Sister Wives

[veron1que]

Edit: got the story confused and was incorrect. The parents married beforehand, but it was Jenelle's interest in polygamous life that peeked her mother's interest.

[Bethella]

Edit: got the story confused and was incorrect. The parents married beforehand, but it was Jenelle's interest in polygamous life that peeked her mother's interest.

Yeah, Jenelle was going out to visit Kody and Meri at Kody's parent's ranch and her mom insisted on going with her to protect her from the dangerous polygamists (they were mainstream LDS at the time). Then she ended up marrying Kody's dad. Opps, I guess Jenelle wasn't the only one who needed protecting.

[veron1que]

I feel so bad for Jenelle, because for the brief time that she left Kody she was able to afford things because she has a steady income. She doesn't need the rest of the family to stay afloat. Honestly the only difference I see in her life now compared to how it was when she was off on her own, is that she has to share her income, rather then being able to budget it for herself and her kids. She's still a single mom without the parental support of other adults.

[Deleted06]

Janelle could make it on her own, she's done it before. Will she leave again? I hope so. Kody and the other wives are losers. Janelle deserves better.

[CrazySister]

I think Janelle could leave; Christine never will as long as she's as religious as she is now. I agree that she's in the camp of "I'll stay even though I'm utterly miserable, publically humiliated and shamed, because that's the only way I'm going to get to heaven." If she let go of the "must stay because" I think she'd bail immediately. Don't see it happening anytime soon, although if Janelle could speak enough sense into her about not going to hell if she leaves maybe she would. Anybody know why Janelle left/returned? Don't remember that.

[Austin]

I think Janelle could leave; Christine never will as long as she's as religious as she is now. I agree that she's in the camp of "I'll stay even though I'm utterly miserable, publically humiliated and shamed, because that's the only way I'm going to get to heaven." If she let go of the "must stay because" I think she'd bail immediately. Don't see it happening anytime soon, although if Janelle could speak enough sense into her about not going to hell if she leaves maybe she would. Anybody know why Janelle left/returned? Don't remember that.

I'd hazard a guess that Meri had something to do with Janelle leaving for awhile. Meri admitted in the last episode that the whole "sharing a kitchen is abuse" thing came about because Janelle considered Meri to be abusive to her and that's why the ended up in separate living quarters. Maybe that was the only condition upon which Janelle would come back.

Just speculating.

[NotALoserLikeYou]

I'd hazard a guess that Meri had something to do with Janelle leaving for awhile. Meri admitted in the last episode that the whole "sharing a kitchen is abuse" thing came about because Janelle considered Meri to be abusive to her and that's why the ended up in separate living quarters. Maybe that was the only condition upon which Janelle would come back.

Just speculating.

Well that was a good guess, because that is exactly what happened.

In their book that is what they say happened. Jenelle was depressed (probably PPD) and felt so picked on by Meri that she could not stand to live with her anymore, and took her 5 (at the time) kids and went to live with her mother and then got her own place for A COUPLE OF YEARS, and was still "married" to Kody. Finally he decided they would move to a polygamy house where they would all have their own space, and they all moved together. She said having her own space changed everything. She seems very independent, she has always worked and I think if she wanted to leave she would. I think all 4 wives are very much in love with Kody.

[ErinIsSik]

Well, I think Meri's comment when the visit polygamy family was talking about sharing one living space sums up their entire life. It was during the same conversation where they were discussing the "kitchen abuse". She asked the visiting family (Sorry, I can't remember their names atm) how all the wives agreed over decorating. So, essentially, she couldn't be bothered to compromise over couches and picture frames with the women she is supposed to spend eternity with.

[BlondeAgent007]

I can understand Meri feeling sorry for herself. I can't understand her asking her other 16 children to sacrifice for her fantasy children. She wants extra rooms? Why not give the oldest boy a room at Meri's house, instead of making Jenelle feel bad about not wanting a mcmansion? She has MORE than enough space, and he's her kid, right?

ETA I forget his name, but he is going to live at college and will only be home on holidays and for the summer. I'm sure Jenelle wouldn't lock him out

[JenniferJuniper]

I can understand Meri feeling sorry for herself. I can't understand her asking her other 16 children to sacrifice for her fantasy children. She wants extra rooms? Why not give the oldest boy a room at Meri's house, instead of making Jenelle feel bad about not wanting a mcmansion? She has MORE than enough space, and he's her kid, right?

ETA I forget his name, but he is going to live at college and will only be home on holidays and for the summer. I'm sure Jenelle wouldn't lock him out

Logan. He's going to school Vegas and I'm not sure he's going into a dorm.

