Dr Phil: Help! My Daughter Is Addicted To Dangerous Men
Rhonda asked for Dr Phil’s help in getting through to her 18-year-old daughter, Jade. Rhonda thinks Jade is putting her life in danger because of her attraction to dangerous men, including at least one man who is in prison. Though she has taken steps to protect her daughter, Jade does not appreciate Rhonda’s attempts at intervention.
Dr Phil met a mother who is frustrated that her 18-year-old daughter continues to rebel, maintaining a phone relationship with a man in prison for drugs. (timpearcelosgatos / flickr)
“I have a problem with the thug guys that she likes,” Rhonda said. But would Dr Phil agree that Rhonda’s concerns were legitimate? Rhonda first noticed Jade’s behavior at age 14, when the teen would send racy photos to a boy. After that, Rhonda set restrictions on the hours when Jade could use her phone, to a level that even Rhonda classified as overprotective.
Dr Phil: Mom Vs Daughter In Phone Relationship with Prisoner
Jade does not understand why her mother is so intense about the rules. Rhonda does not approve of Jade’s choices in terms of fashion and beauty, and she is not cool with her daughter speaking to a man who is in prison on drug-related charges.
“I was planning to see him after he got out of prison,” Jade said. After that, Rhonda permanently took away Jade’s phone, and the two have reached an impasse. Rhonda questioned why Jade accepts social media friend requests from strangers and wears provocative makeup or outfits.
Dr Phil: Good Intentions, Bad Results
“My mom’s been crazy since I was 13 years old,” Jade said. In addition to controlling the hours that Jade has access to her phone, Rhonda will routinely delete contacts she does not want Jade in touch with, and she is careful about what apps and other features Jade has access to.
Rhonda said she has taken Dr Phil’s advice in monitoring what her daughter is up to on the phone and online. She wanted to know what she was doing wrong and why her plan wasn’t getting results. “Your intentions are good. Your methods aren’t working,” Dr Phil said.
Dr Phil: Self-Worth for Teen Girl
“Your daughter doesn’t have the self-worth, the self-esteem, and the value that I would want her to have,” Dr Phil said. He suggested that Rhonda is having a negative impact on those attributes because of the way that she tries to get through to her daughter.
Dr Phil did not think it was okay that Rhonda blocked channels like BET so that Jade cannot watch them; it’s not like they contain adult content. As for Jade, Dr Phil reminded her that her brain is still developing, and that is something to be aware of. He said he hoped that she can learn to value herself and take that into consideration when assessing a potentially dangerous situation.
Dr Phil #RiskyRelationship: Too Old To Be Controlled?
What do you think about this girl’s risky relationship? At the age of 18, she could soon be out on her own, and there is not much legal basis for Rhonda to try to keep Jade at home if she chooses to move out. Do you think adult children should still have to follow their parents’ rules when living at home?
At what age did your parents lift restrictions you might have had about activities or behavior? Do you agree with Rhonda’s approach? Share your own responses to Jade’s #RiskyRelationship by leaving a comment or continuing the conversation on social media.
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