'Life Looks Very Different' (Exclusive): Mackenzie McKee Opens Up About Adjusting to New Normal with Her Kids

Mackenzie McKeeis looking forward to reintroducing herself to Teen Mom fans

Published Time: 30.05.2024 - 22:31:05 Modified Time: 30.05.2024 - 22:31:05

Mackenzie McKeeis looking forward to reintroducing herself to Teen Mom fans.

Speaking with PEOPLE about joining Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, the mom of three opens up about reconnecting with viewers, who will see how her life has changed since her time on Teen Mom OGin 2021.

Since then, Mackenzie and then-husband Josh McKee decided to part ways after nine years of marriage and 12 years together. The two share Broncs, 7, Jaxie, 10, and Gannon, who turns 13 this fall.

"I have a completely new life! People have seen me with the same person for my whole time on the show and now I am with someone else. I had never dated as an adult — I was with who I had a baby with at 16. We got married and had two more kids, so now that I'm with someone new, there's a lot of change," she tells PEOPLE.

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Mackenzie and Josh "don't co-parent" at this time, but she says Teen Mom castmate Maci Bookout McKinney's co-parenting journey gives her hope.

"Maci and Ryan have been separated 15, 16 years now and they're co-parenting n -

ow," she points out."

While things aren't working in this area for her and Josh at the moment, Mackenzie says, "It gives me hope."

"Maybe years down the road, Josh will meet a good woman and become more involved. It gives me hope and I hope that it gives viewers hope that people can change."

This summer will be the first that the three kids spend with Josh in Oklahoma, a long way from Mackenzie's home in Florida with fiancé Khesanio Hall.

"I don't have my kids in the summer, so they leave tomorrow," she shares. "That's still kind of new to me. I don't know what I'm going to do with all that quietness. There will definitely be less chaos. I don't know what Khes and I have planned. It's a little depressing because a three-day kid-free break is nice, but not eight weeks. It's hard."

For Mackenzie, she's excited to share a new side of herself and how her mindset has helped her through dark times to this season of change.

"My life looks very, very different, so that's what I'm excited to share with people kind of how I got out and changed my life."

Teen Mom: The Next Chapter airs on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. on MTV.

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