All Episodes Talk: Small World, Big Lives

[Jeanne222]

15 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Ratings this week:

 1.518 M viewers and a .33 rating.

Is that good, bad, up down?  Sorry I don't follow ratings but am interested in how they are doing.

[Jeanne222]

59 minutes ago, Honey said:

I don't think Matt feels guilty about ANYTHING!  He just wanted the divorce over as quickly as possible.

Very common.

If I were Amy, I could never bring myself to leave that beautiful farm.  The fact that it annoys Matt would make me twice as likely to stay.

Amy won't be leaving.  That big house is home to the kids.  I'm always surprised that Matt gave it up.  I remember their divorce lasted forever.  Amy hung on and got the house.   

Matt likes to think everything about the success of the farm is due to HIMSELF.  I kind of have to chuckle that Amy won that round.  She lives, plays, entertains and enjoys the big house while Matt watches from the double wide.  LOL

[riverblue22]

I think the first time I saw this show was when Tori and Zack got married, so I missed the years of antagonism between Amy and Matt.  I am enjoying Amy's story these days.  I think she is a lot of fun and knows how to have a good time.  Without Amy the show would be very boring, especially as they like to focus on the very dreary Jeremy and Audrey.  As long as Amy's having fun with a pretty hot guy, I'm in.  I do wish she wouldn't worry about commitment and just enjoy the ride.

[gonecrackers]

10 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Little Jackson is a cutie.   Is the term "blow out" common? I've never heard of it. 

Babies blow outs are when the poop goes out the diaper & way up the back. Sorry for TMI; hope no one was eating & reading.

Edited April 18, 2018 by gonecrackers

[TVFAN]

Amy was awarded occupancy of the house as part of her legal settlement--end of story.   Matt can stomp his feet and threaten to hold his breath until he dies, but it won't change anything.   It's HER house.  Stand strong, Amy!

If Matt wants a better place to live, he can darn well pay for it.

If Auj and Jer are so enamored of the farm, they can move into the doublewide with Daddy and start WORKING there.  The three of them deserve each other.

[SunnyBeBe]

54 minutes ago, riverblue22 said:

I think the first time I saw this show was when Tori and Zack got married, so I missed the years of antagonism between Amy and Matt.  I am enjoying Amy's story these days.  I think she is a lot of fun and knows how to have a good time.  Without Amy the show would be very boring, especially as they like to focus on the very dreary Jeremy and Audrey.  As long as Amy's having fun with a pretty hot guy, I'm in.  I do wish she wouldn't worry about commitment and just enjoy the ride.

It was pretty brutal in the early years.  lol  But, it is kind of amazing seeing the kids grow up.   Everyone seems so much happier now. I'm probably the most impressed with Zach.  He seems like an entirely different person than he was even after he graduated from high school.  When he met Tori, his entire attitude changed.  I'm not sure if his motivation has increased as much as it appears, but, compared to what he used to be.....omg.  It's so refreshing. 

[MegD]

1 hour ago, TVFAN said:

Amy was awarded occupancy of the house as part of her legal settlement--end of story.   Matt can stomp his feet and threaten to hold his breath until he dies, but it won't change anything.   It's HER house.  Stand strong, Amy!

If Matt wants a better place to live, he can darn well pay for it.

If I remember correctly, he handed over the house as part of the negotiations to get the divorce finished. He got 3 cars to her 1. I think he also dragged his feet on wrapping some of the debt transfers and getting off bank accounts he was supposed to have done before the divorce was finalized. This included the trips to the auction for "treasures" purchased with Farm money that he hides from Amy because they are junk. I think he thought if he gave her the house, he'd get more out of the settlement because he could manipulate her into getting more of what he wanted faster. It bit him in the ass.

[athousandclowns]

Raise your hand if you enjoy hearing Audrey's blow by blow organ recital about her pelvis or what her rib cage is doing?  Fascinating stuff because we all didn't get here the same way. 

Real smart having the dog off leash on the beach Einstein.  I really can not imagine what she sees in Matt. 

Guess I am cranky because bringing a pie home is not the same as flowers.    

Edited April 19, 2018 by athousandclowns

[MoodyGirl]

26 minutes ago, athousandclowns said:

Raise your hand if you enjoy hearing Audrey's blow by blow organ recital about her pelvis or what her rib cage is doing?  Fascinating stuff because we all didn't get here the same way. 

Real smart having the dog off leash on the beach Einstein.  I really can not imagine what she sees in Matt. 

Guess I am cranky because bringing a pie home is not the same as flowers.    

Well I would be happy with either—-ha ha. But seriously him and Jeremy always come across as a little self centered and lazy. I’m not surprised that he doesn’t think to pamper Tori or help her out more. His attitude reminds me so much of an ex I had—-ugh, like taking care of another child. I’m not doubting their love—-I’m just saying he’s very immature. 

[Willowsmom]

Maybe Zach brought something Tori loves....

[Honey]

At least Zach has the ability to think things through, and realize that he isn't giving Tori the attention she needs.  That is half the battle.  He did say that the pie was her favorite, so that took some thought on his end.  I thought it was sweet that they shared the pie together, and then shared a kiss when the pie was gone.  In a marriage it's the little things, not the huge gestures, that make for years of happiness.

10 hours ago, riverblue22 said:

I think the first time I saw this show was when Tori and Zack got married, so I missed the years of antagonism between Amy and Matt.  I am enjoying Amy's story these days.  I think she is a lot of fun and knows how to have a good time.  Without Amy the show would be very boring, especially as they like to focus on the very dreary Jeremy and Audrey.  As long as Amy's having fun with a pretty hot guy, I'm in.  I do wish she wouldn't worry about commitment and just enjoy the ride.

