The Valley’s Brittany Cartwright couldn’t be happier with how 4-year-old Cruz Michael Cauchi is growing strong.
The mom of one took to her Instagram Stories on Sept. 29 to give the latest on the only child she shares with estranged husband, Jax Taylor. One snap showed “Cruzy” splashing away in the in-ground pool of their San Fernando Valley home. Brittany wrote with a blue-heart emoji, “This boy could swim all day,” as evidenced by the boy’s ear-to-ear smile.
In a separate video, Cruz was all smiles once again when swinging in the backyard in a blue LA Dodgers top. Brittany then aimed the camera at a bag of Fruit Riot, frozen grapes dipped in lemon juice and a sour candy coating. She asked if he’d be interested in trying flavors such as mango and strawberry-peach, as Cruz licked one on the swing.
Explained Brittany in the caption, “Cruzy trying anything new is amazing! I think he’s into sweet and sour.”
Brittany Cartwright opens up about son Cruz Cauchi’s autism diagnosis
New foods can mean big milestones for children on the autism spectrum, and Cruz is no exception. In April, Brittany revealed her “little partner in crime” was diagnosed in the fall of 2024.
Related: Brittany Cartwright Reveals How Her Recent Career Move Affected Her & Jax Taylor’s Son
Said Brittany in her interview with People, “It can be sad at times because you want them to live life to the fullest, and he does, he just does it in a different way.”
Speech therapy and occupational therapy have been crucial to Cruz’s development, as seen on The Valley. To ensure his progression, the family home is equipped with Cruz’s own sensory room, and a therapeutic companion accompanies him to school, said Brittany.
“What I really want people to understand about autism is he sees the world so much more vibrant and amazing than any of us ever will. It doesn’t mean that he’s not going to be the smartest in his class. It doesn’t mean he is not going to work for NASA one day. There aren’t any limitations to what he can do.”
Details on Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor’s co-parenting journey
Since Brittany officially filed for divorce from Jax in August 2024, after five years of marriage, the pair have experienced “lots of ups and downs” in their co-parenting journey. As Brittany said in an interview with Extra, “It’s Jax, so always difficult … It’s always gonna be a challenge, but Cruz is the most important thing to both of us.”
Related: Brittany Cartwright Shares “Heartbreaking” Update on Family’s Kentucky Farm
During The Valley Season 2 reunion — which was filmed shortly before Jax announced his exit from the series — Brittany revealed she had primary custody of Cruz: “Whenever the divorce is final, I’m going to allow [Jax] to have [Cruz] every Wednesday and every other weekend … And then, like, if I need to go get my nails done or something like that, like, he can watch him, I’m not gonna ever not let him have his son.”
Jax agreed with the arrangement at the time, admitting it “took some time” before he and Brittany got to a place where she allowed visits. “[Brittany] allows me to see him now,” he admitted at the reunion.
Has Brittany Cartwright introduced Cruz to her “new man”?
Brittany has yet to introduce Cruz to “good friend” Brandon Hanson. She clarified that she and Brandon — whom she once teased as her “new man” — were “not technically boyfriend and girlfriend just yet.” As she told TMZ in a Sept. 9 interview, “[Brandon is] a great person, great father, just all-around a good person. He’s making me happy. We’re just focused on having fun and doing our thing right now. I really like him.”
But as for introducing Brandon to Cruz, the mom stated, “[We’re] just seeing how it goes. Just taking time.”
Don’t miss the latest, including whether Brittany has plans to sell the family home.