I wonder if they really would find it appropriate for him to have a room in Meri's house. And if they wouldn't, it speaks volumes about what a farce their entire lifestyle is.

[CrazySister]

Logan. He's going to school Vegas and I'm not sure he's going into a dorm.

I wonder if they really would find it appropriate for him to have a room in Meri's house. And if they wouldn't, it speaks volumes about what a farce their entire lifestyle is.

I've always thought it interesting with as much as they talk about being one big happy family they also talk about "my" family an awful lot. There was the time Christine was excited to take a vacation with just her family meaning her, Kody & the kids Christine gave birth to. Meri does that same type thing ("my" family) referring only to herself, Kody, and Mariah. Janelle has talked about changes affecting "her" kids, again being the kids she alone gave birth to. I think those occasions speak louder than any talk about all 20-something people being one big happy family. Seems to me in the wives minds they're distinct, individual families who just happen to share the same sperm donor.

[DarkAnts]

I've always thought it interesting with as much as they talk about being one big happy family they also talk about "my" family an awful lot. There was the time Christine was excited to take a vacation with just her family meaning her, Kody & the kids Christine gave birth to. Meri does that same type thing ("my" family) referring only to herself, Kody, and Mariah. Janelle has talked about changes affecting "her" kids, again being the kids she alone gave birth to. I think those occasions speak louder than any talk about all 20-something people being one big happy family. Seems to me in the wives minds they're distinct, individual families who just happen to share the same sperm donor.

Thats because the wives are treated differently.

[BoomerLynn]

Yeah, Jenelle was going out to visit Kody and Meri at Kody's parent's ranch and her mom insisted on going with her to protect her from the dangerous polygamists (they were mainstream LDS at the time). Then she ended up marrying Kody's dad. Opps, I guess Jenelle wasn't the only one who needed protecting.

That is seriously messed up........

[camdendayton]

IDK. But I believe the husband summons the wife/wives to heaven(their own planet where the husband is God) and they procreate to populate their new world. So they will have many children to raise in heaven too. That sounds like a bunch of work and definitely not how I would like to enjoy eternity.

Edited for grammar.Twice.

I have always assumed that since children are "sealed" to their parents they go to the same[?] heaven. Not sure if that applies only to unmarried children or if the children die after marriage they are in both places simultaneously or if they just have visiting rights. I have no knowledge of mormon philosophy, just an avid mormon watcher, so YMMV.

The whole polygamy thing is advertised as a way to get over one's jealousy and work through it and become a better person yadda yadda yadda. But, what I'm seeing in this program (and I'm sure that they are worse when there are no cameras) is a group of people who are jealous and lonely and frustrated.

Its not unlike other, more mainstream, relationships out there where the partners aren't getting what they need and they act out. I know I pick on stupid sh*t when I'm angry and frustrated.

Meri's french doors and wet bar aren't about interior furnishings, its about a feeling of inequality and frustration. She was raised to be a mom to many, but she failed. So now she's trying to play the part of good polyg wife, but she can't. She wants affection and validation, but since she can't have that she'll focus on cabinets and wet bars and doors and hobby rooms instead.

I find the whole situation very tragic. We all deserve to have love and companionship, and while I am sure that the polygamist life style works for some people it really does go against our very basic human desire to be special. You're just not someone's special one and only when you're in a polygamous relationship...

And I know this isn't going to be popular, but I feel sorta bad for Kody. He's in over his head. He can't manage the personalities and while I think he's a royal d-bag I think he's also seriously unhappy. No wonder the kids don't want to follow in their parents' footsteps. They see how sh*tty a system it is for everyone involved. Its probably inevitable that Mariah will not end up close in adulthood to her half siblings. And Robyn's kids will never be part of the family. Janelle and Christine's kids might have some sort of relationship because it seems like Christine is really a second mother to Janelle's brood.

I would love to hear what some of the other people in their sect (AUB right?) think of them. I'm guessing some fault would be aimed at Kody for not being a "strong leader." (Or maybe I'm just mixing up my fundies)

;)

edited to avoid double post

[DarkAnts]

I have always assumed that since children are "sealed" to their parents they go to the same[?] heaven. Not sure if that applies only to unmarried children or if the children die after marriage they are in both places simultaneously or if they just have visiting rights. I have no knowledge of mormon philosophy, just an avid mormon watcher, so YMMV.

