All Episodes Talk: Small World, Big Lives

[Whyyouneedaname]

46 minutes ago, Absolom said:

It could be that like me whitening isn't advised for her teeth for many reasons.  I find the current rage for unnaturally white teeth is painful to some of us who for many reasons have teeth that don't fit this new trend. 

I guess, as someone posted, she's "facially gifted" and that's what jumps out at me. I don't like the bright, unnatural whitening but a little enhancement....unless it's prohibited, for whatever reason.

[VioletNevermind]

This may be really petty, but holy crap does it annoy me when Tori refers to Zach as "babe-uh."  Say "babe" or "baby" if you absolutely must, but please, no "babe-uh."  Not only does it make no sense, it also makes me want to hurl something very heavy at my television.

Edited May 10, 2017 by SuzyLee

[Awfarmington]

Flash of anger? Chris seems (from what we are able to see) to be laid back. He is right to be concerned if he's whitnessed some sort of outburst. Those sort of things tend to get worse when the offender starts to let their guard down. 

[Literata]

I just hate that Jeremy so obviously favors Matt over Amy. Why was Amy told about the pregnancy a day later than Matt and Zach? Maybe I missed something ... was she out of town? And I know the segments are edited, but Jeremy seemed so into telling Matt. Amy, not so much.

I also hate that Amy idolizes Chris. She mentioned being nervous to say or do the wrong thing. I get the self-esteem issues, and the vulnerability. But I'd sure like to see her value herself a bit more.

And as much as Amy does deserve her own life, it twisted my heart just a little bit when she told Zach she was going to Mount Hood with Chris. Of the twins, I think Zach is easier on his mom, but I think the divorce genuinely upsets him. The look that came across his face was hard to watch. IMO, Jeremy's issues stem from pseudo-religious, sexist bullshit. But I think Zach truly misses the way things were, even though Matt and Amy fought all the time.

I also really don't like Caryn. She's smarmy and not a catch. 

[jumper sage]

Well I tuned in a bit late and was lucky to completely miss Jer and Aud.  I did catch where Matt said he could be hard to live with.  True!

Amy and the kids - you can't preach Christian values their whole life and then expect them to just readjust to your new values.  I say this knowing that their racist views were rolled into their crazy Christian values.

Amy and Chris - it is obvious she is head over heels for him.  His problem is that he has not put it straight how he feels and how he lives his life.  I am so much like him. I did want a longstanding relationship but I refused to conform to the usual romance/dating rituals.  I countered this by being very, very clear that a marriage document was not something I aspired to.  I refused to label myself and my relationship.  By stating this in the beginning the other person had full control to either accept this or go their own way which would reflect their own values.  I have many life long friends because of this.  Each person was given the complete respect they deserved and my own self-respect was left intact.  It took quite some time but I did find the exact right person who shared my desires and we have had a wonderful life because we both believe the same sort of romance/dating ideals.  Amy and Chris should have had a discussion before leaving on the trip of what was expected for each of them and what was a deal breaker.  I hear that divorce lawyers and psychologists agree that a person should wait at least a year to delve into a new relationship.  They should use that year to reflect on what happened, what their own fault was and finally dig deep to find out what exactly they are looking for and what they will and will not accept.

Zach and Tori - I loved that Zach was worried he would not be a good father.  I think he will be because he is so conscious what life has in store for him.  Tori has perplexed me these past couple episodes.  She must have known that having a little person was a real, if not certain, possibility.

Matt and Caryn - both are idiots.  If they truly had a platonic, close relationship and then are giving a roll in the hay a try then they are stupid.  What is wrong with having a life long friend?  Why screw it up?

[Awfarmington]

4 minutes ago, jumper sage said:

Well I tuned in a bit late and was lucky to completely miss Jer and Aud.  I did catch where Matt said he could be hard to live with.  True!

Amy and the kids - you can't preach Christian values their whole life and then expect them to just readjust to your new values.  I say this knowing that their racist views were rolled into their crazy Christian values.

Amy and Chris - it is obvious she is head over heels for him.  His problem is that he has not put it straight how he feels and how he lives his life.  I am so much like him. I did want a longstanding relationship but I refused to conform to the usual romance/dating rituals.  I countered this by being very, very clear that a marriage document was not something I aspired to.  I refused to label myself and my relationship.  By stating this in the beginning the other person had full control to either accept this or go their own way which would reflect their own values.  I have many life long friends because of this.  Each person was given the complete respect they deserved and my own self-respect was left intact.  It took quite some time but I did find the exact right person who shared my desires and we have had a wonderful life because we both believe the same sort of romance/dating ideals.  Amy and Chris should have had a discussion before leaving on the trip of what was expected for each of them and what was a deal breaker.  I hear that divorce lawyers and psychologists agree that a person should wait at least a year to delve into a new relationship.  They should use that year to reflect on what happened, what their own fault was and finally dig deep to find out what exactly they are looking for and what they will and will not accept.

