Ep 12. Mommy Dearest

In the twelfth episode of the fourth season of Escaping Polygamy, titled "Mommy Dearest," viewers follow the story of a mother who is struggling to come to terms with the fact that her daughter has chosen to leave the polygamous community they both grew up in.

The episode opens with Jessica and Andrea receiving a call from a young woman named Amber, who wants to share her story and hopefully receive some guidance from the sisters on how to leave the community she was raised in. As it turns out, Amber's mother is an influential member of the community, and Amber fears that leaving will mean sacrificing her relationship with her mother.

Jessica and Andrea meet with Amber in secret and listen as she shares her story. She talks about the constant pressure to conform to the community's expectations, including the expectation that she will one day enter into a polygamous marriage. Amber has always felt like she didn't fit in and struggled with depression, which is what ultimately led her to consider leaving.

Following their meeting with Amber, Jessica and Andrea decide to track down her mother to see if she can provide any insight or resources to help Amber leave. They find her living in a large home with her sister-wives and their children, and they're surprised to learn that she was once close friends with their mother.

During their conversation, the mother seems conflicted about her daughter's desire to leave. She talks about how hard it is to leave behind everything she's known and how she worries about Amber's safety in the outside world. She also acknowledges that her relationship with Amber has been strained by her position within the community.

As the episode progresses, viewers see Amber struggling with her decision to leave. She's torn between her desire for freedom and the fear of losing her mother and everything she's ever known. She has a heart-to-heart conversation with a close friend who has already left the community, which gives her some perspective and encouragement.

Meanwhile, Jessica and Andrea continue to work on helping Amber. They introduce her to a woman who has successfully left the community and is now living on her own. They also help Amber make a plan for how she can leave and find a safe place to stay, while also maintaining her relationship with her mother as much as possible.

Overall, the episode "Mommy Dearest" is a poignant and emotional look at the challenges faced by those who choose to leave polygamous communities. It's a reminder that leaving behind everything you've ever known is never easy, and that the journey to freedom is often filled with obstacles and tough decisions. However, it also shows the power of the human spirit and the resilience of those who are determined to live their own lives on their own terms.