Michelle 2: Mom of 13 & YouTuber Accused of Neglect on Dr. Phil

[Hashtag Blessed]

3 minutes ago, Blessings of the Corn said:

Bless you for doing that. I don't know if I can handle her or not. I think I need to watch the train wreck. I feel so bad for her kids.

I'm genuinely fascinated. She talks a lot but some very interesting little tidbits slip out in between all her blustering. Plus some of the shit she says is genuinely funny to me. You know, in a very dark "I cannot believe you just said that unironically" kind of way. 

3 minutes ago, ViolaSebastian said:

@Hashtag Blessed, you are more patient than I am. I can get through J-Rod and Pope Pee Pee, but I could not do it with this woman. Thank you!

There's something going on with this woman, mental-health-wise. She almost seems hypomanic in that video.

Oh, I think there's a LOT going on with her mental-health-wise. There is definitely something very manic about the speed and urgency of her speech. It doesn't appear to be limited to just this Dr. Phil response video either. She seems to talk like this all the time. I thought this was going to be a shallow rabbit hole but the more she talks the more curious I become. I might end up on a deep dive here. 

[luv2laugh]

I also thought she sounded hypomanic. When she goes LIIIIVE (which is practically everyday) all of her fan girls start chatting with her, fawning over her, and telling her what an inspiration she is. I cannot believe it. She has left any child that is not a baby to fend for themselves. She has completely left her adult offspring in the dust.

If I had kids PUBLICLY telling Dr. Phil on TV that they struggle with drug addictions, depression, cutting, and suicide, I would be devoting my attention to getting them healthy.

This woman DOES NOT CARE. She is a BABY HOARDER and she only cares about CUTE BABIES. She does NOT want to deal with their "the emotional stuff" that is part of the parenting job.

How can her fan girls praise her as she CONTINUES to film 30 minute (sometimes longer) daily LIIIIVE videos?!

Edited February 28, 2019 by luv2laugh

[Ozlsn]

1 hour ago, luv2laugh said:

Michelle complains that the kids only want her attention when she’s busy and not whenever she’s “available”.

To be fair that is a gripe I have too. Sitting on couch for five mins with a cup of tea? Quiet playing. Try to chop onions for tea? Suddenly my full attention is demanded in an entirely different part of the house. 

2 hours ago, Hashtag Blessed said:

Has she not seen Dr. Phil? What did she think was going to happen? Maybe she thought Dr Phil would say "You ARE a perfect mother, Michelle. You children need to make more of an effort for YOU." Mmkay.

Yeah I pretty much think that's how her thought process works. Possibly with "this will make me famous and people will love me and give me money!" in there too. People tend to forget "famous" is a two edged sword, especially if you add "in" to it.

[Soulhuntress]

Are they excommunicated or something?  Because where is their ward was my first question.

[socalrules]

I would guess she thought she and her family would be the next Duggar family and end up with a TV show. 

How do you get to the point where your 12 year-old cannot read? I understand some kids have disabilities but, from what I am reading, she just comes off as a lazy homeschooler. My bigger question is when did she realize the child could not read? I am guessing this isn’t a family that made weekly treks to the library. Is she unschooling? Who isn’t concerned when their 12 year-old can’t read? 

I need more information but don’t care to watch her videos. I wonder if any other family members tried to help. 

[Hashtag Blessed]

31 minutes ago, Soulhuntress said:

Are they excommunicated or something?  Because where is their ward was my first question.

She mentioned people coming to visit them from the church after the Dr. Phil episode aired, so it doesn't seem like they're excommunicated. She also said they don't accept assistance from the church for food. So I'm not sure what their relationship to their ward is like. 

9 minutes ago, socalrules said:

My bigger question is when did she realize the child could not read? I am guessing this isn’t a family that made weekly treks to the library. Is she unschooling? Who isn’t concerned when their 12 year-old can’t read? 

My thoughts exactly. I wonder if she even noticed that he couldn't read? But don't worry, I'm about to watch her video about homeschooling! She had to do a whole separate video responding to Dr. Phil saying she should stop. I've given up on being productive today so I'll do this instead. 

