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Topic : 12/25 Parent Trap

Number of Replies: 3786
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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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October 31, 2007, 5:19 am PDT

I can't imagine

How cold and calculating ia a women who places the responsibility of a child on someone else? There can be no bigger responability than raising a child. How could someone play god and decide that it's okay for you to raise their child without knowing it's not yours? This women only cared about gettng caught! She has no feelings for anyone!
 
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October 31, 2007, 5:20 am PDT

How can a mother form a bond with her child?

How can a mother form a real bond with her child if she lies to the child? This women was lying to so many people. It's a real shame with don't value honesty anymore!
 
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October 31, 2007, 5:21 am PDT

VERY good point!!

Quote From: bc1978

This whole situation is sad.  From the mother not being up front about the pregnancy to the "father" dumping the daughter.  But this man should not be held financially responsible for the girl.  I do however think that he should get visitation.  Let the biological father take some responsibility.

 

Gloria Allred's point made no sense to me at all though.  If a man should be held responsible just because 10 years has passed, does that mean that if someone kidnaps my child and 10 years later I find them that I have no right to my child?  Should I have to pay the kidnapper child support because they are "bonded" to my child and I should have found her sooner? 

 

No matter how much time has passed, he should not be punished for his ex-wife's lies and manipulations.  Neither should the little girl.  It sounds to me like he thought that if he continued visitation with her that he would be more likely to have to pay.  He made the wrong choice there.  He should not have compromised the relationship with his daughter to try and win in court. 

Your analogy to the kidnapping is dead on!!! 

 

The true responsible party is the mom.  She needs to pay for what she has done.

 

Let's not forget that somewhere out there, she has a biological father who she needs to be introduced to.  He deserves to know that he has a child.  If for no other reason, to discover her genetic/medical information.  She has grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins also.  She has an entire family who might be waiting with open arms to know her.

 
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October 31, 2007, 5:33 am PDT

I agree!

Quote From: gdomingo

What are talking about?   Since when it is O.K. for women to lie?  That woman should be put in jail and if I was her daughter I would make her accountable for her actions.  Stop being one of those women that blames man for their shortcomings.
The world needs more honest women like Mia! What this women Maria did was so wrong in so many ways. I'm not sure why her current husband thinks she is not going to cheat on him and do the same thing!
 
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October 31, 2007, 5:39 am PDT

I stand corrected.

Quote From: terrazas1

I'm not sure where you get the idea that I'm not supportive of a relationship? I do want him to see her....and so does he. He has been a man in admitting that he made a horrible mistake, and he does want a relationship with Selina.

After reading your posts, I take back what I said.  I relied on what others said and it was wrong.

 

I am very glad to hear that you do support a relationship between them.  It is despicable what Maria did.  I truly feel for you and Enrique.  Clearly it is all about the money for her and she showed her true colors on the show.

 

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October 31, 2007, 5:55 am PDT

Don't forget...

Quote From: longwalker

All the so-called "lliberated" women of today claim that their body is theirs to do with what they want. Unwanted pregnancy-get rid of it. Want a baby with not man involved--do it. Wants to screw around on her husband--do it. But thanks to birth control, she should never have gotten pregnant. Then she has the nerve to be upset when her husband does not want to continue to pay support to a child that isn't his.

The mother is the villian here. It's a pity that Selina can't see that. Her daddy is just as much a victim of her mother as she is.

When a woman ,married or single perpetrates an untruth when it comes to child paternity, then, yes, it is her responsibility.

Maybe this show can be a wakeup call to women who just screw with abandon and don't use birth control. Look at the mess it can cause.

I agree 100% with this statement, but I would like to add that for every child these wanton women are giving birth to, there was a man not using protection either at the other end. 

 

It's simple.  If you are a woman and you don't want a child you cannot support BY YOURSELF (we all know the dead beat dad issue) then either ABSTAIN OR USE PROTECTION!  If you are a man and don't want to support a child that is either yours or not yours, as in this case, ABSTAIN OR USE PROTECTION!  If you have used protection and someone tells you they are pregnant, you know the chances are highly unlikely that it is not yours and a simple test will prove it from the getgo.  If you've just been sticking it in every warm bowl of soup that passes by... the odds are eventually there will be a child of yours out there for you to support.

 

Now, in this case, I believe what Maria did was reprehensible.  A husband should not have to question whether he's the father every time his wife gets pregnant.  He should not be forced to continue support, but telling his daughter then abandoning her was equally reprehensible.