Zach and Tori - I loved that Zach was worried he would not be a good father.  I think he will be because he is so conscious what life has in store for him.  Tori has perplexed me these past couple episodes.  She must have known that having a little person was a real, if not certain, possibility.

Matt and Caryn - both are idiots.  If they truly had a platonic, close relationship and then are giving a roll in the hay a try then they are stupid.  What is wrong with having a life long friend?  Why screw it up?

With Matt and Caryn, it's along the lines of not dating in the workplace. Except possibly worse. When they break up (I don't think she'll be able to handle the 'rascal' long term) there goes his valued farm manager. If I really value someone if my life (close friend, employee, etc), the last thing I would do is date them. 

[scenicbyway]

This was just hard to watch...the interactions between Matt and Amy are particularly contentious.  Matt and Caryn seem like just friendly co-workers?  Amy is beside herself with self esteem issues (which she always had) but are being magnified by her relationship with Chris.  I don't believe for s second it was their first overnight trip.

Tori and Auj just seemed awkward talking.  Tori has some real fears and hates being preggo and all Auj could conjure was a "huh."  I thought it was worrisome that Jeremy mentioned they'd had difficulties only 2 years in.  I do wonder if they went ahead to get pregnant because Tori was.

The whole thing just seems sad.  Why would the kids want to move back to the farm with bickering parents?

[CofCinci]

29 minutes ago, Awfarmington said:

With Matt and Caryn, it's along the lines of not dating in the workplace. Except possibly worse. When they break up (I don't think she'll be able to handle the 'rascal' long term) there goes his valued farm manager. If I really value someone if my life (close friend, employee, etc), the last thing I would do is date them. 

Why would they break up? They've probably been having sex for 10 years.  You can tell by their body language that there is a familiarity and comfort that comes with a long-term relationship. 

[Literata]

My guess is Zach's doubts about his ability to be a good father stem from the fact that he recalls very well that at several junctures during his own childhood, Matt just couldn't be bothered.

[UsernameFatigue]

I love that Tori is so honest and matter of fact about not liking being pregnant. So refreshing.

I didn't understand why Jeremy insisted that they were surprised to find out they were pregnant and hadn't been trying. According to him they are 4 months behind Zach and Tori, according to Tori they are 5 months behind. Either way they have had some time to know that they will not have the first grandkid, and Jer even mentioned in the last epi that Zach and Tori had a headstart. Add to that that their whole marriage appears to be on a timetable, and I find his comment to be laughable. 

For the most part I like Chris, and am not sure how much is editing, but I did find his comment about a flash of temper with regards to Amy to be odd. I have not met a person yet in my life who has not gotten angry at some point.  My husband is very easy going and it takes a lot to get him mad, but when he does, look out. I on the other hand can get mad at the drop of a hat, then I am over it almost as quickly. It makes me wonder what kind of relationships he has had previously if he is with women who never get angry. How is that possible? 

[walnutqueen]

17 minutes ago, UsernameFatigue said:

For the most part I like Chris, and am not sure how much is editing, but I did find his comment about a flash of temper with regards to Amy to be odd. I have not met a person yet in my life who has not gotten angry at some point.  My husband is very easy going and it takes a lot to get him mad, but when he does, look out. I on the other hand can get mad at the drop of a hat, then I am over it almost as quickly. It makes me wonder what kind of relationships he has had previously if he is with women who never get angry. How is that possible? 

I wonder about this - especially since he couched it in terms of it being his "hot button".  That suggests there's a background story ...

I fear Amy's going to get hurt by this one.

[Barb23]

I was expecting Chris to give Amy the details of when she went off.  Amy just acted surprised when he said it but didn't ask for details.  If someone told me that, my next sentence would be to give me example of when I lost it.   I'm thinking  it was probably discussed & we didn't get to see.  Just another forced plot line - we see her discussing it with girlfriends. 

[Honey]

On 5/8/2017 at 10:38 AM, Mindthinkr said:

Matt might have been miffed that he had to disinvite Caryn; the reveal about her being his mistress (oops...girlfriend according to the shows timeline) was too soon. 

Even if Amy hadn't attended, the cameras would have still been there.  Caryn wouldn't have been invited anyway.

[Literata]

4 hours ago, walnutqueen said:

I wonder about this - especially since he couched it in terms of it being his "hot button".  That suggests there's a background story ...

I fear Amy's going to get hurt by this one.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I saw it as his way of setting up a potential reason to end the relationship down the road.

The first time she's angry with him:  "I told you this was a deal-breaker for me..." 

[Honey]

On 5/8/2017 at 9:20 PM, Celia Rubenstein said:

That's like the fifth post in the last couple of days referring to Chris as "good looking."  

Really?  You all think that?  Damn, I just don't see it.  At all.