[seattlechic]

oh hell to the fuck no.

how did this bitch end up in Dr. Phil?

 

[Hashtag Blessed]

Homeschool Video! This should be good.

Ok, to start off she claims she hasn’t watched Dr. Phil in 8 years and didn’t know he’d changed into such a monster! She trusted him to help her but instead he attacked her! If you hadn't watched in 8 years, why did you reach out to them for help and not, oh, I don't know, a REAL DOCTOR!?

She’s making this video to answer some of the questions and accusations that came up about her choice to homeschool. She points out that only two of her children, Sunshine and River, complained on the show, and unfortunately she seems very angry with them for doing so. I hope they’re ok. She also claims that part of her reason for doing this is to defend the children she’s sill homeschooling because they’re upset. Sure they are, Michelle. I’m sure you’re not doing this video for selfish reasons at all.

She used to do her youtube videos during the day while her kids were at school. But oh no! She had to give that up to do homeschooling. Wow, what a noble sacrifice. Too bad the mormon church doesn’t do saints, because you should really be canonized for that one!

She still insists that her videos are usually only 15 minutes. This one is 39 minutes long. Mmkay.

She’s still butthurt and saying “I must be a bad mom” and “I must not love my kids” because she takes her kids on outings. It’s really starting to piss me off. You could take your damn kids to Disney World twice a week and you’d still be a shitty parent if they’re illiterate, suicidal, and underfed. It’s like the abuser who buys their victims gifts all the time and says “See? Would I buy you such nice things if I didn’t love you?” Nevermind all the bruises.

She wanted to homeschool because she didn’t want her kids to be away from her for hours a day. She says she had a great program (the one that didn’t teach River to read?) and when they were little, none of the kids minded not having to go to public school. Well, duh Michelle! Little kids don’t know what they’re missing out on! Of course they want to stay home!

She claims some of the other older kids spoke about how positive their experience with homeschooling was, but Dr. Phil edited it out because that’s not what produces good ratings. It could also have been edited out because it doesn’t fucking matter. Even if most of your children did ok homeschooling that doesn’t erase ones that are academically stunted and suffering. You don’t just get to shrug and blame it on them being “different kinds of students.” You’re their only teacher! It’s your JOB to help them succeed! If you can’t do that, send them to an actual school.

Now she’s complaining that she only has 300 followers because only 300 people actually want happiness and joy in their life. Ratings are higher on negative websites and news channels according to her. LOL sure. There’s never anything wrong with her, it’s everyone else who just HATES JOY.

They started with the free curriculum provided by the state, but the kids hated it because it was boring and she claims it required her to be present with them for 10 hours a day. The horror! That lasted about 2-3 years before she realized that the kids were secretly using their free laptops to play games during the day. IT TOOK YOU 3 YEARS TO FIGURE THAT OUT!?

She didn’t want them to go to public school after that realization because she thought it would be too difficult of a transition. So she sent them to a charter school instead. (Oh boy.)

6:53 - “Like any school, when it first opens up, there’s kinks and stuff. The kids grades were dropping.” Sorry what? Did you put them in a brand new charter school that just opened? Whyyyyy? Their grades and test scores were low for a year and then they went to the local public schools.

They went to public school for 6 years and then BEGGED and PLEADED to be homeschooled because they were apparently all being bullied? All of them? The teacher was rude and threatened a kid’s life?? Are Nevada public schools that bad? 

They use a curriculum called The Good and the Beautiful now. What a weird name. She’s really singing its praises though. She claims all of her children tested several grades behind when she tested them with The Good and the Beautiful’s placement test. Including the kid who had straight A’s in public school! Huh, if it were me I’d wonder if there’s something wrong with the test, personally. I’d probably have them try another placement test too and compare. But maybe that’s just me.

Gah, I have to take a break to make some food. More in a moment!

[luv2laugh]

1 hour ago, Soulhuntress said:

Are they excommunicated or something?  Because where is their ward was my first question.

I am assuming that their "maid" is an LDS church member doing it as one of the church callings that they're assigned... Also, I deal with LDS missionaries from time to time (once you talk with them, they will never stop contacting you every few months). They're always very eager to help and ask me if they can help with anything whether its in my garden or around the house (in an attempt to convert me).

