Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 14:22     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I couldn't stop reading this story. This is definitely a case where morals, ethics and the law collide to wreak total havoc.

There is no doubt that Mary Beth has an addiction of sorts to mothering infants. One could say it is inherently selfish because this unilateral decision-making adversely impacts all of the people in her life--her adult children, other young children, her husband, her grandchildren and now the lawyers, the foster family and youngest babies.

Ethically, one could question having babies you likely won't be able to parent to adulthood. Her decision to get pregnant despite the high risk of uterine rupture that would have potentially left her first 10 children without a mother. And then the lengths she went to (emotionally, financially, criminally) in order to have the last set of twins really demonstrates that this is a compulsion and not healthy for anyone involved.

And now she has created a situation that is downright tragic for everyone. No matter who "wins", everyone has been hurt. I do not envy the judge in this case and wish the best for those babies.


What I don't understand is why did she not just take up fostering? She could have a new baby every year and is clearly well-suited to it.

No, she is not. Fostering means being selfless and she wants the attention and fanfare of having newborns. She is compulsively acting out over and over. I wonder how real those stories are of her dropping everything to help. If she does, it's to get attention. She is not normal in any way.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 14:20     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:This is a mental illness.


This is Octo-mommy.

And yes, mental illness, which they are now inflicting on their poor kids.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 14:15     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This woman is clearly unwell. I wish the youngest twins could stay with their foster family. I also don’t understand how they can afford all of this IVF and legal expenses. Even with well paying jobs, they have a dozen kids and are not super-rich.

Bizarre story


Plane captains who are trained from many years in the Air Force make a crazy amount of money. $400-500K/year flying two weeks per month for FedEx or one of the major airlines.

This guy has been making great money for decades in a LCOL area like Buffalo.


She raided their retirement account to pay the legal bills. These kids are gonna end up taking care of them. At least one, probably a girl, will spend her best years caring for them and will have virtually no life.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 13:57     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:I couldn't stop reading this story. This is definitely a case where morals, ethics and the law collide to wreak total havoc.

There is no doubt that Mary Beth has an addiction of sorts to mothering infants. One could say it is inherently selfish because this unilateral decision-making adversely impacts all of the people in her life--her adult children, other young children, her husband, her grandchildren and now the lawyers, the foster family and youngest babies.

Ethically, one could question having babies you likely won't be able to parent to adulthood. Her decision to get pregnant despite the high risk of uterine rupture that would have potentially left her first 10 children without a mother. And then the lengths she went to (emotionally, financially, criminally) in order to have the last set of twins really demonstrates that this is a compulsion and not healthy for anyone involved.

And now she has created a situation that is downright tragic for everyone. No matter who "wins", everyone has been hurt. I do not envy the judge in this case and wish the best for those babies.


What I don't understand is why did she not just take up fostering? She could have a new baby every year and is clearly well-suited to it.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 13:55     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This woman is clearly unwell. I wish the youngest twins could stay with their foster family. I also don’t understand how they can afford all of this IVF and legal expenses. Even with well paying jobs, they have a dozen kids and are not super-rich.

Bizarre story


Plane captains who are trained from many years in the Air Force make a crazy amount of money. $400-500K/year flying two weeks per month for FedEx or one of the major airlines.

This guy has been making great money for decades in a LCOL area like Buffalo.


To wit: some SAHMs spend on shopping or vacations. This lady spent money on IVF and kids. Per the article, she spent little money, lived frugally, occasionally worked as a nurse, and basically plowed all their resources into more kids.

Their tuition bills must be insane.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 13:53     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:This woman is clearly unwell. I wish the youngest twins could stay with their foster family. I also don’t understand how they can afford all of this IVF and legal expenses. Even with well paying jobs, they have a dozen kids and are not super-rich.

Bizarre story


Plane captains who are trained from many years in the Air Force make a crazy amount of money. $400-500K/year flying two weeks per month for FedEx or one of the major airlines.

This guy has been making great money for decades in a LCOL area like Buffalo.
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 10:44     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

I read this story in the NYT Mag on Sunday. It really is very crazy. I too am Catholic and grew up with 8 kids in my family plus my mom had 3 miscarriages. (I am a boomer...so this was before birth control and Catholic women were instructed to have sex whenever their husbands wanted).
In this story ---the older Lewis children were forced to put their own lives on hold to take care of the younger children. It apparently ruined them in various ways. The mother is clearly nutso and the dad was virtually absent since he was gone 2 weeks out of every month as a FEDEX pilot. Once he retired, he became more aware of the crazy around him. The younger babies deserve a better life than what crazy mom can give them.
Unless someone grew up in a big family (I mean 8 kids or more) they have no real idea of what it is like. You are essentially on your own and become adults at about age 11 or 12. It is deplorable in my opinion.,
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 10:32     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Family law isn't black and white. The primary concern should ALWAYS be what's in the best interest of the children, not what's in the best interest of the adults. As it stands she and people here are advocating for two toddlers to be ripped from the people who took them home from the hospital and raised them from birth and be placed with a woman in her 60s with 13 other children who has no biological link to them.

You would have to be insane to think that is what's in the best interest of the children.


She is their MOTHER.


HOW? How is she their mother?

As for siblings growing up together, when we started allowing sperm and egg donation we ensured that there would be thousands of kids who grow up with siblings they don’t know.


And could wind up falling in love with a sibling


Go check out Spermworld on Hulu. It is one of the more disturbing docs I’ve ever seen. Horrifying really.


