I am with the other person who speculated that Britney might have borderline personality disorder, she seems to have some traits or otherwise she is dealing with a narcisistic or borderline parent and is acting out her suffering. Borderline mothers can often produce borderline daughters by the daughter role modeling.

Having some experience with this though I think it is more likely that Lynne is the borderline and Britney is trying to escape her control. Borderlines are MASTERFUL at turning around a situation and making it look like it is your fault and they are helping you. They will knock you down while NOBODY is around and then when EVERYONE is watching will work very hard to comfort you and pick you back up again. They tend to target one person in particular at a time, usually the person they appear closest to. When the person tries to break away is when they really turn on, when they are high functioning all in private. That way YOU look like the crazy one when you complain, loose it, get depressed etc, and they are there to rescue you. They are so wonderful and compassionate and doing the right thing for you!

I think most people know of a bordeline man or woman who has done this number on a wife or husband and gotten away with it for years, convincing everyone he/she is crazy and they are so helpful. The person does get crazy and depressed after a while, they are being controlled to the nth degree. It is not uncommon for THIS person to turn to drugs/alcohol to escape the pain and so this confirms for everyone that they (the bordeline’s target) is the NUT!

People seem to be catching on that this happens in marital/dating relationships but what most do not seem to get yet is it also happens between parent and child. And there is especially difficult. Who do you turn to if mom is verbally and emotionally abusive and no one in your family believes how bad it is because it is always done in private? Your relatives have not seen this side so they tell you ” she is just trying to help you” ” she loves you so much” “why are you so mean to her” etc etc and becaue you grew up as the target controlled person you tend to believe it when everyone tells you you are the crazy one.

If what I suspect is right good for Britney for breaking away. She is going to have a long road though though because her family will likely never want to let her out of her “role” and will urge her to reconcile and continue being controlled.

As for the others they obviously had very lenient parents , way too lenient making escuses for them. And I agree with someone else who thinks Dina Lohan may be somewhat narcisistic. I disagree with most of you though on a major point. These “kids” are ADULTS. Once a person is an adult they make there own decisions. If there where mistakes made in parenting these people should it admit to there children and try to help them work through it not continue to CONTROL ADULTS who are now GROWN which will just turn them into large children.

But I strongly suspect there is too much selfishness on the parts of these parents to ever admit they did anything wrong. I suspect these girls upbringing is their problem. Unfortunately like all of us ADULTS we may not have created the problems we have but for most of us WE are the only ones who have the abilty to solve them. Unforuntaly these girls will probably spend a good part of there lives trying to overcome their upbringing but that is no different then MANY of us as I would guess at least half of us did not recieve the “optimal” type of parenting described and from seeing many children, including some I raised, it makes and ENOURMOUS difference.

Children tend to look more at same-sex parents when learning about themselves, so I think that’s why we can focus more on the mothers in this case (all the teens/young adults mentioned here are girls); but, if a young girl has a positive role model in her own father, she will make better choices about the men in her life. So, there are two contributing factors at work here.

I, like preesi, would like to see more attention brought to Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which is one of the hardest mental illnesses a psychiatrist/psychologist/counselor will ever treat, because the true Narcissist will try to make the doctor think that she or he (the Narcissist) can help the doctor and has all the answers! They truly are a psychiatrist’s worst nightmare in terms of treatment and/or finding a way in which to cure them, for they do not believe there is anything wrong with them. Usually they only seek psychiatric counseling because they are there to help cure someone else (a friend, spouse, child, family member), other than themselves! There are many ugly facets to the Narcissist, one of which is when a person is so enamored with her/himself, that she/he does not see their own child(ren) as anything but an extension of themselves. They are not capable of having good relationships with anyone (spouse, parent, child, friend) unless they are the center of attention (but this is only a “good” relationship from the Narcissist’s point of view – everyone else has #e!! to pay if they try to go against what the Narcissist says.) Dina Lohan is a prime example of NPD. No, I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors, but I darn well know what Dina (and Michael) have put out there for all the world to see, so you know their children are seeing it, too. Dina is living her life through her children, including making her living AND making a name for herself and hoping to become famous. She sees those kids as an extension of herself and can’t relate to them as individuals. Michael Lohan, who has been in jail/prison, has not offered a positive perspective to Lindsay or the other children on what a loving, caring, protective father is like, so there are no feelings of security and safety coming from him. It’s no wonder that Lindsay hops from guy to guy because she is looking for “love” in each and every one of these people – because she does not feel secure within herself because of the lack of security Michael and Dina have provided.

