What's with throwing "compassion" around like it's a dirty word? If there was more compassion in the world it would be a much better place in my opinion.

I don't know why, but I often have exactly the opposite impression of some of the same SO ladies many of you posters seem to vehemently hate. Maybe it's because I have a different perspective as a man? (For example--I don't know what everyone's beef is with Allisham as you all call her. I liked her and felt "compassion" for her story. I've also survived catastrophic illness, so again maybe I have a different perspective, but I digress...)

I find Christie's compassion very genuine. I think she's basically a really smart, kind woman who desires something better for herself and is seeking help to find it. She's doing it by working hard and "committing to the process" while being really kind and supportive of others. I think that's admirable.

As for raising her brother, it would not be smart or "compassionate" to take on raising a pre-teen before she has the skills to take care of her own life. Also, vying for custody of her brother could cause even more problems with her already troubled relationship with her mother. For Christie to take away the one bit of responsibility her mother has could send her into an even deeper destructive spiral.

Technically, it's not Christie's job to take care of her brother, although some might argue it's her moral duty to do so. Christie has already been robbed of her childhood because of the actions of her mother, should she sacrifice her adulthood and independence for the same reason?

It's a moral dilema to be sure--definitely not something you can make a snap, cut and dry judgement about.