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Topic : 12/25 Parent Trap

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Created on : Friday, October 26, 2007, 02:49:00 pm
Author : DrPhilBoard1

(Original Air Date: 10/29/07) Fraud. lies. conspiracy. They may sound like the latest Washington scandal, but these are allegations of exes at war over child support. Dr. Phil's guests claim they became victims of the perfect crime when they were led to believe they fathered a child that was not biologically their own and were forced to pay. First up, Enrique says he was shocked and angered to discover he was not the father of his youngest daughter, Selina, and that she was conceived during his ex-wife, Maria's, adulterous affair. Maria says he raised Selina but then abandoned her to save money. Why does Maria say Enrique's current wife is to blame for the fractured relationship? Next, 13-year-old Selina speaks one on one with Dr. Phil. Will she decide to let the man she once called Daddy back in her life? Then, Carnell Smith, who uses the online moniker, "Man4Justice," suffered a similar fate to Enrique, and but he fought and won. He says he's tired of seeing women trap men and get away with it. A heated debate ensues between him and feminist attorney, Gloria Allred, who argues that men like Enrique should continue to act as the father ... and continue paying! Talk about the show here.


Find out what happened on the show.


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December 25, 2007, 5:24 pm PST

Parent Trap

While the child is the victim here, I think that if it was required that DNA was gathered on all parties at time of birth this would not happen. If the spouses knew that they would be exposed as soon as the results were posted maybe they would think twice about bringing a baby into the mix. If the DNA had to match the persons on the birth certificate we could spend less time in court arguing about child support. We also would not have a child such as this one who has a surprise like this unloaded on them after 13 years.
 
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December 25, 2007, 5:30 pm PST

Responsibilities

Watching this segment as a young 30 year old professional without children. I can't help but feel

relief in staying away from unprotected relations. It is obvious that the mother has been manipulating the ones close to her for a very long time and shows no remorse in her actions. She's moved on with another man and still continues to take money from the one she deceived for so many years, while a beautiful young girl's world is torned apart. I disagree with her father's choice of method to reveal this heart breaking secret, anger and  betrayl can make us do such cold things and it's obvious he regrets ever doing it. When we don't have an answer for our behaviour we tend to search for anything that will absorb our guilt, as long as she is permitted to hold back visitations and steal this man's money, the courts is saying she is right.

 
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December 25, 2007, 5:32 pm PST

It's Time Women Are Held Accountable

I could totally identify with the African American who appeared on your show this evening.  Too often, a male partner is labelled as guilty of parenting a child without any conclusive evidence.  And far too often, the courts lean in favour of the female, calling her "the victim".  As the gentleman on your show pointed out, too often it's the male that is victimized.  The female lawyer from California was way out in left field, in my opinion.  She clearly portrayed herself as a hostile "male basher", totally unrecognizant of any positive points that her "opponents" demonstrated.  As you pointed out, Dr. Phil, every case has two sides; but the female lawyer could only see "one side".  She came across as weak and ineffectual, with an axe to grind against men in general.

I feel that too often the wrong guy is held accountable for another's responsibilities.  Too often guys who are just trying to be decent individuals, who are trying to help a female friend through a difficult situation are trapped into legal and financial obligations that are none of their responsisblity.  This was the situation I myself was in several years back.  I met a lady whom I found attractive.  After dating for a couple of months, and sharing some intimate moments, she advised me that she may be pregnant by a former "encounter".  As a caring individual (thinking  back, I was probably more of a fool), I told her that I would sign papers to say that I was the father to keep her from getting in trouble.  (The fellow she had had the "one night" encounter with was a drug addict.)  It turned out that she wasn't pregnant.  But only now do I see the precarious situation this could have potentially put me in, all in the name of "being a nice guy".

I think it should be the obligation of the mother and the court AT THE TIME OF BIRTH to either;

a) determine who the legal father is and hold that individual accountable.

- or -

b) leave the legal and financial responsibility up to the mother.

DNA testing is the norm in our society now.  Shouldn't we be using it to protect all parties involved?

There are far too many incidents of woman having out-of-wedlock births just because they feel it's "what they want to do".  Often the male isn't even made aware of the pregnancy.  It's time that women took the responsibility for their biological functions; THEY are the ones who can and do get pregnant.  They should at least be responsible enough to be able to identify the one partner that impregnated them, and not the scenario often presented (ie. "The child may belong to one of three or four different guys.")  Frankly, not to sound any better than anyone else, but I DO NOT GO AROUND HAVING SEX WITH DIFFERENT PARTNERS ON ANY KIND OF REGULAR BASIS.  If a woman told me that I got her pregnant, I would be able to tell in a heartbeat if that child MIGHT be mine.  I feel that women should be held to at least that level of accountability.
 
