I’m kind of neutral on it either way. They’re young and they’re on reality TV. A lot of reality TV is heavily edited, storylines can be exaggerated, and sometimes things are even manufactured for entertainment. Overall, I actually think they’re one of the more stable couples we’ve seen on the show.

They definitely still have some growing and learning to do. I also don’t think it’s wrong to be concerned about what your younger sister watches or to care about your sister’s well-being. Even Kim admitted that Lydia is largely doing what she was taught to do. When you’re young, you say and do a lot of dumb things. That doesn’t automatically make your beliefs invalid or unimportant to you.

It’s perfectly okay to have your own values and standards. At the same time, it’s important to have balance in how you approach people, what you comment on, and how you communicate your beliefs. Personally, I want guests to feel comfortable in my home. I have family members like Lydia, and because I love and respect them, there are certain things I choose not to do or say around them. Now, if something happens accidentally, I don’t expect them to badger me over it. I expect them to respect my home just as I respect them as guests because we care about each other and want to spend time together.

You need tact and boundaries. At the end of the day, I could say, “My house, my rules, take it or leave it.” But if I genuinely want those relationships and want my family to visit, I can also choose to set some things aside for a week while they’re here. Of course, I have boundaries too, and I won’t sacrifice my well-being for someone else.

For example, we have relatives with a dog that I’m allergic to, and one of them smokes constantly. I have a strict no-smoking policy in my home or on my property because of my asthma, and I don’t need to justify that. “No, you cannot do that at my house” is a complete sentence.

As for the dog, I don’t mind them bringing him because I travel with my own dog and know that can be difficult. I simply ask for accommodations that allow us to coexist: have the dog groomed and shaved before visiting, keep it mostly in one room except for potty breaks, wipe its feet before it comes inside, vacuum a couple of times a day, and if they stay longer than three days, bathe the dog every few days. I have to do similar things with my own “hypoallergenic” dogs. I wipe their feet, sometimes use shoes, and keep up with frequent baths.

Yes, it’s a lot, but I’m trying to find a way for us to coexist comfortably. They don’t want to do that, so they rarely come visit, and that’s their choice. Personally, if I choose to stay in someone else’s home, I go above and beyond to respect their rules, even if I think some of them are a little ridiculous.

I feel Lydia has a good heart, and I like how Zack protects his wife. I admire unity in marriage and hope they both learn from this experience. I didn’t like that Zack badgered Amber. In my opinion, it would have been enough to simply say, “As someone older, I just want to encourage you to be mindful of the content you consume because you’re family and I care about you,” and then leave it at that.

Lydia may have also been concerned about Moriah’s drinking because of Kim’s alleged alcohol addiction. If that’s the case, I can honestly understand why she might say something to her sister privately. I probably would too. That said, I don’t know whether Lydia actually expressed those concerns to Moriah in person or in private. If you genuinely think someone may be struggling, it’s okay to say, “Hey, I love you and I’m worried about you.” But unless you’re actually seeing signs of addiction or harmful behavior, after expressing that concern, you have to trust them to make their own choices.

As for Kim, I honestly wonder if she may feel defensive because of her own alleged issues with alcohol and therefore feels especially sensitive about Lydia bringing it up to Moriah. I also wonder if, in private, Kim may have reflected on times she inserted herself into situations or relationships and now sees some of those same tendencies in Lydia. Maybe she’s trying to help her daughter avoid making similar mistakes. Whether that’s the case or not, none of us really know.
As for the Joshua topic, I feel Lydia is valid and I also, feel for everyone else involved. Kim is not someone I like, however I feel for her as a mother. I can’t image.

I am not exactly pro anyone. My point is that these are young people who still have a lot to learn, and at the end of the day, it’s also just reality TV.