Amy was not always the fun loving person you see today.  Her life was all about the kids, their sports, and their schedules, and now that they're grown, and she's gotten rid of that depressive ball and chain called Matt, she really is having the best times of her life right now, mostly thanks to Chris. It's nice to see.  I have some advice for Amy...just enjoy it girl, and don't push him.  It's clear that he's committed to you.

 

Suck on it Matt.

Edited April 19, 2018 by Honey

[funky-rat]

16 hours ago, riverblue22 said:

I think the first time I saw this show was when Tori and Zack got married, so I missed the years of antagonism between Amy and Matt.  I am enjoying Amy's story these days.  I think she is a lot of fun and knows how to have a good time.  Without Amy the show would be very boring, especially as they like to focus on the very dreary Jeremy and Audrey.  As long as Amy's having fun with a pretty hot guy, I'm in.  I do wish she wouldn't worry about commitment and just enjoy the ride.

Matt was always a bit of an ass.  He and Amy got married shortly after meeting, and she moved to California to be with him (much to the chagrin of her family).  Then he bought the farm in Oregon (the house was small an dilapidated then) and set about making HIS dreams happen.  All Matt, all the time.  He always seemed to favor the twins over the other kids, and Jerkamy in particular.  He never had time for Jacob, instead having him spend time with a family friend who passed away unexpectedly, leaving Jacob to float in a sea of uncertainty, and seemed to leave Molly to her mom.  What started out as a decent show turned in to Matt wanting to do something grandiose and expensive, and Amy wanting to take time to see if it was a sound decision.  It would result in Matt yet again bringing up his health issues, and wanting to do whatever it was "for the kids" (and later "for pumpkin season", when the kids got too old), Amy digging her heels in, and Matt pouting, and ultimately doing whatever it was behind her back anyway. 

The twins were very much pampered by both of their parents, and I think toward their turning 18, Amy regretted it, but Matt wouldn't get involved on pushing them to do better.  As a result, they ALMOST failed high school - it came down to the wire.  Then they lazed around a bit until Zack got a job at the soccer center and went to community college (I don't believe he ever finished) and Jerkamy went to California to that for-profit photography school.  At least Zack and Tori work, but you see what Jerk and Oddj do all day........

Matt never wanted to do anything with the family.  He'd complain about every vacation.  He wouldn't want to go because he had stuff to do on the farm (another reason my husband felt he was sleeping around).  If they would manage to get him to go, he'd complain non-stop that the family was doing things he couldn't participate in, and he'd sit around and mope.  One time, he flew in partway through a vacation, and left a few days later, pouting, because they'd had a good time without him.

Then they started that wedding business, which from what I understood after reading a lot of boards and articles at the time was just for the TV - that it wasn't an actual business, which is sad, because Amy has a degree in hotel and hospitality management, and she really seemed to be in her element.  Although it would make sense - they got the DW that Matt lives in because it was supposed to be for brides to get ready, and they purchased the neighboring land supposedly for that business, and they got things fixed up before their kids got married there, again for this supposed business.

And then they split. Well, that's the Reader's Digest version.  I do understand why Matt is the way he is.  He was left in hospitals as a child, often for long periods of time, so he has no concept of how some things in the real world work.  His parent's weren't there a lot for him. I recall someone on the show saying that they were entertainers, and not often around.  But while I understand it, that doesn't make it right to visit on your kids, but no matter how many times someone tried to tell him this, he blew it off.

I don't know if it's possible to seek out the times (there aren't too many) where Amy's family is visiting from Michigan to the farm.  Those are priceless.  Amy's dad is always so very much less than impressed by Matt and his grandiosity, and tosses a lot of shade his way.

[jumper sage]

OK, I didn't watch this last episode.  I rarely watch any of the episodes but may merely click on by.

So in the previews we had Matt, Jeremy and Amy talking.  From reading the comments it would seem like Matt is whining about the house.  What the hell was Jeremy there for?  Quick recap would be appreciated on that scene.

And ..........................GO..............................

[Whyyouneedaname]

13 minutes ago, jumper sage said:

OK, I didn't watch this last episode.  I rarely watch any of the episodes but may merely click on by.

So in the previews we had Matt, Jeremy and Amy talking.  From reading the comments it would seem like Matt is whining about the house.  What the hell was Jeremy there for?  Quick recap would be appreciated on that scene.

And ..........................GO..............................

they keep using that scene as a draw to the show, however it wasn't shown this past week. It'll probably be on one of the last shows to air, as a teaser I'm guessing, for next season. 

[jumper sage]

27 minutes ago, Whyyouneedaname said:

they keep using that scene as a draw to the show, however it wasn't shown this past week. It'll probably be on one of the last shows to air, as a teaser I'm guessing, for next season. 

Thank you!  This is why I don't watch the show.  I really dislike the 2 hour shows on TLC.

[SunnyBeBe]

Actually, last season it was Amy who had not performed according their property settlement contract and Matt had to repeatedly ask her to do so. She was supposed to close some accounts or something.   She said she just hadn't gotten around to it.  I mean, she is pretty busy with her boyfriend, the kids and all. 

I think that people who watch the series from the beginning will get their own reactions as to their favorites.  There is no doubt that Amy can turn on the charm, but, she can bite too and that's why it's other family members and Chris who have spoken about Amy going off.   To me, Amy was always complaining and miserable.  She's always been highly critical of Matt and admits that he is not what she signed up for. She verbally abused him from the start, imo. 

