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'Teen Mom' Recap: Farrah's Sacrifice Is Best for Her Daughter in the Long Run

by Jeanne Sager on August 7, 2012 at 11:02 PM

Farrah AbrahamEvery episode of the fourth season of Teen Mom puts us closer to the end for the four girls who started it all. And tonight's episode came the closest yet to painting a picture of what decisions Farrah, Maci, Amber, and Catelynn have to make to ensure success after the cameras leave them forever.

First up, there's Amber Portwood. Sadly we know what will happen to her -- she'll go to prison for the next five years. And yet, watching her admit she's been too lazy to sign up for her outpatient rehab program, it's hard not to want to reach through the TV screen and shake her. If onlys won't save her, but if only she'd made the right choices then, she wouldn't be where she is now.

The good news is her co-stars are moving toward a better fate.

Catelynn and Tyler were pulled once again into the role of parenting their own parents as Tyler's dad went to court to be arraigned on charges that he'd beaten up his wife (and Catelynn's mom) April during an argument. Their combined decision to stick by April and give up on Butch ever changing nearly moved me to tears. It isn't easy giving up on someone you love, but it could end up saving them a lot of heartache.

Maci and Kyle were moving in a whole other way -- moving in with each other. It looks like Bentley is going to have a little trouble adjusting to his new home, but he's got a lot of adults pulling for him. Even dad Ryan took the big move calmly, and he made a lot of sense when he admitted getting a custody agreement in writing should be about making things 50/50, not about making trouble for Maci.

But the biggest decision of the night came for Farrah. After fighting tooth and nail to take baby Sophia with her to Florida, far away from the child's grandparents, Farrah learned that it's not so easy being a single parent when your only fallback is expensive daycare. Sophia is just too active for her to get any of her school work done, and having her boyfriend, Daniel, come over to help every day isn't a valid option.

So Farrah relented on letting her mom, Debra, take Sophia back to the Midwest. It may sound like a cop-out, but parenting a toddler is tough, and anyone who says differently hasn't been there. Parenting a toddler all alone while trying to get through school has to be a nightmare. All the little antics Sophia was up to are absolutely normal, but that doesn't make them any less frustrating.

You could see the tension just roll off of Farrah when she finally realized she couldn't do it alone ... and she didn't have to. In the end, Farrah will only be separate from her daughter for a month, but the degree she'll get will help the two of them for a lifetime.

What do you think of Farrah's decision? Was it the right one for her and Sophia?

 

Image via MTV

Filed Under: reality tv, teen mom, recaps

Comments

21
  • Rache...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Rachel Schiller

    August 8, 2012 at 12:57 AM

    It is the best choice for both of them


  • kaerae
    -- Nonmember comment from

    kaerae

    August 8, 2012 at 1:03 AM
    I think Farrah's decision was fine.Even if she just needed a break, I think Sophia will enjoy being with her grandparents for awhile, Regardless of how dysfunctional this family is, at least Farrah does have some support. But I totally disagree with the Ryan/Maci thing. It's so obvious it's Mimi who wants Bentley half time, NOT RYAN. Ryan is bored stiff with Bentley and I don't think a parent should have to split custody with a grandparent. If his parents weren't pushing him, Ryan would barely see Bentley.
  • Rache...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Rachel Hinsman Datson

    August 8, 2012 at 7:27 AM

    If Macy is smart she will let the 50/50 thing happen, with a First Right of Refusal, which means anytime the child isn't with YOU personally, you have to give the other parent the option to have them.  You do have to set a reasonable time limit, such as if you are going to be longer than 2 hours, you  must then offer the time.  The other parent does NOT have to take advantage of it (what if they already were out on the town?), however after that its fair game to be with the grandparents!  


  • Stacy
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Stacy

    August 8, 2012 at 7:39 AM
    "Their combined decision", not "They're combined decision". For the love of Pete, please proofread.
  • Kelli...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Kellie Shaver

    August 8, 2012 at 9:13 AM

    I'll admit Farrah is not my favorite, but I do understand how hard it is to parent and go to school having done this myself.  Having a support system there made all the difference in the world.  Farrah has come a long way from 16 and Pregnant, and she is doing everything she can to make sure Sophia has the life she deserves.    


  • Mandi...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Mandi Silva

    August 8, 2012 at 9:52 AM
    soo i think farrah is takin the easy way out i have two kids i may not go to school but i work 40-50 hours evewry week and still have my kids all the time u played now u have to pay she had the kid not her parents she should women up and take care of her there are plenty of moms out there that do it wit more kids u need to learn balance just my opinion
  • meg
    -- Nonmember comment from

    meg

    August 8, 2012 at 10:12 AM
    I think Farrah is doing the right thing. Say what you want about her family, but they are there supporting her even when she is nasty to them. Also, it is the best in the long run. Farrah needs to finish school, so she can get a good job that supports both of them. I definitely give Farrah credit. She maybe willful, but she is going to school and making a life for herself. Maci used to be my favorite, but she seems to be getting lazy.
  • Christie
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Christie

    August 8, 2012 at 10:14 AM
    It was a good choice it's only a month. It's nice to see Farrah embracing her mom's help instead of balking at it. I see where Farrah's anger comes from though. I have a very close friend who was abused by her mother (about 80% mental and 20% physical) and since she moved out 10 years ago they have worked on their relationship, but she stil finds it hard to accept help from her mom and CANNOT live with her. An abused child, even later in life, will alway be wary of help from the abuser due to the fear that the help comes with strings. As usual Tyler and Catelynn showed how great they are. I am so happy that through the horrible upbringing both of them had they are able to support and love each other enough to build a strong healthy life together. I can't stand Ryan still because it's so obvious he is not the one who want's custody, I agree he would do NOTHING in the way of visitation and custody if it weren't for his mom pushing. I hope his mom realizes she is hurting him not helping him by still "parenting" him at his age. He needs to be sinking or swimming on his own by now.
  • Christie
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Christie

    August 8, 2012 at 10:14 AM
    Amber is a wreck and to tell the truth Gary isn't much better. He has stepped up to raise Leah when she was gone but he is purposfully sending her into a depression by keeping her daughter away and Leah is suffering more than Amber. I agree she shouldn't have her overnight but Gary should be allowing and setting up visitation for her instead of his mom when he plans to be out of town. He should be giving her Right of First Refusal, and having his mom do the at night pick up until Amber moves, but we all know where that story is heading now. Sad to see Maci and Kyle do what they are doing and know they are going to split. I hope the moving is not hard on Bentley but I know it will be, he loves Kyle and it will be hard to see him lose his buddy Ky.
  • Chris...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Christina Leigh

    August 8, 2012 at 11:04 AM

    It annoyed me with how much Farrah flipped out when her parents gave her this option to begin with, and then later she goes for it.  She seems very indecisive to me.  But, raising a toddler is a huge work.  No, I don't have a child of my own, but my boyfriend and I practically raise his 3-year-old nephew since his mother doesn't want to stop being a teenager herself.  So I do know how hard it is to deal with a little kid running all over the place and getting into everything.


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