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Topic : 07/06 Baby Wars

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Created on : Thursday, April 13, 2006, 01:22:17 pm
Author : DrPhilBoard1
(Original Air Date: 04/21/06) Being a parent is hard enough, but what happens when Mom and Dad can't agree on how many kids to have, how to raise 'em and how to get ‘em to sleep?  Sometimes, it can lead to an all-out baby war! Matt's baby battle ended up in front of a judge and made headlines. He was ordered to pay child support for the baby he had with his ex-girlfriend, but he says he shouldn't have to cough up the money because she told him she wasn't able to get pregnant, and he told her he didn't want to be a father. He, his attorney, and the director of the National Center for Men discuss the lawsuit they filed, known as “Roe v. Wade for Men,” arguing that men should have a constitutional right to avoid fatherhood. Next, Dan says even though he and his wife, Lisa, already have four children, he wants just one more. Lisa has been pregnant on and off for 11 years and says she's closed for baby business. Will Dr. Phil help Dan see Lisa's point that four is enough? Then, a frustrated husband is camping out on the roof of his house and living in a tent. He refuses to go back to his bedroom until his wife moves their kids out of their bed and starts paying more attention to him. Can Dr. Phil get him to come down the ladder? Plus, a sleep expert has a simple method for getting your child to sleep through the night. See the plan in action! Share advice and talk about the show here.

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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

cocoon

  First of all let me say I am a 52 year old woman who has never been able to have children, but I Have been through what this man is going to put his child through.  He is going to scar this child for life.  I grew up with VERY LOW SELF ESTEEM and have never gotten over it.  It has affected every aspect of my life past and present.    I have heard of "egotistical" before but He takes the cake!  If he isn't ready to be a father, then he shouldn't have "played  the game".  The ONLY Certain thing when 2 people are having sex is that God is in control. Everything happens for a reason.   I have seen where a man wears a condom, the woman is on birth control pills and she still gets pregnant.  As we tell "KIDS" all of the time, abstinance is the only sure way of not getting pregnant.  Doctors don't know everything.  If God wants you to get pregnant, then you will get pregnant.  Mister, grow up and realize  if you're gonna play, you're gonna pay.  I also think that the reason You didn't want to hold the baby or see it is because you know you would not be able to hold to your convictions about not wanting to be a father.  There is just something about looking into a baby's eyes and holding it that can melt any NEGATIVE feelings ( and that is what you're having).  You are going to regret these actions you're taking and feelings you're forcing on yourself in the future, I guarantee it.  I hope when that child grows up and finds you,  that you will be more of a man than you are being right now.  I also hope that the mother is completely honest with the child about you at some point.  The position which you are putting her in is really sad and doesn't say much for your character.  In the next few years, this child will start asking her questions about it's daddy and to keep this child from having a load of emotional problems, she will probably have to lie to it until it gets old enough to understand what a "Jerk" you are and be able to shake the negative feelings off.   

  

Message from experience 

 
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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

04/21 Baby Wars

Quote From: graheric

This is unbelievable!!! I am a parent of a beautiful baby girl who is going to be four this year my husband and I have been together for five years this year. Let me tell you something this just goes to show why women do have all the rights if it were left up to the men there would be lots of babies who didn't know their parents because of men who like this one don't want to take responsibility for the fact that they want to trust the women when they should follow what they think and not what the women thinks. This was so ignorant. The poor man needs to think of how he would feel if his father said oh I don't want him because I wasn't the one who lied or the one who didn't take it upon myself to protect myself from something I didn't want. Is he even thinking about how this kid is going to feel when she grows up and has to explain no my dad didn't want me because he didn't protect his penis. How's that going to sound coming out of a kids mouth to another kid.  

HE'S WHAT THEY CALL A DEAD BEAT DAD!!! You go Dr. Phil!!!!!!!! 

  

 

I am a happily married mother of two and it sounds like you are a bit upset.  Of course you would be because you are not male who up front told your girlfriend that you do not want any children and in turns your girlfriend decides to stay with you and tell you that she can not have any children and also is taking birth control pills.  Men should have rights too. 

  

How can you be called a dead beat when you put the cakel out on the table, she had the choice not to eat that cake knowing that he would not take part in this childs life. 

  

What if the women told the man up front, "Hey I don't want any children and he inturns tell her well I am fixed and she gets pregnant.  He wants the baby and she doesn't, she now makes the decision to have an abortion.  Does he have the right to stop the abortion? 

 
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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

His Choices

 How sad for this baby.  Obviously, this boy/man is not mature enough to accept responsibility for his actions. He had unprotected sex with a woman whom he did not want to commit to, and now that his child is here, he wants to put the blame for the baby's existence on her. How typical. They are both responsible. The bare facts are: if a woman does not want to become a mother, she prevents it.  If a man does not want to become a father, he prevents it. His choice was not taken away from him; he gave his choice away to his sexual partner by his actions. If he was THAT set on not becoming a father, he has NO excuse for not wearing a condom. What will he say to a judge who asks him, "Did you do everything in your power to prevent this pregnancy?" His only truthful answer can be "NO." This boy/man made a mistake. He should own up to it and try to be a good father. On the other hand, I do agree that it seems unfair that a woman can legally become not responsible for her child by putting it up for adoption. Perhaps that is the avenue he should pursue:  He knows he would not be a good father, and therefore should petition the court to surrender the child to a loving family. Let the mother fight that in court.  Hopefully he will not make the same mistake in the future. But really, if the weatherman says it absolutely will not rain, and the man looks out the window at clouds but doesn't take his umbrella with him, is he going to sue the weatherman when his clothes get soaked?
 