If you can get through that, you'll get to see things get really ugly, until they start to discuss divorce on camera. It was obvious they had to part ways.  They both seem happier than they ever were previously, so, I'm not sure why Amy still seems to hang on to the marriage and fret about who's doing what.  She just can't seem to let it go.  I hope that Chris will help her.  He seems to care about her and offer her companionship and fun.  Not like Matt who wasn't adventurous enough.  If she's all that happy though, I wonder why she seems jealous of Caryn.  I mean, Caryn is stuck with a guy who Amy deemed horrible. So, she should just pity Caryn and let it go. 

Edited April 19, 2018 by SunnyBeBe

[Willowsmom]

Sunnybebe

How would you feel if your spouse started screwing the help, someone your kids saw every day? I'd hate them too. And wouldn't you blow up at the father of your children if they were so selfish they were more interested in creating a happy childhood fir themselves and playing with expensive "projects" than making sure the kids were fed? That's why Amy worked three jobs when the show started, to feed her kids.

Matt is a selfish jackass and continues to prove it. Dating an employee is the ultimate act of selfishness. Trying to take the house Amy raised her kids in is horrible. 

[Honey]

2 hours ago, jumper sage said:

OK, I didn't watch this last episode.  I rarely watch any of the episodes but may merely click on by.

So in the previews we had Matt, Jeremy and Amy talking.  From reading the comments it would seem like Matt is whining about the house.  What the hell was Jeremy there for?  Quick recap would be appreciated on that scene.

And ..........................GO..............................

This pisses me off, because there is no fucking reason for Jeremy to be there asking about his Mother's plans.  If I were Amy, I would tell him he has no fucking "need" to know what "my plans are".  Curly-headed cretin.  Gah!

 

Sorry for all the F words, but he makes my blood boil.  Him and his bitch wife.

31 minutes ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Actually, last season it was Amy who had not performed according their property settlement contract and Matt had to repeatedly ask her to do so. She was supposed to close some accounts or something.   She said she just hadn't gotten around to it.  I mean, she is pretty busy with her boyfriend, the kids and all. 

I think that people who watch the series from the beginning will get their own reactions as to their favorites.  There is no doubt that Amy can turn on the charm, but, she can bite too and that's why it's other family members and Chris who have spoken about Amy going off.   To me, Amy was always complaining and miserable.  She's always been highly critical of Matt and admits that he is not what she signed up for. She verbally abused him from the start, imo. 

If you can get through that, you'll get to see things get really ugly, until they start to discuss divorce on camera. It was obvious they had to part ways.  They both seem happier than they ever were previously, so, I'm not sure why Amy still seems to hang on to the marriage and fret about who's doing what.  She just can't seem to let it go.  I hope that Chris will help her.  He seems to care about her and offer her companionship and fun.  Not like Matt who wasn't adventurous enough.  If she's all that happy though, I wonder why she seems jealous of Caryn.  I mean, Caryn is stuck with a guy who Amy deemed horrible. So, she should just pity Caryn and let it go. 

Amy told Matt to invite Caryn to the shower she was throwing.  It's more than I would have done.  Also, if Chris was really so afraid of her, why did he tell his best friend that it was the most comfortable and easy relationship he's ever had?

[gonecrackers]

4 minutes ago, Honey said:

Curly-headed cretin.  Gah!

He (& Auj) are not representative of all curly-heads. ;-)

[Whyyouneedaname]

10 minutes ago, Honey said:

This pisses me off, because there is no fucking reason for Jeremy to be there asking about his Mother's plans.  If I were Amy, I would tell him he has no fucking "need" to know what "my plans are".  Curly-headed cretin.  Gah!

 

Sorry for all the F words, but he makes my blood boil.  Him and his bitch wife.

Amy told Matt to invite Caryn to the shower she was throwing.  It's more than I would have done.  Also, if Chris was really so afraid of her, why did he tell his best friend that it was the most comfortable and easy relationship he's ever had?

when Matt asked Caryn about going to the baby shower it shows her saying "I don't know but it sounds complicated" it implied that she said that when he told her Amy was inviting her....in reality that is not how it was shown during the actual show. It sounded complicated because she had plans with her daughter, I'd bet a $2 bill when the show airs they are not talking to her about the house....I may lose lol, but they show a lot out of context. 

[mythoughtis]

I don’t remember Matt’s parents using their careers as reasons for leaving Matt in the hospital alone.  I remember Matt saying they were only allowed to visit once a week - and that they would come to his outside window other days so he could at least see them. 

I will also say that the surgeries that little people often have aren’t always available in their home town or even state. Specialists that feel comfortable operating on them are few still. So it’s possible that they had  to go back to work and could  only get there on weekends.  

Back in the olden days parents were not allowed to stay all night at hospitals.  Now it’s encouraged even expected. 

Amy once planned a very nice Mississippi riverboat Cruise vacation that would be very easy for Matt to fully participate in.  He left after a couple days because he emphatically stated that he just wanted to stay on the farm.  Truth was he didn’t want to spend time hanging out on deck with his family. 

[Honey]

3 hours ago, gonecrackers said:

He (& Auj) are not representative of all curly-heads. ;-)

Point taken. My hair is curly too

 ;-)

[Willowsmom]

"I don’t remember Matt’s parents using their careers as reasons for leaving Matt in the hospital alone.  I remember Matt saying they were only allowed to visit once a week - and that they would come to his outside window other days so he could at least see them. Back in the olden days parents were not allowed to stay all night at hospitals.  Now it’s encouraged even expected.  "

I'm older than Matt and when I was 3 mom stayed with me in the hospital.

I think the lack of visits (if it happened) may have been because the Roloffs had at least 2 other kids, one of whom is little, and the need to take care of them and work. Also Matt says he was there long term and visiting hours may not have been easy for Peggy and Ron to make.