Lynne Spears is/was a lesser version (than Dina) of the proverbial “stage mother,” but she did not appear to be in it for the fame nearly as much as for the financial support (which is no less damaging to the child) and Jamie Spears disappeared from the family and, there again, is proof that girls need that loving, caring, safe feeling a father (or capable father figure) provides. Britney, in fact, has provided both Lynne and Jamie’s livings, having Lynne as a manager all those years and buying businesses for her father, Jamie, to run.

Kathy Hilton is used to being noticed with or without her daughters. I recently saw a picture of her (not an old one, but a recent one) in a lace see-through top with her nipples exposed! Paris sees nothing wrong with flaunting her body or her sexuality because her mother does the same. I’m sure Paris has been modeling herself after this same-sex parent most of her life. I have no idea what kind of father Rick Hilton is, for you don’t hear that much of him in terms of fatherhood, but rather as the businessman, so maybe he is the financially successful, hardworking (albeit absent) father that Paris did not see that much, except on family holidays. Again, that would explain her need to hop from guy to guy looking for “love.”

You asked for our opinions, so I would not choose any of these woman as examples of “good mothers.” They each have/had their own not-so-hidden agendas. A good mother sees her daughter(s) or son(s) as individuals who she would love, care for, protect and be proud of regardless of their talents (or lack thereof), accomplishments (or lack thereof) and abilities (or lack thereof), many times putting the child(ren) before her own needs or selfish desires. No, I’m not saying that a mother can’t be successful or has to stay at home or has to be anyone’s (including a child’s) doormat. I think, in my humble opinion, that a good mother (or father, for that matter) loves, supports, encourages and protects a child or children regardless of what they hope to get in return. And, as far as the mothers and fathers of the other successful child/adult actors/actresses who have chosen to remain behind the scenes, rather than cash in on the fame and fortune of their famous kids, they are most likely the ones who really did do their best to love, support and protect those successful children and were content to take pride in seeing their CHILD succeed without having their own names and faces splashed across the mags, rags and TVs across the globe.

hmm I think the difference btw some hollywood actresss such as Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, The duff’s, Amanda Bynes etc is that their parents are not out for the fame as well. We barely hear about the parents. It seems as though they try to let their children do what their passionate about but try to maintain somewhat of a private life. I remember Hayden Panitierre on the View with her mom and they asked her about how she keeps Hayden under wraps w/ all that goes on in Hollywood and she basically said that I am there for my child and I am a parent first and foremost before anything else.
So yes there are children out there who do not fall down the “hollywood” path of destruction. But when you look at Paris she is famous for nothing but growing up in a famous family for their hotel chain (then of course the infamous sex tape scandel which perpetuated her fame) but who do we have to blame? The media and ourselves for buying into it all. And then you have Britney Spears whose mother has always been in the limelight w/ Britney. And of course we all know about Dina Lohan. Also with people like Lindsay her whole family life has been made public from her father and mothers divorce to her father going to jail. I can understand to an extent why she has gone wild when there seems to be no structure. Her sister is only 13 I would hate to see what path that child heads in herself.

The bottom line is that all these young women have choices and they have the right to make the right decisions in life but they choose not to. Whether it’s bc they never grew up with the sense of how to or they’re just out to get attention from anyone who will give it to them. But other celebrities have been able to maintain a great lifestyle. Stearing clear from the paparazzi and living a somewhat normal life. The girls who are always in the limelight tend to be the one’s that crave it – then when it becomes too much for them they blame everyone else for it but never once take responsibility for their actions.

I don’t see why any child can’t be famous if that’s what they always have had a passion to do. But with it they need the structure and guidance along the way. It can be done it just looks as if some parents aren’t there for thier children as much as others.

I don’t think Lynne is going to be on “The View” tomorrow anymore…….

I’m not so sure that Britney, Paris et. al are the norm in Hollywood when it comes to being young and in the spotlight. They get all the attention because of their spoiled actions, but for everyone Britney, there’s a Mandy Moore, who has been singing and acting since she was a teenager and has grown into a lovely, mature young woman. For every Paris and Nicole, there’s a Natalie Portman and a Julia Stiles, who made movies during summer breaks from Ivy League schools. I do agree that Hollywood can be a completely toxic environment for many who cave into the pressures of fame, but there are many who don’t because they are more responsible and choose not to be a part of the Hollywood scene. Unfortunately, they aren’t the ones the media cares about because there’s no dirt on them.
I don’t think any of the above mothers are exceptional parents by a long shot, but if I had to choose one parent’s style, Lynne wins hands-down. She and her ex-husband are the only parents of a celebrity that are actually admitting their child has problems and trying to get her help and do what’s best for her instead of enabling her behavior. Kathy is just a pathetic excuse for a parent (anyone who tries to justify their child driving drunk and possibly killing innocent people has no credibility in my eyes), and Dina disgusts me to no end. She is so obviously trying to live through Lindsay and steal her fame when it is obvious to everyone but her that Lindsay is dangerously close to dying. At this point, I’ll be stunned if she makes it to 30.

