Dr. H has taken something that I disliked, the exploitative and unethical behavior of reality TV, and turned it into a powerful learning opportunity. I could light a building with all the lightbulb moments I’ve had about myself watching these videos. You have to know there is a problem to fix it. Knowledge is power. Thanks for the empowerment Doc.

Feel so bad for Daniel. You know he’s gonna blame himself if they split up

Oh yeah, at 17 I was triangulated by my parents during their divorce. Dad told me about his suicidal ideations and how he tried to convince my mom to stay. Mom leaned on me for support and I had to step in to keep the house in order for my younger siblings. It changed our relationship forever. I became a people pleaser, I put myself last in all relationships/situations- it has significantly altered my life. Better parenting is the fastest way to change the world.

“It’s not just asking ‘what do I want?’ it’s asking ‘what do they want me to want?’” Couldn’t have said it any better. I was a child who was also triangulated into parents conflict. They’re divorced now and I’ve been going to therapy but this is still heartbreaking to watch Daniel & see it slowly play out

I hope Daniel takes these tapes to his therapist.

These episodes lately really break my heart. Daniel is so sweet and wise beyond his years and Ronald uses him as a sick tool to force Tiffany to stay with him

I grew up somewhat poor, but my mother always made the simplest things seem wonderful! So that "asparagus tree" could have been made to look beautiful! Depends how you present things to a child.

The point about "people pleasing" at

I have grown up to become a people pleaser, like you mentioned for Daniel. I really hope they fix this soon. I wouldn’t wish my anxiety on anyone, especially sweet Daniel.

This made me realize my childhood was def taken from me matured at a young age and it was explained perfectly how it feels as a child

His childhood was like mine. I felt resentful until I went to therapy. It is torture

Ugh I have been the triangulated child my whole life!!! I have been triagulated between my parents marriage and between my siblings as the golden child in the family. The first time I was traigulated was when I was 6 years old. At 6, my mother told me about my grandparent's will and why it was causing her and my father fiancial stress and how unfair that was that my aunt would get more money when my grandparents died...blah blah blah....therapist for my mother at 6 years old!! Often adults would tell me at as a child how serious I was and mature for my age. At 10, my dad would confide in me about money issues. I remember being 10 years old up at night worrying about money and how much money I cost for my parents by simply existing. Even as an adult in my late 20's I am still really pissed off thinking about how anxious and nervous I felt during my entire childhood. Anxiety is still a big issue for me in adulthood btw.

I hope Tiffany sees this.

I really think that this is a side effect of a mix of his gambling disorder contributing to manic spending habits and Tiffany’s fundamental misunderstanding of the economic divide. Despite all the above, I also think Ronald is massively immature and suffering culturally engrained toxic masculinity issues. SA is VERY sexist and still VERY racist.

I’ve always hated how Tiffany drags Daniel around the world to have him call some stranger “daddy.” He seems like such a good kid, but she’s messing him up for life.

I live in South Africa and actually not far from this specific warehouse! It is unecessarily expensive and there are PLENTY of alternate cheaper shops they could have bought these supplies from. Ronald is taking advantage of Tiffany!!! And totally exploiting her! The dynamic between these two (and Daniel) is sickening! I feel so sorry for Daniel. His Mom has made some terrible decisions since meeting that fool!

One thing that the Doc didn't touch upon was the fact that Ronald used to steal his mother blind to support his gambling addiction. So it makes perfect sense that he wouldn't want his mother to hear ANYTHING negative about him, being that she already has a low opinion of him. He would be especially sensitive to her disapproval.

I was heavily triangulated in my parents arguments growing up and it forever damaged my view on relationships. I am an only child. They both never liked to talk to each other about their problems but would often talk to me in the car on my way to school or the store. It was always "your dad is lazy" or "your mom is blowing this out of proportion". If they got into an actual argument, they would just sit silently in the living room with the TV off. It never seemed like they loved each other and I had no real model for communication. I have been through over 10 years of therapy and I feel like I learn something new every year about the negative effect their relationship had on me. Please do NOT use kids as therapists. It was so damaging and I never thought I was good enough because I couldn't fix their problems.

This is when reality shows make me feel icky. When it's clearly disfunction.

One of my clients told me that his mom asked him if she should divorce his father. This was really harmful for him and blamed himself for his father’s alcoholism and ultimate passing.