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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

04/21 Baby Wars

Would Matt believe some one at their word when they tell him they don't have AIDS???   It really worries me that someone would be so naive when it comes to something so serious.  Whether his ex believed or didn't believe she could have kids, it was still Matt's responsibility to prevent a pregnancy if he didn't want to be a father.   You hear over and over about couples that were told they could never have kids, but by some miracle they conceived a child.  In this day and age, anything can happen, and everyone should take responsibility for their actions, whether they are "ready" to or not.  If he wasn't ready, he should have done everything to prevent it even if that means not beleiving everything he hears.  

 
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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

04/21 Baby Wars

Quote From: maryelle

He wasn't "Tricked" into anything.....he had sex, he has to pay the price.  He is being a childish, spoiled little brat for makeing a lawsuit so he doesn't have to pay child support!  He made his bed, he has to lie in it.  Maybe he learned his lesson.  Of course, all the other women in the nation who saw this show today won't even get near him now, so we're all safe!

He has to pay the price?  

  

She had sex too. What price should she pay? Perhaps raise the child on her on would be a fair price. 

  

Unfortunately, the child is the one paying the price. 

 
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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

....reality

Let’s loo        

Let’s look at the reality of the situation; the douche bag does not want to pay $$$$$$$child support$$$$$$$. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!!!!!   

    

In middle school and High school we learned that the only way to be child proof is not to have sex at all, abstinence. Whether or not she was able to bare a child he still chose to not wear a condom, and chose to have sex with her. YOU CHOOSE THE BEHAVIOR YOU CHOOSE THE CONSEQUENCE.   

    

Yeah, he didn’t want a child but I’m pretty sure she wasn’t prepared to have a child either. It’s not easy thinking that your body can’t bare kids and then a miracle happens and all of a sudden you have a child growing inside of you, HOW CAN YOU DENY THAT CHILD A LIFE? OR HOW CAN YOU DENY MOTHERHOOD??   

    

In my opinion, even with forced CHILD SUPPORT Money I would not accept it. I would not want to give my child something out of compromise or unwillingly from another human. I would bust my ass at work, apply for welfare, food stamps then receive a penny from a man who does not want to be part of my child’s life, FINANCIALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY MORALLY.    

    

PLAIN AND SIMPLE mom will have be mom and dad a common thing in the world where DAD’s  don’t want to be involved. YAY!!! FOR SINGLE MOTHERS.   

    

    

 
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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

Baby wars

I don't think that men deserve the right to not be a father!!! You think that women have all the rights utill you are one...  When i was 17 i got pregnant, i was still in high school and living with my parents i was so excited to be pregnant and so was my boyfriend at the time his parents were all for it.  When my parents found out they made me get an abortion.  In my state you have to be either amansipated or 18 to make decisions on your own so i had to do it and my parents were financially responsible for it as well because of my age.  Also try to get your tubes tied while you are married you have to have you husband signature to do it even if has committed adultery or left the state. My mother was 34 years old with a severe ovarian disease and my dad had left her for another woman in a state 2500 miles away, they were separated and filing the divorse papers she had to have him sign a piece of paper saying it was ok for her to have her tubes tied.  So men really do have choices they just don't know it.  And with matt's deal you men are so gulable to sex you just don't care as long as your getting it, did you see a doctors note or any legal medical paperwork saying she could not get pregnant???? That's the only way that it is 100% and even after the surgery it isn't 100% unless you have a historectamey!!  

  

 
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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

how about my story

I payed child support for 5 years and had 3 of my I.R.S. refund checks taken and was led to believe that the child was mine and i finally decided to get a DNA test done and the child wasnt even mine and i got nothing back after i dished out 25,000 dollars plus.......i lost count and 5 years of a nightmare and a gang load of  drivers license suspensions. Nice Mens rights.....the system and the state of Florida is a joke and the man always gets beat. My suggestions to ANY male with a pregnant sugnificant other GET A DNA TEST AT THE HOSPITAL THE DAY THE BABY IS BORN.
 
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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

You are crazy!

Quote From: ampurser

How many men have been trapped by such deceit?? As a woman -- I think she should take COMPLETE responsibility for this child.  SHE wanted it - she should take care of it.  I'll bet you a million she didn't like condoms and resisted that ... she knew exactly what she was doing.  I'm behind you, Matt.  I lost an old boyfriend years ago by the same trickery -- he was trapped into parenthood and married the gal out of guilt.  Matt's baby would have been better off with two parents who CHOSE to have her.  Shame on the girl. 
  You lost a man to another woman... it's not your fault, but your old flame CHOSE to unzip his pants!  Please stop kidding yourself!
 
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April 21, 2006, 2:45 pm PDT

To have a baby or to not have a baby, that is the question.

Bottom line, if you are going to have sex, inside marriage or not (because unplanned pregnancies happen even in marriages), and you don't want to have a baby then use protection.  Don't believe what your partner says.  She says she is on the pill, or can't get pregnant because of some underlying medical condition....use a condom anyway.  He says he has had a vasectomy or is sterile, use a female condom, the pill, or something else to prevent pregnancy.  Besides in this day and age with the diseases that are around (and several without cures) why would anyone not in a committed relationship want to take any chances.  If you don't take the needed precautions then you are responsible for what might happen. Be proactive not reactive.
 
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