02x01 - A Family Divided

[bunniefuu]

last season on
"welcome to plathville"...

Can we watch donald duck
tonight after dinner?

[ Laughter ]

Barry:
we're the plath family.

Mom, dad, and 9 children
ranging in age from 6 to 21.

We have limited technology.

We have limited computers.

They don't play video games.
They never have.

We're all homeschooled,
and I'm thankful for it.

I don't know if all my siblings
are, but I am, at least.

I mean, they shelter us
almost too good.

Hey.
[ Chuckles ]

I love my parents,
but I don't agree with

Everything they say and think.

Uh-oh, that's naughty.

What are these?

I saw my mom had
a whole bunch of them.

Hey, mercy, modeling is being
paid for looking good.

[ Laughter ]
young woman: basically.

We're in california!
We're in california!

Wanna try
a cotton candy?

Yes. I'll try it.

Oh, my gosh.
I'm addicted.

Kim: in a way,
this trip with olivia

Has planted seeds that further
the division between us.

-I wanna go.
-I wanna go.

-I wanna go.
-I wanna go.

It was a bad example for
the younger children.

Micah and moriah
kept pushing the limits,

And it was just time
for them to move out.

There's freedom,
but there's also consequences

For anything...

Anything you do.

I was told that I was
a bad influence on the kids,

And the kids were told
I was a bad influence on them.

Barry:
olivia's resentful.

Olivia doesn't think she is,
but yet she is.

Do you think
that there might be

Some blind spots
that you're missing?

Lydia: there is division,
and where there's --

Where a house is divided
against itself, it will fall,

And that's happening.

--Captions by vitac--
www.vitac.com

Captions paid for by
discovery communications

What's up, guys?

What's up, guys?

It's micah plath here again.

[ Bang ]

You know, the past year
has been, like,

The year of the most change
for me.

Been learning who I am,
who I want to be.

I moved out.

Been renting a house,
bought a new car,

And I've never stopped
working on my body,

So I've...got something.

On social media,

I have attracted
a decent amount of followers.

I love being able
to post pictures or videos,

See what feedback you get.

[ Blows raspberry ]

If you follow me
on social media,

I'll take you around
and show you what I'm up to.

Give me a follow @micahplath.

[ Smooches ]

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Hey, guys, it's moriah plath,

And my brother and I
just started renting a house.

Did you say "platt"?

I did not.
Keep going, 'cause I did not.

Very recently,
me and my parents

Basically came
to a mutual agreement

For me to move out,

And I found this place,

And me and moriah
moved in here,

And it's been
pretty awesome.

So, unlike me, he only has
three pairs of shoes.

This was my desk,
growing up.

Let's see if he has --
don't open that drawer.

You don't need to see
what that is.

I'm gonna see
if you have money.

Nothing.

And then clothes, closet, bed,
and that's all.

I got a little camcorder
from one of my --

That's how
you say it, right?

Yeah, I think so.
From one of my jobs.

And we're just kind of
playing around with it.

Alright, let's show you
the bathroom next.

Moriah: I picked out
the shower curtain.

She got
the shower curtain.

In the last six months,
so much has changed.

I moved out of the house...

I didn't clean up my room,

But it's like, that's okay
because this is just how I am.

I had got to the point where
I was just starving for freedom

And, like, just didn't
follow the rules

My parents had set.

Red shoes. I have, like,
every color shoes.

My parents were
shielding me from

Or protecting me or whatever
from the outside world.

They tried to control, like,
literally everything --

What we ate, what we wore.

Jeans or any type of tank top
was, like, out of the question.

To wear swimsuits
were an absolute no.

I'm sure my parents meant well

By raising us
the way that they did,

But I just felt like an outsider
in the real world.

I didn't feel normal.

This is the dining room.

It's a small table
and some chairs.

All my nail stuff,
because I like doing my nails.

Today?
Mm-hmm.

That's really sweet.

It was sweet of her.

Micah: it's been probably
three or four months

Since I've seen my siblings.

I'm really not allowed to see
my younger siblings

Unless my parents are there.

I still try to keep
a positive attitude about it,

But it is hard at times.

Whose turn is it
to go grocery shopping?

Yours.

I'm gonna have pop-tarts
for breakfast.

I hate rules.

[ Laughs ]

♪♪♪♪

Kim: I want to just
show you

A couple things in the house
that need to get done.