I would love to hear what some of the other people in their sect (AUB right?) think of them. I'm guessing some fault would be aimed at Kody for not being a "strong leader." (Or maybe I'm just mixing up my fundies)

;)

edited to avoid double post

Their church was against the whole reality show from the start.

[lilith]

Their church was against the whole reality show from the start.

Which I'm sure is why the Browns are moving toward being independent and socialising with other independents like the Dargers.

That would be so hard for Christine. She's Rulon Allred's grand daughter and incredibly connected to and invested in the AUB.

But I think it's obvious that nobody's going to be asking Christine's opinion. She was incredibly invested in and connected to the Utah polygamous community too, and she was still dragged to Vegas.

[thekate]

Which I'm sure is why the Browns are moving toward being independent and socialising with other independents like the Dargers.

That would be so hard for Christine. She's Rulon Allred's grand daughter and incredibly connected to and invested in the AUB.

But I think it's obvious that nobody's going to be asking Christine's opinion. She was incredibly invested in and connected to the Utah polygamous community too, and she was still dragged to Vegas.

She's also the one who "wasn't sure" about going public. I get the feeling she didn't want to, but Kody and the other three decided to and she got outvoted.

[DarkAnts]

She's also the one who "wasn't sure" about going public. I get the feeling she didn't want to, but Kody and the other three decided to and she got outvoted.

Thats because she is the one who knows people who were taken away during government raids like short creek. She has probably grown up listening to the stories. The stories help create a culture of fear in the community. It also taught her to not trust the government.

[Ramona]

So let me get something straight here... Are they LDS or not? I thought they were and then I read something that said they weren't... This "AUB"? But the talk of sealing and celestial kingdoms, that's all LDS stuff... I think?

(Just recently got cable - the only parts of this I've seen are online here and there in bits.)

[DarkAnts]

So let me get something straight here... Are they LDS or not? I thought they were and then I read something that said they weren't... This "AUB"? But the talk of sealing and celestial kingdoms, that's all LDS stuff... I think?

(Just recently got cable - the only parts of this I've seen are online here and there in bits.)

They do not consider themselves to be LDS. They follow a church that split off from the LDS after the LDS church banned polygamy. Its kind of like the Protestant churches that split off from the Catholic church. They share similar beliefs but are not the same.

The AUB is the name of their specific religious group. It stands for Apostolic United Brethren.

[Koala]

She's also the one who "wasn't sure" about going public. I get the feeling she didn't want to, but Kody and the other three decided to and she got outvoted.

See, that makes me so mad. If she didn't want to do it, she should have put her foot down. They can't vote her into signing a contract agreeing to film her or her children if she doesn't want to. Grrr....

[CrazySister]

See, that makes me so mad. If she didn't want to do it, she should have put her foot down. They can't vote her into signing a contract agreeing to film her or her children if she doesn't want to. Grrr....

True, and yet that's not how she believes. I think she has the same mentality as many fundy women: "It's not my fault because I told my headship how I felt but he makes the final decision and I just have to go along with it." Also similar to the fundy women is playing along as a whiny victim and complaining about the decision their headship made and harping on him letting him know just how bad/wrong/stupid a decision she thinks it was/is and yet actively refusing to do anything to change the situation because she's just trusting it to her headship. :?

[Jinderella]

True, and yet that's not how she believes. I think she has the same mentality as many fundy women: "It's not my fault because I told my headship how I felt but he makes the final decision and I just have to go along with it." Also similar to the fundy women is playing along as a whiny victim and complaining about the decision their headship made and harping on him letting him know just how bad/wrong/stupid a decision she thinks it was/is and yet actively refusing to do anything to change the situation because she's just trusting it to her headship. :?

Did they say this somewhere? I can only see Kody being very outgoing and loving the spotlight. Meri lost her job because of it, Janelle was doing fine without TLC, Christine didn't want it. Robyn loves it, but was she there before TLC? I percieved it as Kody putting his manly vain foot down and his three women accepting his autority.

[DarkAnts]

True, and yet that's not how she believes. I think she has the same mentality as many fundy women: "It's not my fault because I told my headship how I felt but he makes the final decision and I just have to go along with it." Also similar to the fundy women is playing along as a whiny victim and complaining about the decision their headship made and harping on him letting him know just how bad/wrong/stupid a decision she thinks it was/is and yet actively refusing to do anything to change the situation because she's just trusting it to her headship. :?

Like fundy women, she also has pressure from her church and extended family to follow the headship with a happy heart.

[Koala]

I can understand that there is pressure, however, at some point you have to take some responsibility for your life and the choices you make.