jones]

We just got here. Like, we don't know. So I think that it can be very invalidating, especially as a child. Like, I think once I grew up, it's easy to be like, okay, put everything into perspective. But as a kid, when you're being told, like, okay, our childhood was worse and we're doing better Than our parents. That does nothing for me. Like 100. That's great.

[Kaleena]

100. You are spot on. I, we just had that conversation the other day. I was going through something with my 12 year old and he said, he, he's talking to me and I'm listening and, and that I brought that up. I'm like, my, like my problems were so much worse, but that's not his experience because I'm. In some ways I'm doing better than for him, than I got from my parents. Right? And so same for you is like, like, great. You, you were selling drugs and you went to prison. I can't relate to those struggles, right? Like, I. This is what I'm going through.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah. I would be like, I don't like this food for dinner. Like. And he's like, well, I ate potatoes every day, so we used to share our cereal milk.

[Bobby Jones]

If you don't finish your dinner, I'm

[Ariana Jones]

just like, but I don't like it.

[Kaleena]

Like, might still apply, I don't know.

[Bobby Jones]

But you know, the same is true for this experience too because, like, as a father, there were certain milestones. Like, there were certain things that were super important to me that I, like, we were able to do this. And like, for me, it was braces. Like, I grew up with really, really crooked teeth, right? And it was just a big insecurity of mine and I was, you know, it was just, it always bothered me, right? And we couldn't afford braces. So same when we were able to provide braces to our daughters, we were like, we did it, you know, like, we're so awesome. Like, we're so proud. And we're like waiting for their grand response and they're like, this sucks. Which is rightfully so. Braces do suck now that I've had them. And they're painful and they freaking hurt. Which I told myself I wouldn't get braces until they got them, but. But I did do it and. But like, there's moments like, where like that more matters more to us than it matters to them. And I think that we have to put those things in perspective because we'll chase these little moments of like, hey, listen, you know, wasn't able to do this, so I want to do it for my kid. Your kid has their own wants and desires that you might be forcing something on them that they don't even care about. And you're doing it for yourself. And if you're doing it for yourself, then do it for yourself. Like, just go and do it for yourself if it Was like, you never went to Disney, and that was super important to you. Go to freaking Disney. If they're not asking to go, don't put that on their, you know, their checklist.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

And it wasn't on their checklist at all.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

You know, so I think that that's a. That's an important thing. Like, you know, there's just little moments where, like, we might think that this is such a big deal. And, you know, and. And I'm not saying my kids weren't grateful. Of course they were grateful that we took their, you know, smile and their teeth seriously, but it wasn't like some big. Like, they were super excited because they

[Kaleena]

don't know any different.

[Ariana Jones]

Right.

[Kaleena]

We did some things so much better than our own parents did that they don't know. Our kids don't know any different. Right. So for them, this is like, oh, I'm getting braces. Right. But for. For us, it's like, we have the most adults. Right. So it's, like, not the same.

[Bobby Jones]

But I do. I do want to give Anna credit because she will indulge me in those moments where, like, last night we all went for a walk, and we were walking back up to the house, and I was like, hey, guys, come here real quick. And we just stopped and kind of looked at our house.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Bobby Jones]

And I was like, this is pretty cool, ain't it? And they were like. And she was like, yeah, it's amazing. Like, we're. This is so awesome.

[Kaleena]

Did you really feel that way or do you not?

[Ariana Jones]

No, I do. I do. I think that now I definitely just. I look at the bigger picture much more. I think that, like, in your childhood, things are so much more significant. Like, I wanted to add that, like, when they would have an argument that's so much bigger to me and my sister than it was for them, and then they just move on. Like, they move on from it, and they might even forget about it, but I still remember specifics of that argument. So when you are a child, things are just much bigger and more traumatizing. Whereas, like, they were living their adult life and they've. They've been there, done that. Like, they're just moving. Yeah. So, like, sometimes me, I'll bring something up. They're like, that didn't happen, but now they do. Like, we'll have deeper conversations now. No. And I think that we all, like, can. I think it's less uncomfortable now for us to talk about things like that. But before, I would just be like, remember when you did this? And they're like, no. Like, no, I don't remember that. Like, yeah, I know. You have such a horrible childhood. I know. Like, it would be, like, that type of vibe.

[Kaleena]

Yeah.

[Ariana Jones]

Now we can talk about those things. And it's not like. It's not like I'm bashing them. It's just like, I want them. I don't know. I just. I like talking about things like that. I think it's important, you know?

[Kaleena]

It is.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah. So. And it's not like a bash session. Whereas, like, when I was younger, it kind of was because I was, like, holding that resentment or I was, like, mad or mad that they were. Weren't, like, being accountable for it or, like, even remembering it. Like, it would just make me angry. And now I think that we can have those open conversations, and it's much, like, less uncomfortable for us.

[Kaleena]

So with that being said and with that, like, perspective in mind, when you guys are going for a walk and looking at the house, do you also see that differently then, too, like, the positive moments, like, looking at the house and saying, wow, like, this really is a cool life, because you have the perspective about sort of the negative things and the trauma, but, like, you're like, like, okay, well, my family still did get through all of this together, and this is where we live.

[Ariana Jones]

Yes. And. And, like, also, we've all just had so much character development as well, which makes the environment so much better. Like, I like coming home, and I tell my dad that all the time. Like, I love it here.