 

When are people going to grow up and start taking responsibility for thier own actions and choices??

 

 

 
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October 31, 2007, 6:16 am PDT

I have been in a very simular situation

   AFter a divorce my exwife , got preg. with the guy who was involved with her while we were married.

However, The guy went about his marry way and left her holding the baby. I had already had 2 wonderful girls by my exwife too. I decided right away that even though the baby she was carrying was not mine and she would be brought into this world without a dad. I would try my best to fill that roll the very best I knew how.    I ended up adopting her, she is my daughter, there is no difference  between her and my other children. I love all my girls the same, See anybody can make a baby but it takes a man to raise one.

Also the girls have a very good mother, It was bad choices me and her mother made in our marriage. Thats not the childrens fault. I look at my last daughter as a gift from God, what joy she brings to us. She also has a step mother who loves her very much too.  I don't believe in divorce, alot of people get hurt through divorce LIKE KIDS.

KWP

 
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October 31, 2007, 6:34 am PDT

what about you?

Quote From: beherenow

The best choice would have been to tell the truth ...
Have you been lied to for years about a child that is not yours, I think the pain would be from the lies not raising the child. Are men not suppossed to have emotions? Some do not understand that about one forth of your monthly income plus medical insurance is paid out every month on child support and we think dads are suppossed to give up any kind of life to pay to a person who lied, she knew she had an affair, she knew there was a possibility that the child was not his , so for 9 or 10 years she got away with her sins. By the way how many children do you support that do not belong to you?
 
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October 31, 2007, 7:02 am PDT

10/29 Parent Trap

Quote From: terrbin

Maria was wrong.  Enrique was wrong. Everyone was wrong... Are you happy now?  But to suggest that a FATHER (and NO, you don't get to rewrite history and pretend that it never happened, i.e. that the relationship wasn't actually what it WAS for ten years) SHOULD ABANDON HIS CHILD?!?  That's not civilized, it's monstrous and as selfish as a human being could possibly get (justifying it because Enrique was wronged is ludicrous).  Being victimized in this way is IRRELEVANT to what was and what should be.  Take your angry, fearful blinders off.

 

I wonder, are you really so sure that it's the adult man's interest which is more important to protect? Really? Over a child's interest?  You do realize that all he has to lose is money, while she has the only father and life she's known, along with trust and security, taken from her (and NOT only by the mother, as you suggest, because that's done and in the past and unchangeable at this point, but by the father who was in a position to make a difference and change her life forever -- for good or for bad -- and unfortunately, he chose for bad).  These are terrible trauma's that can scar a person for life in profound ways. 

 

If you know that the tortures of pain and injustice are real for the adult, imagine how insufferable they are for the child.  Children lack the experience, understanding and wisdom which adults have earned from years of living.  They are less equipped in comparison to handle such traumas.  Enrique was in a unique position NOT to let this happen to his supposedly-beloved daughter -- to mitigate the pain.  What that woman did to him isn't fair, that goes without saying, but saving the person/daughter he supposedly loved from further trauma and anguish would have been the higher road and the moral one -- fair or not.  Life is not always easy.  People do things to us that are often wrong and undeserved.  We are sometimes placed in "unfair" positions in life.  But decisions must be made in these instances, and one must distance one's self from the pain and anger caused us in order to do what's right, even when it isn't fair to us.

I think this is where you're confused...Salina isn't Enriqe's daughter.  He didn't create this mess nor should he be responsible for fixing it.  You've made several statements that Enrique shouldn't have abondoned his child, that he needs to consider his daughters feelings, etc...Did I mention?  Salina isn't his daughter.  He owes her nothing.  All of Salina's pain and suffering was at the hands of her mother, yes mother. By the way, where is Salina's real dad anyway?

 

I here what you're saying, Enrique is the only dad Salina ever knew.  Shame on you, Maria for creating this lie in your home.  Shame on you, Maria for deceiving your daughter and husband. Shame on you Maria for letting your daughter call another man "Dad" without his knowledge/consent.  Shame on you Maria, for sleeping with another man (or men for all we know) while you're married.  Shame on you, Maria for bringing this heartache into your daughters life.

 

Please take note that I'm calling Salina "Maria's" daughter as she is not the daughter or Enrique.

 
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October 31, 2007, 7:05 am PDT

10/29 Parent Trap

Quote From: spooler

I think he's a cold hearted guy....he doesn't even deserve to be a "father"!!
Phew!  That works out well...since, HE'S NOT HER FATHER anyway!!!
 
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