So, in this room,

I think the only thing,
really, is our wedding vows.

I want to recolor
the matte.

We raised our family
on a 55-acre farm

In rural south georgia.

Barry: we call it
our piece of heaven on earth.

[ Girls giggling ]

But a couple of months ago,

We went through
a massive change.

We moved off the farm

And moved to
a beautiful house in cairo.

I love that
we have room for the harps.

I love how pretty
that room is.

We weren't
looking to move.

We were looking
for another house

As an investment
property.

But just when I walked
in this house,

It was so amazing.

We all,
and especially the children,

Fell in love with it.

Barry:
there's so much beautiful land
and space to run around.

We really love it here.

Pretty much,
things are still the same

As they were at the farm
in terms of our family's rules.

Kim: that means no phones
for the children,

Supervised movies,
supervised internet,

No social media,
little-to-no sugar,

Appropriate clothing,
no video games,

And no rock music
in the house.

Unfortunately, not everyone
agreed with our rules,

So the family is
sort of fractured now

Into three different
households.

Last year, micah and moriah
just kept pushing the limits.

Yeah.

And it was likely to me

That they might plant seeds
of rebellion and bitterness

In the younger children,
especially isaac and amber.

We talked it over
with micah and moriah

And agreed that if they
couldn't live with our rules,

Then they needed to move out.

I have a little bit
of reservations about it

With the fact
that she's still 17.

Yeah.
But she's just down the street.

She knows, if she needs us
any time, we're here for her.

Do you guys have
the measuring tape?

I have this.

It doesn't measure.

I know where one is.

Where?
Upstairs.

Oh. You want to run
and get it?

I'll go get it.

Kim: our relationship
with ethan and olivia

Has taken a turn
for the worse, as well.

There was a day
three or four months ago

That ethan came over
to our house

And told us he wanted nothing
to do with us ever again.

He didn't want to see us,
text, talk, phone call, nothing.

♪♪♪♪

When ethan said that to us,
it was devastating.

Given the state of affairs,

You know, with the relationship
kind of being, yeah, broken,

Ethan and olivia aren't having
free access to the children.

It's your turn.

We have told ethan,

If they want to see
some of the younger siblings,

Come over,
be with all of us.

You know?

And they're not
willing to do that.

"Air flows from
high pressure..."

There's a part of your heart
that hurts, you know?

Kim:
I love all of them,

And I just wish
we could all get along.

Let's take a fork.
Okay.

So, three of the older children
have kind of gone their own way,

But lydia is the next one
in line to leave the nest,

And at this point,

It doesn't look like
she's going to rebel

And, you know,
go some crazy way.

♪♪♪♪

Lydia: so much has changed
in the last year --

Almost everything.

We've moved.
Micah and moriah have moved out.

Ethan has told my parents

That he doesn't want
anything to do with them.

And that was really hard
for them.

It was really hard for me, too.

♪♪♪♪

When we were living at the farm,
I'd go on long walks,

And that's mainly
when I would talk to god

And just get ahold
of myself again.

Now that we're into
our new house,

I have a prayer closet,

Which is something
I've always wanted.

Father, it can be so hard
sometimes,

Just seeing everything that
the family's going through.

Father, just help.

Help ethan and olivia.

I can actually
write down my prayers

And stick them up
as a reminder every day.

It's been really helpful.

Family is so important to me.

It can be really hard
when I think about

What it would be like
if ethan were in my life.

Father, I pray that you will
just help us all.

If there's something
that I should do

To help bring
the family together,

Then just show me.

I remember when he -- every time
he would come home from work,

He would just bring so much
happiness into our hearts.

♪♪♪♪

[ Voice breaking ]
I love him so much.

I pray for him all the time,

And he's always in
my everyday thoughts,

And I just miss
having him around.

Please bring us all
back together.

In jesus' name, I pray.

Amen.

♪♪♪♪

You can't live
in a bubble.

But you can also be smart
in how you navigate.

Could you give me
an example?

Well, an example is sex.

♪♪♪♪


♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Olivia and I have been cooped up
in the house quite a bit lately,

And I just decided,
let's go take a ride in my car

And have some fun
and get some fresh air.

I love driving old cars
because it's an escape.

So, this is a 1952 mg.
It's pretty cool.

Oh, boy.

