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Cole DeBoer and Chelsea are opening up about a significant regret from their decade-long journey on Teen Mom 2. In a candid new interview, the couple admitted they wish they had protected their children’s privacy more carefully during their years on MTV.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Regret Timeline: Chelsea says if she could do it over, she wouldn’t show so much of her kids’ lives on Teen Mom 2
- Interview Date: The couple shared their honest reflections in a recent PauseRewind interview, just days ago
- Four Children: Aubree, Watson, Layne, and Walker grew up with cameras documenting their daily lives
- HGTV Difference: Their current show, Down Home Fab, allows the couple to set strict privacy boundaries their kids didn’t have before
Looking Back with Fresh Eyes: Chelsea’s Private Shift
Chelsea DeBoer, age 34, and her husband Cole, age 37, have undergone a major perspective shift since leaving Teen Mom 2 in 2019. Chelsea first gained fame on MTV’s 16 and Pregnant in 2009, when her daughter Aubree was born. According to the couple’s new interview, they’ve learned valuable lessons about parental boundaries as they’ve matured. Chelsea expressed that she and Cole became far more protective once they understood the long-term impact of public exposure on growing children.
“Looking back, I don’t know if I would choose that again at this point,” Chelsea stated, acknowledging the weight of her early career decisions. The couple emphasized that their approach to sharing family moments has transformed dramatically since their MTV days ended.
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The Teen Mom 2 Era: Everything on Display
For over a decade, starting in 2011, Chelsea appeared regularly on Teen Mom 2 alongside her children, particularly Aubree. The show documented intimate family moments, parental conflicts, and the challenges of raising children in the public eye. Chelsea’s eldest daughter, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Adam Lind, was especially visible on the program throughout her childhood and teenage years. Many episodes featured contested storylines about Aubree’s relationship with her biological father, keeping the teenager’s personal struggles front and center for millions of viewers.
“We really want to be selective on how we show the kids, how much we show the kids, and just really trying to protect them.”
— Chelsea DeBoer, HGTV Host and Former Teen Mom Star
How HGTV Changed Everything for the Family
When Chelsea and Cole transitioned to HGTV’s Down Home Fab, they gained something they never had on MTV: control over their narrative and their children’s presence. The couple revealed that HGTV explicitly told them, “If you are uncomfortable with the kids being on camera, you just tell us. That is totally fine. If they don’t want to, it’s okay.” This stark contrast to Teen Mom’s demanding production schedule allowed the couple to champion their kids’ privacy for the first time in years. Chelsea credits her current network with being “so incredible” about respecting family boundaries.
| Aspect | Teen Mom 2 | Down Home Fab |
| Focus | Personal drama and family challenges | Home renovation and design projects |
| Kids Involvement | Central to storylines and conflicts | Selective and boundary-based appearances |
| Tone | Often chaotic and negative | Positive and feel-good |
| Network Support | Prioritized controversial content | Encourages privacy protection |
Emotional Growth and Maturity Wake-Up Call
Chelsea revealed that she initially felt nervous transitioning to HGTV after being on reality TV for so long, as she wasn’t sure if the new dynamic would work. However, she quickly discovered that HGTV’s approach was fundamentally different from the chaotic, sometimes negative energy of Teen Mom. The couple appreciated that the network wanted them “to look good, to love us, and to show our true personality.” This shift in environment enabled Chelsea and Cole to model healthy family privacy for their children, teaching them that boundaries matter in an increasingly public world.
What Changed as Chelsea and Cole Grew Older: Is This a Wake-Up Call for Reality TV?
The couple’s honest reflection raises important questions about child exploitation in reality television and the long-term consequences of growing up on camera. Chelsea and Cole both noted that “as we’ve gotten older and the kids have gotten older,” they developed a deeper understanding of privacy’s importance. This evolution suggests that many young parents making decisions in the spotlight may not fully comprehend how their choices could impact their children’s futures. Will other reality TV stars follow Chelsea and Cole’s lead by prioritizing kids’ emotional wellbeing over ratings and storylines?