Thank you.  I don't see him as good looking either.  And as for Amy, you know that variety box of instant oatmeal with all of the flavors?  There are always 2 "plain" packets of oatmeal in the box.  Amy is the plain oatmeal.  Not bad, just kind of "blah".

[ginger90]

A visit from Jacob

https://www.instagram.com/p/BT4EqqqgfFl/

[Ina123]

18 hours ago, Whyyouneedaname said:

Not sure what it is but it just grosses me out to watch some people eat & she's one of them.

Is there something about dwarfs that they can't close their mouths when chewing. Amy's bad but Zach is downright disgusting, to the point that you see food in his mouth as he chews. If it's lack of good manners, shame on them. If it's a respiratory problem with dwarfs, then just don't film while eating. Geeze, put it in your contract. I refer to last season, I think, when Zach was eating breakfast at home with Tori, he was literally chewing, wide open-mouthed to the point that you could see yellow eggs in his mouth. OMG, just please do something about it.

[dugie]

I meant to write this before regarding Amy being a housewife and stay at home mom. ..I always felt that Amy didn't want Matt involved with the kids. It was her way of having control. For whatever reason, she seemed to resent Matt and would shut him out. Same with keeping the house a mess..she knew it drove him nuts so that's why she kept it a mess.

[Mindthinkr]

@Ina123 I totally agree with your point. I have posted before that this is my pet peeve. I just don't think that people are taught good table manners anymore. On RHONYC, there are a few (Ramona and Carole) whose scenes I almost have to FF as it grosses me out. There was talk on the SC board yesterday about Cameran doing it while flailing her fork about as well. So many of these shows film around people eating and it is just not watcher friendly! Yes, I find Zak eating gross too. 

I also know a little person and was told that their motor skills are lacking in their mouths and they have trouble breathing whilst eating, so I like your point of them just not filming over the dinner (breakfast) table. 

[Literata]

39 minutes ago, dugie said:

I meant to write this before regarding Amy being a housewife and stay at home mom. ..I always felt that Amy didn't want Matt involved with the kids. It was her way of having control. For whatever reason, she seemed to resent Matt and would shut him out. Same with keeping the house a mess..she knew it drove him nuts so that's why she kept it a mess.

When Matt didn't show up for soccer games or other events, or arrived late to graduations after debating whether to go at all, Amy was consistently upset that he was missing out on his kids' lives. Amy can't be held responsible for those choices; Matt shut himself out because he simply couldn't be bothered. 

[ZoloftBlob]

While I do think Amy allowed the house to be a mess because it irked Matt, I also think it irked *her* that Matt's contribution to helping was to do nothing except whip the kids up into a frenzy playing with them. Amy generally had to be the "bad guy" to the kids - dealing with their school work, their activitiese, feeding them, coaching soccer, while Matt went off to work, or tooled around the farm "dreaming". So Amy let the house be messy.

I've been treated to Matt smugging to the camera "If I want to go around Amy and get something done, I will!" too many times over stupid shit like mounting a giant half finished boat in a field, or buying stuff, or *burning down a house*, to believe that Matt really gave two shits about the house. Matt's made the point repeatedly - if he gave a shit about it, it would change. He obviously didn't really give a shit.

Matt always likes to present himself as the victim - Amy never ever restricted him from kid activities but he implies on camera that he's "uncomfortable" intruding and hems and haws... and then in different episodes merrily notes how he doesn't like to be bothered with the family. A telling lie on his part? On the many vacations the family takes, Matt will whine and moan how he doesn't like travel and how he doesn't like to be away from the farm and how its not a good use of his time... but off camera, Matt is quick to flit off on vacation without the family. Heck I remember one time he bragged about going to China on  his facebook because he had to use some miles before they expired. No. If you genuinely don't like travel and you genuinely don't like leaving your property, then you don't casually flit off to China for no reason other than "I couldn't let the miles expire". Matt lies all the time in order to be the victim. He obviously loves traveling by himself. And he only gave a shit about the house because it let him needle Amy.

[Evagirl]

11 hours ago, Literata said:

I just hate that Jeremy so obviously favors Matt over Amy.

Jeremy has always been Matt's favorite and Zach has always been Amy's.  Both Matt and Amy shared their love with Molly because she was the only girl.  Jacob was sort of left out all together.

I remember seeing shows where Jeremy would lift his father to help him get into vehicles or other obstacles that were too high for his short legs.  I think that kind of thing is bonding with a child and a parent.  

I think Jacob acted out a lot because he was left out of the "love circle" quite often.  Kids see this favoritism in parents even though parents will say, "I love all my children the same."  No, you don't.  You want to believe you love them all the same, but sometimes there's just that something that pulls you a little closer to one child over the other.  I only have one child, but I have a lot of siblings.  We all knew our dad had a favorite daughter even when we were kids.  Whenever we wanted to do something we'd always put her up to ask Daddy because we knew she was his favorite.  But we also knew he loved us as well and we didn't hold it against her - ever.  We laugh about it now.

