Summary
Welcome To Plathvillematriarch Kim Plath’s parenting style has evolved since the show began in 2019. Kim and Barry Plath’s strict religious beliefs led them to raise their nine children in an extremely conservative manner. Their children were homeschooled and lived a simple life on the family farm in Cairo, Georgia.Welcome To Plathvilleseason 1 followed the oldest Plath children as they broke away from their family and began to discover the joys and temptations of the outside world.
Kim and Barry announced their separation in 2022 and filed for divorce two years later. As Kim and Barry grew apart, they each worked to rebuild their relationships with their estranged older children. Meanwhile, their oldest son, Ethan Plath, is experiencing heartbreak of his own. Ethan and his wife, Olivia Plath, decided to divorce at the end of season 5.Welcome To Plathvilleseason 6picks up in the aftermath of these major changes for the Plath family, and Kim’s parenting style has noticeably changed.
20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now
Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.
Kim Feels “Relaxed” Seeing How Her Older Children Have Turned Out
She Is A Much Less Strict Parent To Her Younger Daughters
Kim commented in the mostrecent episode ofWelcome To Plathvillethatshe was becoming much more lenient in her parenting of her younger children. Kim explained that despite her older children having strayed away from the family in early adulthood, she now feels reassured after seeing how well they turned out. In particular, Kim’s daughter Moriah Plath now has a strong relationship with both of her parents after previously rebelling as a teenager. Moriah lived out Kim’s greatest fear, and now that Kim sees Moriah turned out okay, she is “less worried about the outcome.”
Kim is much more relaxed with her younger children,allowing her preteen daughters to have piercings and wear makeup. She respects their clothing choices. Religion is no longer the focus of Kim’s household. Kim and Barry share custody of their three youngest daughters, Amber Plath, Cassia Plath, and Mercy Plath. When the girls are with Kim, they live on her houseboat, a far cry from the isolated Georgia farm where the older children grew up.
Kim’s Parenting Changed Amid Her Divorce From Barry
Kim’s New Relationship May Be Influencing Her Decisions
Kim’s outlook began to change as her marriage was falling apart. She started dancing and going to the gym, leaving Barry at home with the children. Her parenting grew more distant. When Kim moved out of the family home into an apartment, her daughter Lydia Plath was left to homeschool her younger siblings.Kim even made headlines for receiving a DUIduring this time.
While it is impossible to say whether Kim’s new attitude caused her divorce or was the result of it, Kim commented inWelcome To Plathvilleseason 6 that she was allowing her daughters to wear more revealing clothing now that she was no longer with Barry.This suggests it was Barry who was behind the couple’s ultra-conservative rules. Now that Kim is with her new boyfriend, Ken Palmer, her stance on relationships has changed as well. Kim even considered moving in with Ken before marriage. Ken’s easygoing personality may be influencing Kim, which in turn affects her parenting style.
Kim’s Support Of Micah’s Relationship Is Hypocritical
Kim Has Previously Received Criticism For Interfering In Her Children’s Relationships
Micah Plath, Kim’s second-oldest son, surprised viewers when he beganWelcome To Plathvilleseason 6 with the revelation thatMicah was living with a new girlfriend. Micah, who had moved to California to launch his modeling career, had never been in a serious relationship. However, he now shows signs of settling down.Micah moved back from California for his girlfriend, and he called cohabitation a sign of his commitment, a step just below marriage.
Even more surprising than Micah’s announcement was Kim’s reaction.She was supportive of Micah and said she liked his girlfriend. Kim’s nonchalant reaction to her son living with a woman before marriage shows how much she has evolved. Unfortunately, Kim has not always been this easygoing when it comes to her sons’ relationships.
Kim played a major role in Ethan and Olivia’s breakup. Olivia and Kim had a difficult relationship.Kim constantly interfered in Ethan’s marriage, causing him and Olivia to cut her off completely. Olivia and Ethan fought frequently about Olivia’s mistreatment by Ethan’s family. Kim judged Olivia for not being devout or conservative enough, and yet she casts none of that judgment on Micah’s girlfriend. If Kim had extended the same tolerance to Olivia, Ethan and Olivia’s marriage might have survived.
Kim Has Yet To Take Responsibility For Her Parenting Mistakes
Kim’s Harsh Rules Drove Her Older Children Away
While Kim’s progress is admirable, her new stance on parenting neglects to acknowledge the damage she inflicted on her older children. Kim’s strict and inflexible parenting is what drove her three oldest children to leave home at a young age, and it nearly ruined her relationships with them. Although Kim is working to establish friendly relationships with her adult children,she has not taken the step of admitting the flaws in her past parenting style.
Ethan raised these issuesin one of his rare conversations with his mother. He told Kim that his lack of education left him completely unequipped for success in the real world. Kim argued thatshe encouraged her children to follow their passions and Ethan’s experience working on cars could have provided him with a career. Kim failed to truly hear her son’s concerns, and she did not take any responsibility for her role in denying her children a proper education.
As Kim’s children grow older, her relationship with them is more important than anything else. However, Kim’s relaxed attitude toward her younger children comes at the expense of her older children. Kim cannot truly grow in the eyes ofWelcome To Plathvilleviewers until she admits and rectifies the past parenting mistakes that pushed her older children away.
