Mojave

Taking a little time away from school at that age *can* be a good thing for some people. When I was 18, I left home for college and completely blew it my first semester. I wasted my time and my parents' money. I knew I needed a break from school so I sat out a year and worked full time. That year really opened my eyes to a lot of things in the outside world away from school and I was able to get my head straight. When I went back to school, I was way more motivated and got so much more out of it. That being said, leaving school to get married and/or have kids is a different deal and I can see where that makes it much harder to go back.

To me, it's obvious that Meri has some deep, unresolved emotional scars related to her secondary infertility. I know because I went through some similar struggles when my husband and I were building our family. It's very difficult and can really take a toll on you emotionally. Only difference is I didn't have to grin and bear it as my husband knocked up other women a dozen plus times. How awful that your ability to procreate is valued above all else in the polygamy culture. And now, even the "new" wife has more children with Kody than Meri does, further cheapening her "worth" in the family. I think Meri saw the catfish thing as finally her out from years of being unhappy and depressed. She was so ready to move on. When it all blew up, she was left not only hurt and embarrassed, but also mourning the fact that she's basically stuck with these people for the foreseeable future. Any hope for a better life seems over now. And the misery of it is written all over her face.