Ready for my hot ride?

I don't know about this.

♪♪♪♪

What are you gonna do
if it breaks down on us?

I'll fix it.
That's what I've always done.

Yeah?
Yep.

Olivia: at first,
it was kind of romantic

To break down
on the side of the road

And, like, watch your husband
fix the car,

But I don't like
feeling conspicuous

Living in a small town.

And I know that every time
I get in one of his old cars

And go with him somewhere,
I'm just like, "oh, my gosh.

Everyone's looking at us like,
'oh, we remember them.

They were rolling on the side of
that road last week, right?'"

You ready?

[ Engine starts ]

Ready as I'll ever be.

[ Laughs ]
here we go.

Hold onto your masks.

♪♪♪♪

So, like, you couldn't
go that way and then cut up?

Ethan: a lot of times driving,

We take a different route
than you might expect

Because, a couple months ago,

I found out
my parents moved to cairo.

I was like, "really?
It's kind of close."

Then I found out
the house they bought

Is, like,
practically three blocks up.

It's like .3 miles
from our house.

I mean, I can't go to
the grocery store or go to work

Without practically
driving right by it.

Of all the houses they could've
bought and moved into,

Of course they had to pick one
like .3 miles from my house.

But I don't want them
to know that.

Producer:
[ laughing ] okay.

I just took my hair out,
so take it slow.

Okay.

Not only did my parents
move so close,

But then micah and moriah also
are renting a house

Two streets up.

So everyone is right here.

Olivia: last year,
ethan and I

Took micah and moriah
under our wing a lot,

And this year,
it looks a whole lot different

Because now they're off
flying on their own

And doing their own thing,
making their own friends,

So we don't see them
as often.

But when we do,
we have fun.

I don't want
to be conspicuous.

I don't think
we can help it.

[ Chuckles ]

We've been
married for...?

Almost two years.
Yeah.

Since last year,

A lot has happened
in our relationship

Between me and olivia

And my parents
and my siblings.

Just,
the family dynamic's...

A lot has happened.

It's kind of hard
to even say, but...

[ Sighs ]

Hmm?

Where do I start?

On, like,
during last year,

We were allowed
to see the kids some,

And then, last fall,

Everything just
completely changed,

And we were not allowed
to see the kids at all.

It was just toxic.

Ethan: it really does hurt,
not being able to see them.

That's really hard,
and it's very, very frustrating.

I have a lot of frustration
that I am trying to deal with,

Like, why am I not allowed to
see my siblings unsupervised?

But we needed space as a couple,

So we decided that that meant
no contact with my parents.

[ Engine humming ]

Let's roll, baby!

Alright, calm it down.

♪♪♪♪

You have to admit,
it is running really good.

It's like the best
it's ever run.

I'm not sure.

I know it needs
a lot more work,

But we're still moving,
we're still going forward.

Isn't this so relaxing?
It's like therapeutic.

It's like you have
no more troubles anymore.

The wind's going through
our hair,

And it's just
the best feeling ever.

[ Rattling ]
what's that noise?

I feel like the whole side
of the car over here

Is shaking up and down.

[ Rattling continues ]

The first little chug I heard,
my heart just sank.

I am like,
"I am in so much trouble."

[ Engine sputtering ]

[ Chuckles ]
I think we're out of gas.

But in a technical sense,
nothing broke.

So we did not break down,
we just ran out of gas

Because I forgot how much gas
was in the car.

There's still a little bit
of gas in here.

Ethan.

Maybe I could, like,
tip it like that.

We're broken down
on the side of the road.

What an emotional
experience,

And you were like, "no,
logic says nothing broke."

But, emotionally,
we broke down.

[ Both laugh ]

I think this conversation
has broke down.

[ Engine sputtering ]

Ethan.

Now we need drive
straight to a gas station.

Unh-unh! What if we break down
on the road again?

We'll just pull over.

No.

Okay, I'm not going
if we're breaking down

In the middle of the road
for all of cairo to watch.

You'll either see me
driving back or walking back.

This past year
for me and olivia

Has been very stressful
in our relationship,

Just the stuff between
my parents and me and olivia.

Basically, what my dad told me
in his own words

Was that they could not
accept her.

That strain,
it got to the point

Where it was either
separation or divorce.

That's one thing that
I do really regret,

Is that I tried
to keep the peace

When I should have said,
"don't treat my wife like this.