PP here. It is indeed disturbing, and I don't think most people are aware of the consequences of guys being paid for repeated sperm donations.


Everyone just wants what they want. How it impacts others is of no concern to them.


+1
Anonymous
Post 11/04/2025 09:35     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:Her husband must be equally cuckoo to still stay with her.


Or maybe just greedy, he said he was leaving, she said well I'll take half, then the prospect of legal and financial damages, threatened to further diminish his half and he changed his mind.

He is an avoidant, perhaps disordered personality type, but he's not cuckoo. His staying fits, it works, he's hands off, he didn't commit the crime, he just avoids it all... he functions just as he always has. The guy makes sense, who wants to eat cat kibble and live in a box, in old age? No one, and that alone is a logical motivator and reason to stay.

He can keep doing what he's done his entire adult life, make himself scarce around the home, get some hobbies, maybe a mistress and travel the world, pop in when he needs a hug from the kids and grands, you know do what avoidant personalities do.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 20:47     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Family law isn't black and white. The primary concern should ALWAYS be what's in the best interest of the children, not what's in the best interest of the adults. As it stands she and people here are advocating for two toddlers to be ripped from the people who took them home from the hospital and raised them from birth and be placed with a woman in her 60s with 13 other children who has no biological link to them.

You would have to be insane to think that is what's in the best interest of the children.


She is their MOTHER.


HOW? How is she their mother?

As for siblings growing up together, when we started allowing sperm and egg donation we ensured that there would be thousands of kids who grow up with siblings they don’t know.


And could wind up falling in love with a sibling


Go check out Spermworld on Hulu. It is one of the more disturbing docs I’ve ever seen. Horrifying really.


PP here. It is indeed disturbing, and I don't think most people are aware of the consequences of guys being paid for repeated sperm donations.


Everyone just wants what they want. How it impacts others is of no concern to them.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 20:12     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Family law isn't black and white. The primary concern should ALWAYS be what's in the best interest of the children, not what's in the best interest of the adults. As it stands she and people here are advocating for two toddlers to be ripped from the people who took them home from the hospital and raised them from birth and be placed with a woman in her 60s with 13 other children who has no biological link to them.

You would have to be insane to think that is what's in the best interest of the children.


She is their MOTHER.


HOW? How is she their mother?

As for siblings growing up together, when we started allowing sperm and egg donation we ensured that there would be thousands of kids who grow up with siblings they don’t know.


And could wind up falling in love with a sibling


Go check out Spermworld on Hulu. It is one of the more disturbing docs I’ve ever seen. Horrifying really.


PP here. It is indeed disturbing, and I don't think most people are aware of the consequences of guys being paid for repeated sperm donations.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 19:55     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Family law isn't black and white. The primary concern should ALWAYS be what's in the best interest of the children, not what's in the best interest of the adults. As it stands she and people here are advocating for two toddlers to be ripped from the people who took them home from the hospital and raised them from birth and be placed with a woman in her 60s with 13 other children who has no biological link to them.

You would have to be insane to think that is what's in the best interest of the children.


She is their MOTHER.


HOW? How is she their mother?

As for siblings growing up together, when we started allowing sperm and egg donation we ensured that there would be thousands of kids who grow up with siblings they don’t know.


That doesn't make it in any way okay. They are full siblings. I believe that they should stay with the foster parents they have been raised with, but they should also have an avenue for a relationship with their 3 other full siblings.

The only reasonable option is for MaryBeth to give up her claim on these babies. She needs to repair her relationships with her parents costing family, including all of the layers and layers of deceptions either current children and husband.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 19:46     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Family law isn't black and white. The primary concern should ALWAYS be what's in the best interest of the children, not what's in the best interest of the adults. As it stands she and people here are advocating for two toddlers to be ripped from the people who took them home from the hospital and raised them from birth and be placed with a woman in her 60s with 13 other children who has no biological link to them.

You would have to be insane to think that is what's in the best interest of the children.


She is their MOTHER.


HOW? How is she their mother?

As for siblings growing up together, when we started allowing sperm and egg donation we ensured that there would be thousands of kids who grow up with siblings they don’t know.


And could wind up falling in love with a sibling


Go check out Spermworld on Hulu. It is one of the more disturbing docs I’ve ever seen. Horrifying really.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 18:02     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Family law isn't black and white. The primary concern should ALWAYS be what's in the best interest of the children, not what's in the best interest of the adults. As it stands she and people here are advocating for two toddlers to be ripped from the people who took them home from the hospital and raised them from birth and be placed with a woman in her 60s with 13 other children who has no biological link to them.

You would have to be insane to think that is what's in the best interest of the children.


She is their MOTHER.


HOW? How is she their mother?

As for siblings growing up together, when we started allowing sperm and egg donation we ensured that there would be thousands of kids who grow up with siblings they don’t know.


And could wind up falling in love with a sibling
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 15:47     Subject: She wouldn’t stop having babies.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Family law isn't black and white. The primary concern should ALWAYS be what's in the best interest of the children, not what's in the best interest of the adults. As it stands she and people here are advocating for two toddlers to be ripped from the people who took them home from the hospital and raised them from birth and be placed with a woman in her 60s with 13 other children who has no biological link to them.

You would have to be insane to think that is what's in the best interest of the children.


She is their MOTHER.


HOW? How is she their mother?

As for siblings growing up together, when we started allowing sperm and egg donation we ensured that there would be thousands of kids who grow up with siblings they don’t know.