User Mood
Touched
Message Emote 
|
June 6, 2007, 1:29 pm PDT
Never said it was benign
Quote From: danne1964If you think that what is happening with this elderly man is benign, you're wrong. If this son has that much control in such a short period of time, think of where this is heading. Years before my mother died she used to get these "ideas" in her head. It would go from that "idea" to the point where she ended up saying my sister was stealing from her. She started telling different stories to each of the 5 children. We didn't know what to believe. Maybe this man is basically compos menti, but he may be extremely vulnerable to "ideas" that are put into his head. Notice this just started happening since he's been without his wife. It appears his son swooped in and started taking control. The fact that he's unwilling to have all sit down and rationally talk about things is a huge red flag. What I fear is that given the wonderful success rate of the judicial system, because of the level of proof needed to actually do something, the outcome for Mr. McCormack could be worse. Once you involve the "system" there is no telling where this can go. I will repeat my greatest concern, that being, what if he gets placed into a nursing home? True, some are necessary and do provide care, yet I cannot see that as an ideal situation. If Kevin is a danger to him, how can you prove it? The lack of the man's desire to sit down and talk may indeed be a red flag, but he has not been declared incompetant. No court can violate a person's rights, so if he refuses to open himself to a reationship, whether or not we agree, that is his right. Sometimes the process, designed to help, can cause more stress on the person. The man looked clean, groomed and appeared to be nourished. He did seem very angry, but you have to admit, that was an ambush and I would be outraged if cameras were pointed at me putting me on national television without my permission. This point you can be certain, will be raised by Kevin's lawyer if this gets to court and the spin that can be put to it is not going to sound favorable. These situations get very sticky when there is a family divided, and one person's word, in a he said she said case, is as good as the others'. If Mr. McCormack says he is happy where he is, what can a judge do? Does he really need all of this in his late life? If he thinks he's happy, he'll tell you that he is. So what do you do? I am a big believer in staying away from the legal systen unless you have proof, solid evidence, and a good shot at winning. The mudslinging, the anger....this is just a more socially accepted form of elder abuse when it is court. It is sad, yes, it could go further with K.evin, but no judge can rule on what may happen. As for your mother, I am very sorry that you had to go through it. My mother suffered from dimentia, and swore that my father was stealing from her. He was a saint. She also thought that my daughter was my sister, and I am an only child. Did I take this to court? NO, we took care of her with live in help until she died, peacefully at home. There is a radical difference in the mind of a person who has an illness, and the mind of an old man who wants to be with one son, maybe because he feels safe. I will also stand on my statement that the years of drug abuse in that family did NOTHING to bring a smile to his face. At one time, I think that they were a loving family, but the kids all made bad choices in their adult lives. I feel for Maureen, as I believe her to be sincere in her recovery and her desire to reconnect. Sometimes it is just too late...the damage is done. Do you really think that this man's heart wasn't broken during those years when he could do nothing to stop all of it? He may have put up a wall to protect himself...Kevin may be taking advantage...but there is responsibility on Maureen's part. It isn't all O.K. just because she says so now. That elderly man, in my opinion, should not have to endure anymore. If he is happy, leave him alone, remember the good, and realize that no one here has clean hands. Every child in that family was a contributer to this mess. What would a judge say? Personally, I woudn't put my elder parent through it. Keep an eye out, but don't jump the man on T.V. and say it's allright, because it is not a fair thing to do.
|
Every teenage girl wanted to be her and every teenage boy wanted to date her. With her signature perfectly brushed long hair, Marcia Brady, of the hit early 1970s TV show The Brady Bunch, epitomized the wholesome American girl. But the true life of Marcia Brady, whose real name is Maureen McCormick, is far from the world of lighthearted blended-family conflicts that played out on the sitcom in which she starred. Today she is embroiled in a family battle where brother is pitted against brother and father against daughter. Maureen believes her brother, Kevin, has literally brainwashed her father to alienate him from Maureen and the rest of her family, including his grandchildren. She comes to Dr. Phil desperate for help to save her family. First up, Maureen confronts her father and brother for the first time in two years, and even Dr. Phil is shocked by the outcome. Then Dr. Phil sits down with Maureen and her brother, Michael, to try and make sense of the conflict. Plus, Maureen's father and brother, Kevin, make some shocking accusations of their own. If this group must somehow form a family, then why was its most famous member issued a restraining order? Talk about the show here.