Don't talk to my wife
like this."

♪♪♪♪

Divorce was definitely
on the table

For a couple
of months.

It was a really hard
couple of months.

♪♪♪♪

And just got to
the point of, like,

If this is going to work,

We're going to have to
fight really hard for this

And cut out everything that
doesn't want us to make it.

We're not all better.

We're not perfect.
We're not there.

But we're working on it.

We're spending
more time together.

We're staying away
from that drama.

♪♪♪♪

I made it.

And I think,
as we heal as people,

Our marriage will, you know,
begin to heal and thrive.

Mm-hmm.

Alright, let's go.

[ Engine humming ]

Ethan: well, it's not as bad
as it could have been.

♪♪♪♪

[ Cellphone chiming ]

What are you up to?

Helena is a very close
friend of mine.

We met on our first
modeling sh**t.

I was very, nervous
uncomfortable, and just shy.

Helena, she's helped me
get out of my comfort zone

And just become who I am.

Photographer:
we're laughing together.

We've just stayed in touch
and stayed good friends.

I just got off of work.

I just took a shower.

No, I'm in a towel.

Yeah,
I'm completely naked.

[ Chuckles ]

What are you wearing?

Dang.

Your very blue eyes.

Well, thank you.
[ Chuckles ]

Thank you.

Growing up, it was shameful
to show your body,

And it was looked down on

As being disrespectful
to other people.

I didn't have
any fashion sense back then.

It was all hand-me-downs
from ethan.

Coming out of that
and going into the world,

Especially the world
of social media...

[ Helena speaking indistinctly ]

...i've just come such a long
ways being more comfortable

With my body,
with what I look like.

I've also worked
really hard for that,

And I'm not scared
to show my progress.

Uh-huh?

Definitely.

That would be awesome.

Having a phone,
or a phone and social media,

With modeling,
it is a job platform.

It's also given me
a lot of opportunities

To have fun,
meet new people.

And going on dates with
new girls and stuff like that,

It's awesome.

What kind
of photo sh**t is it?

Dang,
I like surprises.

Most of the time,
anyway.

My modeling career had really
started to take off last year,

And then corona came and
put a big halt to a lot of it.

It's been pretty hard.

So I'm just glad
I have the opportunity

To work with her again
and build my portfolio.

I can't wait
to see you.

Definitely.

Alright, bye.

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Okay,
you ready for this?

I think so.

If we're lucky, mom and dad
won't even be home.

When I moved out,
I was angry and frustrated,

And I didn't want
any communication with them.

Is that moriah?

Alright, stay strong.

This is a nerve-racking.

I think we're all
a little bit on edge.

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

[ Car alarm dinging ]

Okay,
you ready for this?

I think so.

If we're lucky, mom and dad
won't even be home.

Micah: moriah and I are headed
over to mom and dad's place

To pick up some mail.

I haven't been to
my parents' place in months,

And moriah and I
try to go together

For, like, moral support.

Yeah. I wouldn't want
to leave you.

I wouldn't want to be left alone
with my parents.

Okay, so we'll just --

It's just like,
when you get cornered,

And they have
a way of, like...

Basically, like,
no matter what you say,

They make you feel
like you're at fault.

Yeah.
For any scenario.

Moriah: when I moved out
of the house,

Like, I was angry
and frustrated,

And I didn't want
any communication with them

Except for the stuff
that was extremely necessary.

Yeah.

This doesn't feel like home.

It feels like
a trap, a cage,

That I worked so hard
to get out of,

And I don't like going back.

♪♪♪♪

Oh, someone's here.
[ Car door closes ]

Wait,
is -- is that moriah?

Girl: oh, wow,
it's moriah.

Kim: oh, wow.
Okay.

I'll be out in a minute.
It's moriah.

♪♪♪♪

Hey, guys.

Yeah.

Welcome in.

Kim: micah and moriah showed up
a little bit unexpected.

Yeah.

Our relationship with micah
and moriah is very fragile.

-Moriah?
-Hey, amber.

Usually,
if they do stop by at all,

It's more to see
the other siblings.

It's not to see us.

Moriah: hey.

Micah: do you know
if I have any mail?

Yes, you have
a lot of mail.

You have a very important
piece of mail.

Really?
Do you know what it is?

-Hi, micah.
-Looks like a car title.