[Whyyouneedaname]

Jerk & Oddj didn't get the same excited response that Z & T did, I think it's obvious that yes you were trying and no we don't believe for a minute that it "just happened". The only real excitement came from Tori, the rest of them were like "really, can't Zach just have this moment for himself, but yeah hey congrats another grandbaby!!" Really despising J & A the more I see of them.

[ZoloftBlob]

Agreed,whydoyouneedaname. Jeremy made it pretty clear he didn't want to be the loser twin with no baby. I am mildly amused that while they paraded the "WE FUCKED IN A TREE HOUSE AND THATS HOW THE BABY WAS CONCIEVED!" story and the "OMG I PEED ON THE STICK THE VERY NIGHT OF THE GENDER REVEAL!" all over the internet, they were not happy to explain the timing on the show.

[SunnyBeBe]

I got a little tickled when Amy was packing up and hauling items that were "supposedly" Matt's property down to the office.  Those pants were definitely not his and neither was that vest. lol  Amy, all you have to do is READ THE AGREEMENT OR ORDER that you signed and DO WHAT IT SAYS.  If you have questions, ask your lawyer.  All she needed to do was copy the family photos by the designated date and provide to Matt.  AND remove your name from certain joint accounts. It's not that difficult.  People who drag this out do it for a reason.  Either they CANNOT move on OR they want to antagonize the other party.  Maybe, BOTH in this case.  

I'm not Amy's biggest fan, but, I do give her props when she's a standout and I do think she has some positive qualities.  However, I do not buy her woe me tales about how insecure she is, how pitiful she feels, etc.  I just don't buy it.  This is the stuff she says to excuse her poor behavior.  I'm glad it didn't work with Chris. He has seen her rage and called her on it.  I applaud him, because I was involved with two different people who had rage issue.s  Without really wanting to change and therapy, I don't think they do.  It's HORRIBLE to be around someone who flares up like that.  NOT worth it, imo.  You have to walk on egg shells.  I hope Chris really protects himself on this. 

Chris is NOT THE FIRST PERSON to discus how AMY can go off.  Recall, during the pre-wedding episodes, TORI and AUDREY brought up how AMY could really go OFF and they tried to avoid it.  ZACK and JER were there and AGREED. So, this is not about MATT.  IT's an Amy issue, that I hope she can address.  It doesn't make you a bad person, but, it keeps people at arm's length.  Amy can call it a defense mechanism or whatever, but, it's unacceptable behavior from an adult.  

Edited May 10, 2017 by SunnyBeBe

[ZoloftBlob]

Eh, Amy doesn't appear to be unusually angry or temperamental to me. And honestly, I don't see the kids flinching in terror, or Matt for that matter. If they're all so terrified she's going to lash out in rage, you'd think Jeremy would be a lot less "Mom, you need to explain to me why you're dating a man when I want you to love Daddy" - I mean really, the kids and Matt are sooooo terrified, they're walking on eggshells and flinching in terror... and also cheerfully laughing over how Matt just has to lie to her face. I mean, Matt went over to her home, and turned the talk of the baby right to his need to get photos and funny, he wasn't flinching or cringing in terror or walking on eggshells as he picked that fight in her home... Not sure I buy the narrative that Amy is constantly terrifiying her family with her misplaced rage.

[SunnyBeBe]

Amy has seemed unusually temperamental and hostile to me, towards Matt since day one, IMO.  When kids grow up with that kind of a dynamic, it's not that unusual.  It's something that is just accepted. That's all they know.   The people that I was involved with kept their behind closed doors rage issues well hidden. They only let it out for certain people. And only certain people got to see it.  Amy has always gone off on Matt on the show.  I was a little surprised when Tori and Audrey brought it up. So, it's still going on, even with Matt out of the house.

 I think it's a very difficult thing to change, from what I have seen.  I suspect that we will see more about it.  Amy DID NOT DENY IT.  So, obviously, it's an issue.  She has an excuse for it, but, that doesn't mitigate it to me.   Amy may luck up and find someone who will tolerate it.  I don't think it's going to be Chris though.  

[bichonblitz]

So many thoughts on this episode. 

1. Jer and Auj could not stand that they were not the 1st ones to get pregnant. I don't believe the minute they found out about Zac and Tori, they weren't humping like rabbits to get pregnant, too.

2. Jer and Auj tell Matt first, then go to Zac and Tori, then Amy is the last to know? Ouch!

3. I don't like that Chris is making Amy feel like she can't be herself. That's the kiss of death in a relationship. Now she's going to worry every time she raises her voice or maybe isn't in such a great mood. It's called life, asshole, people are going to have feelings and moods. As long as you talk about it to your partner, it will work out. It's no wonder this guy has never been married.  He wants perfection in a flawed world as if he is so perfect himself. I wish she would stop hanging on him and touching him all the time. He does not reciprocate. Play it a little cool, Amy, and stop asking him how he is feeling about you and the relationship. Just let it happen. Or in this case, just let it not happen. 

