Kristina Anderson Shirley

[Rebecca]

Since, what I consider to be, "lesser characters," have their own threads I thought I'd make one for the woman Leah considers her "parent." What do you think of her?

Gary really upgraded, as far as I can tell, in all ways with Kristina. I've heard some stuff about her "giving up custody" of her daughter because her ex didn't want their daughter on the show but does anyone have proof of that? If anything I would assume it just boils down to switching days with the father or maybe the dad got a bit more time to accommodate filming, they do only film certain days and only 3-4 days a week, so she could easily have her daughter the other time. I found an article that they settled out if court, with him having primary physical custody...but that could literally mean 40/60 or even closer, with him just having a bit more. I have a friend with "primary physical custody" and it's literally because she has her kids 57% of the time.

Have we ever even heard anything about her ex? Maybe he's a great dad, in which case I don't see the issue if they share custody or even if the dad has more right now. I know they were married 10? years or something close so he's always been in his daughter's life so I don't see a great sin with him having primary custody. Plus, Kristina cheated, she may feel like she should give him more time since if it weren't for her leaving the marriage he'd be with his daughter always. The cheating with Gary is pretty gross but she obviously married young and people change so much in those 10 years. I can't hate her for it even though I'm against cheating.

I still think of her as the opposite of a fame whore...girl hardly says anything, especially at the reunion, and she had what looked like zero makeup on. Until I'm shown otherwise I'll keep on feeling like she was the best thing that could have happened to Leah. I refuse to believe she's not very involved with her own daughter of the same age. She takes the time to text Amber pictures and things of Leah even! I feel like she wants Leah and Amber to have a good relationship. She's the only new partner on this franchise I see as a good person who actually loves her partner and is in it for the right reasons.

Also, it looks like she'd lost some weight at the reunion - hope for her to mobilize and help Gary to as well?

[Katt]

I think Amber started the rumour that Kristina gave up custody/signed her rights away. I assumed her daughter isn't on the show because neither parent wants her to be. Who could blame them? 

[darewright]

I would consider Kristina an "upgrade" from Amber, but that's not saying much.  I'm pretty much neutral about her.  I'm not sure I buy her excuse about getting pregnant ("I switched birth control brands").  I personally think she wanted to get pregnant to trap Gary.  She just seems blah and boring.  I think Gary likes the excitement and anger of Amber, because at least she shows emotion, unlike Kristina.

[Elizabeth9]

Wait...she's Kristina Anderson from Anderson, IN?

[Rebecca]

Wait...she's Kristina Anderson from Anderson, IN?

Guess so, when I googled Kristina Shirley old articles referenced her as Kristina Anderson.

I guess I assume Kristina smartly doesn't express all her emotions, particularly rage and anger, in view of the cameras. She seems to have more self control than most of the others but maybe there's just nothing there.

[CofCinci]

I think Amber started the rumour that Kristina gave up custody/signed her rights away. I assumed her daughter isn't on the show because neither parent wants her to be. Who could blame them?

50/50 is the default shared parenting plan these days for sane adults. Amber's default mode is "all or nothing" thinking. Since Kristina doesn't have her children 100% of the time, Amber interprets that custodial situation with the point of view that Kristina is a bad mother. Amber fails to see that good mothers put their child's best interest above their own.

[Snarky McSnarky]

I would consider Kristina an "upgrade" from Amber, but that's not saying much.  I'm pretty much neutral about her.  I'm not sure I buy her excuse about getting pregnant ("I switched birth control brands").  I personally think she wanted to get pregnant to trap Gary.  She just seems blah and boring.  I think Gary likes the excitement and anger of Amber, because at least she shows emotion, unlike Kristina.

I just can't wrap my head around anyone wanting to trap...Gary.  MTV cameras had to figure in there somewhere.  Right?  Right?

[AdorkableWitch]

I think MTV factors in because he has a much higher income bracket than most guys she would meet. When you have a kid, especially, the idea of not being paycheck to paycheck is pretty enticing.

[Rebecca]

I didn't realize she was 33/34.