I am pretty sure they are active church members because she mentioned getting up everyday at 5 AM to bring her kids to seminary class. I believe in Nevada, they go in the mornings whereas in Utah, it's incorporated automatically into the school day.

I worry even more about the other kids' needs. Also, I worry about new baby. Could you imagine JRod with a special needs child such as hers (I don't know how severe Janessa's needs are yet)?

On YouTube, I can't remember which one, Meeechelle #2 mentioned that there are days she cannot get out of bed. I believe she was referring to feeling sad sometimes about when she's not being productive or something. It was in a video where she went over a VERY DETAILED hour by hour Maxwellian daily schedule and she said some days none of it happens. She's a big fan of FlyLady and even has a FlyLady mentor and accountability partner.

Edited February 28, 2019 by luv2laugh

[ViolaSebastian]

2 minutes ago, Hashtag Blessed said:

You could take your damn kids to Disney World twice a week and you’d still be a shitty parent if they’re illiterate, suicidal, and underfed.

Amen. Even the Turpins took their kids to Disney World.

[llucie]

So in what consist their diet exactly that is so special they cant get food donations and the older girl prefers going hungry for days than eating it?

[ViolaSebastian]

6 minutes ago, llucie said:

So in what consist their diet exactly that is so special they cant get food donations and the older girl prefers going hungry for days than eating it?

In one of the videos I watched, they all had English muffins with peanut butter on it. So it's not a gluten issue. She also has a recipe for crock pot chili that involves canned goods, so it's not sodium, either.

 

Edited February 28, 2019 by ViolaSebastian

[luv2laugh]

I believe with many of these Quiverfull families, the mother (or father or both) have serious issues of attention-seeking. When babies cannot fulfill that desire of attention that they crave, fame does. Many Quiverfull families that we know are either on reality television, mommy blogging/instagramming in an "off-putting" way (think MisForMama's Braggie Abbie), or filming LIIIIVE videos of themselves (JRod and Meeeechelle #2)

Look at Meeechelle #2's YouTube LIIIIVE titles. They're in all caps lock and are "BABY #13 DOWN SYNDROME PREGNANCY AT 47!"  "BABY #13 NATURAL HOME BIRTH DOWN SYNDROME AT 47!" She even outright said "I'm high-risk, the baby does have some holes in her heart, but my midwife said it's NO BIG DEAL and there's a nearby hospital."

Edited February 28, 2019 by luv2laugh

[Shiny]

Eh, The Good and the Beautiful isn't the worst. It's not great, but at least it covers the basics. Religious in nature and worksheet driven. 

[ViolaSebastian]

In this one, she talks about the family's Thanksgiving meal and she makes no mention at all of any dietary restrictions or substitutions. Verdict: she is full of crap.

 

Edited February 28, 2019 by ViolaSebastian

[Hane]

3 minutes ago, ViolaSebastian said:

In this one, she talks about the family's Thanksgiving meal and she makes no mention at all of any dietary restrictions or substitutions. Verdict: she is full of crap.

 

Yep. I think she’s either assuming—or propagating the assumption—that all food provided by government or charity programs is substandard.

[luv2laugh]

She posted the homebirth which I believe is her only non-LIIIVE video ever. Honestly, I am surprised it wasn’t live.

Check out the obnoxious all caps title...

 

Edited February 28, 2019 by luv2laugh

[Howl]

What the hell does the gambling/porn-addict husband do to support this family?  

Also, even Nicole Naugler had it together on the home schooling front when there were just a few kids (four or so?), and before everything fell apart.  So likely this psycho mom's oldest three or four kids do have fond (and accurate) memories of homeschooling.  They were a normal sized family and had plenty of attention from their mom.  I don't know how many kids it takes to send a mom over the edge.  I'd guess from 6 to 8?  How many kids have already fledged the nest in this mega family?

I need to watch the Dr. Phil segments. 

