Reply #30: I agree...

[CoffeeCat]

Those "parents" have Kyle in the scapegoat role, in the family.

When abusers feel the need to power up and abuse--they usually pick one child on which to focus the majority of the abuse.

When the scapegoat is removed, they create another one.

This cycle will not end until these parents get years of therapy.

Both parents--especially the mother--seems like a victim of abuse herself. She seems trapped inside her own pain, and she has become an abuser. She has a long, long way to go, before healing happens.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was sexual abuse between Kyle and the father. He's totally the type. Furthermore, the mother is so jealous of Kyle. Any interaction between Kyle and the father is met with white-hot rage. The mother knows, on some level--that something is going on. Jealously may be a part of it--but there seems to be many layers of abuse and dysfunction happening in that family.

So many people are outraged about this program. The ABC message boards are busy with people who are infuriated at these parents. We're not alone in our disgust.