Topic : 05/09 Finding Allene and Mollie

Exactly.  Force them into modern teenage life.  No problems there. 

Judy, I know you are going to think I'm stalking you...LOL

But RIGHT ON AGAIN!

I get infuriated when lack of education is suggested, forced, seen as normal or preferable by ANY GROUP. That is one of the things that makes them cultish to me.  The only motive for lack of knowledge is that they are hiding something.

I was a member of a certain religion my whole life and we were taught not to read certain books or know about certain kinds of science because they go against the religion. That ignorance on the topic was good because you didn't want such things to impede your faith. That satan uses those tings as a tool against god.

I grew up believe and accepting that, until I dared step outside my comfort zone and I dared read these books and study these subjects...and I realized, I was BRAIN WASHED!

By your logic women who are opressed with in their religion are being protected too.

There is nothing great about being polite and articulate if you are FORCED to be.

When Michele and Michael were living in this 1969 trailer with no toilet or running water and Michele, no longer able to tolerate such living conditions, left, I assume with the children and went back home.  Why would anyone in their right mind return the children to such deplorable living conditions?  I would think any custody evaluator would be concerned for children living in such conditions?  Another thing that concerned me about this evaluation is that the evaluator seemed to take negative comments Michael made about Michele being suicidal etc as facts without asking Michele to elaborate on anything.  I say these things because I too had a custody evaluation where many issues of abuse were not addressed properly and false accusations and claims against myself (the mother) appeared to be believed.  I was never given the chance to rebutt anything my ex said or to provide proof that these were falsehoods spoken to make me look bad.

Those two girls are pretty well grounded and could teach Mom a thing or two. Being mentally ill and trying to kill yourself twice isn't the description of a stable mother. The two things that stuck with me were when the girls said that their Mom couldn't take them out in public "dressed like that" because it might affect her professionally, and that the first words out of her mouth after not seeing her girls for a year included taking the name of God in vain--something that must have made these girls very uncomfortable. I have four children and want the best for them, as I'm sure Michelle does, but she has too many issues of her own to deal with. Sounds like Mom needs to grow up and think about someone outside of herself and her needs. The father might have broken the law, but I understand why he did what he did--and handled the consequences very honorably. The mother was anything but honorable in not holding to her part of the bargain. We just moved to Germany after living in Iowa for six years where we were pretty familiar with Mennonite communities. You couldn't ask for more peaceful, hard working, humble people--three qualities you'd be hard-pressed to find in any high schools today. Let the kids live where they're comfortable--with Dad, and let Mom visit in a respectful way--no "chicken pox" kisses or "OMG". I just hope these two beautiful girls can be free to live a life that brings them peace and joy instead of having to worry about coddling an unstable immature Mommy or pleasing a zealous Daddy.

It seems that most of the discussion is centered on which parent is right and very little about what's really good for the kids.  My impression of the girls was that they are very healthy in every way, of sound character, able to make good decisions for themselves, intelligent and thoughtful, articulate, and with an interest in pursuing education as they choose, not as society and culture chooses for them.  I think their expressed wishes to remain a part of their community while allowing their mother visitation rights would be in their best interest emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.  I hope the court has the wisdom and the courage to make a ruling in favor of these wonderful girls!

One of the girls said "The way I decided to live..."....teens do not know how to live.

Teens need to be guided, give all the facts and be protected. Forcing any kind of extreme life style on a child whose brain is still forming is brainwashing.

These girls don't actually believe what they are saying, because they obviously haven't been given all the facts.

It's always hinky when a group picks and chooses what facts their members will  be exposed to. If you are "right" then you ideas will stand up to any other challenge.

I've attempted suicide in my life, when I was a teen. I used to cut myself. I went through a terrible depression. I am not there anymore.

I really don't think that has any  relavence to my ability to mother my child now...do you?

These people are NOT Hutterites.  That should be corrected.  Michael and the girls and Mr. Peter Hoover and the people in Belize are NOT Hutterites...not one of them.  The only Hutterite colony or settlement outside of the United States and Canada is in NIGERIA.  Wrong church.  Wrong denomination.  Hutterites have electricity, go to high school, and some have university degrees.  No horse and buggies, only the very latest in trucks and vans.  PLEASE DR. PHIL, retract this error on the show.  Thank you.  

  

Tarryl (Terry) Miller  

 

 Who says they are forced to be? Since when is it a horrible thing that a woman stay at home and take care of their children and home? Since when is that supposed to be degrading to her somehow? What is sad is that in the English way of life women have children stay with them for a few months then drop them off at a daycare to be cared for by strangers.  Then when a group of women take pride in raising their children and caring for their husbands and homes they are seen as obviously oppressed. Then when they deny that and say that they enjoy their lives they are obviously brainwashed. I don't get it...