What a dysfunctional situation! I was most sympathetic for Alyssa; I felt her mother was clearly creating a scenario favoring Torie as the new replacement daughter. I wanted, however, for Dr. Phil to explore how both Torie and Alyssa's boyfriend came to live in the household in the first place. I suspect Alyssa begged the mother to allow both to move in, and the mother didn't have the foresight or good judgment to say no. I know Dr. Phil doesn't have the time to delve into everything, but I really wish he would have examined why the ex-husband was living there, and why the new husband would move into a household knowing the ex-husband was already there.If the ex-husband was NOT already there, I can't understand how the new husband would allow him to move in. If the new husband was there before Torie and Alyssa's boyfriend moved in, I can't fathom how he would allow the mother tomake such poor decisions. Advice to the mother: evict the ex-husband and Alyssa's boyfriend, send Torie to live with Torie's father, and make amends with Alyssa and her other biological children.

I watched this whole show just a few moments ago. I am absolutely shocked. I believe helping people is good but family must be set first before outsiders. Tori and her baby may be in need but that's her problem she can seek out her own family, friends or welfare or something to help her out. She doesn't seem like a bad person but this favortism the mother Jennifer is showing towards an outsider Tori is creating a major rift in her family. It is not worth the damage she is doing to her own biological daughter and to her relationship with her sister. 

The judgement calls this woman Jennifer makes is shocking. Where in her right mind did she think having the biological father of Alyssa living with her while she has married a new man is a good idea? I'm divorced but in no circumstances would I ever live with my ex husband. He's an EX for a reason. This is just insanity.

And I agree with Dr. Phil about the Alyssa's boyfriend. What the heck was Jennifer thinking? I mean really...her daughter is 16 and having sex with this boy and he has access to the 9 year old. What lessons is this mother teaching her younger children. I will tell you this I hope and pray that Dr. Phil can help Jennifer get her act together because believe me those kids are going to absorb all of this like sponges.

My mother and father used me as a pawn in their marriage and I was always to blame. If my mother wasn't blaming me for something or my father then I just figured out how it was my fault. I grew really depressed as a teenager and started cutting. My mother and father were never there for me emotionally nor could meet me. Its part of the reason I ran to seek out a man to fill this empty hole in my soul. I own up to my mistakes as an adult and I am making changes but there is much rage in me at my mother. 

I want to forgive her but I WILL NEVER forget what she has done to me or my father. And when I have my own place and I possibly get married and have kids there will be perhaps very limited contact or none at all. I don't know until the future happens so I'm trying not to make decisions based on something that hasn't happened quite yet but believe me kids will turn around and hate you for what your doing to them.

Alyssa is gunna end up hating her mother and receiving some bad messages internally unless this situation gets addressed. And seriously kick the freakin boyfriend, ex husband and Tori and the baby out!

Help out Tori sure by making sure she has a place to go. Ex husband...whatever its his problem. He's an EX! And the boyfriend...? Two words: GET OUT! 

That's just my take on it. I'm sure the counciling will help. I just pray its not too late to repair damage. Sometimes you don't get second chances with your kids. I'm barely able to look my mother in her eyes and have a pleasant conversation. Perhaps as I continue to heal and see my councilor one day we can have a better relationship but for now there isn't much I can do. 

Well all I can say is....My house was burnt down August 9th, 2012 @ 4:11am there was 8 of us in the house. I can tell you 1st hand that when you are faced with something like this You get ALL your children out of the house NOTHING stops you.A stranger driving by my house woke me up. I then woke ALL the kids and sent them outside and yes I had to run through smoke and flames to get them all but nothing in this world was stopping me. When we all went outside I counted heads again and I help my children and thanked God we all made it out. I had no insurance, It never crossed my mind where to place any of the kids. I got a joining hotel room, all EIGHT of us stayed in there until we found a place. I knew my kids just went through a life changing experience and they needed THEIR MOTHER.. No matter how scared I was no matter how hard it was for me to stay strong I had to do it.. And my youngest son is Autistic.. I have NO sympathy for this lady she should be ashamed of herself its very obvious her children dont come 1st... I hope this mother sees the light because her children are being hurt from her poor choices. She looked heartless she showed NO emotion. I was in tears watching the show it brought up so many memories.