[Rap541]

Also the sad reality of Ma and Pa Roloff was that three of their four children had SEVERE health issues. So it often wasn't just Matt in the hospital, it was Matt and Sam (the other dwarf) in the hospital for operations on their legs and brother Sam in at times a different hospital dealing with his severe heart issues, all while there was also a daughter still at home.

I don't envy how difficult that must have been.

[funky-rat]

19 hours ago, mythoughtis said:

I don’t remember Matt’s parents using their careers as reasons for leaving Matt in the hospital alone.  I remember Matt saying they were only allowed to visit once a week - and that they would come to his outside window other days so he could at least see them. 

I will also say that the surgeries that little people often have aren’t always available in their home town or even state. Specialists that feel comfortable operating on them are few still. So it’s possible that they had  to go back to work and could  only get there on weekends.  

Back in the olden days parents were not allowed to stay all night at hospitals.  Now it’s encouraged even expected. 

Amy once planned a very nice Mississippi riverboat Cruise vacation that would be very easy for Matt to fully participate in.  He left after a couple days because he emphatically stated that he just wanted to stay on the farm.  Truth was he didn’t want to spend time hanging out on deck with his family. 

My husband remembers it too (we've been with this show from the beginning).  It may have only been for some of the time he was in the hospital, but we both very distinctly remember someone saying that his parents were "entertainers" and were frequently on the road, and unable to visit him and his brother(s).  More than that, my brain fails me, but he and I both remember it.

[Celia Rubenstein]

20 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Actually, last season it was Amy who had not performed according their property settlement contract and Matt had to repeatedly ask her to do so.

 

I believe the crucial, dire matters Matt was so worried about were that Amy hadn't got around to dividing up some family pictures and she needed to sign herself off of one joint bank account.  Mind you, the pictures were of outings Matt had only begrudgingly attended (if he attended at all) and were of kids he had little interest in actually parenting himself.  And the bank account was one Amy had not touched in ages and had no intention of touching ever.  It was all he could come up with to make Amy look bad so he tried to act like they were matters of great consequence to him when they obviously were not. It was just Matt looking for something to whine and complain about and throw his weight around like an asshole. 

 

20 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I think that people who watch the series from the beginning will get their own reactions as to their favorites.There is no doubt that Amy can turn on the charm, but, she can bite too and that's why it's other family members and Chris who have spoken about Amy going off.   To me, Amy was always complaining and miserable.  She's always been highly critical of Matt and admits that he is not what she signed up for. She verbally abused him from the start, imo. 

 

I have never found Amy to be charming. Not ever. She's not my favorite and never has been. But I do understand her frustration with Matt. He was critical of her and not involved with the family unless it was all about him. The brunt of running the home and handling childcare (as well as much of the initial breadwinning) fell on her while he pursued his personal whims no matter how anyone else was effected. He was selfish and manipulative, using his poor health and sad childhood to justify his self-centeredness. I can understand why Amy would complain about Matt.

But it is a big leap from expressing frustration and disappointment to being verbally abusive. Amy never verbally abused Matt, not imo.  Expressing negative feelings about a situation is not in and of itself abusive.

 If it is, then Matt is just as guilty because he complained about Amy as much as she complained about him. 

 

20 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

They both seem happier than they ever were previously, so, I'm not sure why Amy still seems to hang on to the marriage and fret about who's doing what.  She just can't seem to let it go.  I hope that Chris will help her.  He seems to care about her and offer her companionship and fun.  Not like Matt who wasn't adventurous enough.  If she's all that happy though, I wonder why she seems jealous of Caryn.  I mean, Caryn is stuck with a guy who Amy deemed horrible. So, she should just pity Caryn and let it go. 

 

How is Amy hanging onto the marriage? I don't see that at all.

If she is fretting about anything, it's not about "who's doing what" in the sense that she gives a flying fuck what Matt does ... she's concerned about how her kids are responding to her new boyfriend and she is uncomfortable including Matt's former mistress girlfriend/employee in family events but feels like she has to. Those are the only things she seems concerned with that I've seen.

If anybody is still hanging onto being married, it's Matt who seems to think he is entitled to have Amy fund half his lifestyle from her share of the divorce settlement. He is the one that needs to accept that he is on his own and stop running to Amy with his hand out.

 

20 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I hope that Chris will help her.  He seems to care about her and offer her companionship and fun.  Not like Matt who wasn't adventurous enough.  If she's all that happy though, I wonder why she seems jealous of Caryn.  I mean, Caryn is stuck with a guy who Amy deemed horrible. So, she should just pity Caryn and let it go. 

 

Amy seems very happy with herself. She has friends and hobbies and business ventures. She doesn't need Chris to swoop in and rescue her from a life of misery.  It is actually possible for a woman to be happy and fulfilled on her own, believe it or not.

As far as Amy supposedly being "jealous" of Caryn, I don't think so. What does Caryn have that Amy wants? That cantankerous, narcissistic, manipulative, selfish old crab named Matt? Far from being jealous that Caryn has him, I think Amy is just now realizing how great life can be when you are not saddled with someone like her ex. 

The problem with Caryn isn't that Amy is jealous of her. I think Amy resents her for (what many people suspect was) an inappropriate relationship with Matt while they were still married, something which likely contributed to the end of their marriage. Who wouldn't feel that way about some they thought was cheating with her husband?  And add into it that Caryn works as farm manager and Matt lives ten feet away with Caryn there all the time - the situation is in Amy's face constantly. Plus the kids all know Caryn from her years in the farm so they are all wanting to the include her in family events, where if she had not been so well known to them they might not want her around as much. So Amy doesn't even get holidays off from the bitch, lol 

It's easy to say Amy should pity Caryn for being stuck with Matt, but that is really glib and very unrealistic advice. Caryn doesn't deserve pity from Amy or anybody else for being "stuck" with Matt. She got just what she wanted. And she isn't stuck. And while Matt may be no prize, he was Amy's husband and the father of her children. Amy is entitled to resent the hell out of the woman who inserted herself into her marriage and family the way Caryn has.  I said it once and I will say it again: Caryn doesn't deserve pity, not from anybody, and especially not from Amy.