When I first retired, I watched quite a bit of Dr. Phil, if I could stand whichever guest(s) were on that day.  Dr. Phil gets aggressive with large egos who don't want to hear hear anyone but themselves and he's remarkably good at calling people out on their bullshit.  He can also be remarkably tender/gentle with the truly vulnerable who have been damaged by the large egos.

My sense is that a lot of research and interviews go on before the actual show and he knows his strategy and focus before the cameras roll. 

 

[Hashtag Blessed]

And we’re back with Part 2 of her Homeschool Justification Video!

Ok, so. The straight-A student was Osias, who said on Dr. Phil he was suicidal because he didn’t get enough attention. BUT but but, he already had those feelings at public school! So… there! And they were already seeing a doctor about it! 3-4 times a MONTH. So, like, normal therapy. Wow, don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back for getting your SUICIDAL kid some therapy! She actually said “So it’s not like we weren’t trying with him.” in a tone that clearly suggests his suicidal tendencies are just a massive inconvenience to her.

Oh boy! LUCKILY they went to a Tony Robbins event and now NONE of the kids have suicidal thoughts! It was just so effective! Wow! Well that’s just great! Thanks, Tony Robbins!
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? That is such a steaming pile of bullshit I’m actually blown away. Does she actually think a single Tony Robbins seminar has cured her kids of suicidal thoughts!? Is she stupid or does she just think everyone else is? Either way: WHAT THE FUCK.

She immediately follows this by saying that they all caught up to only 1 grade level behind where they should be, which is where they are now. And by next year they’ll be where they’re supposed to be. Again, by the standards of this weirdly named homeschool curriculum. Which I just googled and it is a curriculum specifically made for Mormons. Make of that what you will.

She’s getting distracted by the live comments and what she’s saying is kind of confusing. She only pulled some of them out of public school at first, but then the straight-A middle schooler (Osias) begged to be homeschooled because his classmates were too disruptive and there was too much smoking and making out in the hallways for him to focus. She insists that he was gushing about the homeschool program immediately, and saying he was finally being challenged for the first time. Sad, if true. But again, I have no idea what Nevada public schools are like.

She’s still singing the praises of this curriculum and how convenient it is for her. Which is nice, but so far she hasn’t mentioned Sunshine or River even once. Where were they and why were they struggling so much?

The 3 hours she spends on homeschooling each day is only for a “language lesson” (What language? Who cares!) and to check off their progress.

She just said this program “really doesn’t have math.” Sorry, what!? What kind of curriculum doesn’t include math!? She has to cobble together a math curriculum herself with worksheets and 15-20 minutes a day of Khan Academy. Ok, Khan Academy is great but it is NOT a substitute for an actual math class.

She also reads to them from a book called Mathematicians are People Too as part of their math curriculum! About a chapter a day, she says.

I looked this book up on Amazon, this is the top review:

Quote

“As a math teacher, for more years than I care to admit, I loved this book. I read the stories to the kids because they were entertaining stories of how some of the great discoveries were made. I never knew how to figure out the height of a building, tree, or pyramid until I read this book. The stories of these famous men were fun to read about. They also told the kids how important math, and teachers, are in their lives.”

Sorry, you were a math teacher but you didn’t know how to find the height of a building? WHAT???

 

Ok back to Michelle.

She’s going into way too much detail about this curriculum. None of this accounts for how or why your kid was illiterate until 12!

She says they do PE every day, except then she immediately calls it Recess. Those are two different things, Michelle!

Somehow she’s jumped to the fact that the upstairs is cluttered and messy. But it’s ok because they don’t do homeschool up there! They do it downstairs! I’m not sure what this has to do with homeschooling at all but she’s now detailing each clutter pile that was shown and justifying it.

When they came to film, it was messy because Sunshine was packing to move her stuff out to Utah! THAT’s why it looked like such a disaster! Otherwise she only has a few piles of clutter! Damn, poor Sunshine is really starting to sound like the family scapegoat.

Now she wants to talk about the older kids who did well with homeschooling, unlike those traitors Sunshine and River. Tuesday loved homeschooling because Michelle was putting together her own curriculum back then. Back when? This doesn’t gel with the timeline she just laid out. She took Tuesday on a senior trip abroad. Did anyone else get such an amazing senior trip? It sounds like Tuesday had such a marvelous experience because, as the oldest at a time before there were eleventy others, she got a lot more individual attention. Go figure!