4. I'm no biologist, but is it true that Jer and Auj have "very little chance" of having a dwarf? Doesn't Jer carry the gene? Both his parents and his twin brother are all little people. Both sets of grandparents are average size yet had dwarf babies. I must be missing something. 

[SunnyBeBe]

I wondered about that comment by Jer being confident that they would not have a child with dwarfism.  Here's an article that has a lot of info. 

http://dwarfparents.com/chance-having-dwarf-child

I think this article is better.  It looks like Jer inherited dd, and is unaffected, so has no chance of passing on the condition.  That's how I read it. 

http://www.genetics.edu.au/publications-and-resources/facts-sheets/fact-sheet-8-autosomal-dominant-inheritance

Edited May 10, 2017 by SunnyBeBe

[Whyyouneedaname]

27 minutes ago, ZoloftBlob said:

Eh, Amy doesn't appear to be unusually angry or temperamental to me. And honestly, I don't see the kids flinching in terror, or Matt for that matter. If they're all so terrified she's going to lash out in rage, you'd think Jeremy would be a lot less "Mom, you need to explain to me why you're dating a man when I want you to love Daddy" - I mean really, the kids and Matt are sooooo terrified, they're walking on eggshells and flinching in terror... 

I had a family member that had these "fits of rage" that no one on the outside would believe ever happened. From someone not speaking to them in church and they get up, announce to their other half they are leaving because "no one wants them their anyway" to showing up at their spouses place of employment to hash out a disagreement for all to see. The least little thing would set them off, & tomorrow everything is fine. Maybe that's what they are referring to, a miserable life is what it amounts to. Not saying Amy is this way but that it's possible, we only see clips of a few hours per week. 

[ZoloftBlob]

Its true that Jeremy is very unlikely to have a dwarf child. Zach and Amy are achon dwarfs - if Jeremy had the gene at all, he would also be a little person. Jeremy possibly carries the gene for Matt's type of dwarfism, but its recessive so both Auj and Jer would have to be carriers (like Pop and Honey) to have children with Matt's dwarfism. Its pretty unlikely. Sunnybebe - nothing about Amy's attitude toward Matt since day one has struck me as unusual or over the top ragefilled. Matt's been passive aggressive since day one, and has his fair share of the blame in their relationship collapse.

[ZoloftBlob]

Whyyouneedaname - I know exactly what you mean, and believe me, I don't hold Amy up as a saint - she's a part of the problem here. At the same time - what you described? Is easily why the family danced attendance on Matt and Matt's mood. Heck, I seem to recall Matt pointedly sulking during one of Amy's charities functions with that exact phrasing - nobody wants me there. I also recall at least two fights off screen one with Amy - on the boat trip on the missippippi and one with Zach (over the Bermuda trip) where Matt pointedly lost his temper to where the kids looked shellshocked. There's also the Costa Rica vacation where Matt totally pitched a fit because he wasn't the center of attention getting his way.

[Celia Rubenstein]

I haven't seen the episode yet, but wasn't all Chris said was that he had seen a "flash of anger?"  When did this turn into "Amy has RAGE issues?" 

Perhaps Amy seems emotional because her behavior is being compared to Matt's ... anyone would look emotional compared to the self-absorbed detachment of that guy.  He is a master of playing the passive-aggressive victim game, and as a result his anger is expressed much more subtly. Frankly, I'd rather deal with an Amy who gets pissed off - usually for good reason - and tells you why so you can actually do something to remedy things.  Matt just whines about how bad he has it ... when in reality he either has it just fine or brought his problems upon himself. You can't work with someone like that.  

That is not to say that Matt is not himself capable of real flashes of temper, as Zoloftblob just pointed out.  I think Tori and Audrey just haven't seen it yet and that is why they have only mentioned Amy going off.  But it will happen.  Amy gets frustrated and loses her temper but so does Matt.  Just wait until they all go on a trip together and Matt doesn't get his way about something, LOL! 

[Literata]

6 minutes ago, Celia Rubenstein said:

I haven't seen the episode yet, but wasn't all Chris said was that he had seen a "flash of anger?"  When did this turn into "Amy has RAGE issues?" 

Perhaps Amy seems emotional because her behavior is being compared to Matt's ... anyone would look emotional compared to the self-absorbed detachment of that guy.  He is a master of playing the passive-aggressive victim game, and as a result his anger is expressed much more subtly. Frankly, I'd rather deal with an Amy who gets pissed off - usually for good reason - and tells you why so you can actually do something to remedy things.  Matt just whines about how bad he has it ... when in reality he either has it just fine or brought his problems upon himself. You can't work with someone like that.  

That is not to say that Matt is not himself capable of real flashes of temper, as Zoloftblob just pointed out.  I think Tori and Audrey just haven't seen it yet and that is why they have only mentioned Amy going off.  But it will happen.  Amy gets frustrated and loses her temper but so does Matt.  Just wait until they all go on a trip together and Matt doesn't get his way about something, LOL! 

