Leah Messer Sobs After Fight with Daughter Aliannah Over Using Her Wheelchair on the First Day of High School

Mar. 15, 2025

Leah Messerwants to protect her little girl.

The mom of three was excited to pick up twin daughters Aliannah and Aleeah from their first day of high school on the premiere episode of the second half of season 2 ofTeen Mom: The Next Chapter.

After discussing the pros and cons of going through the handicap-accessible entrance at the school earlier in the episode, Ali — who lives with muscular dystrophy — reported that she’d use that way to enter for the rest of the year.

“I went through the main door today but I think Monday and the rest of the year, I’m going to go through the side door because we decided to park my chair there instead of the office,” she said.

“Whatever works for you, sis,” Leah replied supportively.

Aleeah then asks if they can attend the high school football team’s scrimmage. Leah is fine with it, but when she asks Ali about using her wheelchair, the teen seems determined not to.

“I don’t need it, but if you think I do need it, then I’m not going,” Ali says angrily.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The car ride tenses up as Leah takes a beat before responding. Then, she says, “If you need to get your wheelchair, the doors are still open to the school.”

Aleeah offers to get the wheelchair for her sister, but she refuses. Leah suggests she take the chair with her, even if she just parks it. Ali stands her ground. “I want to sit on the bleachers… I’m not going to bring it.”

As one twin goes off with her friends, declaring, “Y’all are stressing me out,” Ali stays in the car and continues to argue with Leah.

“It doesn’t hurt you to use the wheelchair from the school and park it over there. You’re not supposed to walk very long distances because that’s how you tire out and that’s how you fall and get hurt.”

“I’m not walking too freaking far!” Ali says, insisting the route to the bleachers is short. Leah pulls up to bring her as close to the spot as possible.

On the way, Ali insists it “shouldn’t be that big of a deal,” but her mom objects. “It is when you’re not even listening to even what your doctor recommends. You want to keep up with your friends. What if they want to walk around? I don’t want you to get hurt and I’m not there.”

Frustrated, the teen gets out of the car and slams the door as Leah drives away in tears. She pulls over and tells producers, “I didn’t imagine this is how the first day of school would go.”

“I’m terrified. Terrified. I don’t want to leave her and then something happens. Nobody’s there. I don’t doubt what she’s capable of. I know that’s how she looks at it, like we don’t think that she can do it. It definitely feels like any decision you’re going to make, she’s going to get hurt,” she says.

“On the opposite spectrum, kids that face mental and emotional situations like this also get to a place mentally that it affects them through depression. We want her to have friends. We want her to have a social life. Maybe she really thinks she’s capable of it, I don’t know. I don’t know how it feels to be her, to be trapped. I really don’t. And then to try to be her parent and teach her this, it’s hard.”

source: people.com