CC's Dad Has Done Nothing Wrong

Summary

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The Dr. Laura Podcast - "CC's Dad Has Done Nothing Wrong"

Date: February 16, 2026
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Caller: CeCe

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Laura takes a call from CeCe, who is experiencing prolonged tension with her father after a disagreement involving a family vacation and her father's attempt to include a young boy from his church in the family's trip. The discussion unpacks family dynamics, motives, misunderstandings, and the importance of self-reflection and empathy. Dr. Laura offers her direct, no-nonsense advice, ultimately challenging CeCe to reconsider her perspective and acknowledge her and her siblings' roles in the family conflict.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Family Vacation and Initial Conflict

[01:53–04:44]

• CeCe recounts: Her extended family (dad, stepmother, brother, his girlfriend, their kids, CeCe, her husband, and her 9-year-old son) rented a house together for a holiday weekend.
• The issue: Days prior, CeCe's father, who is very involved in his church, asked about bringing a young boy from the church—whose single mother they support—to join, suggesting it would be good for CeCe's son.
• CeCe's response: She objected, partly due to logistical concerns, but admits to telling her father, "he's not for my son... I think you want to be a hero."
  • Dr. Laura's reaction [04:20]:

    "You decide to get nasty."
    "That was nasty. Yeah. 'You just want to be a hero' is kind of nasty." – Dr. Laura

2. Family Pushback and Unspoken Motives

[07:05–09:03]

• CeCe shares: Other siblings felt similarly about not wanting the boy to come, though they wouldn't say so directly to their dad.
• Post-trip atmosphere: No major blowups during the trip; the boy did not come. Dad was distant but there was a brief exchange of apologies at the end ("I'm sorry, dad. I'm sorry, too.").
• Aftermath: Dad refused further contact unless it was in therapy, and CeCe attempted but logistical issues delayed resolution. Her father withdrew, promising to reach out once a different therapist was chosen.

3. Dr. Laura’s Assessment & Hard Truths

[08:55–10:42]

• Dr. Laura probes:

  "Why were you all so mean to him about bringing this little boy?"

• CeCe tries to justify by mentioning safety and legal worries (not knowing the boy’s mother well), but Dr. Laura doesn't accept this.
• Dr. Laura's assertion [09:03, 09:46–10:28]:

  "That was the most bizarre display of sibling rivalry from adults about a little kid that dad is paying attention to. What the heck is wrong with all of you? You are all so terrible."
  "You were all angry that he was paying attention to this little boy..."
  "Your dad has done nothing wrong. ...You need to be a better person here."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On CeCe’s accusation [04:38]:

  "That was nasty. Yeah. 'You just want to be a hero' is kind of nasty." – Dr. Laura

• On the true source of the conflict [09:03]:

  "That was the most bizarre display of sibling rivalry from adults about a little kid that dad is paying attention to." – Dr. Laura

• On family dynamics [09:46]:

  "You were all angry that he was paying attention to this little boy, and that little boy meant something to him." – Dr. Laura

• Final assessment [10:28]:

  "Your dad has done nothing wrong. You need to be a better person here." – Dr. Laura

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Important Timestamps

• [01:46] – Call begins: CeCe introduces her problem with her father post-vacation.
• [04:20–04:44] – Dr. Laura calls out CeCe's attitude as "nasty."
• [07:05–07:30] – CeCe describes her family’s response and aftermath of the vacation.
• [08:55–10:28] – Dr. Laura’s blunt analysis of the callers’ behavior towards their father.
• [10:28–10:46] – Dr. Laura’s closing statement and advice to CeCe.

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Tone & Style

Dr. Laura maintains her signature direct, slightly confrontational but ultimately empathetic tone. She challenges excuses and asks CeCe to reflect honestly on family dynamics, focusing on accountability and growth.

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Takeaway Message

Dr. Laura urges self-examination in family disputes, especially when projection, jealousy, or old rivalries cloud judgment. She reminds listeners that good intentions—like her caller’s father supporting a church child—should be recognized, not resented. Ultimately, “Your dad has done nothing wrong. You need to be a better person here.”

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For further advice, listeners are encouraged to reflect honestly on their family interactions and to consider that sometimes the hardest messages to hear are the ones we need most.

Transcript

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[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

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[Caller (CeCe)]

Thank you so much for taking my call, Dr. Laura.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Thank you. What can I help you with?

[Caller (CeCe)]

I'm trying to decide what to do next. So my. I have not spoken to my father since June. After a family vacation, we rented a house for the weekend. Long holiday weekend.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

I'm sorry, you know, you know what you're talking about, but I don't. Who's we? And we went where to do what? Give me all the details.

