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Topic : 07/06 Baby Wars

Number of Replies: 7225
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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, 7:32 am PDT

Going to court not to be a dad?

I only have one question for Mr. Dubay...  

  

If you do not want to be a dad then why not just sign over your rights to the child?  Then you won't be financially responsible and when the mother finds someone who will love her and the baby then he can adopt her.  The only link you will have is your DNA.  If you did not want to be a dad you should have used a condom EVERY time!  Miracles can always happen and it doesn't matter if the doctors say you can't have a baby and you are on birth control it can still happen, but if you had used a condom every time the exposure of your sperm would have been greatly limited and thus the chances greatly reduced.  The fact that you think you or anyone thinks that men and women could be on equal ground on this issue is insane.  You are not the one with this child inside of you.  You are not the one that feels him or her growing and developing.  You are not the one the grows attached after nine months.  So for you to say that you don't want to be the father and that the baby should be given up is awful.  Have you not thought about the mother and how she feels in this.  Again, if you don't want the responsibility just sign over your rights.  This is a ridiculous case that is a waste of the Supreme Courts time and engry.  Either take responsibility (in whatever way financial or more if you want) or sign over you rights so maybe one day that baby will have a father who will love her without hesitation.  

 
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April 21, 2006, 7:32 am PDT

Matt not wanting to be a father???

Matt should have realized that having sex anytime can create a child.  If he did not want a child or to be a father then he should have never had sex.  The question of whether or not he wore a condom isn't even in the question.  The questions should be, "Why did you have sex?"  I am appalled at his behavior.  Step up to the plate and be a man!!!!!!!  Men like Matt give a new meaning to dead beat dads!  He should be required to pay child support, that is what people do, men and women!  Would the roles be reversed if the mother didn't want the child and he did?  Would he want her to pay child support if she chose to have no involvment with the child? ABSOLUTELY!  Maybe he doen't understand the cost of raising a child, or maybe he doesn't care.  It sounds to me that Matt needs to GROW UP! 
 
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April 21, 2006, 7:32 am PDT

Heaven's gifts?

God does not put a baby on earth for no reason.  Matt needs to grow up and be a man.  He's been put in a position to be resposible and be a real man.  I don't think that he's going to have a problem not being a father again.  What woman in her right mind would want to have sex with him after something like this?  There a roles that men and women have to play in life.  Mothers and fathers are one of them. 

  

 

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April 21, 2006, 7:33 am PDT

Fathers' Rights

Nothing frustrates me more than watching mothers force the biological father for support and responsibility. If they would just step back they would see...you're better off cutting the ties.  If anything needs to be setup in court, it's that the fathers that wish to not have responsibility to be completely eliminated from any possible future ties.  Sure they should be held responsible but the girl could have also used protection.  If she does not want a baby she can place it up for adoption.  Why can't the man have the same choice.  Do you really want that child growing up knowing that his father's wallets there because you made him?  And that's all it's about..the money.  He will never emotionally be there.  You truly do not want a man in your child's life that has those feelings.  But there does need to be something done thru the courts so that the father does not come back 10 yrs and suddenly want to bond.  I feel if you can't step up to the plate now, you can't wait until the financial responsibilities are passed THEN step up.  Or better yet, if they want in their life, tally up what he would have been responsible for and send him the bill.  He can visit when he pays the bill.  Again I feel you really don't want this influence in your child's life.  Women need to stop clinging to the hope that "he'll come around if just plays with the baby".  You both were responsible for conceiveing the child.  You chose to take ON the responsiblity.  And good for you!  Now enjoy raising your child to be the person you hope for them to be. 

 
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April 21, 2006, 7:33 am PDT

Appalled Mom

 I cannot believe the three gentlemen on the show today!! He was unprotected!! He did give up control and now has to face the end results. The only way to be 100% sure is to abstain. Everyone knows that. He does have a responsibility to the child however seeing the kind of man he is and the crowd he runs with, the beautiful little girl would be better off without him in her life. I strongly agree with Dr. Phil on all the points he made especially when he asked if this opened a door for all deadbeat dads. This is all this country needs!! The guy from the mens group needs to get a life!
 
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April 21, 2006, 7:33 am PDT

RIDICULOUS

I think that these men are absolutely ridiculous. Sex was not created just for pleasure. It was created to make children. Since he knows that all contraception is not 100 percent then he should know that there is a possibility that he could become a father if he has sex. This is so sad that he is trying to get out of the responsibility of being a father. Not that I feel that he should have to play the role of being a father but he still has financial obligations. If he can do the deed he can pay child support. I think that he should just keep it in his pants until he is ready to become a father. Also what is with him not using a condom and not expecting her to get pregnant. This guy and the men supporting him are complete idiots to think that they are going to win this case.
 
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April 21, 2006, 7:33 am PDT

Dont wanna be a dad?

  I am a twenty one year old guy from ohio. When i was 18 i found out i was having a child. I didnt plan on being a dad, i wasn't ready for it. But i knew where kids came from and how they were made. I chose to participate in sex knowing the reprocussions. I dont care if you're ready to be a dad or not. The only thing you should think about is seeing that beautiful baby and wanting to do everything you can for him or her. Seeing that guy sit there and say i told her i wasn't ready to be a dad just made me sick. Who cares then don't have sex if you're not ready for what comes from it. Matt needs to step up and take responsibility for his actions. He needs not only to pay his child support but be a father to his child, and to the lawyers, they are no better than he is.
 
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April 21, 2006, 7:33 am PDT

What Decision is Left?

I find it absolutely ridiculous for this man to want to take this young lady to court.  They should be able to settle this matter without having an outsider make decisions that will affect them forever.  The young lady LIED.  That is what we understand from him.  He DIDN"T use a condom.  Sounds like they both were untruthful/unsafe in this relationship.  They need to sit down with a family counselor and make a decision about how they are going to handle this betrayal.  A single man who is going to be an active participant in sinful, pre-marital sex and a young woman is also an active participant will always have consequences for actions.  If you have unprotected sex there is the possibility of a child being conceived and born.  Live with your decisions!
 
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April 21, 2006, 7:34 am PDT

04/21 Baby Wars

Quote From: cenpamom

..I know in a number of states, the biological father *can* sign away his paternal rights....there must be something along those lines in the state where Matt lives where he has this option. If he's so sure he doesn't want to support this child in any fashion, then sign the paperwork and move on.
Parental rights can only be signed over if both parties agree and the other party can still be forced to pay child support. The only way child support is signed over is if the other party agrees to that tool. Of course a Judge can take away parental rights if the parent is proven unfit.
 
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April 21, 2006, 7:34 am PDT

baby battle

We were always raised to know absolutely that if you PLAY you MUST PAY. If you don't want to chance the consequences then don't do the deed!!!!!Birth control is NOT an absolute guarantee! NO ONE is safe as far as that goes. So if you don't want the chance of being a father then ABSTAIN!!! Otherwise step up to the plate and stop whining!
 
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