This. All this. 

Of course Amy is angry from time to time. First, she's human. Second, she lived for 26 years with a spouse who certainly seems to have passive-aggressive and narcissistic tendencies.

And in the present day, she's dealing with at least one child who treats her with outright condescension, and she either reacts with grace or not at all. I'd be a whole lot angrier than she appears to be.

I found Chris's observation strange, and a bit on the egotistical side. I wish Amy had responded with a parallel observation about him.

And I do buy her insecurity and vulnerability, 100 percent. As we all know, she didn't "grow up in the hospital" as Matt did (oh, wait. Have you not heard him mention that? ?), but she's had some pretty shitty experiences that resulted from others' feelings about her stature. She feared she'd lose her kids because she's a little person, for God's sake. 

Amy's not perfect, but to me, she comes across as pretty real. And I had been rooting for Chris, but he soured me a bit last night.

[Willowsmom]

Chris' comment last night show why he's never married more than anything about Amy. I hope she's the one to break it off, she doesn't need another controlling man.

[VioletNevermind]

This is the oddest, most confounding family I've ever seen (well, besides the Duggars, of course).  Who the hell do Jeremy and Audrey (I refuse to say, write, or think "Auj") think they are to even presume that they would be able to live in the main house if they decide to move back?  I can't even imagine asking my parents to move out of their house so I can move in.  My mother would still be laughing in my face (and who could blame her?!).

As for Amy's squeeze, she is in the process of smothering him with insecurity and pressure.  From the very beginning when they started to show snippets of their relationship, I got an odd vibe from Chris.  Every time Amy displays a need for validation or reassurance (which is quite often), Chris doesn't respond in a way that I would find comforting.  He reacts like someone who is playing it cool as a cucumber and is keeping his long-term options open.  His description of Amy's anger sounded like someone who is looking for a potential out, or at least keeping that option open for the future.  I don't think we've ever heard him answer a direct question without starting with "Weellllllllll . . .  "  I realize that we only see bits and pieces of things, but I sure hope Amy asked him to flesh out his thoughts on her anger a bit.  Accepting comments like that at face value certainly does let him off easy, despite the fact that he's right about her temper.

As for Matt and Caryn, anyone who actually believes that those two weren't fooling around (at the least) before his divorce is kidding themselves.  His insistence that "love just bloomed," or whatever bullshit he said, is just that: bullshit.  If I were Amy, I absolutely would not have invited her to the gender reveal party.  Those things are for family, not your ex-husband's employee/jump-off.  I would also move out of that house and go start my own single life.  I'm no fan of Amy's, but I can't even imagine how hurtful it must be to watch Matt and Caryn ride around in that golf cart together, "running" the farm.  

Tori's conversation with Audrey was awkward as hell.  You would think that that conversation would have been a great bonding opportunity for them, given that they're both pregnant at the same time.  Audrey acts almost like she's too good to talk with Tori on that level.  I wonder if she'll look back in the future at how terribly precious she and Jeremy act now and feel embarrassed.  One look at the gobs of highly staged pictures on their social media and website(s) makes it clear just how highly they think of themselves.

Edited May 10, 2017 by SuzyLee

[Whyyouneedaname]

35 minutes ago, ZoloftBlob said:

Whyyouneedaname - I know exactly what you mean, and believe me, I don't hold Amy up as a saint - she's a part of the problem here. At the same time - what you described? Is easily why the family danced attendance on Matt and Matt's mood. Heck, I seem to recall Matt pointedly sulking during one of Amy's charities functions with that exact phrasing - nobody wants me there. I also recall at least two fights off screen one with Amy - on the boat trip on the missippippi and one with Zach (over the Bermuda trip) where Matt pointedly lost his temper to where the kids looked shellshocked. There's also the Costa Rica vacation where Matt totally pitched a fit because he wasn't the center of attention getting his way.

yes agree about Matt and his "my way or the highway" 'tude, just referencing the anger because Chris brought it up, and actually sounded like a deal breaker for me. I would hate to know that I couldn't show my anger when I felt I was done wrong or just cause "dammit I'm havin a day" cause my new man doesn't like it. Run Amy run.

[camom]

Obviously, I have no idea what is in Matt and Amy's divorce agreement.  In my fantasies, Amy tells Matt (and Jeremy) that she has decided to move off the farm and that they are welcome to buy her out.  Otherwise, she will sell her half or they will have to sell the entire place in order to pay her what she is due.  It would be fun just to watch Matt's head explode.

[SunnyBeBe]

I don't think that regular, I had a bad day type thing is what Chris was referring to.  If you've never dealt with someone who has this issue, then, it may be difficult to imagine.  But, when OTHERS bring it up, then, it's not normal.  (Previously, brought up on tv by Tori an Auj and agreed to by twins, so, I don't think that Chris is blowing it out of proportion.)