I just want to run up
and throw my arms around them

And give them a big hug,
but I kind of am sensing

That maybe they're not
ready for that,

And I don't want to come on
too pushy right now.

Whoa!
[ Laughter ]

Kim: I'm really glad
that they're here,

But I think we're all a little
bit nervous around each other,

A little on edge.

-We can divide it.
-Okay.

Kim: well, i...

If there's something
in there --

'Cause there could be
something for somebody else.

Hey, i-- wait, what?

Wait, what happened
to you?

[ Laughter ]

You're almost
as tall as me.

I am.

It's been so long since
I've seen most of my siblings.

Like, isaac and lydia,
it's been...four months.

What have we missed?
Who are you?

Micah: when I saw isaac,
that really shocked me.

He's like at least
four inches taller

Than when I last saw him,
which is a lot,

And his voice had dropped.

I'll go see your room, isaac.
Okay.

Isaac: it's nice to have micah
over to spend time with him,

Because I don't get to hang out

With too many other guys
around my age.

I can touch the ceiling
with my feet.

[ Laughs ]

Oops.

Whatever.

I'm the only boy in the house,

And then it'll be my mom, lydia,

And then
my three little sisters,

And they're always like, "mm."

[ Chuckles ]

So it's nice to have
a little bro time.

[ Both playing guitar ]

Micah: music has always been
a big part of our family.

It's something
we used to do a lot

And when I was
still living at home.

I guess I didn't think
much of it then,

But then moving out,

You become like,
"I kind of miss that."

♪♪♪♪

It's something that I haven't
done in a while with isaac,

And I would love to do it more.

[ Strumming guitar ]

Since moving out,
I'm really not allowed

To see my younger siblings
unless my parents are there,

Because of my lifestyle --

Like, pop culture, music,
or social media,

Just cellphones in general.

Those are
some of the biggest things

My parents have a problem with

My younger siblings
being around and exposed to.

[ Isaac and micah
playing guitar ]

♪♪♪♪

We're just playing guitar,
so what are we going to do?

[ Guitar flourish ]

You guys
sound good together,

I mean, for not
having played at all...

[ Laughs ]
...the last year.

Kim: I know that micah and isaac
want some privacy,

But right now
there's just some trust

That has to be built back up.

The last year
has been so hurtful,

So painful for barry and i.

We've seen things in micah

That we don't want
to rub off on isaac,

Like bitterness against us,
for example.

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Micah: I was surprised when
my mom walked out of the room,

But she was, honestly, probably
going to check on moriah.

It feels
pretty much the same,

Except for you're not here
and my room's cleaner.

[ Chuckles ]

I wish we would, like,
hang out more.

You can come over
and visit any time.

Like, we're just here.

It's just hard
to come over.

Not because of,
like, you guys.

Like, I want to see y'all
so bad.

Mm-hmm.

But it's just like,
the whole...

Mom-and-dad situation.
Yeah.

So, I don't know how much
of that you understand

Or how much you want
to go into it, but...

Yeah. I don't know,
I just...

It's not that
I don't care,

But I'm just going to
stay out of it and just...

Once I get older,
I'll do my own thing.

Yeah.

Yeah, definitely, like,
respect our parents,

But, like,
think for yourself.

Like,
question things

And build up your own idea
and opinion of things.

Don't 100% rely
on what our parents say,

Because that's what I did,
and it was just really hard.

In all honesty, I don't really
feel like either of my parents

Tried their hardest
to give us the best education.

They were more worried about
the "evils in this world."

It's on me and moriah and ethan
to help our younger siblings

Where we had a disadvantage.

As you grow up,
you'll learn more of

What you want to do,
who you want to be.

Isaac:
I just see it as,

I can choose who influences me
and who doesn't.

And I feel like
I can make my own decisions,

And I don't have to do
what my parents' ideas are,

Or micah's or ethan and olivia's
or anybody.

I can do whatever I want
for myself.

Well, you know that
if you ever need anything,

I'm just right down
the road.

Any time you need something,
just let me know.

Okay.
Well, thanks.

Because going from how we were
raised to the real world,

It's like the biggest step
someone could ever take.

I want to know what
your love life is like.

Is there anyone?

Oh, dear.

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Your hair has grown.

I guess it has.

Kim: micah and moriah
showed up today.

