Teen Mom: The Next Chapter<\/em>.<\/p>\n(These things film months in advance \u2026 and it\u2019s not like MTV doesn\u2019t already know who and what she is)<\/p>\n
This week, however, the focus was not on Amber or her behavior. It was about Leah.<\/p>\n
Now a teenager, Leah has no desire to follow her parents\u2019 footsteps. She won\u2019t be a teen mom. For that and other reasons, it was time to talk about birth control.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>14-year-old Leah Shirley rides in the car with Kristina on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. (MTV)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOn this week\u2019s episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter<\/em>, it\u2019s time to catch up with Amber Portwood and the Shirleys.<\/p>\nWe see Kristina driving Leah to a doctor\u2019s appointment. Leah is now 14, and she has a healthy idea of what\u2019s appropriate to discuss.<\/p>\n
Her plan is to bring up her periods. She needs to regulate her menstruation and alleviate the intensity of them. <\/p>\nIn the passenger seat of the car, 14-year-old Leah Shirley discusses plans for her doctor\u2019s appointment. (MTV)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAt her age, that means going on birth control.<\/p>\n
Kristina is totally supportive, reminding Leah that she\u2019s happy to let her discuss it with the doctor one-on-one.<\/p>\n
Leah emphasizes that she wants Kristina there. It\u2019s so nice that she has a positive, supportive mother figure in her life!<\/p>\nWearing a bold pair of glasses and a striped top, Amber Portwood recalls the well-deserved rejection that she received from her daughter for years. (MTV)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMeanwhile, Amber Portwood discusses her other child.<\/p>\n
She confesses that she feared that little James would either forget or reject her. Leah was not her biggest fan, understandably so.<\/p>\n
Of course, given Amber\u2019s alleged treatment of James, he may be less excited to see her in the future \u2014 if our backwards family court system still forces him to.<\/p>\nGary Shirley pets this precious little dog on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. (MTV)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAnyway, in lighter news, Kristina sat down with Gary.<\/p>\n
Not only did she tell him that the appointment went well, but she confirmed that Leah was okay with on-camera discussions.<\/p>\n
Having established that, Kristina then told Gary that the doctor was going ahead with birth control for Leah. Leah is 14, and this is a good way to help reduce her period-related suffering.<\/p>\nKristina Shirley fills her husband in on how the doctor\u2019s appointment went. (MTV)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cWelcome to parenting a teenager,\u201d Kristina then quipped. She\u2019s right!<\/p>\n
Sometimes, it\u2019s as simple as stocking extra boxes of tissues without asking stupid questions about why they\u2019re disappearing so quickly. Other times, it\u2019s some extra medical care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe doctor did give her a good sex education talk along with the birth control pill,\u201d Kristina shared. \u201cLeah kept saying, \u2018I don\u2019t need it for that, it\u2019s just for my period.’\u201d<\/p>\nGary Shirley has a very sensible reaction to his daughter\u2019s appointment with the doctor. He wants a better life for her than he or her birth-mother had. (MTV)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cI\u2019m not against her taking it,\u201d Gary quickly affirmed to Kristina. \u201cI mean, I would prefer it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He emphasized: \u201cI\u2019d rather her be safe than sorry because she\u2019s eventually going to be old enough and be more curious.\u201d Yep!<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd,\u201d Gary continued, \u201cI don\u2019t want it to be how it was with her mom and [me].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
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