 
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December 25, 2007, 5:43 pm PST

parent trap

i believe the mother should pay all the money that the father payed after he left for the child the mother new was that his's because she new in the beginning that she had lied the father was wrong for telling the child how he did but i still fought the mother because she new what she was doing a mother of two do the crime pay the time be a real person
 
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December 25, 2007, 5:43 pm PST

Child support

I have seen both sides of child support, from the mom's point of view to the dads. My take on  child support is this,  I  have heard man  say they don't want to  pay child support because it is like having a bill. I have seen lesibian try  to inforce child support  because they 'are not' with the father, with out realizing that they never gave the father a chance. But how ironic, that they could sleep with the man, but they don't want him in the picture after the fact, and yet as lesibians, they still keep sleeping with men. I have seen lesbians get aboptions, than got back to being lesibian. What's up with that? I feel sorry for the men who have children in this experience, but it takes the true nature out of being a family or a father for that matter. In other cases, I think women who have babies at the expense of someones elses marriage, should never pay child support, unless he gets a dirvorce and marrys that woman. And in fact. after that, the woman that they wrong should get twice or three times the normal child support, for the anguish suffered, knowing that you should not start families with women you don't intend to stay with, especially if you planned to have a family with her. The system needs to grab hold of fornication and adultery and this undercover highway robbery of lesbians getting over on men for their seeds, thats what they have egg fertility clients for. Hit them, where it hurts-- In the pocket. Every year Judge Mabeline has a dinner for fathers on Father's Day, which is one of my favorite holidays, not because I see myself as a bad mom, but because Father's Day is so unrated! If you give the attitude that your man is not a good father, he will probably put as such, but if you.........well to be honest, you shoud not consider sleep witha men (lesson in fornication) if you don't consider him being a father, once you made the decision to make out with him and freak him long time, than you have to talk and be open about the responsibility of having, dependinging on his feedback, should determine what direction you take you sexual relationship (use protection, i.e. etc.). Most men, especially if they are not courting you, just dating you would rather have casual sex, but if he's romacing you and sending you all the right messages than, you might end up making a baby! And with that in mind, stop telling yoursel, it could never happen to me! Any human woman and man that have sex, make love,definitely knows they are capible of getting pregnant, it's not algebra. So, after all the woman lives with her father until she is presented by her huband. From their her last name changes, it is my belief that if the husband becomes displeased (with or without children) than he should have to pay the father three times the amount of the dialery, to take her back. Which is equilvelant to child support. As far as fornication is concern, it's like the old saying, if he can afford them, he can have all the babies his little heart desires, and if the women in his life allow him to sex them without a committment than thats their fault. But at some point, because we need to be very careful about the message we give the next generation, at some point after a man father's so many children out of wedlock, than the counties or doctors need to suggest vasectomy or something. When children are born into the world they are born out of wedlock or in wedlock, which means we can't afford to put out more demons than angels. So, when the DPSS cut off women's medical to prevent multiple abortions in one year, and they start asking her doctor 'are you providing birth control to your patients' because they using abortions as a form of medical- somethings wrong with that picture! Men should be held to that same standard! So, in my opinion the system should flip the script on man and woman, and let them know they are not using themselves the way God intened man and woman to be used. Trust me, I can come up with some consequences to shut fornication down a notch and adultery (with a baby as the result)
 
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December 25, 2007, 5:47 pm PST

The child is the victim along with the father

I thhink that the court system has created , what is known as dead beat dads.  When the court system makes child support payments so high that the man can not survive and pay his bills he is forced to make bad desions.  Alot of women will quit thier jobs and take less paying jobs so thier ex will have to pay more.  Another thing is that women can go to leagel services or child support workers and have the man took to court and up his child suppot at no coast.  However the man has to hie a lawer, which he can not afford because his payments are so high.  Our court system really needs repair, so it can really be about the children, not the mother.  Dr. Phil I think if you will look at this matter with an open mind you will see our system is not working for alot of reasons.  Some of those reasons are as I stated above.  Couples have to take a blood test before getting married, maybe we should take DNA samples at that time and use them when each and every child is born.  Seeing how the values of our wifes and childrens mothers are going sown the toilet.  This would save all children from the heart break of finding out at a bad time the man who they now love is not thier farther.  And it would force the women to be responsable for thier actions.  And at the same time keep honest men from being miss lead and left feeling helpless.  Men are loosing our rights and are getting raked over the coals by our own court system.  Thanks Dr. Phil.

