Odell Beckham Jr.'s ex Lauren Wood reveals being in 'innocent competition' with WR over son Zydn
Odell Beckham Jr. and his ex-girlfriend, Lauren Wood, are rewriting the script for co-parenting. In an exclusive interview with US Magazine, Lauren, the mother of their two-year-old son Zydn, opened up about her post-split relationship with the NFL WR.
She described it as an “innocent competition” for time with their child.
“We both compete for time with Zydn,” Wood said, adding, "We both want more of it, but we just never get enough of it. It’s almost like we have an innocent competition going on.”
Beckham and Wood broke up in September 2023. They started dating in 2019 and went Instagram official in November 2019.
Further talking about their professional commitments, Wood shared how maintaining a balance is no small feat since the NFL WR is “always on the road” and “working all the time.”
Similarly, she is as busy as him since Wood wears many hats—a model, actress, fitness trainer, and TV personality.
“We just kind of make it work between us. I don’t look at co-parenting as a choice or an agreement. It’s more of a duty and a privilege to share within the love that we both have for our son," Wood uttered.
Born on Feb. 17, 2022, Zydn's arrival has led Beckham and Wood to adapt to a divide-and-conquer strategy.
“With the new skills Zydn will develop in our care, we’re like, ‘Oh yeah, look what I taught him,’” Wood said, adding, “He’s just becoming a little genius from both sides. We’re learning to respect each other’s limitations and advantages."
Moreover, prioritizing Zydn has also led to a healthy relationship between the two.
Lauren Wood reveals the secret to co-parenting with Odell Beckham Jr.
Talking about mutual respect, Wood, who now resides in Arizona, explained how it is an essential foundation for their co-parenting relationship.
“We’re a family first, regardless of where we’re living,” she said, adding, “We’re a family. We have a unit. It’s our child and we put him first. We respect each other. Zydn is a testament to how Odell and I co-parent in our relationship. I think we’re doing a great job, honestly.”
For Wood, sharing parenting duties with Beckham also has its bittersweet moments.
“The moment Zydn leaves for his Dad, I already miss him," she admitted.
"I know Odell feels the same. We’re aligned in our beliefs. I’m a firm believer that a child needs both parents. Odell thinks the same thing,” she added.
While Beckham's release from the Miami Dolphins has left him scrambling for a new NFL team, he remains steadfast toward his father's duties.