Topic : 08/02 "I Love Myself!"

Shannon is manipulating everyone around her.  Including Doctor Phil.    

Big surprise that Dr. Phil is going to find a wonderful therapy program for the whole family.   Hours of appointments, crying, soul searching will go by.   The whole family is put on a roller - coaster again, but Shannon will continue with her antics.    

Shannon will be in the spot light again.  Isn't that where she should be?  After all, if she is asked to do chores, just like the other kids, that means she is being bullied.   After years of her tantrums and bad behavior, even Dr. Phil would be screaming at her.     

Her father and step mother are shell shocked.  They tried many times to get to the root of Shannon's problem, but nothing worked.  No wonder they found the school in Mexico, where Shannon lived for a year.   They tried other avenues of treatment, they were looking for an solution.  

The general public does not know how it feels to live with a person who continually pulls the carpet out from under their feet.      As long as Shannon can play the victim, but still be the cause of constant turmoil in her family, Shannon will continue to do so.     

The parents need counseling.  They need to learn how to handle Shannon's nonsense so that there is an end to it.   They need to concentrate on the other children in the family who are behaving in a responsible manner.  How fair is it to the other children that Shannon gets center stage all of the time?    

Tell Shannon to suck it up and shut it up, in  a few years she will be 18, and on her own.  Then she can see how the real world treats people who behave badly.  

Shannon, hopefully this therapy that Dr. Phil is arranging will be eye-opening for you.  From what was shown on the show, I think you need to move out.  Dr. Phil mentioned that you were working and that you were going to college.  However, "she" mentioned you had a 1.8 gpa.  If that's true and if money is an issue (which it is for most of us), then stop going to college right now and pursue full time work.  With the extra money you can support your self independently, or maybe share rent with a girlfriend.  This is just my opinion, but take care of your mental health first and your education later.  Unless miracles happen when the "parents" get counseling, things aren't going to change for you.  So make the changes for youself.  It may be sad and it may not be the way you want it to be, but you have to get real and take care of yourself.  Pray for God's help, I will pray for you too.  Connie 

P.S. I cannot imagine how you must have felt being told you were going on vacation and being left in a boarding school for a year!  You have already shown you are smarter than me because I do believe that when I returned home, I probably would have run away and never looked back. 

If you really care about this girl, which I dont feel from your post, take the time to find out what damaged her so badly that shes acting this way !  

Ill tell you from experience, you start on your son with your idea on her and you'll end up driving HIM away ! Ive been there and done that...and I ended up the looser. You start telling him whats wrong with his choice of a partner, your questioning his ability to choose...and that ONE HUGE MISTAKE !  

The best thing you can do is simply keep your mouth shut and let your kids work it out. Doesnt matter if you love or hate thier choices, or what you think. That was THIER choice, not yours.  

Shannon's father needs to meet my father, they are just alike.  My stepmother moved into our home and just took over.  My father was such a wus that he still to this day can't stand up for us.  The nerve of Hilliary to come into Shannon's home and remove all of her mother's picutres make me sick.  And then to move her out of her room and keep or break her stuff.  (my stepmother did the same thing to me)  I really feel for Shannon becasue this will go with her the rest of her life.  And beleive me as soon as the other sister gets old enough to have an opinion that is not the same as Hillary, she will be the evil one.  Shannon make your own life finish school,  move on and show them what you can be and they will someday want to be a part of your life and you will have the option of saying yes or no to them.  Hillary you need serious help, you are the one with the problem.  And dad, be a dad and stand up for your own child and stop thinking with other parts of your body.  You need to put Hilliary out and welcome your daughter with open arms.   

Dear Dr. Phil,  

  I watched your show today & was apalled at the parents of shannon.  Being the parent of a troubled child myself,  I could not understand the thought process of which these parents warrented the treatment of this child.  For the father to refuse the thought that he had not contributed to his daughters problems is total denial.  I agree she has a problem but the father & step mother totally contributed to their daughters problems.  I hope they accept counseling & learn how to deal with a child... who has suffered all the losses Shannon has experienced her her very short life.  

  This is the first time I have responded to a show but, felt so compelled, knowing what I went through.  When one person has a problem the whole family has to work together, not take sides. 

                     Sincerely, cookiekmh