Tyler Baltierra Reveals the Emotional Reason Behind Placing Carly for Adoption: A Teen Mom Journey
Tyler Baltierra and his wife, Catelynn Lowell, have been incredibly open with their fans about their decision to place their first daughter, Carly, for adoption. Since their story first aired on 16 and Pregnant back in 2009, the couple has continued to share their life on Teen Mom — from welcoming three more children to navigating the complexities of parenting, relationships, and personal growth. Recently, Tyler made a vulnerable confession about the fear that drove him to make the difficult decision to place Carly for adoption.
Tyler Baltierra’s Adoption Journey: A Confession About Fear and Fatherhood
In the February 20 episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, Tyler took a moment to reflect on his life and the emotional decisions he made in his early twenties. While driving with his wife and kids, Tyler got emotional during a confessional, sharing that his decision to place Carly for adoption was influenced by his own fears of repeating patterns from his childhood.
“I was just so scared to screw it up,” Tyler admitted. “I think that was a catalyst for me and Cate wanting to heal our stuff before we brought more kids into the world.”
Tyler’s reflection highlights how, as a father, he wanted to create a better life for Carly than what he experienced growing up. Without the presence of his own father, Butch, for much of his childhood due to his father’s struggles with incarceration, Tyler didn’t want to risk failing his child. This fear ultimately played a pivotal role in his decision.
The Influence of Tyler’s Upbringing on His Adoption Decision
Tyler has often shared the complexities of his relationship with his father, Butch. After not seeing him for five years, Tyler recently opened up about wanting to reconnect, acknowledging that, with his own children, he now has a deeper understanding of his father’s struggles.
“The older I get, the more love I actually have for my dad,” Tyler said during his confessional. “Because I have my own kids and I just know that, like, he was younger than me and he didn’t have half the resources that I had, so you can’t hold too much against him.”
This realization has prompted Tyler to approach his own parenting with empathy and understanding, but it also reveals the pressures he faced when Carly was born. His deep-rooted fear of repeating mistakes from his own upbringing led to the adoption decision — a choice born from a place of love and wanting better for Carly.
The Emotional Weight of Adoption: Catelynn and Tyler’s Ongoing Struggle
While Tyler and Catelynn have openly shared their adoption journey, they’ve also faced challenges in their ongoing relationship with Carly’s adoptive parents, Brandon and Teresa. In January, Catelynn spoke with E! News about the closed adoption and the pain of not having contact with Carly.
“They’ve 100 percent closed the adoption,” Catelynn revealed, explaining that they’ve been blocked from communicating with Carly. “I’m still blocked. And they recently told me to quit sending gifts because it was inappropriate and uncalled for, just a whole bunch of things.”
Catelynn expressed that if it was Carly’s choice to cut ties, she would respect it, but she also feels it might be the adoptive parents acting out of fear rather than Carly’s wishes.
“If it’s just her parents acting out of fear, it’s my duty as a birth mom to show this child that I’m continuously fighting for communication,” Catelynn added. “Because that’s what’s ultimately the best for her, if that’s what she wants.”
Looking Ahead: Carly’s Future and Tyler’s Hopes for Reconnection
As Carly approaches adulthood, Tyler acknowledges that their relationship may evolve, and that Carly could decide to forge her own path. In a heartfelt Instagram comment, Tyler expressed his love for Carly and his desire to have her in his life more as she gets older. However, he also recognized that she may choose not to have a relationship with him and Catelynn when she turns 18.
“Of course I’d LOVE for her to be in our lives more & her sisters’ lives,” Tyler shared. “But the truth is, she might turn 18 & want nothing to do with us.”
This honest admission highlights the reality that adoption relationships can be complicated and that the child’s autonomy is always respected, especially when they come of age.
Catelynn and Tyler’s Ongoing Journey: Adoption and Family Life
While their journey with Carly is far from over, Catelynn and Tyler’s story serves as a testament to the complexities of adoption, parenting, and growth. From their early struggles as teen parents to the challenges of reconnecting with Carly as she gets older, the Baltierra family’s openness about their experiences offers a unique perspective on the emotional side of adoption.
In addition to their adoption story, Catelynn and Tyler have built a beautiful family. They welcomed their daughter Novalee in 2015, followed by Vaeda in 2019, and their youngest, Rya, in 2021. As parents, Catelynn and Tyler continue to learn, grow, and strive to provide their children with the love and support they never had growing up.
What’s Next for the Baltierra Family?
As the Baltierra family continues to share their experiences on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, viewers can expect to see more of their journey with Carly and their evolving family dynamics. Whether or not they will reconnect with Carly as she grows older remains to be seen, but Tyler and Catelynn remain committed to keeping the door open for any future relationship, respecting Carly’s wishes along the way.