Longtime friend and sister-from-another-mister, Jessica met Marlene and Demetrius back when they all lived in Dekalb, Il. From tattoos and fire pits to practice babies, Marlene and Jessica share a bond that allows them to be grown and honest about life and motherhood.

La hermana de Marlene, Marlene's big sister. Marlene has always admired Wilma, following her around and mimicking her mannerisms. Though Marlene carved her own path, they remained close, navigating through education and rainy camping trips. These two are Elsa and Anna!

Demetrius's cousin. She played a major role in Demetrius's upbringing, helping to mold him into the man he is today. Over the years, April and Marlene have bonded over baking and being educators. Their game nights are epic, and the the laughter is nonstop!

Marlene first met Lauren when Lauren was just a little girl. Over the years, Lauren became Marlene's favorite Spanish student and little cousin. When these two are together, get ready for loud, nerdy debates and lots of laughter.

Ambria and Marlene have been friends since 2001 when they attended Lincoln Park High School together. From creative writing class to cute Asian bistros, these two remained close as they transitioned from teens to adults. Ambria is a beautiful and loyal friend who encourages Marlene to be true to herself.

When Marlene walked into her first professional development session at Northtown ten years ago, she was instantly drawn to Laurel's energy. Laurel's support helped Marlene survive that job, and Marlene's bad influence kept Laurel laughing during the serious moments. They are beyond "work friends," and Marlene is blessed to have this friendship with Laurel.

Marlene and Darcy met ten years ago when they started working at Northtown Academy. They grew closer during their regular Starbucks "walkies," sharing everything from personal goals to favorite Cardi B songs. What started as a strong professional bond grew into a beautiful friendship, with their children calling each other "cousin."

Vince and Demetrius met in the fall of 2006, pledging Sigma Alpha Mu alongside 20 other young men at NIU. Since then, things grew much further beyond being fraternity brothers. From ramen bowls at school, to weekend family getaways and trips across state lines, to being godparents for each other's kids – Demetrius is truly Vince’s Best Man, and Vince is truly his. Don Zeus & Blk N Mild for life.

Martin is Demetrius’s older first cousin, the eldest of their grandmother. Though cousins, he is far more of a brother and always has been. Martin actually helped raise Demetrius, was there for him when his parents could not be, and helped teach him about becoming a man. Always with an infectious laugh, these two go back since Double Dribble and NBA Jam – and they’re always inseparable!

Brandon and Demetrius met in Grant North of the NIU dorms, then later were both a part of the Fall 2006 Sigma Alpha Mu pledge class. Brandon has never once switched up on “D”, proving to be one of his very most loyal friends. The real conversations, and the emotional maturity between them is palpable. Demetrius swears that Brandon is one of the funniest human beings in the world, he just doesn’t know it!

James and Demetrius met almost 20 years ago in the Grant dorms of NIU. They were some wild kids to say the least! Years later, adulthood and parenting only brought them closer together. That, and their love for BBQ! But truly, James is one of the most loyal human beings D has ever met. There's not many solid guys left in the world who are built quite like James.

Adisa is the “cousin-in-law” Demetrius always wanted. His most amazing cousin April’s husband, Adisa has done more than enough to be a respected man in this family. The love that Demetrius has for Adisa is huge! They've got so much in common and hit it off immediately since 2014.

Demetrius’s relationship with his mother is one of the deepest, most genuine, and loving relationships a son could have with his mother. They are beyond silly, and argue about anything and everything on any given day - but Demetrius is ferociously protective of his “Ma!” His last living parent, she remains his number one fan in life. Tahanni took to Marlene immediately, asking, “you like my big handsome son, huh?” To which Marlene replied, “I LOVE your big handsome son.”

La madre de Marlene, Marlene's mom. Marlene is her youngest baby, and Marlene will argue that she is the favorite! Milagros ensured that Marlene's childhood was filled with joy and Disney. She met Demetrius when he was just sixteen years old. She was hard to impress at first, but Demetrius won her heart with his dedication and love for Marlene.

El padre de Marlene, Marlene's father. Marlene will always reflect fondly on her memories of the two of them bike riding by the lake and visiting "family" at Lincoln Park Zoo. Marlene inherited her sense of humor and cooking flair from her Papi. His relationship with Demetrius has become strong, stepping in as a father figure after the passing of Cornell Freeman, Demetrius's father.

“My father was me, and I am him. The good, the bad, the beautiful – I am him. He passed on March 5th 2016, and I’ve missed him every single day since. He met Marlene in 2003, and we all rode bikes together to dinner. He told me, “son… that’s a lot of woman.” We both laughed, and I told him I’ve got this. Years went on and he adored his daughter-in-law, and his grandchildren, of whom he was completely and utterly in love with. I will miss you forever, Dad.”

Gabriela Freeman is Marlene and Demetrius's first born baby. Her sparkling personality and kindness makes her a gem to anyone she meets. A living embodiment of Marlene and Demetrius's true self, she is living proof of the power of prayer and determination.

Demetrius "DJ" Freeman is the son of Marlene and Demetrius Freeman. He is the light in their lives, proving that there is always a silver lining on a dark cloud. His curiosity and creativity is infectious, challenging anyone who speaks with him to think of things differently.

Daughter of Vince and Jessica, and goddaughter of Marlene and Demetrius. Quinn is a real showstopper! If Gabby leaves her phone unattended, you bet Quinn will leave her some videos worth gold! She is definitely meant to be a star.