Dr. Phil: ‘Guilty Moms’ Show Highlights the Mommy Wars, Pits SAHM Against Working Moms

Yesterday’s Dr. Phil show caused fireworks in the “war” between Stay-at-Home Moms and Working Moms.

The show’s attorney Cindy Teele and Executive Producer Carla Pennington took the stage along with producer Anita Pepper–which is very unusual for broadcast television! Dr. Phil wrote on his blog today about today’s show Guilty Moms

In fact, something took place that’s never happened before in the history of Dr. Phil. One of the more outspoken stay-at-home mothers said — and I paraphrase — that if a woman can’t stay at home with her kids, then maybe she just shouldn’t have them! We asked this woman on the show to share her views, and appreciated her willingness to take a stand, but then our staff did too.

Jessica Gottlieb is a mom who debated with Dr. Phil’s attorney and producer about the best way to raise kids.  Gottlieb says she supports other moms who have to work:

Well, I said very specifically that we needed to support women who have to work. My mother was one of them, my stepmother too. The reality is that many women have need to go back to work right now because this is a horrendous economy.

Of course, Dr. Phil didn’t show all of Jessica’s comments, just the ones that made for juicy TV!  Full disclosure: I am a close friend of Jessica’s and it appeared to me that the producers of the show went out of their way to make her look bad. But that is my opinion.

Another friend, Romi Lassally wrote about the Dr. Phil episode over on Parents Ask:

Jessica goes out of her way to make the point that the aspersions and judgment she casts are directed at moms who choose to work – not the millions of moms who have to work.

Did you see today’s Dr. Phil show? What did you think?