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The Teen Mom cast appears divided in their reactions to Amber Portwood‘s parenting this season. Amber has long struggled to maintain a healthy relationship with her 15-year-old daughter, Leah, whom she shares with ex Gary Shirley. Gary’s wife, Kristina, often steps in and fills that mom-figure role for Leah, who calls her mommy.
Amber has long claimed she wants to work on things with Leah, but they have yet to make any real progress. The strain resulting from that is evident in this season of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. Amber struggles to find a place in Leah’s life and seems hurt by Leah’s closeness to Kristina, though she never disrespects the stepmom about it. Viewers have felt like Amber’s attempts might be too little, too late for the teen at this point.
This season, we’ve seen Maci Bookout McKinney and Catelynn Lowell Baltierra trying to be Amber’s support system. The two women flew out to check on her amid hearing that Leah was telling her father that she wanted to be adopted by Kristina. That would, of course, require Amber to terminate her parental rights, which sources say she will never do.
While Maci and Catelynn are trying to be there for Amber, they’re also very careful to be respectful to Gary and Kristina. They’re also considerate of Leah’s feelings and try not to overstep as friends.
Jade Cline Recently Shared Her Feelings as Someone Who Had a Complicated Maternal Relationship
It’s not unusual for members of the Teen Mom cast to live-tweet episodes as they air. Jade Cline did just that on Thursday, sharing her commentary on the dynamic between Amber Portwood and her daughter.
Being distant from your child puts a strain on the relationship. Time is so valuable& missing out on time puts a permanent strain between a child & a parent. I’m literally going through the same thing right now. My heart breaks for Leah bc I understand that pain & disappointment.
Feeling like you’re not loved or good enough takes a toll on a child. Especially when it happens for years on end. It makes the relationship even harder to salvage. I’ve been on the side Leah has and can empathize with the situation. It’s painful. #teenmomnextchapter #teenmom
Jade also retweeted a viewer who praised Gary and Kristina for how they handle Leah’s complicated feelings around her mom. The two try to respect her while also leaving space for the possibility she may want to be closer to Amber at any given point.
Jade clarified that she wasn’t trying to be harsh or judgmental of anyone in what she shared. She was simply offering perspective as someone who also struggled to have a healthy relationship with her mom in her teenage years.
Taylor Selfridge Has Also Shared Some Feelings on the Matter
Taylor Selfridge — girlfriend of Cory Wharton and girl mom — aired some feelings out on Snapchat ahead of the episode airing. While doing a Q&A on her account, Taylor was asked how she feels about the other women on Teen Mom.
“I like 90% of them. I think they’re great.” Taylor began. “But there’s some that I just want to rip my hair out watching them bc I don’t get how it’s that difficult to be a good parent… kids just need love.”
While Taylor never mentioned Amber by name, she later spoke more about her frustrations.
I get mad at it too. Like, I don’t watch the episodes but I see, like, clips here and there. There’s nothing that makes me more mad than when a child is suffering from things that a parent does. And, as like, a stepmom, thank God I deal with a mother who takes care of her kids.
Because, like, I would fight. I would seriously be so upset, like, all the time… I don’t know how they do it. They have the patience of, like… I don’t even know.
Teen Mom has shown more interaction between the women in recent years, but not much between Amber and the newer cast members. It’s understandable they’re frustrated with how she makes them look as a collective. They also, as so many viewers do, feel genuinely bad for what Leah’s going through.