I feel like
I'm walking on eggshells.

I'm not really sure
what they're thinking,

You know,
how resentful they are.

I'll be down in just a second,
and then we can catch up.

-Okay!
-Okay!

Mom,
aren't you coming?

At least they're here,
but it's a little nerve-racking.

I want to know what
your...love life is like.

[ Both giggle ]

Well...
[ Sighs ]

Is there anyone?

Oh, dear.

I can't...

I can't say, like --
okay, there is.

I see it.

I see it.
Okay, well, like...

I definitely
don't have a boyfriend,

If that's what
you're asking.

There might be someone
that I'm interested in

Or think is really nice
or something.

But, right now,
that's all.

Whisper.

Oh, I can't
say anything else.

[ Laughs ]

Lydia: there might be
a little special someone,

But right now
it's just between me and god.

[ Chuckles ]

I feel like we should,
like, go out...

I would definitely
love to come over to
your house sometime.

You and mommy can text,
figure out what time works.

You don't have a phone,
do you?

No.

Do you plan
on getting one?

I plan on getting one
someday.

Do you have, like, any friends
you hang out with?

Around the area,
not really.

But -- most of my friends
are far away.

But I have you.

That's true.
You have me.

I'm really glad that
moriah invited me over.

I mean, I know she's so busy,

And it was really nice
to get an invitation.

I look forward to when
I do get a chance to go over.

Even if our paths continue
to separate,

Our relationship can still grow.

What are some things
that I do and believe

That you think is crazy?

I don't think any of it
is crazy.

Okay.

I just know,
if I were in your shoes --

Or barefoot -- I would,
like, feel caged in.

I don't feel caged in
one bit.

You don't?
No.

Do you ever feel
like you just want

To experience
the outside world?

I experience the outside world
just enough to know that

I don't want
to be like that.

So there is
something wrong with me.

You have a different
journey than me.

I'm glad that
you understand that.

Moriah: lydia and I
respect each other.

Even though she follows
my parents in many ways,

She has the ability
to still accept me

While not changing
where she stands,

And I kind of wish that that was
how it was with my parents.

That there was, like,
just an understanding there.

Like, "you can live your way
and I'll live mine,

And let's just accept
each other for that."

I don't want you to think
that I felt like you felt

When you were
living at home,

Because I don't.

But also, I'm not going to
stay here forever,

In case
you're wondering.

[ Both giggle ]

♪♪♪♪

Micah: ♪♪ ride the pony, ride
the pony all the way to town ♪♪

♪♪ Ride the pony, ride the pony,
don't fall...down ♪♪

[ Laughter ]

Why don't you guys come over
more often and just hang out?

Exciting, huh?

Oh, thank you.
[ Giggles ]

I walk out from working
to get something to drink,

And there were micah and moriah.

I know the little girls
and everybody's

Had lots of good
micah and moriah time,

But maybe now,
if you guys would let us,

We could have
some micah and moriah time,

As mom and dad
with micah and moriah.

We can just go out,
hang out on the patio.

Yeah.

This is a great opportunity
just to seize the moment

And go out and catch up
where we can.

Where are
we going?

I think that...

There's some chairs
over here.

Kim: moriah had on
some pretty funky pants.

[ Laughs ]
they were interesting.

It was like, "yeah,
those are funky pants."

They made a little heart
in the back.

So, this is
like a rarity.

We get to catch up with you
and find out what's going on.

Moriah: it was kind of like
a burning feeling for me

When my parents asked
to have a chat with us,

Because of, you know,
how they usually go.

Yeah.

You're still working
at the auto store?

Yeah.

And modeling.

How'd you hear
about modeling?

I have so many people that,

Whenever you post something
on social media,

They screenshot it
and send it to me.

[ Laughs ]
like who?

Just...a bunch
of people.

Hm.

So, I mean, I always know
what you're up to.

Hm.

♪♪♪♪

Why didn't y'all
prepare us more?

That's my biggest frustration
with how we were raised.

Kim: it really hurts.

We poured ourselves
into them

To try to give them
the best that we could,

And it wasn't
good enough.

♪♪♪♪

♪♪♪♪

Kim: I have
so many people that,

Whenever you post something
on social media,

They screenshot it
and send it to me.

[ Laughs ]
like who?

Just...a bunch
of people.

Hm.

So, I mean, I always know
what you're up to.

