I'm a parent myself and a daughter and I understand why she has no respect for them. Who spits in their kid's face? Who pulls their kid's hair? Who sits there and lies about doing both of those things and makes out their kid is a liar? Self-centred people who are more interested in the World seeing them as good parents and victims, that’s who. Who throws material things at their kids instead of spending time with them? Lazy self-centred people who want other people to think they’re a great parent, that’s who. I think many posters here sound jealous that she has material things i.e. "she's spoilt", but material things are nothing compared to feeling like you matter and are worth spending time with. Spitting in your child's face and pulling their hair and making excuses for it are not "I have tried everything and done everything a therapist told me". Those two will lose her rather than admit they did something wrong. I’d never give up on my kids to save myself from my own mistakes. Stay strong Tiffani, there are people out here who have lived with “parents” like yours. I bet when the police came they didn’t tell them their own actions at the time.

For a father and mother to sit on the edge of their seats looking scared that their daughter is going to tell the World what happens in their house you have a problem. Those parents kept changing the story e.g. the daughter was talking about how he pulled her by her hair onto the floor and then he said, "What preceeded that?" and then he started talking in circles trying to confuse her like an abuser e.g. "What did I say/ do etc"...that's what abusers do i.e. ask what someone said or did a long time ago to make the victim feel stupid and unable to say anything. The father is an abuser.

YOU are so wrong I cannot even begin to tell you. Look under my responses  with the name Maurboo.  My father was also an alcoholic and my  family life was so much worse than this teens, yet I made the decicion to be repondsible for all my actions  because I was old enough to do so. To coddle this teen is to give her permission to continue bad behavior and

I just watched this today - after just reading the messages on this page, everyone seems to have missed the biggest clue to her behaviour, I was identifying with her rage-mine was never so extreme, but it could well have been...the clue for me was when someone let slip that someone called her dad a deadbeat alcoholic. AHA!!! that explains the rage, the self destructiveness, the helplessness, the fear, the anger, and it goes around and around and around until you get a way out.  I started to cry after I heard that statement - because then I knew her source of fear and anger, been there, done that, but never identified the whitehot source of self destructive rage turned inwards until I was 41.  Alateen, and Alanon Family Groups, will give her insight and tools.  She is reacting to things that she cant control, reacting to her lack of control, reacting to her parents reactions, and it just continues to escalate.  That young lady needs to leave their care to get perspective as an individual - her parents problems are NOT her fault.  They are chronologically adults, she is a child.  She needs help.  They need help.  Separately.  She needs an Alanon-ey rehab stint - to get detoxified from being dependant on the parents drama and break this pattern of chaos addiction before she grows up seeking it.  They seem to play the blame game alot - which is such a typical symptom of being affected by alcoholism - Im sure that sent a red flag chill into you, Dr.Phil, as it did me.  If you survived living in a home affected by alcoholism, then you will recognise the landscape in this family dynamic. I truly hope she accepts the help and the opportunity.  My heart aches for these angry girls.  I so understand-now-I have now been in AFG for over 7 years, having tried Alateen as a teen but was too damn angry at the time to stay in....please keep this in mind-it doesnt justify anything, but it helps explain the root cause of a lot of issues, and a place to start....please give us, or me an update-Tiffany touched me, and many people really do care what happens to her.   I see kids like her everyday that need someoine to really see them and their pain.  They dont understand why they hurt so bad-if you have walked down that path, we know, and need to reach down to them and give them a hand up.

I can't believe this kid!  While I was watching the show with my family I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. She was downright disrespectful and I would be so embarrassed and feel like such a failure if that was my kid. Notice I  referred to her twice as a kid which is what she is and seems to forget.  She is also a spoiled little brat that needs a good old-fashioned whooping.  My children wouldn't dare talk that way to me or treat me so disrespectfully.  The parents are too soft.  You could tell that she was trying to point the finger to and blame everything on the parents and portray herself as being the victim.  That didn't fly with me.  I thank God for my children.  Compared to her, they're saints!

I completely agree

I just watched this episode of tiffani and I understand why Dr. Phil was being pretty tough on the parents but as being a parent of 2 daughters they are now in their 20's but when they were teenagers my youngest one gave me a run for my money. I thought she was bad but she wasn't half as bad as these 2 girls. I know I wouldn't have showed that much constraint toward her as they did I would have probably been in jail by then because the first time she would have ever put her hands on me would have been the last time I know that it isn't politically right but back in the day we use to get our butts whipped and we knew better these kids these days take calling the cops as a hobby to get back at their parents I understand that the first girl had alot of pain that she dealt with her dad dieing and all but the 2nd one was just a spoiled brat period.

Through the years I have watched the Dr. Phil show. And I have received great advice and learned many things. However I was appalled at the way he treated the mother and father of Tiffani. She is 15 years old. Old enough to make decisions. And suffer the consequences. Yet Dr. Phil blamed  the parents for everything Tiffany did  and for bad behavior. The mother broke down and cried. And Dr. Phil looked like he had  absolutely no sympathy for the mother. You cannot blame the parents for every Every bad choice and decision that a teenager makes. There comes a point when  a teenager needs to be held accountable for their actions. He has a not walked in their steps he has not live their life. yet he is very quick to judge

Soooo agree with you and I'm 45!!

Dr. Phil,



Just had to write and say, I think you were unreasonably hard on Tiffani's parents. I normally always err on the side of being very strict with kids and I was appalled by Tiffani's behavior. I was raised with a swift backhand to the face if I even looked sideways at my parents and you know what? I dont regret it! However, the girl's parents kept telling you they have tried everything they KNOW how to do and are at a loss. They've obviously come to the end of their rope, to the extent their marriage has been destroyed and they live in fear. I understand they need to own up to not being consistent but I think you went overboard in berating them for their mistakes. I honestly felt for them as I do not think I could handle a child like that. I'd probably be in prison!! All they wanted/needed was your help, sending Ms Entitled off to a spa/therapy place doesnt seem like a complete answer. She's old enough to ALSO have to take responsibility for her own behavior. Should have sent the parents off to a similar place....God knows they probably need a break too...