 AND Amy didn't deny it.  If someone brought up anger on my part.  My mouth would drop and I'd ask them what they were talking about, because, I don't have anger issues.  However, that's not what happened. Amy seemed startled, but, not shocked.  She then tried to minimize the problem and when Chris wouldn't back down, she then got defensive and tried to give excuses for it.  That doesn't sound like a person who doesn't have an anger issue.  Perhaps, we'll find out more later on.  

[bichonblitz]

20 minutes ago, Whyyouneedaname said:

I would hate to know that I couldn't show my anger when I felt I was done wrong or just cause "dammit I'm havin a day" cause my new man doesn't like it. Run Amy run.

Yes! I would also like to know exactly who or what her "flash of anger" was directed at. I bet it had nothing to do with Chris. He's storing that in the back of his mind as a perfect excuse for the break up and I guarantee there is going to be a break up. He seems like the type that sabotages what could be a good relationship because he doesn't want to get too serious. He just wants to have fun. Amy is not that girl. She needs a committed, devoted relationship with a future. At least that's what she's indicated on the show. 

[spankydoll]

On ‎5‎/‎9‎/‎2017 at 7:20 AM, Mindthinkr said:

Agreed and also invest in some clothes that aren't jeans. Before y'all gang up on me because of her size and it being difficult: 

1) Dr Jennifer, the star of The Little Couple always has the cutest outfits and wears colors. Not drab clothes like Amy. I have seen Amy make an effort in past episodes and it did make a difference for the better. 

2) I'm small and can fit into a girls size 10-12 but look hard for petite sizes (love 00's) but I need to get everything hemmed and occasionally some tailoring. It can be done. Also petite ppl need to avoid prints, midi dresses (skirts) and stripes that look out of proportion if you aren't a long legged Sally. Some department stores even offer free tailoring. Her jeans and country look are fine for the farm but a little effort would go a long way. 

Amy wasn't exactly supported in pampering herself during her marriage. I can imagine that any extravagant purchases for her were nixed by Matt. And the kids pretty much treat her like a servant.

[bichonblitz]

Regarding Amy's look: I remember back in the day when Amy used to have blond highlights in her hair and it was always soft and silky looking. She also dressed very nicely, wore dresses on some special occassions and wore makeup. Strange now that she's single she looks like she doesn't care. 

Edited May 10, 2017 by bichonblitz

[beeziebee]

3 hours ago, Celia Rubenstein said:

Amy gets frustrated and loses her temper but so does Matt.  Just wait until they all go on a trip together and Matt doesn't get his way about something, LOL! 

Except when Matt does it, he gets FUSTRATED.  

[jumper sage]

5 hours ago, bichonblitz said:

I don't like that Chris is making Amy feel like she can't be herself. That's the kiss of death in a relationship. Now she's going to worry every time she raises her voice or maybe isn't in such a great mood. It's called life, asshole, people are going to have feelings and moods. As long as you talk about it to your partner, it will work out. It's no wonder this guy has never been married.  He wants perfection in a flawed world as if he is so perfect himself. I wish she would stop hanging on him and touching him all the time. He does not reciprocate. Play it a little cool, Amy, and stop asking him how he is feeling about you and the relationship. Just let it happen. Or in this case, just let it not happen. 

I disagree!  You do not have to live in a world where people yell.  You don't!  Being sorry afterwards does nothing for me.  Try thinking ahead of time and not doing the behavior.  If you need to leave the room and take a walk and defuse, then do that.  My father would blow up and then try to "talk" about it, translation, blame everyone else.  Us kids told our mom we were leaving and would she come with us.  She did and we did not have to live like that ever again.

Everyone has bad days.  Not everyone reacts with yelling and outbursts.  I would think adults would mature to the point they could absorb and reflect before reacting.

I have to take exception to "why this guy has never been married".  Not everyone wants to be married.  If that is what marriage looks like - I'm out!

Matt and Amy are horrible people and both need counseling.  I like how Zach and Tori are not repeating what Zach learned.  I think Jer and Aud are on the same path as Matt and Amy.

4 hours ago, bichonblitz said:

He's storing that in the back of his mind as a perfect excuse for the break up and I guarantee there is going to be a break up. He seems like the type that sabotages what could be a good relationship because he doesn't want to get too serious. He just wants to have fun. Amy is not that girl. She needs a committed, devoted relationship with a future. At least that's what she's indicated on the sh

Marrying Amy could be a good relationship?  Maybe after she has had a year of counseling.  She is a mess and she is clingy and it is way to early for any of that.  It was Amy who said they were just friends and having fun and now she is changing her tune.  I agree with you that she thinks the needs a committed relationship but she has not done the work.  She needs to be able to take her own fault for the family.

I think a good rule of thumb is this: On a first sleepover DO NOT GET UP EARLY AND START COOKING.  That alone would have scared the shit out of me.