Bottom line opinion: Hollywood is no place for a child. NO PLACE FOR A CHILD. This goes for acting, singing, the lot. We all clap and cheer kids on when they show great talent, but at the end of the day, the environment is too toxic to expect a kid to come out alright on the other end. Actors who appear to have ‘broken the curse’ (Portman, Barrymore, Foster, etc) are exceptions to the rule. So in this regard, I have to say the parents of Lindsay, Britney, etc, play a large part in their current dysfunction – because they played an active role in farming out those kids (babies, even) for a shot at fame. I’m sorry, I just don’t think I’d want the cards stacked that high against them going in. Not saying it’s impossible, but its a damn harder job. I’d rather sacrifice enjoying the next breakout child star’s rise to fame if it meant that she wouldn’t end up passed out in the bathroom at Hyde, or only capable of relating to adults 20 years their senior, a few years later.

Quite frankly, I question the devotion and the motives of any parent who would allow their child to grow up in front of the Hollywood cameras, whether they’re being held by a director or a member of the paparazzi.

Both parents of these girls need to take some responsibility for their daughter’s misguided, illegal and life threatening decisions they’ve made beyond the age of 18. On some level, they’ve been raised to believe they are above the basic standards we as humans prefer to hold ourselves to. That belief system doesn’t come out of thin air once a person reaches the legal age of adulthood.

I hope all three can get a better handle on their lives and I hope all three can learn lessons from their parents’ mistakes when it comes to raising their own children one day. God help us all if they don’t….can we possibly bear another generation of vapid, obnoxiously self involved celebrity kids?

If my mom were still alive, I’d give her a great big hug and thank her for doing it right, even when it was so so hard.

From her interviews, Dina seemed like one of those women who had children too early. Lynne seemed pretty old-fashioned to me, I’m actually shocked with the current situation, she and Britney had always been close. But Kathy. Oh boy. Sure, I don’t know her or anyone close to her but after reading the transcript of her behaviour in the court room during and after Paris was sentenced, suddenly so many things about her and Nicky make sense. Especially their behaviour in the leaked parisexposed videos.

What about the parents of these child stars?:

Natalie Portman
Mandy Moore
Elijah Wood
Christina Aguilara (beyond the skanky marketing)
Anna Panquin

These are a few former child stars who seem to be better adjusted than Lohan and Spears (and I might add, more talented too.)

While I agree that YES these young ladies are adults, I have to disagree that they can take care of themselves…

Let’s face it, in Hollywood,child actors are given way too much free reign. They are treated like mini adults from a very young age. Parties, openings, premieres etc. Look what happened with Drew Barrymore;it’s just history repeating itself with Lindsay Lohan.

In the “real world” clubs wouldn’t be letting KNOWN underage people in their establishments drinking. In the “real world” these girls’ parents would most likely have a tighter reign/leash on them because they’d have to have their parents’ money to support themselves. I think life with tons of money at their young ages is one of the problems. They have never had proper guidance. They are used to getting “what they want, no matter what” Money talks…..

I think Dina Lohan is contributing to Linday’s lifestyle and downfall. She ALLOWS her to go out to bars and drink, she DRINKS WITH HER!! That IMO, is totally wrong. The girl is underage…my mother didn’t go to bars with me at 19, did yours?

As far as Paris..the girl got what she deserved. She has needed a reality check for a LOOONG time now. Her mother said that she “tried” to stop her behaviours, but she wasn’t going to interfere with her adult daughter’s life. I believe on the View Barbra Walters read a statement that Kathy Hilton gave and that was the gist of it.

Whether you are a parent of a wealthy child or a poor child, you have a RESPONSIBILITY to protect and GUIDE that child to what’s right. Dina Lohan is NOT doing that obviously because if she was, she wouldn’t ENCOURAGE the behaviours…she could still go out with Lindsay to the parties, but why allow her to drink alcohol? Why not non alcoholic drinks?

Anyway, to answer the question, I wouldn’t want ANY of these women as a mother…they all seem to caught up in their daughter’s fame and wealth and not their well beings….I think I’d like a mom like Sharon Osbourne or Blythe Danner thank you very much!