CRYSTAL: My name
And my name is Jeff Lawrence.
We both have two children from previous relationships.
When I made this decision to be a stay-at-home mom,
the kids were super excited.
JEFF: I thought for sure that, you know,
this was going to be great.
But then it got real.
So-- [laughs]
[interposing voices]
Why would you do that?
Trying to raise two children that aren't biologically mine,
it's difficult.
[screams]
CRYSTAL: Jeff and I have "trialed and errored" all
sorts of disciplinary things.
We've done clip charts and timeouts.
And it's just-- nothing's working.
I can't stop at the mouth.
If something doesn't change, I am going to have a breakdown.
JEFF: I feel like I'm going to lose my wife.
By the looks of things, I've arrived here just in time.
So one of my important jobs is to make
sure that what you're feeling, OK,
is important, that it's heard.
What do you think I can do for you all
as brothers and sister here?
We just want to have fun--
She hurt me.
--with our parents.
We haven't seen Dad laugh, like,
since you were, like, three.
And that's-- well, that's upsetting you,
isn't it, darling?
I don't know how you do it.
No mention about disrespect or--
oh, this is interesting conversation.
I've just been spending my time
just talking to different-- - Yeah.
--kids, round up what they have to say.
And been talking--
Did you let her know we heard it?
Oh, yeah.
The basement talk? Yeah.
I would assume so.
It's very close.
Yeah.
Well, we have cameras in our-- we
have cameras that we've set up ourselves that are in our home.
Tell me about that.
So he can look in when he's at work and--
Help.
Show me that.
Show me cameras in your home to help.
So the cameras are in Delaney's room, Maya's, the basement.
I mean, because a lot of times, what happens
is, somebody comes busting through and saying,
you know, somebody hit me or this and that.
And then we can just say, we were watching.
WOMAN: What could you gain from it?
For me, it's peace of mind.
Because I can see my kiddos in there.
I'm just afraid something's going to happen.
Like, somebody is going to get hit or hurt.
It made me feel more in control.
The fact that this family put cameras in their house,
I think that's cause of concern, to be honest with you.
Because it doesn't allow you, at the end of the day, to build
trust.
I'm here because you are a blended family.
And none of you as a family have been
feeling happy for a long time.
There's this control of going, I expect it this way,
and I want things that way.
You can never do this.
And it's so tight, the kids switch off.
That's self-sabotage.
Right?
Your need for control, Crystal, is stifling.
The surveillance cameras in the bedrooms?
I mean, they don't even have them in cells in prisons.
And you've got surveillance cameras in their bedrooms.
Yeah.
It doesn't get any more invasive than that.
I mean, even I went down to have a private conversation
with the children--
Yeah.
--and you actually took it upon yourself to spy on me.
As a professional, you invaded my space, my privacy.
I guess we didn't look at it that way.
You would learn so much more if you
actually connected with the kids and heard their stories.
And they all felt it was fair, because they all
got a chance to talk about it.
And you could start working it out.
And sometimes, you're going to miss stuff,
but sometimes, you ain't.
Right.
And so that's why it's important for you
both to connect with each other's children.
Sure.
Because you may know your own, biologically, but you need
to know the others' as well.
JEFF: Everybody says that they're great kids
when they're out and about. CRYSTAL: It's true.
And I think it's because they're not focused
on what we're focused on.
I think it's-- we're trying to make them perfect.
Jeff, they are perfect, just as they are.
Yeah.
So a lot of work to be done, and we're going
to do that one day at a time.
Perfect.
Let's get to work.
OK.
Thank you.
I was thinking of maybe going and taking down the cameras.
Sounds like a plan to me.
OK.
It's hard to look at yourself and realize your own faults.
And I didn't realize how much I'm trying to control here.
Freedom!
I'm excited to learn to let go of some things
just so everyone can be a little bit more lighter around here.