Monday - June 29, 2009

Family Drama

Family squabbles are hard to avoid –- especially during the holidays – but what happens when the disagreements escalate to cursing, yelling and even physical attacks? Loretta says she’s tired of the constant drama in her household, and she blames her husband, Devin. She says he’s selfish, calls her a whale and verbally and physically abuses their 18-year-old twin daughters, Ashley and Amy. Amy recently got married, and she says her relationship with her father is so strained, she didn’t even want him to walk her down the aisle! Devin says he’s the innocent one and his wife and daughters are disrespectful to him. Who’s telling the truth? And, a few years ago, Amy came home drunk, and Devin videotaped her to teach her a lesson. How does she react when she sees the footage in its entirety? Plus, Loretta says if Devin doesn’t get a wake-up call about his behavior, then she’s ready to kick him to the curb. Is there hope for this divided family? Will Loretta and Devin be able to reconcile –- or should they?

Tuesday - June 30, 2009

Overweight Children

We now know that the combination of fast food, video games and a sedentary lifestyle have contributed to one out of every three kids in the United States being overweight. With the population of obese children reaching epidemic proportions, Dr. Phil reaches out to parents of overweight children. Meet a mom whose 4-year-old son weighs over 100 pounds. Hear why she thinks countless doctors and nutritionists haven’t been able to help her little boy, and learn what role Dr. Phil thinks she plays in her son’s health and well-being. Can Dr. Phil convince her that saying no when her child asks for junk food will not make her a bad mom? Find out what role Dr. Phil believes this mother — and all parents — play in their child's health and well-being.

Wednesday - July 1, 2009

"Bring Back My Child"

Parents try their best to protect their kids and teach them about stranger danger, but what if your child is abducted … and the abductor is the other parent? Zanni and Christine are former sisters-in-law who say their ex-husbands, George and John Silah, vanished and took their children with them. The mothers haven't heard from their sons in months and have no idea where they are. Why do Zanni and Christine wish they trusted their instincts? Don’t miss the warning signs these moms say they recognized too late. The mothers accuse the fathers of shady business practices, and you won't believe what they say they discovered in their ex-husbands' home! The men are wanted for child abduction and there is a $25,000 reward for their capture. Then, David says he was happily married to Bruna and had a 4-year-old son whom he loved dearly. When he dropped them off at the airport in 2004, he never imagined that would be the last time he would see either of them for years. When Bruna arrived in her native Brazil, she called David and told him she wanted a divorce. David, who was devastated by his wife's actions, has fought tirelessly to regain custody of his son. Recently, this story took a tragic turn. Hear from David's attorney and get insight into his case. And, after losing custody of her 14-month-old, Cecilia went on the run and became a fugitive. She says fleeing was her only option, but now that she's been arrested and has served time, would she do it again?

Thursday - July 2, 2009

Silent Darkness

Most parents find raising a child overwhelming enough, but imagine if your child could neither see you, nor hear you. Now imagine having three children like that. Liz is the mother of deaf and blind triplets. Her three daughters are now 6 years old, but one of the girls communicates at a 2-year-old level, and the other two at only a 10-month-old level. Liz's world is consumed with their 24-hour care, plus the care of her oldest daughter, who is 10 and often overlooked among the chaos of the triplets. After years of dealing with the girls on her own, a new man stepped into Liz's life to fill the shoes of her ex-husband. George thought he could become Liz's hero, but their relationship has been strained from the start, and the stress is tearing them apart. See what a day in Liz and George's lives are like, and the surprises Dr. Phil has in store for them. Plus, meet an inspirational woman who says her world turned from light to dark at the age of 15. She's got a message for George and Liz. Don't miss this heartbreaking and heroic story!

Friday - July 3, 2009

School Discipline: Out of Control?

When you send your children to school, you expect them to be taught in a nurturing environment. But what should you do if you learn your child has experienced extreme discipline by those entrusted to teach him or her? Eva and Doug's autistic daughter, Isabel, was 8 years old when her teachers claimed her behavior became too difficult to handle, so they sent her to the time-out room. Cameras captured Isabel's time spent in isolation, which her parents say lasted for over three hours. Her parents say they had worked with the teachers regarding disciplining Isabel and were panicked and horrified when they saw the footage. Next, Martha says her 12-year-old daughter was in a classroom when $42 went missing. In an effort to find the money, a group of girls were strip-searched. You won't believe who reportedly ordered the investigation. Martha says her daughter is devastated and will never be the same. Then, when 5-year-old Gabriel constantly complained that his teacher was mean and yelled at him, his mom, Tabitha, sent him to school with a tape recorder in his pocket. Hear the audio recordings and find out the shocking information Tabitha discovered. Psychologist Ken Merrell, special education teacher Kathy Riley and civil litigation attorney Areva Martin weigh in on these cases. And, after years of being relentlessly bullied by fellow students, Jeremiah brought the torment to a tragic end. His father, Jeff, joins Dr. Phil and Jay McGraw to speak for the first time on television.

LAST WEEK'S SHOWS

- Time to Grow Up!

- Mixed Signals

- For Better or Worse?

- "What Do We Do Now?"

- Frustrated Moms