Edited April 20, 2018 by Celia Rubenstein

[funky-rat]

21 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Actually, last season it was Amy who had not performed according their property settlement contract and Matt had to repeatedly ask her to do so. She was supposed to close some accounts or something.   She said she just hadn't gotten around to it.  I mean, she is pretty busy with her boyfriend, the kids and all. 

I think that people who watch the series from the beginning will get their own reactions as to their favorites.  There is no doubt that Amy can turn on the charm, but, she can bite too and that's why it's other family members and Chris who have spoken about Amy going off.   To me, Amy was always complaining and miserable.  She's always been highly critical of Matt and admits that he is not what she signed up for. She verbally abused him from the start, imo. 

If you can get through that, you'll get to see things get really ugly, until they start to discuss divorce on camera. It was obvious they had to part ways.  They both seem happier than they ever were previously, so, I'm not sure why Amy still seems to hang on to the marriage and fret about who's doing what.  She just can't seem to let it go.  I hope that Chris will help her.  He seems to care about her and offer her companionship and fun.  Not like Matt who wasn't adventurous enough.  If she's all that happy though, I wonder why she seems jealous of Caryn.  I mean, Caryn is stuck with a guy who Amy deemed horrible. So, she should just pity Caryn and let it go. 

 

I wasn't always in love with Amy's personality, but I completely get her situation.  She married a guy quickly, who had a good job and seemed stable, but fairly early on, said he was stressed out, and needed to get away, and they bought the farm (which was nothing like what it is now).  And before she realizes it, she has 4 kids, an uninvolved husband who is spending money faster then he can make it, and is working 3 jobs to hold it all together.  She actually has 5 kids - Matt is her oldest kid.  He knows nothing of compromise, as a marriage is supposed to be.  Any time anyone brings up something negative about Matt, he goes full-on sad sack, with his childhood, and his issues, and his pain, etc, and it's pointless to continue when he's in that mode.  I know what it's like to just stay quiet, rather than start another fight.  I know what it's like to just do something yourself because it's easier than another argument.  I know what it's like to have other people think that you're a horrible person because you're fed-up with a spouse who isn't in perfect health - people will pile on you because your marriage vows say you don't cut and run when someone is ill.  By the time we saw a lot of Amy, I think she was at her limit with Matt, and could no longer hold her tongue (been there, done that), and got in to her own mode where she was hyper-sensitive to everything (it almost cost me a job once because I was taking it out on coworkers) and just letting loose.  We don't have children, but I could see her also getting fed-up with his not wanting to be involved with the kids (except for Jeremy), and their hurt when he didn't seem to "get it".  I saw Amy really kick it up a notch when Matt's grandiose ideas, all in the name of "pumpkin season" almost cost the lives of 2 people, which, IMO, was completely deserved.  He SHOULD have torn that stupid thing down, but he had it up and running the next year.  Plus, Matt has been pulled over twice for DUI (the 2nd one was dismissed) and I have no doubt he has Addictive Personality Disorder.  He's always chasing that next fix.  Spending money.  Pimping out the farm.  Getting one over on Amy (hiding things from her).  He may not be a hardcore alcoholic (or even an alcoholic at all), but sometimes it's just as bad dealing with addictions that others see as a good thing (ie: being a workaholic - my husband was addicted to his job and people saw it as a good thing - a strong work ethic and he made good money, but at the expense of so much more).  Matt is addicted to his farm, and people see that as a good thing, but it's not.  And lastly, you have the leghumpers who just go all out for Jerkamy and Matt, and run Amy in to the ground.  So while I will agree that Amy isn't all sunshine and roses, I understand her, and why she is the way she is, so I'm very much Team Amy.

15 hours ago, Rap541 said:

Also the sad reality of Ma and Pa Roloff was that three of their four children had SEVERE health issues. So it often wasn't just Matt in the hospital, it was Matt and Sam (the other dwarf) in the hospital for operations on their legs and brother Sam in at times a different hospital dealing with his severe heart issues, all while there was also a daughter still at home.

I don't envy how difficult that must have been.

 

15 hours ago, Willowsmom said:

"I don’t remember Matt’s parents using their careers as reasons for leaving Matt in the hospital alone.  I remember Matt saying they were only allowed to visit once a week - and that they would come to his outside window other days so he could at least see them. Back in the olden days parents were not allowed to stay all night at hospitals.  Now it’s encouraged even expected.  "

I'm older than Matt and when I was 3 mom stayed with me in the hospital.

I think the lack of visits (if it happened) may have been because the Roloffs had at least 2 other kids, one of whom is little, and the need to take care of them and work. Also Matt says he was there long term and visiting hours may not have been easy for Peggy and Ron to make.

