An Unfit Mother or an Alienating Grandma? Family’s Decade-Long Drama Dr. Phil : Season 17 Episode 142

Cindy originally wrote to Dr. Phil in 2009, claiming her daughter Jessica was making poor decisions – engaging in abusive relationships, abusing drugs and alcohol, and having two children with two different fathers. Fast forward 10 years later, and Jessica wrote into the show about Cindy – claiming that she is “brainwashing” Jessica’s 10- and 13-year-old children who currently live with Cindy, although Jessica retains custody. Jessica says the reason her children are living with Cindy is because of a domestic violence incident with her boyfriend, Dean, that ended in a restraining order between Jessica and Dean, as well as between her 13-year-old daughter and Dean. Jessica admits she breaks the order every day by living with Dean and also admits to drinking alcohol daily – but says she believes that her real enemy in this situation is Cindy. Can Dr. Phil make sense of this messy situation and be the advocate for Jessica’s children?