Sister Wives

[OhMari]

I follow Meri on twitter and it sounds like this may have gone further than catfishing. Supposably this person would call and say they knew exactly where Meri had been and where she was and also that she knew the password to the gate that keeps people out of their culdasac. I don't know who to believe but Meri says when she tried to "end it" or force a meeting that the person became stalkerish.

Whatever happened I feel bad for her as in interviews (at least for TLC) she kept acting like there was actually a man and the "catfish" was just his assistant. So she is either heavily coached by TLC or this was filmed before it was discovered. At the end of the day it is just terrible all around and I hope Meri does what is best for her as the family heals.

I watched some of the show, for now, just hmmm.

 

[ariel71]

My point is that your odds of feeling lonely when your kids leave the nest would be greater if you are only getting 25% of your husband's time and emotional energy. I would imagine that to be a time in life where a husband and wife reach out and rely on each other to fill the void. Hard to do when he's off with the other wives so much of the time.

I think it's just too hard for one person to successfully support that many people all at once, whether your last name is Brown, Duggar, or anything else.

I agree about emotionally supporting that many people; it would certainly be a deal-breaker for me. But a husband who travels constantly, works incredibly long hours, or just isn't very thoughtful or caring could be just as physically or emotionally unavailable in a traditional marriage. At the end of the day, Meri's had 20 years to process Mariah being an only child, there are like 21 other people in the family to engage with, and it doesn't seem like she's made any effort of her own in the past two years to "fill the void". This is the woman who cried over a stupid wet bar. She's been miserable for ages because I think she's just a miserable person in general.

It may not be the vision of marriage that many people have, but the wives certainly aren't doormats. They've raised what seem to be happy, loving kids, and the older ones all seem to have their heads on straight (although Maddie's engagement makes me cringe). Again, there's no way I could live like they do, and there is plenty that annoys me, but I think they've generally been just as successful in their version of marriage/family as what I see around me. The vilification in this thread seems a little over the top to me.

 

[katieam1]

I watched the show tonight and just felt it was all too simple. I think she is leaving a lot out and making almost light of it or making it sound different than maybe it really was. I don't know. I am sure we will never really know but I did find it interesting that he said, he was just waiting and giving her space to maybe start a relationship up again or I forget how he worded it. Made me wonder really how each of their marriages really are. Is he only really intimate with one wife and the rest are on and off? Made me more interested in their actual relationships than maybe I was before. Like it just seems like a big family closeness than what one would typically think of an intimate marriage relationship.

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree about emotionally supporting that many people; it would certainly be a deal-breaker for me. But a husband who travels constantly, works incredibly long hours, or just isn't very thoughtful or caring could be just as physically or emotionally unavailable in a traditional marriage. At the end of the day, Meri's had 20 years to process Mariah being an only child, there are like 21 other people in the family to engage with, and it doesn't seem like she's made any effort of her own in the past two years to "fill the void". This is the woman who cried over a stupid wet bar. She's been miserable for ages because I think she's just a miserable person in general.

It may not be the vision of marriage that many people have, but the wives certainly aren't doormats. They've raised what seem to be happy, loving kids, and the older ones all seem to have their heads on straight (although Maddie's engagement makes me cringe). Again, there's no way I could live like they do, and there is plenty that annoys me, but I think they've generally been just as successful in their version of marriage/family as what I see around me. The vilification in this thread seems a little over the top to me.

I can't say I disagree with any of that. I'm not blaming Cody for Meri's void. She clearly plays a big role in all of this. I'm just saying it would be nice if she was in a situation where she actually had someone more available.

I get that some people end up in a situation where emotional support might not be there. I'm just saying that polygamy increases those odds exponentially. I watch Cody with that family and just think there's no way he could possibly have enough emotional energy to go around. If he didn't have a TV show to help pay the bills, he'd likely spend more time outside the home working and have even less time and energy to go around.

 

[ronandannette]

...It may not be the vision of marriage that many people have, but the wives certainly aren't doormats. They've raised what seem to be happy, loving kids, and the older ones all seem to have their heads on straight (although Maddie's engagement makes me cringe). Again, there's no way I could live like they do, and there is plenty that annoys me, but I think they've generally been just as successful in their version of marriage/family as what I see around me. The vilification in this thread seems a little over the top to me.

Why? It seems to me like a pretty normal relationship that has developed over time, privately between the two of them, without undue involvement or influence from the family. He may be a little older (which IMO will be a bigger issue later in life than it is now) but they are both adults and seem to know very clearly what they're doing.

 

[SparklePixie]

Why? It seems to me like a pretty normal relationship that has developed over time, privately between the two of them, without undue involvement or influence from the family. He may be a little older (which IMO will be a bigger issue later in life than it is now) but they are both adults and seem to know very clearly what they're doing.

I watched the show last night and agreed with Logan when he was talking about Maddie. She rents her own place, works full time and has been to college. She's an adult and old enough to make her own decisions when it comes to marriage.

 

[eh24fan]

I think have just have a sore spot for Robyn - every time she opened her mouth I wanted to say SHUT UP! It's like she has appointed herself as the spokesperson and it's annoying. Then her daughter crying AGAIN. I was cringing. LOL

As for Meri - I think the whole situation is being downplayed on the show. It sounds like there was more to it. But when she was talking about leaving the voicemails and suggesting that the "man" she was speaking to TOLD her to call and leave messages and TOLD her what to say? I'm not buying all of that. She is trying to cover her butt.