I'm not trying to denigrate his parents - they have always seemed like lovely people.  And if they were entertainers and on the road a lot, it may have been to pay for the medical bills for their kids, which must have been staggering.  But I do remember hearing that about his parents, because my husband and I were trying to figure out if they were singers, or comedians, or musicians, etc.  But I do think some of that experience, whatever it was, shaped Matt in to his adult personality, which IMO, is selfish and self-centered (in that he has trouble seeing things from anyone's perspective but his - ie: when he was told not to spend money but would anyway and hide the proceeds from Amy, he won't listen to opinions that aren't in line with his - ie: when he wants to blow money and Amy wanted to work through the process to see if was wise to spend, and he doesn't care about anyone else's desires if it inconveniences his - ie: the family vacations).  And because of his growing up in the situation he did, he has empathy for others who are not part of his family (as we've seen on the show a number of times, especially in helping other little people get medical care, etc) but when it comes to his own family, he just doesn't have that connection.  My husband was an abused and neglected child.  Not saying Matt was, but the situation is similar.  My husband can get very selfish and self-centered at times, and during an argument once, I said to him that he only cared about himself, and he responded that if he didn't, then no one else would, so that just lends credence to my opinion that his time growing up made Matt the way he is.  It's sad, but it's on Matt.  He's been told about it many times, and could have sought therapy, or help of some variety.  My husband's one therapist told me a few years ago that his growth was essentially stunted around age 10-12, due to some bad traumatic things that happened around that age, and with that knowledge, I can work around some things, and change the way that I deal with him when he gets in one of his modes.  Matt acts very much like a 10-12 year old, and some times, even younger, so I get it.

Edited April 20, 2018 by funky-rat

[Rap541]

I was bored so I looked it up. Per Matt's book, Against Tall Odds, Ron was a carpenter and later a truck driver, and occasionally flipped houses, while Honey was a homemaker who took care of the children. They were not entertainers.

[funky-rat]

51 minutes ago, Rap541 said:

I was bored so I looked it up. Per Matt's book, Against Tall Odds, Ron was a carpenter and later a truck driver, and occasionally flipped houses, while Honey was a homemaker who took care of the children. They were not entertainers.

Weird.  I wonder where that came from, because we both remember it.  

[Willowsmom]

58 minutes ago, funky-rat said:

Weird.  I wonder where that came from, because we both remember it.  

It could be something said because Peggy is now a motivational speaker and at times was away while Ron was at the farm.

[Celia Rubenstein]

I just watched the latest episode. 

I feel the need to advise the producers of the crapfest that if they are going to keep up this whole "dueling relationships" thing where every scene ends with either Matt or Amy comparing and contrasting how things are with their new squeeze vs how it was with when they were married, I'm  gonna stop watching.  I mean, I get it already.  They're both happier now with someone else. I don't need it spoon fed to me a dozen times an episode, okay? That shit got boring real fast.

It was especially annoying because every promo features the same old Matt and Amy fighting over the same old thing ... Poor widdle Matt wants something big, but rotten old Amy is obstructing his dream.  Again. I can't entirely explain it, but there is something off kilter about trading on their newfound happiness on the one hand, then turning around and making the thrust of the advertisements for the show about how they can't get along with each other. It's like the producers really understand that it's the conflict between Matt and Amy that draws in viewers, but they only had one real fight during taping so they are gonna tease it over and over and kill time with these tedious "new relationship" revelations until its time for The Big Episode.  Someone wake me up when it's  about to air, okay? 

And while you're at it, enough of wise old Tori and Zach (who've been parents for all of three months) breaking it all down for the Dipshit Twins.  Until Zach learns to handle changing a diaper without acting like he's the first person to ever have to wipe a baby's butt, he can zip it about the rude awakening awaiting Jeremy. It seems like he experiences a rude awakening himself every episode. 

[Libby]

I've watched the show from day 1 and never remember hearing that Matt's parents were entertainers. I really don't think that that is true.

What I have always wondered about was, why, after they knew that they both had the gene that they continued having children. They knew that chances were very good that any baby they had would have severe handicaps and would require painful medical intervention.

While it's not a decision that I would have made, I respect their decision. People can do what they want with their lives. I would just be interested to know what motivated them to keep having kids.

Amy and Matt or Zach and Tori weren't taking the same risk. Amy and Zach's form of dwarfism doesn't cause nearly as many health problems as Matt's type of dwarfism does.

[Rap541]

Quote

I've watched the show from day 1 and never remember hearing that Matt's parents were entertainers. I really don't think that that is true.

It's not. I had time today to haul out my copy of Against Tall Odds, Matt's pre-show autobiography because I was certain this was incorrect, and I was right. Ron worked as a carpenter and a truck driver and flipped houses when it wasn't cool. Honey was a homemaker with *three* severely disabled boys and one healthy daughter. Also, for all Matt's complaining about how he lived in total isolation for years in the hospitals, he also describes a) parents and grandparents visiting as much as they were allowed, and b) a childhood of road trips and fun where he was encouraged to be as outdoorsy as he could be.

They weren't leaving him in the hospital because they wanted to. At times the two dwarf boys were in different hospitals than the boy with the severe heart condition, for example. I sometimes think Matt has a lot of not so hidden resentment towards his parents.

Quote

What I have always wondered about was, why, after they knew that they both had the gene that they continued having children. They knew that chances were very good that any baby they had would have severe handicaps and would require painful medical intervention

This would have been the 1960s so they probably weren't told they had bad genes. Matt, per his book, was actually diagnosed as achondroplasic at birth - so the doctors would have assumed it was the weird random factor that leads to average height parents like Amy's having a child with dwarfism. They had a normal daughter, then they had Matt, then they had Joshua with the massive heart issue but normal height... they probably thought the odds were against another child with Matt's problem.

eta - Also if I have learned anything from Call the Midwife, birth control wasn't really easy to get in the 1960s. And Pop and Honey are religious. 

Edited April 21, 2018 by Rap541

[Absolom]

Birth control was pretty widely available in the US in the 60s.  Call the Midwife is representative of the situation in Poplar, London.  The US was not the same in all ways.  My mother went on BC pills in the early 60s and never looked back.  The Supreme Court case was in '65 if memory serves.  Other methods were available even our hick town in the mountains much earlier than that.

