Laura Govan is opening up about her co-parenting relationship with ex-partner, former NBA player Gilbert Arenas.
In a recent interview with Carlos King, Govan revealed the challenges of raising four kids alongside Arenas, describing how their rocky past continues to impact their relationship.
Reflecting on their tumultuous history, she explained, “We were never married… our relationship today is the same as it was 12 years ago. It’s actually gotten worse.”
Govan explained that things have gotten worse because Arenas now uses their children to get to her.
“Now he uses the children. Now he knows how to manipulate it because he can’t directly bother me… he attacks the motherhood side of it.”
One of the most difficult periods in Govan’s life came shortly after their breakup, when she and her children were temporarily without shelter.
She said, “We were in the car for two days. I did not call not one person. I could have called anybody to get a hotel, stay in at somebody’s house with my four kids. And I was like, ‘Nope.’ You know what? I kept saying to myself, ‘I got myself in this mess; I’mma get me and my babies out of it.’”
Through it all, Govan says she’s respected Arenas’ role as a father, insisting, “Gilbert, play fair. I’ve always given you the title of fatherhood; I’ve never taken it away.”
However, she believes he falls short as a father, expressing that he doesn’t even coach their kids, who are following in his footsteps to play basketball.
Instead he spends money on lavish gifts that aren’t essential. “They don’t need chains. My son had a chain with diamonds in them. What we doing? How about you pay for his school? How about you buy them shoes?”
Arenas does provide monthly child support of $7,000, but Govan argues that it’s not enough to cover essentials like education and daily needs.
She’s, however, managed to provide for her kids, and her main concern is that Arenas does not “play fair”.
“They damn near live two different lives, but they barely see him… Play fair! I have not done that much to you that you just keep going.”
Gilbert Arenas and Laura Govan are parents to four children: Alijah, Aloni, Hamiley, and Izela Arenas.