I was impressed with Tamron this time. She wasn't holding back and was actively jumping on them for their inconsistencies. She was also asking the tough questions and really trying to dig deeper than usual. It was almost like she wanted to irritate them into giving her the answers they have been holding back for so long as to how their family REALLY works, jealousy and all.

 

[OhMari]

I think have just have a sore spot for Robyn - every time she opened her mouth I wanted to say SHUT UP! It's like she has appointed herself as the spokesperson and it's annoying. Then her daughter crying AGAIN. I was cringing. LOL

As for Meri - I think the whole situation is being downplayed on the show. It sounds like there was more to it. But when she was talking about leaving the voicemails and suggesting that the "man" she was speaking to TOLD her to call and leave messages and TOLD her what to say? I'm not buying all of that. She is trying to cover her butt.

I was impressed with Tamron this time. She wasn't holding back and was actively jumping on them for their inconsistencies. She was also asking the tough questions and really trying to dig deeper than usual. It was almost like she wanted to irritate them into giving her the answers they have been holding back for so long as to how their family REALLY works, jealousy and all.

I know, she would ask the question and they wouldn't answer. And Cody made a statement and he wondered what Meri was thinking if they should get counseling and where he stood with her. Meri didn't say anything-just wiped more tears. But in the end, she said she is going no where-(she told the older kids she wasn't leaving). She said "social media" had her leaving the family. Then she said she was "leaving the person and wasn't going to have anything more to do with that person."

The Sister Wives will be back next Spring-they will probably document all of Robyn's birth.

 

[ariel71]

Why? It seems to me like a pretty normal relationship that has developed over time, privately between the two of them, without undue involvement or influence from the family. He may be a little older (which IMO will be a bigger issue later in life than it is now) but they are both adults and seem to know very clearly what they're doing.

Because she's 19, and I think very, very few 19-year-olds have much of a clue about life in general, let alone making a life-long commitment. As far as I know, she's also dropped out of school. I'm sure I'll hear from the 10 people on here that got married at 19 and are still together, but the vast majority of people do not end up successfully married to the person they were dating at that age. Every person who's been divorced probably thought they knew what they were doing. I think that not having a period of true independence can be detrimental in the long run for many women (and no, I don't think being away at college for one year qualifies; it's usually a quasi-adulthood state).

It's not really anything specific about her per se - I think she seems smart and capable and I'm happy that things really turned around for her. I just wish she had a few more years under her belt to really grow into herself as an individual.

 

[ariel71]

I can't say I disagree with any of that. I'm not blaming Cody for Meri's void. She clearly plays a big role in all of this. I'm just saying it would be nice if she was in a situation where she actually had someone more available.

I get that some people end up in a situation where emotional support might not be there. I'm just saying that polygamy increases those odds exponentially. I watch Cody with that family and just think there's no way he could possibly have enough emotional energy to go around. If he didn't have a TV show to help pay the bills, he'd likely spend more time outside the home working and have even less time and energy to go around.

Yep, can't disagree with any of that either. It's certainly a pretty unique trade-off - that individual closeness for the perceived benefits of being part of a larger "tribe" so to speak. That sheer lack of face-time/emotional energy is one of the reasons why I absolutely have an issue with having that many children, even more so than the impact on the wives.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

So my DH and I were at a trade show in Las Vegas and he happened upon Kody working one of the booths. He listened to his sales pitch then says - "you know I have to get a picture with you. My wife watches your show!" I wasn't with him at the time, I told DH later - it's a train wreck I just can't look away from!

 

[Sugardimples]

So my DH and I were at a trade show in Las Vegas and he happened upon Kody working one of the booths. He listened to his sales pitch then says - "you know I have to get a picture with you. My wife watches your show!" I wasn't with him at the time, I told DH later - it's a train wreck I just can't look away from!

So what was he selling?

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

It was some gun related item - we were at a gun industry show. DH couldn't remember exactly what it was

 

[justgrace]

That's really interesting!! Not SisterWives jewelry? Hmmm....

I wonder when the new season starts?

 

[gwynne]

That's really interesting!! Not SisterWives jewelry? Hmmm....

I wonder when the new season starts?

Funny you mention the luxury jewelry line. I was googling a bit today and I did see where Cody has brought the sisterwives jewelry to a gun show or two.

I didn't see anything about season 7, or even whether they had been renewed for certain.

In the what's up with them these days category...Janelle had an article in the local paper about being a real estate agent.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/tv/sister-wives-janelle-brown-las-vegas-real-estate

 

[ronandannette]

OK - I confess to just having spent 2 hours of my life watching the season premier. Can somebody please explain to me how Meri has been spun into the helpless victim of her own adulterous on-line adventures? I get that she ended up being catfished, but unless I'm missing something, it was ALL her own fault.

 

[scrhsa]

What got me was Robin not understanding how things got to that point. Um...you making her get a divorce and marrying her husband? And having more babies with him. Also, when they kept saying that it wasn't really cheating...it was just talking.....and since it really wasn't a guy--no cheating. aarrgghhh!

 

[Kellykins1218]

It was her fault but it also seems like Meri has been suffering from depression for a few years now. At least to me, she hasn't seemed "right" for at least that long. That might have been a contributing factor.

 

[stitch'sgirl]

What's bugging me more than Meri right now, is Christine's crush-like behavior on Madison's fiance Caleb. Stop giggling over him! Just ewww.

 

[CdnCarrie]

It's great to see the Janelle is progressing with the real estate career. But what is Meri doing all day? She was in college again at one point.