[Rap541]

Yeah, but factor in the Christian aspect. And they were a married couple expected to have children and Matt was the second of four and born in 1961. 

[Absolom]

My parents were Christian.  Most churches except Catholic had not taken such an anti-birth control stance at that point. Quiverfull and such came up later as a response to the 60s and 70s.  The Roloffs could rather easily have prevented having the second two if they had wished.  Four was edging toward the larger end for a family at that time in our area.  Most of my friends were in families of one to three children and the family we knew with five was considered to have quite the bounty. 

[BodhiGurl]

For the life of me I can't understand Matt being appealing enough to someone to date him. I'm going more on his personality vs his physical self, but add his physical limitations on top of his miserable personality - why? Is Caryn that thirst for tv time? I seriously don't get it. I can understand how Amy ended up with him because they met each other when they were both much younger and he had a certain swagger back in the day - he can talk big, but it's not like Caryn has no clue about who the real Matt is. I see Jeremy walking down the exact same road as his dad- albeit in a "average" size body and without the disabilities... but he's just as selfish and narcissistic as Matt. 

I actually enjoy the scenes with Amy, she's really enjoying life and making the best out of her situation. She doesn't let her dwarfism stop her from trying new things (like Matt likes to do - come up with 101 excuses). Big kudos to her for skydiving, I couldn't have done that! LOL. 

[mythoughtis]

I have lots of cousins all born prior to around 1965, and we are all like steps born about 14-18 months between siblings.  That’s about the time Loretta Lynns’ song about ‘the Pill’ came out.   I think that song helped standardize and publicize the Pill.  I remember how scandalized people were that a married woman would want to limit the size of their family.

The Roloffs may have felt that way. They may have felt the pill and/or IUDs were dangerous at that time. I don’t remember men having vasectomies back then. The pill may also not have been as effective back then as now.  I dont remember genetic testing being a big thing back then.  

I’m sure the Roloffs didn’t intend to bring children into the world just so they could suffer. Sam and Matt seem happy even  with their medical issues. 

Edited April 21, 2018 by mythoughtis

[Former Nun]

2 hours ago, BodhiGurl said:

For the life of me I can't understand Matt being appealing enough to someone to date him. I'm going more on his personality vs his physical self, but add his physical limitations on top of his miserable personality - why? Is Caryn that thirst for tv time? I seriously don't get it.

I rarely watch the show, but caught a rerun this morning.  I agree about Matt.  All his/Caryn's blather about how "understanding" they both are sounded like a Lifetime script.  He's an unhappy tyrant who expects every whim to be celebrated.  If he's not acknowledged as the smartest top dog, everyone him becomes miserable.   Let's hope they really do "get" each other and viewers of the show can watch without aspirin.

[Former Nun]

16 hours ago, Rap541 said:

Also if I have learned anything from Call the Midwife, birth control wasn't really easy to get in the 1960s.

I grew up in a many-generational Catholic family.  I was born in 1940. "Artificial" birth control was a way of life in the United States.  Although the pill wasn't available until 1959/60-ish,  there were many successful methods to avoid pregnancy.  I mentioned Catholicism only because WE were continually ridiculed by every other religion for the no-birth control stance.  Even Fundamentalists practiced and preached birth control in the days before the pill.  Genetic testing wasn't available to the general public, so few understood that they might have several children with the same malady.  Also, when people had children with severe disabilities, most of us never saw them because they were kept at home or in institutions.  

Edited April 21, 2018 by Former Nun
I'll post it later

[Willowsmom]

And accidents happen. My uncle had a vasectomy in 1959 because the had 4 kids in 42 months.

I really don't get Caren at all. She's not new, knows Matt fairly well and didn't get that he would have issues with loose sand? Or that Lucy needed to be on a lead in a strange situation? Or that he's gonna spend the day obsessing over pumpkin season? Methinks she's not really into him.

On the other hand Chris seems to be getting a handle on Amy's limitations and her nature. I think she found a keeper.

[Former Nun]

19 hours ago, Celia Rubenstein said:

I mean, I get it already.  They're both happier now with someone else. I don't need it spoon fed to me a dozen times an episode, okay? That shit got boring real fast.

Wow, Celia...Hello!   I agree 100%.  Of course they're happier now.  They're single--it's new!  It's also on television and both Matt and Amy have something to prove.   Call me in three years and let me know how perfect Caryn is for Matt.  She'll probably have lost a boyfriend AND a job.

[Libby]

As several people have pointed out, there was birth control that worked in the 1960's. I would still be interested to know why Matt's parents continued to have children.

First they had a healthy baby.

Second, they had Matt with severe health problems. One kid suffering in the hospital.

Third they had a baby with severe health problems. Two kids suffering in the hospital.

Yet, fourth, they had a child with severe health problems.

Finally when they had a third child suffering in the hospital, they stopped.

Like I said, I respect every person's decision and what they decide to do regarding their reproduction. I just wish that TLC asked them what their motivation was. I would be interested to know.

[Rap541]

We'll never know but they probably thought the odds were against problems with EACH child.

I mean - First child is perfectly fine.

Second child has dwarfism - diagnosed as achondroplasia initially, which doesn't usually recur in average height parents.

Third child is average height but has a severe, completely unrelated heart condition. Bad luck. 

Who expects a fourth child to have dwarfism, when it's not understood that dyastrophic dwarfism is the actual diagnosis?

It was bad luck. I'm sure the thought was never "fuck it, we *want* defective children".