[Caller (CeCe)]

Thank you. Oh my gosh, I'm so happy to talk to you. Okay, so my dad and his. His and my stepmom, longtime stepmom, my brother and his girlfriend and children and my husband, me and my. My son, who's 9. And we rented a home the last weekend of June. We all paid equally. And right before going on that trip, my, my dad called me. He's somebody who is heavy in the church. And he said, hey, I want to add on another Little boy to come to the trip. And I said. And it was like, literally days before.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

I'm sorry, Another little boy. Where was he going to scrounge up a little boy?

[Caller (CeCe)]

Well, from church who he volunteers with. And he said, oh, I'll bring him so he can play with my son. Now my son has played with him at church a couple times when my son goes to his church, but there was really no space.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

What's the relationship between your dad and the parents and the little boy? What's the relationship?

[Caller (CeCe)]

That's. Thank you. My dad know. And his wife know, the mother. She. It's a single mom through the church. She's, like, new to the area. An immigrant to the area. My dad and my new wife. And the new. And the wife, you know, provide. I don't know, maybe mentioning. And take her, like, almost like big brother situation. Because my dad is trying to retire, and I think he likes to get. He always does volunteer work. And so, you know, and he has this connection to this little boy. But my. I didn't want the little boy to. I didn't care if he came, but I didn't know he was gonna go. And my dad said, well, you know, he's for my son to play with. And. But my son's cousins were coming. So I said, ah, if you want. I said, but listen, I don't care. Don't. I basically pushed back and said, listen, he's not for my son. He's. Because I think you want to be a hero. And I have a little bit of a hero complex. After he pushed me, pushed me, pushed me to say that he got upset.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

I said, he didn't push you to say that. He didn't push you to say that.

[Caller (CeCe)]

You're right. Well, we were going back and forth. He was. And he was saying, I think he should go.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

You decide to get nasty.

[Caller (CeCe)]

Oh, okay. I'm so sorry.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

I don't know if you are or not, but that was nasty. Yeah. You just want to be a hero is kind of nasty.

[Caller (CeCe)]

You're right.

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[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Okay, I have to tell you, I.

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[Caller (CeCe)]

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Ebay had it.

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[Caller (CeCe)]

So. And I said to him, so then we. We went. He said, okay, we never. None of my siblings wanted him to come either, but they would never say no to my dad. And so anyways, so we went on the trip. The little boy did not come. I didn't know if he was going to come or not. He did not come. We had a time. My dad didn't really talk too much. I went to reach out to him and be with him. You know, connect. But he was distant. So then. But then we had breakfast the last day and he hugged me. Said, you know, I'm sorry, dad. I'm sorry, too. I didn't mean to speak to you like that? He said, okay, no problem. He's like, you know, I'm sorry, too. We left and then we. We. I didn't speak to him after that. I haven't spoken to him since. And so then his wife reached out like, six weeks later and said, yeah, your dad wants to talk to. Only reason, only way he'll talk to you. If you go to counseling, you pay for a therapist. And so he can speak to you because he doesn't want you to get defensive. So I said, okay. And I did get it. I found a therapist. And we. But then he rejected the therapist and said, no, I know her. She goes to my gym, and so I can't see her. And I said, well, I said, okay. I said, I didn't know that she went to your gym. So I said, well, what do you want me to do? Why don't you take that therapy session? You need some therapy. And I said, okay. He. Now he's like, well, listen. He said, well, listen, why don't we both go to therapy, and when I decide to get another therapist, then I'll reach out to you. And I haven't heard from him since, so what shall I do?

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Why were you all so mean to him about bringing this little boy?

[Caller (CeCe)]

Well, I don't know.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

I mean, that was the most bizarre display of sibling rivalry from adults about a little kid that dad is paying attention to. What the heck is wrong with all of you? You are all so terrible.

[Caller (CeCe)]

That's an interesting perspective, because. No, we loved a little boy before. To be honest, we didn't. What we thought was, if this little boy comes and we don't know the mother that well, and she says something happens in the over that weekend, we take this child very far away, two hours away from Cece.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Cece, that's not why. You were all mean. You were all.

[Caller (CeCe)]

I believe.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

No. You were not all worried about the police. No. No. You were all angry that he was paying attention to this little boy, and that little boy meant something to him. And having listened to you, you're pretty strong. So I can understand why he wanted the safety of going to a therapist to tell you what he thought and felt. You got somebody he knows. You didn't immediately get a referral to somebody else. I mean, I don't know what it is you're doing. Your dad has done nothing wrong.

[Caller (CeCe)]

Interesting.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

Nothing wrong. You need to be a better person here.

[Caller (CeCe)]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]

You're welcome. I know. You can be my number. 1-800-375-2872 if you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

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