Let no one ever accuse Catelynn Baltierra of holding anything back.
The veteran Teen Mom Og star has been open and honest for years about her battle with mental health issues, along with her occasional struggle to remain happily married to husband Tyler.
The couple has remained together since middle school and has welcomed two kids together (one of which was given up for adoption), yet both sides have admitted at times that it hasn’t been easy.
It’s still not easy.
Tyler made that evident on the latest episode of Teen Mom OG when he continued to push for a trial separation. He even prepared to move into a new home.
How did Catelynn react to this development? What is her biggest fear?
Scroll down for a look at how the Baltierras are dealing with two very different ideas of what they want from their relationship…
Why Must It Be This Way, Tyler?
For the past couple weeks, Teen Mom OG viewers have witnessed Tyler and Catelynn struggle in their marriage, even as they express excitement over Catelynn’s pregnancy.
What’s the Issue Here?
Tyler has been there for his wife — through A LOT. He watched as she suffered a miscarriage in early 2018 and then went to Arizona for a month because she was stuck in a dark depression for awhile as a result.
He’s Always Supported Catelynn, BUT…
… it’s taken an emotional toll. “When does it ever turn around?” he asked some friends on an episode in November. “When is it ever 50/50?! I’m saying this is what I need, awesome. If you can’t, let me know now. I don’t want to waste any time, let me get out of here. Marriage is a bitch.”
And He Wants Out?
On occasion, yes. Tyler has made it clear he does NOT want to sleep around and that he truly loves Catelynn. He just needs some space sometimes.
In a House All His Own?!?
Yes. This was at the crux of the Teen Mom episode that aired on December 10, as Tyler prepared to actually move out.
Can We Not Make This a Big Deal?
“It’s only eight minutes down the road,†Tyler emphasized on air. “We’re just living separate. It’s not like we’re dating other people and never talking to each other for 30 days. We all need personal space sometimes.â€Â
What About the Future?
“Yeah, but I don’t want this kind of space every couple years,†Catelynn astutely said, pointing out that no marriage can work when one side just takes off for 30 days at a time whenever he feels like it.
Remember?!? I’m Pregnant!
You’d think Tyler would want to remain as close to his expecting wife as possible… but you’d be wrong. “Tyler has been distant lately, so it’s hard to be excited about this pregnancy,” Lowell admitted during Monday’s episode.
Tyler in Therapy
The long-time couple was adamant on air about going through with their 30-day trial separation during Catelynn’s pregnancy, while also working through their issues in couple’s therapy. They do plan on trying, make no mistake. This separation is not about giving up on the marriage.
Holding Out Hope
“I hope therapy makes me feel more secure about our marriage,” Lowell confessed before the couple asked that the cameras not follow them into their private session with a therapist. (See: they really are taking this seriously.)
Advice from an Elder:
“Something’s gotta happen,” Catelynn’s mom told her child and Baltierra. “I’m glad you guys are doing couple’s therapy; I’m glad you’re doing the separation for 30 days to give you both space. Because you know Cate, I didn’t know who I was when I was your age, so I don’t expect you to know.”
She Continued:
“I hope to God that the separation makes you feel and look into yourself. What do you want to do? Who is Cate? What does Cate want? When it comes down to everything, you have to find out what you want too, not just what Tyler wants.”
Can We Discuss This Away from the Camera?
“It’s confusing for me and it doesn’t make sense,” Catelynn insisted, adding that she wants to really delve into the separation idea in therapy because “if I get triggered they understand or if I feel emotional about it I’m not going to be judged or harped on about it either.”
Clapping Back Against Critics
Ever since discussing their separation on Teen Mom, Catelynn and Tyler have been faced with one question: Will this lead to a divorce?
NO, They Both Swear!
Wrote Catelynn on Instagram in the faec of criticism and speculation: “YES we are having a 30-day reflection period. NO we are not getting a divorce. YES I know what I put him and Nova through when I left for treatment. He was AMAZING and supported me the entire time. I also knew I had to go so I wouldn’t commit suicide. I am supporting what he wants now. We love each other and always will!”
As for Tyler?
He actually have an extensive interview to Us Weekly in which he explained his vision for this separation. “It’s funny because we actually don’t even call it separation anymore,” he says. “We say, ‘Let’s just do 30 days of self-reflection time. You get to focus on you, I get to focus on me.”
And He Really Thinks This Will Work?
Yup. “We’ve got a great therapist who works really good with us, so [we’re] kind of following her advice on top of the separation, whatever you wanna call it,” he added in this interview, saying that the couple also goes on dates while living apart.
What About Nova?
“We’ve been letting her kind of doing whatever she feels like she needs to do,” Tyler explains. “Sometimes she’ll come hang out with me for a couple hours then she’ll have to go home. We still eat dinner together.”
Just Chill Out, Everyone!
More from Tyler: “When you say ‘separation,’ everyone’s like, ‘Oh my god, a separation?†It’s not like we’re seeing other people or we’re not talking at all or not spending time with each other.”
This is the Bottom Line, Okay?
Concludes Tyler, focusing on the bigger picture: “The main goal is to stay with my wife and live this life. We love each other.”