[ginger90]

Quote

Third child is average height but has a severe, completely unrelated heart condition. Bad luck. 

He (Josh) passed away at age 34.

[gonecrackers]

Just caught up with this show...

The 'blow out' talk is a tad overblown, so to speak; I see what others on the boards were talking about.  Most new parents are obsessed with their babies, so I'm suspecting with the two new ones the same lines regarding new parenthood (surreal, amazing, exciting, blow outs, etc. etc.) will be replayed ad nauseam.

...as will be moving off the farm, Matt wanting the big house, adjusting to the changes in their lives (bfs, gfs, new babies/grandkids, etc)... the show does get tiresome.

Things like jumping out of airplanes I just cannot understand. To me it seems like a stupid thrill seeking thing, but I'm definitely not the adventurous type so just my opinion. Matt & Caryn's day out was more my speed. It would've been funny watching Caryn chase the dog - yes a lead was needed.

I think Amy still seems a bit obsessed with where their relationship is going; Chris seems 'in' but still just wants to relax & have fun with her; it could be all 'for the show' talk too.

I *think* Auj has pelvic pain, rib pain, can't sleep, & she's scared about a natural delivery, I think. Oh, & the baby's dropping, a lot... (more ad nauseam comments)

I liked Tori's comment about Auj needing to be more open to whatever will happen. We are all aware it worked out naturally in the end, but she isn't guaranteed her ideal experience with any subsequent births if she wants more kids, so, she does need to kinda relax about it more.  Tori seems quite patient with her.

Maybe Auj's whole breastfeeding ordeal makes her want a break from more, at least for a while - I wonder how much of that will be constantly replayed on the show as well. 

Edited April 22, 2018 by gonecrackers

[funky-rat]

On ‎4‎/‎20‎/‎2018 at 7:35 PM, Celia Rubenstein said:

And while you're at it, enough of wise old Tori and Zach (who've been parents for all of three months) breaking it all down for the Dipshit Twins.  Until Zach learns to handle changing a diaper without acting like he's the first person to ever have to wipe a baby's butt, he can zip it about the rude awakening awaiting Jeremy. It seems like he experiences a rude awakening himself every episode. 

I hope it's payback for all of the unsolicited marriage advice that Jerkamy and Oddj felt compelled to give them, and let's not forget about their website, and how they charge people for marriage advice.

On ‎4‎/‎20‎/‎2018 at 8:30 PM, Libby said:

I've watched the show from day 1 and never remember hearing that Matt's parents were entertainers. I really don't think that that is true.

 

 

On ‎4‎/‎20‎/‎2018 at 10:08 PM, Rap541 said:

It's not. I had time today to haul out my copy of Against Tall Odds, Matt's pre-show autobiography because I was certain this was incorrect, and I was right. Ron worked as a carpenter and a truck driver and flipped houses when it wasn't cool. Honey was a homemaker with *three* severely disabled boys and one healthy daughter. Also, for all Matt's complaining about how he lived in total isolation for years in the hospitals, he also describes a) parents and grandparents visiting as much as they were allowed, and b) a childhood of road trips and fun where he was encouraged to be as outdoorsy as he could be.

They weren't leaving him in the hospital because they wanted to. At times the two dwarf boys were in different hospitals than the boy with the severe heart condition, for example. I sometimes think Matt has a lot of not so hidden resentment towards his parents.

I've watched since day 1 too (we both have) and we would swear we remembered that, but all I can think of is that we're confusing it with a similar style TV show.  I have no other explanation.  I never read any of their books, so I had no reference point there.  But it's been established I was incorrect.

20 hours ago, gonecrackers said:

The 'blow out' talk is a tad overblown, so to speak; I see what others on the boards were talking about.  Most new parents are obsessed with their babies, so I'm suspecting with the two new ones the same lines regarding new parenthood (surreal, amazing, exciting, blow outs, etc. etc.) will be replayed ad nauseam.

...as will be moving off the farm, Matt wanting the big house, adjusting to the changes in their lives (bfs, gfs, new babies/grandkids, etc)... the show does get tiresome.

Blow Outs, and photo proof shared on social media, seem to be some big thing now - like a contest or badge of honor.  Unfortunately.  If I had someone on a list at a social media site that shared that stuff, I'd ditch them quickly.

I think Matt only wants "the big house" because he wants Amy off the farm.  And if I were her, as I've said before, I'd be asking to be bought out, and would be gone quicker than you could blink, but then again,  I don't have kids, or a TV show I'm involved with, so it's probably more complex.

[ginger90]

[ChicksDigScars]

On 4/20/2018 at 7:35 PM, Celia Rubenstein said:

 

And while you're at it, enough of wise old Tori and Zach (who've been parents for all of three months) breaking it all down for the Dipshit Twins.  Until Zach learns to handle changing a diaper without acting like he's the first person to ever have to wipe a baby's butt, he can zip it about the rude awakening awaiting Jeremy. It seems like he experiences a rude awakening himself every episode. 

Zach taking a baby out for a road trip and NOT BRINGING ANY DIAPERS. Every time I stumble upon that scene, I think, "How stupid are you?" And I was just watching him whine and complain about sap on his hands and having to watch his son, and handing the kid off to Tori as soon as she walked in the door, and flopping on the couch as if watching his own baby was sooooo draining.  And Amy continues to baby him, which I think is part of his problem. Babies are work, Zach. And Jackson is half your's. 

[Rap541]

Eh, I wouldn't call driving five minutes to Jer's "a road trip" - they live in the same neighborhood, it's not like he was driving to Bend to visit Jer and Auj. I mean, this disaster was averted by driving back home in a few minutes. 

I otherwise agree that Zach needs to stop acting like this is a terrible trial.