I hope you and yours have a nice Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

Thomas

 
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December 25, 2007, 5:59 pm PST

There could be a deterrent/solution...

I have known a couple women who have duped men into thinking they were the father of their child.  It was so infuriating to hear my friend brag about this after years of taking advantage of the man.  He still has no clue but at this point it's best left alone.  Another friend decided to pick which man she thought would be able to pay the most child support.  Back then there were no DNA tests.  It gripes the heck out of me to see these women get away with this and there are no consequences. They leave only pain and suffering for their child if they find out or the same for the man whom was duped.  Here is what I see as a potential deterrent and solution. I can understand why the courts always seem to take the stand that the child comes first.  If that child is receiving support it should continue even if the man is not the father. Let the supposed father continue a relationship with the child for the child's sake and yes, pay support. BUT....when that child turns 18 and with DNA evidence that proves he was not the father, he can now go to court and hold the mother who defrauded him accountable.  She should be required to pay ever cent back to the father in FULL.  Maybe next time before a woman decides to commit fraud she might think about what will happen in the long run.  I am a woman that has always been griped by how often this is happening.  I think the men who have stepped forward to pay support without question should have what was stolen from them returned.

 
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December 25, 2007, 6:05 pm PST

12/25/07 in L.A.

Woha!

Please allow me to start with, I feel for the two girls. They are innocent and now have to deal with the issues of their Mother and the man/Father who acted as the Father.

 

My feelings are only for the kids and the wronged party. He should continue to be the Father his was and the wife should compensate his for the fraud. It was never said on the show about the natural Father. Were is that person in this picture? Why isn’t he paying support? How come she is not going after him? What is his income? Does he have knowledge of this child and what if anything is he willing to do about it?

 

I have lost respect for Attorney Aldridge as a human however; I would want her on my side of the table if in a fight and will go to the library to read her book. I would like to get in touch with the gentleman that was on the show opposed to Ms. Aldridge. I agree with him! I have three very close friends that are in the same situation and could use his help. I may also have the same issue. I don’t know until testing is done. So if someone would please forward to me his contact information it would be appreciated.

 

I know you only have an hour and a lot could not be covered in the show. However, this is an issue in this Country and a lot of money flows through entities because of it. Therefore, it may be that you are careful not to step on any toes.

 

Best regards,

Amadoj

 
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December 25, 2007, 6:06 pm PST

12/25 Parent Trap

Quote From: 1FAMLY

I APPLAUD THIS MOTHER FOR DOING "THE RIGHT THING". I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE STATE IN WHICH SHE RESIDES SO I COULD EMAIL THEM TO EXPLAIN  "THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG"   and hopefully one of their legislatures might read these messages and realize what  "A - - ES" they have in their state government.--THANX-1PAPA
I live in Iowa. My son was born 5 years ago so may have changed since but I dont believe it has. I just wonder how many other states are like this.
 
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December 25, 2007, 6:08 pm PST

child support /non constodial fathers

Dear Dr. Phil I'am a 48 year old man that has been paying child support for over 23 years on the behalf of three children that I had from a previous relationship prior to my marriage. #1 of my three children I had a genuine concern of wether or not she was mine, however I loved her so much that I never persued a DNA. test and their are certain things that I believe that kids should not be purposely burden with. However I have a major concern with our IRS and taxations laws pertaining to child support . I have paid over $200,000 in the past 23 plus years and even though we are not legally bound by our own constitution to pay taxes, for we are not a buisness or a corporation. How is it that we can be illegally taxed not once but twice every year.For instance we are taxed on every pacheck, then we are taxed on that same income at the end of the year, if that is not bad enough those of us who are faithful fathers or mothers who are paying child support as agreed are forbidden by the same entity (IRS) AND THE GOVERNMENT, to claim that same earned income as a write off. When do the Dads who are not dead beat and who do not shuck and jive there responsability get a break. I know that I know I did the right thing in supporting my daughters as well as having a open and loving relationship with them, however there were very difficult times throughout those years of growing and maturing into a productive citizen and father. If the courts must such a vital roll in the lives of the family why is it that we cannot set up a interest baring account on the behalf of the children , if not all even a portion of the support payment, that when the child turns #18 or is ready for college or start out on their own they would have a good foundation at least financially to start with.

thankyou Dr.Phil for your time and your ears.

 
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