[Honey]

30 minutes ago, jumper sage said:

I disagree!  You do not have to live in a world where people yell.  You don't!  Being sorry afterwards does nothing for me.  Try thinking ahead of time and not doing the behavior.  If you need to leave the room and take a walk and defuse, then do that.  My father would blow up and then try to "talk" about it, translation, blame everyone else.  Us kids told our mom we were leaving and would she come with us.  She did and we did not have to live like that ever again.

Everyone has bad days.  Not everyone reacts with yelling and outbursts.  I would think adults would mature to the point they could absorb and reflect before reacting.

I have to take exception to "why this guy has never been married".  Not everyone wants to be married.  If that is what marriage looks like - I'm out!

Matt and Amy are horrible people and both need counseling.  I like how Zach and Tori are not repeating what Zach learned.  I think Jer and Aud are on the same path as Matt and Amy.

Marrying Amy could be a good relationship?  Maybe after she has had a year of counseling.  She is a mess and she is clingy and it is way to early for any of that.  It was Amy who said they were just friends and having fun and now she is changing her tune.  I agree with you that she thinks the needs a committed relationship but she has not done the work.  She needs to be able to take her own fault for the family.

I think a good rule of thumb is this: On a first sleepover DO NOT GET UP EARLY AND START COOKING.  That alone would have scared the shit out of me.

There's no way that was a first sleepover.  A first weekend away maybe, but not a first sleepover.  Amy would have been way more nervous if it was the first time.

Edited May 10, 2017 by Honey

[SunnyBeBe]

I suppose that it could be some big misunderstanding and that the only time Amy goes off in anger is because Matt makes her do it.  lol I'm prepared for her to come up with that.  I'd be more impressed if she were to fully acknowledge the problem and address it with some real therapy.  She could also benefit addressing her poor, fragile self image, since she says that's the real problem. 

While Amy has looked a little rugged lately, she was looking pretty fancy when she first met Chris and was getting a new hairstyle and outfits.  I thought she looked quite stunning during those events. 

[CofCinci]

5 hours ago, spankydoll said:

Amy wasn't exactly supported in pampering herself during her marriage. I can imagine that any extravagant purchases for her were nixed by Matt. And the kids pretty much treat her like a servant.

And disapproved by Caryn...

[ginger90]

Quote

She could also benefit addressing her poor, fragile self image, since she says that's the real problem. 

 

 

I find her to be a bit stuck up, for someone so "fragile".

[SongbirdHollow]

7 hours ago, SuzyLee said:

As for Matt and Caryn, anyone who actually believes that those two weren't fooling around (at the least) before his divorce is kidding themselves.  His insistence that "love just bloomed," or whatever bullshit he said, is just that: bullshit.  If I were Amy, I absolutely would not have invited her to the gender reveal party.  Those things are for family, not your ex-husband's employee/jump-off.  I would also move out of that house and go start my own single life.  I'm no fan of Amy's, but I can't even imagine how hurtful it must be to watch Matt and Caryn ride around in that golf cart together, "running" the farm.  

Tori's conversation with Audrey was awkward as hell.  You would think that that conversation would have been a great bonding opportunity for them, given that they're both pregnant at the same time.  Audrey acts almost like she's too good to talk with Tori on that level.  I wonder if she'll look back in the future at how terribly precious she and Jeremy act now and feel embarrassed.  One look at the gobs of highly staged pictures on their social media and website(s) makes it clear just how highly they think of themselves.

I'm in complete denial about Matt & Caryn. I just can't picture them actually together. Is it possible that Matt's just sticking it to Amy in his usual passive-aggressive way? "Not only am I gonna date, too - I'm gonna date someone you know and have to deal with daily!" 

Tori and Audrey seem to come from two different social strata and Audrey can barely lower herself to interact with her SIL. Jeremy doesn't really seem to want a child and I think he's regretting his choice of wife. Remember that other girl he dated for quite a while? I bet he pines for her.

Chris is a confirmed bachelor looking for a way out. It was weird that he said "hot button issue" about anger instead of something like deal-breaker. Hot button implies that HE'D lose his temper. I don't know. There is something really strange about him. It will come out.

[ZoloftBlob]

I will throw Audrey a small bone. They're sisters in law, not sisters. They're not really required to be best friends and confidants.

And honestly while I appreciated Tory's honesty, that pregnancy isn't a constant rainbow lick from a unicorn, I can see where hearing how much the future will SUCK might have gotten on Audrey's last nerve.

On the other hand, after watching this, I wonder how Tory feels about Auj's lovely blog post where Auj rails against people telling her pregnancy horror stories when she just wants to cradle her stomach and bask in the glory of carrying a blessing of Jesus.

Jer and Auj really don't seem that happy about being pregnant but you know, they may have been having a bad few days.

I also note that this "babymoon" business is ridiculous and that they ALSO did a "babymoon" in Hawaii.