[llucie]

10 minutes ago, Hane said:

Yep. I think she’s either assuming—or propagating the assumption—that all food provided by government or charity programs is substandard.

Or that accepting assistance from the goverment is embarrasing... I hate those people that think their pride is more important than their children welfare.

Also how is giving birth at home a child with known heart issues not a child endangerment situation? Giving birth at 47 without a doctor alone is pretty reckless, but to hear she knew the baby had heart holes and she still went with it...the girl could have died at birth! i think CPS should at least be looking closely at this family, maybe they already are.

[OyHiOh]

56 minutes ago, Hashtag Blessed said:

 

She wanted to homeschool because she didn’t want her kids to be away from her for hours a day. She says she had a great program (the one that didn’t teach River to read?) and when they were little, none of the kids minded not having to go to public school. Well, duh Michelle! Little kids don’t know what they’re missing out on! Of course they want to stay home!

 

This part stood out to me.  This is the reason my parents homeschooled me.  They didn't want their dear precious little one yanked away for all day kindergarten plus bus ride (rural school district).  In '83, all day kindy, in the US, was a revolutionary concept.  So they kept me home.  Academically, I did find.  I was bright, a precocious reader, inquisitive and able to find books that helped me answer the many questions my rather pitiful curriculum left me asking.  On the downside, this left me stuck with a parent crippled with anxiety and depression, and a parent who spent at least as much time managing his reactions to the world as she did teaching me and my siblings.  On the whole, I would have been much better served in public school.

[luv2laugh]

6 minutes ago, Howl said:

What the hell does the gambling/porn-addict husband do to support this family?  

Also, even Nicole Naugler had it together on the home schooling front when there were just a few kids (four or so?), and before everything fell apart.  So likely this psycho mom's oldest three or four kids do have fond (and accurate) memories of homeschooling.  They were a normal sized family and had plenty of attention from their mom.  I don't know how many kids it takes to send a mom over the edge.  I'd guess from 6 to 8?  How many kids have already fledged the nest in this mega family?

I need to watch the Dr. Phil segments. 

When I first retired, I watched quite a bit of Dr. Phil, if I could stand whichever guest(s) were on that day.  Dr. Phil gets aggressive with large egos who don't want to hear hear anyone but themselves and he's remarkably good at calling people out on their bullshit.  He can also be remarkably tender/gentle with the truly vulnerable who have been damaged by the large egos.

My sense is that a lot of research and interviews go on before the actual show and he knows his strategy and focus before the cameras roll. 

 

I heard her mention that her husband is an EMT and sometimes works 80-100 hrs/week. I also believe she said the oldest 4 no longer live at home. Ages of her kids range from 28-newborn.

[thoughtful]

1 hour ago, Hashtag Blessed said:

The Good and the Beautiful

Sounds like a soap opera on the Hallmark channel.

Edited February 28, 2019 by thoughtful
riffle

[JermajestyDuggar]

Her midwife sounds like an idiot.

[anjulibai]

I'm looking at the website for The Good and The Beautiful, though not going in depth super much. It was created by a Mormon singer-songwriter.

This curriculum must be super brand new, because they don't have any math curriculum except for Kindergarten. The Math Assessment only goes up to 2nd grade, despite the lack of an actual curriculum.

Half of the offerings are listed as "Future Releases". There's almost nothing at the High School Level. The only develop subjects are PreK-8 Language Arts and Handwriting. The Assessment for the Language Arts seems pretty mediocre - just a page of information per grade, and 6th and 7th combined. 

They have a book list, but you have to sign up for notifications to get it. Looking at the pictures, though, I'm not seeing anything familiar, but a definite emphasis on white settlers and, oddly, Native Americans. 

Oh, wait, I see one title I am familiar with: The Little Princess. 

It's pretty obvious this curriculum is not complete and is very untested. If my children were super far behind, it is NOT one I would choose for my children. 

But, hey, I have a master's degree in secondary education, what do I know?