I know you have
a boyfriend.

You have
a boyfriend?

I don't want
to talk about that.

Alright.

Hm.

I feel like both of us
are working super hard

To get, like,
privacy from them.

And then
we found out today

That they just know
everything we're doing still.

So what else?

And so, we know
micah's doing his thing,

And, moriah,
you're doing your thing,

Which is the gym.

Working a lot at the auto shop
and the gym.

I quit the other job because
that and school is a lot,

And, like, I was just
pushing school off.

Kim: yeah.

You gonna go, like,
to a two-year college,

Four-year college?

I want to eventually,

But I'm not sure
that y'all realize

How much work
there will be beforehand

To prepare myself
for that.

Micah: yeah.

Because it's not like I can go
from being homeschooled

To college like that,
you know?

Yeah. You'll have to do
some gearing up, right?

Micah: like, I would say
that's my biggest frustration

With how
we were raised.

Education was a huge preparation
that we didn't get.

Why didn't y'all
prepare us more?

I gave you schoolwork.
You didn't do it.

Looking back at ethan
and micah and moriah,

We've seen things that we wish
we had done differently,

And so
we're changing those.

The mistake that I made
with ethan and micah

Is letting them go work

When they didn't have
their schoolwork done.

So I told lydia and isaac,
"you're doing your schoolwork,"

And, you know, just, I really
laid down the law about that.

You took the 12th grade
standardized test,

And you scored
in the 95th percentile.

I mean, I don't see that we did
a really, really horrible job.

None of us
have a diploma.

We all have to get
our geds

If we're going to do anything
with our lives.

That's huge, added on top
of moving out on your own

When you don't know
the real world.

Micah:
I feel like, as a parent,

Your number-one priority is
to see your kids succeed you,

And you do your best

To help them get further
than you did in life.

And that wasn't the case
growing up.

But then again,
it is kind of hard

To prepare your kids
for the modern world

When you're trying to keep them
from the modern world.

I don't think y'all
know how that feels

And how hard that is.

It's like --
it's just hard to forgive.

♪♪♪♪

There's a part of you that wants
your child to understand,

You know,
you did a lot for them,

You've done the best
that you can,

But, you know, we parents
don't have it all down.

You know, we haven't reached
that level of perfection either.

You're in
the learning phase, right?

You're in
the learning phase.

And that's cool to see,
but just be aware,

Out there,
there's pitfalls and traps.

There's always that,
but you can't live in a bubble.

Got to just learn
to deal with it.

Yeah.

But you can also be smart
in how you navigate

So that you don't damage
yourself or other people.

Could you give me
an example?

Well, an example is sex,
you know?

I don't know exactly what
you guys do in your free time.

But, you know,
that's the choice

That you guys are
going to have to make,

And there's ramifications
to that, you know?

Yeah.
I mean, we know.

This is all stuff that,
like,

We had to learn
on our own.

Yeah,
this is stuff that

We had to learn on our own,
basically.

I kind of want to know why
y'all hadn't talked to us,

Like, when we were 13, 14, 15,
something like that --

Not wait
till you're 19.

I think the last couple years
that you two were at home,

We couldn't talk to you
about anything.

I felt like we couldn't.

Yeah, I mean, I didn't feel like
I could approach the subject.

Is that our problem?

No. We're just answering
the question

Why we didn't talk to you
about it before.

Kim: it really hurts
to know that

We poured ourselves
into them

To try to give them
the best that we could,

And it wasn't
good enough.

Can you forgive us
for our shortcomings,

Perceived or real?

It depends on what
your version of forgiveness is.

If it's acting like
nothing ever happened...

No. No.
...or acting like...

I mean...

I guess just, like, one of
the biggest takeaways from this

Is please give
my younger siblings

A better chance
in the world.

Like, I hope
y'all aren't too upset.

No, we love you.
[ Chuckles ]

We love you guys.

You know, a father's love
is unconditional.

So, the door
is always open.

You can always
stop by.

If you need space,
hey, that's okay.

You know?

♪♪♪♪

We'll always love you.

Yeah.

♪♪♪♪

Barry: we have differences.
Everybody has differences.

We're all unique individuals.

But, you know,
within the family context,

It would be nice just to come
to some kind of equilibrium

Where we can have, like,
normal relationships.

That was harder
than I thought.

Yeah.