[Kaleena]

Because you live at home.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, I live. I live with them still. And I.

[Bobby Jones]

She pays rent, and she contributes 100%.

[Kaleena]

Okay, wait, before we go, I have a. Always. Like, I bought 20 acres in Smyrna because I was like, okay, I want my kids to be able to live with me until they're 30. What's your position on that?

[Bobby Jones]

Oh, yeah, she can stay as long,

[Kaleena]

especially in this economy, but not just because of that, but because I birthed these humans that didn't ask to be here. They didn't ask for the bills. So, like, they can stay with me as long as they want.

[Ariana Jones]

But, like, so sweet.

[Kaleena]

You're like, I have to pay rent. But now I'm like, well, do I charge my kids rent? So what is your position? They can stay with you as long as they want.

[Bobby Jones]

100% y. That's how I've been told that. And I also. Just in the same way, like, when we were going through high school and they were. And we were like, you know, if you want to Go to college. I support that if you don't. Right. Who am I to tell you you got to go to college when I don't even know if my GED from prison's real? Right. You know what I mean? So, like, you know, so obviously I was like, I tried to stay neutral in that because I didn't want to, like, influence them in a negative way about college. Although I have my opinions about college and the debt that comes from it and the lack of, you should only

[Kaleena]

go to college if you need. If you're going to be like, a doctor or something.

[Bobby Jones]

I agree strongly on that. But with that being said, you know, we. We have always been like, I. I want to be, you know, encouraging either way. Right. Like, if you want to move out, I will encourage you to do that. I will help you do that. But let's have real conversation about what that looks like so that you're not shocked about it. Which is why rent, to me is an important detail. Right? Because right now she is a contributor to the household. So when she. She pulls up at the house, she can take pride in all of it as well. Right? Because she helps that thing exist. And she's now that much more accustomed to having a monthly expense financial obligation to that as well. And so again, she's already very financially savvy. But the thing is, with that, she's also very frugal and doesn't want to spend her money. And so squeezing it out of her sometimes can be diffic. But. And I'm not saying that wasn't an uncomfortable conversation when it first happened, but. But again, like, you know, I think it's important and, you know, we had to stay firm in that. And it wasn't like some. It's not draining her account or anything like that, but it is a way for her to feel like she. Or for her to contribute. Not just feel like she's contributing, she is contributing. And it also sets the right expectation for younger sis when she gets to that point and has been in her. We didn't do it as soon as she got her job, she had been in her job for a little while and saved up a decent amount of money. And that's when we instituted that.

[Kaleena]

No, I think that makes sense. And it'll also. Because before you want to go buy something, are your bills paid? And that's an important lesson. I did not have that. I. A lot of people don't have that, and they're just thrown to the wolves at 18. And it's like, okay, now What?

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah.

[Kaleena]

So I think that's really cool. Do you like the setup, like, of paying rent and staying with your parents? I mean, obviously you probably don't want love playing. You probably don't love paying rent, but you love the opportunity that you have or.

[Ariana Jones]

Yeah, Yeah, I do. I do.

[Kaleena]

Good for you. Where can people find you on social media?

[Ariana Jones]

It's at Ari Incs on Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook.

[Kaleena]

Okay. And dad, we already know where to find you, but just tell them in case they missed it.

[Bobby Jones]

Yeah, I think Bobby Jones on Facebook or it's Mr. Brightside on Instagram would probably be the two best places to find me.

[Kaleena]

Awesome. Thank you for coming on Barely Famous.

[Bobby Jones]

Our pleasure. Thanks for having us. Foreign.

[Kaleena]

Okay, guys, we're back. You asked for it. And we're delivering. Killer is going on tour. We're super excited for the fatherless behavior tour. 23 cities, three countries, all in one summer. And you guys can check out tour dates and see if we're coming to a city near you on killlowy.com and if you want early access to information and announcements, head over to Patreon because you might get it before everyone else.

[Bobby Jones]

At first, I didn't think it was real.

[Kaleena]

I woke up to this blinding light

[Bobby Jones]

and I was transported to another place.

[Kaleena]

Pluto tv.

[Bobby Jones]

Then I heard a voice.

[Kaleena]

Come with me if you want to live. There were thousands of movies and shows and they were all free. Truth is, it's just so Beautiful on Pluto TV. Free streaming of Terminator 2, Fringe Arrow, the 100 and the X Files may cause excitement, loss of sleep, and sudden belief in extraterrestrials. No credit cards or alien encounters necessary. Pluto TV stream now. Pay never. Hi there, it's Becca Tobin.

[Bobby Jones]

I am currently the mother of a

[Kaleena]

four year old, which means I have

[Bobby Jones]

been through it, but I still have

[Kaleena]

questions and maybe even a few answers.

[Bobby Jones]

From surrogacy to toddler chaos, I have learned a lot and also not nearly enough. That's why I decided to launch Baby

[Kaleena]

Gang, a six part series from the Lady Gang where I'm getting real about fertility, parenting, and all the stuff nobody actually tells you.

[Bobby Jones]

I'm bringing in some experts for the

[Kaleena]

tough stuff and some other celeb moms and friends for parenting survival stuff. It's honest, it's messy, it's emotional, and

[Bobby Jones]

yes, we are definitely laughing through it.

[Kaleena]

Because whether you're in it, thinking about it, or just curious, we've got you.

[Bobby Jones]

So join the Baby Gang wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kaleena]

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