As an adult in her thirties, Catelynn has a different perspective on the adoption and her and Tyler’s families’ lack of participation
Catelynn Lowell Baltierra has a different perspective on her adoption, 16 years later.
On the Thursday, May 1 episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, members of the cast who have been with the franchise since the beginning travel to New York to celebrate 16 years since 16 and Pregnant started it all.
The meetup is admittedly bittersweet for Catelynn and husband Tyler Baltierra, who placed their firstborn daughter, Carly, for adoption during that journey. During a quick mom hangout with castmate Maci Bookout McKinney in the Big Apple after the others went to bed, Maci asks Catelynn how she’s doing with this milestone and what it “brings up” for her.
“I don’t want you to have that — I hope y’all don’t feel out of place,” Maci says.
“No. I get asked a lot, even more recently, like, ‘Do you regret your decision?’ And I don’t regret my decision, but I regret not picking a family in Michigan. I regret not picking a family that wanted a completely open adoption. I regret not hiring a lawyer to help me understand what I’m signing,” she says.
“You didn’t know any better though,” Maci points out.
“Yeah, but all the adults should have helped me,” she replies, to which Maci agrees, “They should have. They definitely should have.”
“I was a child. Now that I’m older and look back on it, I feel like I was very coerced and manipulated,” Catelynn admits.
Maci offers Catelynn support in whatever she wants to do about that, with the Michigan mom ultimately deciding the best thing for her is to keep working it out in therapy.
Later on, the photoshoot is underway. Bentley sits with Gary and Tyler as the ladies sort out hair and makeup.
“Do you wish Carly could have been here this weekend?” Bentley asks.
“I wish she could have bene here, yeah, but I’m also kind of glad she’s not, in a way,” Tyler says. “Because she’s not used to this.”
Bentley asks if they’re able to see her much, to which Tyler says, “No, they’re doing their own thing. They cut contact.”
“Is it the parents that are doing that or is it Carly?” Gary asks.
“We don’t know. They won’t answer. Why would you not answer? It’s such a weird thing. Adults communicate.”
Gary asks if they’re trying to protect Carly or think they are, to which Tyler says he’s unsure.
“Even if her parents were to say, ‘Hey, Carly doesn’t want to be in contact with you,’ I’d respect it. I wouldn’t question it. I would be hurt. I would be sad about it, but at least I’d have a direction.”
Gary asks if there’s anything Catelynn and Tyler do that upsets Carly or Brandon and Teresa, but Tyler says they’ve never communicated that. He uses the way Amber talks about Leah and her past as an example of things that could “embarrass” or upset a teenager.
“I don’t know that, which is kind of where I’m at,” Tyler says.
The complicated feelings about the day pop up again when the team calls for a full cast shot. Tyler suggests him and Catelynn step out for the photos since they don’t have a teen with them.
“I just want you to know that you guys are parents too, and Teen Moms, and you belong here as much as everyone else,” executive producer Kiki reassures him.
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter airs Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. on MTV.