There’s no M E R I in “team,” so the legal union of Kody Brown and Robyn Sullivan Brown took place on last week’s Sister Wives sans original first wife Meri. Now, it’s time for the family to focus on the purpose behind this paperwork shuffle…adopting Robyn’s three kids from her previous marriage. Of course, wouldn’t it have been more prudent to find out if said children’s biological father was willing to terminate his parental rights before shifting the family dynamic? Janelle and Christine are secondary players in this triangle, and they don’t seem all that bothered by it.
Kody has come to the realization that he’s got a lot of children, and having a lot of kids is hard when you have to tackle such tough topics like building a new play-set for the younger kids, newly engaged Madison joining the LDS church, and adopting Robyn’s three children. The moms call in Robyn’s children and clumsily try to explain the paperwork shuffle that will allow Kody to adopt them once they get the green light from their father. Robyn’s oldest daughter is over the moon. Kody reminds the children of Meri’s part in this deal, and they all offer up hugs of thanks.
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The following morning, Robyn has decided to cut baby Solomon’s hair for the first time since he was born. Kody has been hesitant (mainly because he likes having a hair twin), but he’s finally realized it’s time. Solomon’s ponytail is rivaling his father’s, and Kody teases that Solomon’s haircut means he’s no longer the baby…and he and Robyn must need to have another one. Robyn is giddy at the thought of procreating yet again with the lion maned wonder.
Janelle and Kody’s son Hunter is competing in the state wresting tournament, and Christine admits she was shocked to learn when she married Kody how obsessed he was with the sport. His wives joke about the wresting onesies, and Christine giggles about those silly outfits. There is some minor drama regarding the driving situation to the competition, but Christine and Janelle are easily able to squash it by dealing with the each other and circumventing Kody. The tween kids put up a fuss about having to attend the event, and everyone is huffy. Christine is grateful for another sister wife mom to watch her kids who want to stay home. At the tournament, Kody explains the technical rules of wrestling (brains over brute) and cites Hunter will need to win in order to entice college recruiters. The wives joke about the sexual comparisons to wresting when Kody complains it doesn’t have the same prestige as playing ball. Hunter quickly makes his way through the semifinals.
Hunter wins the state competition, and his family is beaming with pride. The wives poo-poo detractors who claim Kody is an absentee father because he has too many children and not enough time. However, his daughters recognize the distance between themselves and their father as he admittedly gravitates towards his sons with similar interests. Back home, Kody gathers his youngest kids together to share the exciting arrival of a new backyard play-set. The wives (and by “wives” I mean Robyn) realize that it isn’t easy to be a dad to such a brood, and he’s doing a stand-up job…even though she questioned it initially. Christine disagrees. She feels that Kody regrets the lack of time spent with his now college-age daughters. He needs to make more of an effort with his current tween girls. As Robyn advises Kody on how to connect with his daughters, Kody looks slightly terrified.
Madison, Janelle and Kody’s oldest daughter, has decided to be baptized into the LDS church. When the mothers tell their children, Madison’s siblings are confused. Hasn’t she already been baptized into their church? Kody and his wives side step the underlying issues about Madison’s faith. Janelle’s biggest fear is that the church will make her publicly denounce her family and its polygamist practices. Christine worries that Maddie chose to be baptized without much thought. The younger children have some very good questions about the differences in beliefs, and it has a stoic Kody questioning his daughter’s decision. Fortunately, the oldest siblings have nothing but praise and support for their sister’s choice.
I find it hilarious to hear Robyn explain her reasoning for filing their adoption in Montana. Why in the world would they have gone through all of this paperwork shuffling without knowing if Robyn’s ex-husband was willing to terminate his rights? Kody thinks that Nevada is the best place to file because Robyn’s ex won’t likely make the trip to contest it and he won’t confront his children about their decision. When did adopting kids become as easy as contesting a speeding ticket? I have zero experience with family law, but I have served as a guardian for a few uncontested step-parent adoptions. The biological parents who terminated their rights weren’t just average deadbeats behind on child support. It takes A LOT, and the courts favor biological parents (even when they probably shouldn’t). Robyn cries that she wants to make it as easy for her ex as possible. That way, when her kids are adults, she can say, we tried very hard to get him to engage, but he wouldn’t. She fears that filing in Nevada will cause her children to think she didn’t allow their biological father a fighting chance to keep them.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF LAST NIGHT’S EPISODE? COMMENTS ON THIS ADOPTION SITUATION?
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