Dr Phil Gambled Away: Are Adult Children Responsible For Their Parents?

Dr Phil: My Mother Gambled $2.5 Million Away and Blames Me For Being Broke

Carie and Diane are a daughter and mother locked in a feud. Diane once owned a jewelry store in Las Vegas, but after losing $2.5 million gambling, she had to move into an RV. However, Carie says Diane blames her for all the things that have gone wrong in her life, and for leaving her high and dry at a vulnerable moment.

Carie believes that her mother and stepfather just caught caught up in the high rolling lifestyle of Sin City, and that’s how they lost their cars and their home. Carie said Diane took loans from family and friends that she never paid back. Despite the friction between them, Carie claims she has tried to help, but that Diane has made it difficult.

Dr Phil: Are Adult Children Responsible For Their Parents?

Carie pointed out that she doesn’t have a responsibility to take care of Diane, but Dr Phil told her parents sort of expect their kids to be there as they get old. Carie said that may be true, but Diane is impossible to satisfy. Do you think that adult children are obligated to care for their parents? Tell me what you think in the comments.

Diane has not been speaking to Carie, because her view is that Carie treats her horribly, acting awful and nasty, but then blames her actions on Diane. Diane said she has even had to block Carie’s number from her cell phone.

Dr Phil: Las Vegas High Life Crashes Down

In an interview, Diane recalled what her opulent Las Vegas lifestyle was once like. Because she and her husband were big spenders, they received a lot of free incentives, such as hotel rooms, free meals and drinks, and invitations to exclusive VIP events at casinos. It sounds like Diane’s every need was met.

Diane recalled once lining a hotel jacuzzi with $15,000 in cash winnings. Because she owned a jewelry store, she always wore expensive rings so she could go out on the town in style. But the party eventually came to an end, which was the beginning of her path to Dr Phil’s stage.

Dr Phil: Playing Money Vs Losing Money in a Casino

When Dr Phil said that Diane lost $2.5 million, Diane corrected him to say that she “played” the money rather than losing it. Diane also said that she let her underage daughter gamble with her back then. Carie recalled winning a $1,000 prize on a video poker machine at the age of 16. But Diane had to conspire with her and claim the winnings.

Dr Phil pointed out that some of these stories make Diane look like an irresponsible mother who was letting her teen daughter drink and gamble with her in casinos. Diane questioned why she was being put in the hot seat and wondered where Carie got her engagement ring. Carie proudly explained that she recently paid it off with a jewelry store chain. “I live within my means,” Carie said. Diane suggested that a portion of the ring was a gift, but Carie said her stepfather simply gave her a good deal.

Dr Phil: Drug Conspiracy Through The Mail?

Dr Phil also looked back at a timeline of events in Diane’s life, including Carie’s accusation that Diane stole Carie’s husband’s medication and sold it through the mail to a friend as a way to make money. That could be considered interstate drug trafficking, even though it was a small amount.

When Carie confronted Diane, Diane didn’t see what the big deal was. Carie didn’t understand why they would jeopardize her entire life over a few hundred dollars, especially since she was actively supporting the couple at the time. Carie also claimed that Diane threatened to frame her in a drug conspiracy when the disagreement escalated. “Can you just take responsibility for your actions?” Carie asked her mother. I don’t think anyone was buying Diane’s weak attempt at an explanation.

Dr Phil: Mom Rejects Daughter’s Gift of a Car

But maybe Carie just has been with her mom and can’t see past it to make peace. It’s possible, right? To help corroborate her story, Dr Phil’s team scared up another guest to verify some of what Carie was asserting about her mother. According to Carie’s mother-in-law Jodi, Diane is manipulative and knows how to take advantage of a situation.

Carie said that she and her husband bought a car for Diane and her husband, but when they received the gift, they acted like it was not good enough for them, something else that Jodi was quick to verify. “If they bought me a car, I’d drive the heck out of it,” Jodi said.

Dr Phil: Mom Doesn’t Want Daughter’s Help

“What makes you think that we didn’t like what we were doing?” Diane asked Carie, suggesting that they were not in need of her help or intervention. Dr Phil wondered whether Carie was trying to take on the role of the mother. Carie said she was not interested in blindly giving money to her mother. “Everything bad in her life is my fault,” Carie said.

Dr Phil intervened to explain that when Carie invited Diane and her stepfather to move closer to her and get back on their feet, only to send them packing when it didn’t work out, wound up costing the couple thousands of dollars in travel and relocation. So you can see why Carie might be bitter about that, because it landed her in a worse position. Diane claimed she had no choice but to cut her mother off after the selling drugs incident.

Dr Phil: Gambling Addiction Resources

Dr Phil turned to Diane for some straight talk. This mother and daughter are openly hostile toward one another. He suggested that this was a way of Diane protecting herself, because he did not believe that she does not care about her daughter or what happens to her.

“I don’t think that reflects your true feelings,” Dr Phil said. “I believe you two do have some feelings for one another.” Through tears, Carie said she loves her mother, but not the way her mother treats her. She also agreed that she has been lashing out to protect herself. Like mother, like daughter. Maybe this breakthrough will help these women get a fresh start.

Have you ever known someone who has #GambledItAway? Help is available, whether you are reaching out on behalf of yourself, a family member, or a friend. Visit Gamblers Anonymous to find a meeting near you. Resources are also available through The National Council on Problem Gambling, which has a helpline at 1-800-522-4700.