Emotional Reunion: Teen Mom Amber Portwood's Tearful Moment with Estranged Daughter Leah Goes Viral
Amber Portwood, star of Teen Mom OG, tearfully reunites with her estranged 14-year-old daughter Leah on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter Their emotional breakthrough marks a significant turning point in their troubled relationship
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Amber Portwood and her 14-year-old daughter, Leah, had a breakthrough in their often rocky relationship during the Teen Mom: The Next Chapter reunion.
Leah expressed her gratitude towards her parents during the two-hour special that aired on Wednesday, October 11. Sitting beside her mom Amber, dad Gary Shirley, and stepmom Kristina Shirley, she openly shared how they have been a source of support throughout the years.
"I am genuinely thankful to everyone. Being a teenager can be quite overwhelming," Leah conveyed to her parents. "Having people who have experienced everything I will go through makes it all the more manageable."
“I have a lot of trust in all of you guys,” she added, looking at all three of her parents.
The moment caused Amber to burst into tears.
“That’s the first time I ever heard [Leah say that],” Amber told her daughter, wiping away tears. “Thank you, I love you.”
“I love you too,” Leah replied.
It was a monumental moment for the mother-daughter duo, whose estranged relationship has played out on MTV for years.
Courtesy of MTV/Instagram
Amber, whose battles with substance abuse, mental health problems, and legal troubles have been a major factor in her strained relationship with Leah, cried even more intensely while expressing the significance of her daughter's words.
"I put in so much effort to be there for her. And it brings me immense joy to know that despite everything, she has gained something from it," Amber shared. "That holds a tremendous amount of meaning for me."
Amber apologized to Leah for occasionally feeling down and highlighted the significance of her eldest child. She added that her mental well-being is crucial and expressed gratitude upon learning that Leah recognized her efforts to prioritize her mental health.
Leah, on her end, stressed the immense significance of her mother, regardless of the trials they have faced over the years. "You've had a profound impact on my life," Leah expressed. "Like, you have truly been a tremendous help."
Amber Portwood’s daughter, Leah MTV/YouTube
Amber, for her part, has been taking responsibility for her past actions — and absence — in her daughter’s life.
In a Teen Mom: Family Reunion episode in January 2022, the former 16 and Pregnant cast member admitted that she had used her depression in the past as a justification for not taking action for Leah.
Amber reflected, "I realize now that there is no valid excuse. I was making an effort to protect Leah from negative influences back then. I was attempting to do various things to prioritize her well-being. But in retrospect, I could have still been there for her. I could have gone over to see her and picked her up."
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