Absolutely no offense taken! Thanks for asking. There was so little time to "air" everything that has gone on.
I was initially hesitant to appear, but figured I have dealt with this stuff for 19 years since I've been with my husband, so - let them get in off their chests and move on. I guess what I feel better about is that there is some sort of resolution, even if it was not what I/we had hoped for.
I used to worry that there would be a time that problems may arise between my husband and I, but not any more. He has been so incredibly supportive - he's AMAZING!
Becoming parents has totally changed our perspective things. We have made so many changes in our lives because on our precious son. We have even had to sever ties with some of our friends because they are not what we want him raised around. Yes, we used to have some "pretty wild parties" as Tim says. But, they fail to mention, that was YEARS ago!
I'm not sure if you watched the show or not, but I was very hurt by some of the personal attacks made on me. They picked every "nasty" photo of me they could find, like on vacation (at the beach) to say that I dress like a "hoochie mama." I was asked to send in photos too, but only sent photos of my husband and I. I did not go searching for things to make THEM look bad.
The comment about me posting on Tim's website to set up phony listing appointments is totally false, and over TWO years ago!!! Besides, whoever did it used MY NAME! If I was going to do it, wouldn't I have been smart enough to use a false identity? Duh! Especially if I didn't want them to know it was me. Someone wanted it to look like it was me, and they did a great job. They all fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker!
I'm not sure that anything will ever be better now. I went in seriously desiring a relationship with my husband's parents. I'm not even sure if I want that now. They are the ones who initially called us about adopting our son. For crying out loud, if I truly am the "spawn of Satan" that they are trying to make me out to be, don't you think they would have said, "Hey, thanks for thinking of them, but she's crazy. I don't think she'd be a very good mother." ?
I know I should forgive, forget, move on - that is the right, Christian thing to do. But, how do I? How do ever fix a situation where someone was humiliated in front of MILLIONS of people? How is that ever made right again?
I saw your earlier post saying that the children should know their families. I used to agree with that. Now, I'm not so sure. I keep asking myself, "What kind of person does this to their own children on national tv?" Especially when these things have NEVER been brought to my attention. No one has ever said they think I dress inappropriately or like to show off my "ta-tas" (which incidentally have been REDUCED!) Something is not right with someone who thinks this is the correct forum to do this. They were out to get me from the get-go. My MIL was even overheard saying "You go Dr Phil. You tell her!" throughout the entire show!
In an effort to at least try to compromise, I sent an email to the MIL explaining that if she wanted to see our son, "I respectfully ask that you do it here at our home." I got no response whatsoever. It obviously isn't that important to her if she can't have him on her terms. They have skulked around our house at midnight, hanging Easter gifts for him on our front door, in an effort to avoid seeing me. Does that sound even remotely normal to you? I have said before, I feel like it is my duty to protect him from people who are not a good influence, ESPECIALLY since he is adopted. Someone else entrusted to raise their child and raise him right. If that means I have to protect him from members of his own family, so be it.
No one in the family has approached my husband or myself (probably because they KNOW not to mess with me right now!) in an effort to talk about this or resolve anything. It was not OUR idea to do the show in the first place. On one occasion, the FIL told my husband he would like to sit and talk to him sometime, if he (my husband) was willing. My husband said he would love to talk to him. That was March 1st. My husband has never heard from him again. So, you see, they say they "try" but they don't even follow through with their own requests!
I hope you found some of this helpful. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I will be checking regularly to see what people have to say.
BTW, I haven't even seen the show yet. It won't be on here for another 5 hours! Can't wait to see what it looks like on tv!
(Original Air Date: 05/12/08) They say when you marry, you marry the whole family. But what happens when a member of your new extended family is the source of chaos and pain? Five relatives claim their sister-in-law, Kelly, is toxic. They say she spreads gossip, sends stalking e-mails and acts self-centered and psychotic. Kelly’s father-in-law, Austin, calls her The Destroyer and says she’s hell-bent on ruining the relationship between his sons, Tim and Greg, and her husband, Bill. Kelly believes she’s being unfairly targeted because she showed up in court as a witness for Greg’s ex-wife. The outspoken sister-in-law may have ruffled some feathers, but is she the only one at fault? Find out why her friend, Jennifer, feels Kelly is getting a bad rap. Join the discussion.