I am in shock that a mother could be so overtly cruel to her own children.  This mother needs to get the priorities in her life straight!  It;s not her job to take care of a reckless teen mom and her baby!  Her own daughter is on the fringe of becoming a teen mom as well.  This is what happens when parents don't step up to the plate and be an active part of their children's lives!  The children become products of terrible parenting.  


TO JENNIFER:  Of course Alyssa is "full of hate" as you say.  She has every right to be with the way you have been acting.  You are her mother, the most important person in Alyssa's life.  Get your act together, woman!

I think it would natural instinct to fight for your kids and do whatever it takes to save them. She doesn't seem have that mother's instinct .That aside, if you knew how hurt your daughter felt about ithe fire you wouldn't live and care for with her ex-friend, you would be making it up to her! This is making everything worse. Maybe she was in shock during the fire, but the flames have been out and she is still neglecting her children. Did you look at her face when he daughter was in tears- completely blank! When asked to describe her daughter - all negative, not one nice remark, however she was full of compliments about the daughters ex-friend! So strange, the kids are probably better of with out her.

You are crazy lady cuz dr Phil should be hard on this mom! Way to go dr Phil!!!  Don't change!!!!

Dr. Phil, 





I believe this mom has no idea how much her daughter is hurting!


i really feel for these kids! Please help them like you always do because lord


knows their mom has no clue! Thanks

this shomahal no purpose, the mom was brought before the high court to be put to a slow death. No one can say what they would really do in this case. I know what I would want to do of my house was on fire and my babies were inside I'm going in to get them. Just because this mom did not do that does not make her a bad mom could it be possible that she was afraid? Omg that sister is too much bringing up such thing as he left the room and her daughter was alowe I'm confused was the sister not in the room? This mom suffered a trauma and she probs feel so much guilt that she can't breathe but I don't see berating her on national tv helped her so she helping the ex friend and now she should dump her and the baby cause her daughter don't like her she would be a worse mom teaching her daughter to be weak. No while on the out side it all weird the awhile story it may work for them please dr Phil stop being a talk show bully plus dont the fire department tell people do not go back in?

When my young adult sons were seriously injured I couldn't let them out of my sight.  I wanted them next to me all the time.  I had almost lost them and I wanted to protect them and nurture them.  I altered my life to be there for them.   That was 10 years ago and I still have to work at not hovering too much :)


What I can't understand is why this mother doesn't "get" that her children are likely very traumatized from the fire and need her there to nurture them back to health.  Even allowing her daughter's boyfriend to live there is not protecting her daughter  - her daughter is too young.  That whole living set up was just weird, like some kind of commune.  And two house fires?  That seems unusual.


No doubt it is difficult for her to be in her daughter's environment and fight with her all the time.   Teenage children can be cruel at the best of times.  However, she needs to either dump everyone else or step up and take care of her children like a true parent would.


Having said that, I wish we'd see some more men/fathers on the show instead of mothers taking the heat.  "Where did all the fathers go?"  Dr Phil didn't have to be so ignorant to her at the end when she accepted his help.

Dr Phil I watch your show often. I just want to say thank you for the work that you do for so many famlies all over the world. With that being said, today's show was very disturbing on many levels. I can only imagine what was going on in that house during that fire. I  am not here to pass judgement to anyone,  As for the mother, I believe she is so overwelmed and she tried to do the best she could in that situation. Many people love to blame and say how and what they would do, but  you really dont know unless it happens.to you.  I am sure anyone who is truley honest would be filled with fear and shock as to what  to do. There are very few heros willing to climb into a burning stairwell. Families like this, and the sister, should stand together and help each other instead of tearing each other down. I fail to see how condemning the mother with false statements can help this family to mend. Most of the show,seemed to reflect all negative towards the mother through the eyes of her children. It would have been good to see some support for her by some of her family. I lost my father 30 yrs ago today to an arson fire in Va. Beach. It has never been solved and still remains a open cold case.