Topic : 05/18 Alex Turns 18

I only got to see part of the show today, but from what I saw, she's doing fine.  In fact, for someone who got pregnant at 15, she's doing great.  It looks like she'll go to college, get a degree, get the job of her dreams and save her money and buy a house.  

Now don't get me wrong, I'm happy for her, but for someone who didn't do it "right" she's getting along pretty well.    

Now take someone like me - I graduated high school with pretty good grades, but I didn't get to go to college (I couldn't afford it - back then they didn't hand out scholarships to just about everyone like they do today).  I've worked since I was 13.  I got married and 7 years later at the age of 28 got pregnant for the first time in my life.  Then after 20 years of marriage (with financial problems the entire time), I got divorced, and now at the age of 44 (45 in one month!), I am struggling on my own trying to raise a 16 year old daughter - who has managed to get this far without being sexually active and getting pregnant - I guess I'm doing something right.   

I would love to own my own home one day, but I don't see that happening.  How do people afford houses today?  I don't understand it.  And how does someone like me, living paycheck to paycheck, do it?  I'm sure the girl "who did it all wrong" will own a house before I do.  

Maybe by now you have read back on some of these posts and gotten an answer? 

If not, here's the gist.  As the rest of the family was coming out on stage Dr. Phil said something like, "they're all here except for Erin, who is home holding down the fort".  Prior to this Dr. Phil showed snippets from the first time the family was on and every show since.  He then showed an update at their home and Erin was prominantly featured with the family.   The girls lovingly spoke of both parents and said how happy they are that their parents now get along so much better and have dates, ect... 

The fact that she wasn't on the stage for this update show has fueled a lot of speculation on this board.  It astounds me how many people think she or Dr. Phil owed it to us to have her on!!! 

I have stated in previous posts that maybe this woman, who already bared her soul by participating in every show for almost 3 years while they were getting help, just wanted her privacy back.  Maybe she just didn't feel like being a monkey in the zoo expected to perform to make the audience happy yet again. 

But this has become a nation of entitlement I'm afraid.  Some people just can't seem to accept that whether she appeared on this latest show or not was HER choice, and that in making that choice she has the right to her own reasons and privacy of those reasons.  It is really NONE of our business. 

I too found the explanation of Erin ’s absence odd.  I agree that she has every right to choose not to continue her public life but I also think Dr. Phil could have found a way to say that.  When he said she was holding down the fort, I thought the baby had stayed behind but he didn’t.  She didn’t have to be on the stage but she never even spoke to the camera in any of the recent footage taken of the family.  I do think there is more to that but I don’t doubt that the family is in a good place.  Maybe Erin just isn’t quite at the same place emotionally as everyone else.  

I also would like to see updates on some of the other families featured on the show since then.  

By the way, what happened to the whole town Dr. Phil was going to help?  

I'm so glad to see that Marty seemed happier and more attentive to the family.  Too bad his wife couldn't be there.  I like her. 

I agree with the other people that said we shouldn't reward girls for getting pregnant.  I didn't get it.  Maybe she needed transportation to college?  Or maybe Dr. Phil is very generous?  Or maybe he likes pretty girls?  Maybe Catherine should get a truck to pull her horse trailer. I'm concerned that Alex appears to still get more attention than the other girl - hope I'm wrong about that.  I think Catherine is adorable and smart and should do really well for herself. 

YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING?  WHAT THE HECK IS YOUR PROBLEM...YOU MUST THING BECAUSE SHE IS A TEENAGE MOTHER THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS TAKING CARE OF HER CHILD, WHY?  I THINK YOU JUDGE PEOPLE AND SPEAK BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW. 

IT CAN BE DONE..GO TO SCHOOL,WORK AND RAISE A  CHILD EVEN IF YOU ARE A TEENAGER...I DID IT AND I BELIEVE ALEX CAN TO.  I AM SORRY FOR YOU THAT YOU HAVE NO FAITH IN HER BECAUSE SHE IS A TEENAGER. 

I too found the explanation of Erin ’s absence odd.  I agree that she has every right to choose not to continue her public life but I also think Dr. Phil could have found a way to say that.  When he said she was holding down the fort, I thought the baby had stayed behind but he didn’t.  She didn’t have to be on the stage but she never even spoke to the camera in any of the recent footage taken of the family.  I do think there is more to that but I don’t doubt that the family is in a good place.  Maybe Erin just isn’t quite at the same place emotionally as everyone else.  

I also would like to see updates on some of the other families featured on the show since then.  

By the way, what happened to the whole town Dr. Phil was going to help?