[Katt]

While I also can't imagine anyone wanting to trap Gary, I have to admit, he's been THE shit lately. I thought he came off looking terrible last season with his bumbling way of telling Leah about her new sibling but now I think it may have just been a bad choice of words and he's not so good at expressing himself. He really needs to choose his words carefully if he doesn't want Leah being upset/confused.

I find Kristina to be inoffensive. On one hand, you've got Miranda Simms as a stepmother who can't say anything without being jumped all over and accused of butting in and "stealing" the Messer twins, even though she actually parents those girls, then you have Kristina, who is a primary figure in her step-child's life but keeps very quiet and as far as I know, hasn't received death threats and little Leah's behaviour is a testament to Kristina's involvement, IMO.

I also think Gary would have gone back to Amber if he really wanted to when she was released from gel, so Kristina can't be that bad. 
 

Ya know, what I'm trying to say is, fan girls be crazy bitches. I think Kristina is doing okay. 

[Calm81]

I think Kristina is very soft spoken and insecure. I also don't think she's a bad mom because her ex- husband has primary custody. The double standard is quite annoying.

I mean, why is it that when a couple splits and the mother gets primary custody that nobody questions the dads parenting but when it's the MOTHER that doesn't have primary custody we are all wired to thinking there may be something wrong with the mothers parenting because she's not primary?

From what I see with her and Leah is a step-mom that cares and she looks caring with her new child ( pays more attention to her baby than Catelynn does with Carly 2.0).

I give Kristina some credit. She definitely doesn't seem like a fame whore wanting her 15 minutes. I dunno. Still observing. Still observing.

Edited March 14, 2016 by Calm81

[Tatum]

I think Kristina is very soft spoken and insecure. I also don't think she's a bad mom because her ex- husband has primary custody. The double standard is quite annoying.

I mean, why is it that when a couple splits and the mother gets primary custody that nobody questions the dads parenting but when it's the MOTHER that doesn't have primary custody we are all wired to thinking there may be something wrong with the mothers parenting because she's not primary?

From what I see with her and Leah is a step-mom that cares and she looks caring with her new child ( pays more attention to her baby than Catelynn does with Carly 2.0).

I give Kristina some credit. She definitely doesn't seem like a fame whore wanting her 15 minutes. I dunno. Still observing. Still observing.

 

I think the reason for the custody/side eye thing is that it was reported (I make no claim to the veracity of this information) that Kristina had either primary or 50/50 custody and surrendered it to her ex so she could film Teen Mom.

 

While it sounds bad (if it's true) to trade time with your kid for reality TV participation, in the long run it might not be a bad idea. Per The Ashley, the original Teen Dads (Gary, Tyler, Ryan, Corey, Adam, and Jo) make pretty close to what the Teen Moms make (not quite as much, but still in the 6 figure range). Kristina gives up primary custody for 1-2 years, she socks away some money, invests it wisely over the next 10 years, and all the sudden Kristina's daughter has the means for college. There may just be a method to her madness after all.

 

I think Kristina seems like a decent person, far better than any of the teen moms, except for maybe Cate and Chelsea. Cate's lazy, but she seems like a genuinely nice person. I wouldn't use "nice" to describe the other 6, that's for sure.

[AdorkableWitch]

If I remember correctly she has 50/50 and they only film when her daughter is with her dad or is at school.

[DoctorWhovian]

At one point some season ago, i remember Kristina's daughter being at the house but not being allowed on camera, and this being mentioned (that she couldn't film). 

 

Also, whatever the excuse is, sometimes it is just, "I took my birth control regularly and it didn't work." I suppose changing brands could effect the effectiveness, say if the dose/level of estrogen was different between the two, and could allow ovulation the first month on the new pack or so. Or she could have usually taken the pill around 8 pm every night, but had a few days where it was more like 9 or 10 for who knows what reason (the pill is most effective if taken at the same time every day, and becomes less effective if the time varies). I dunno, maybe she purposefully did it, maybe not, but you can get pregnant on birth control, even when properly using it. I got an IUD to at least get rid of human error, and while it's very very very unlikely that it will fail after the first few months (and generally, failing during this time means it falls out, at least according to my doctor), it could.