Leah wants stepmother to adopt her from Amber

Amber Portwood, a star from "Teen Mom," has had a complicated relationship with her daughter Leah. Portwood gave birth to Leah in 2008 with her then-boyfriend Gary Shirley. The couple split three years later. Gary later married Kristina Anderson, with whom he has another daughter, Emilee. Portwood has another child, a son named James, but lost custody in 2022 after a domestic violence incident. Over the years, Portwood's relationship with Leah has been strained due to her struggles with addiction, mental health, and time spent in prison. Portwood expressed her feelings about their relationship on the show, saying she felt she could never win Leah's affection. She often shared her desire to create a healthy family dynamic, but their relationship continued to suffer. In past episodes of "Teen Mom," Portwood talked about trying to spend time with Leah. She felt that Leah was growing distant and that communication between them was lacking. Portwood mentioned wanting to go to therapy with Leah to repair their bond but faced challenges in making that happen. Despite the ups and downs, there have been moments of progress. Leah expressed a desire to improve their relationship and even mentioned wanting to be friendly with her mother. In recent episodes, Portwood and Leah shared emotional moments, showing signs of healing. However, by February 2025, Leah indicated a desire for her stepmother Kristina to adopt her, stating she hasn't seen or talked to Amber in a while. In March 2025, Gary Shirley consulted a lawyer about the adoption process, which could take months. Leah remains uncertain but feels a strong attachment to Kristina, who has been present in her life for many years.