Why is Thomas not "around as much?" (General)

Tiqui aid:<<<< did, too. I thought Thomas is always welcome...Thomas said, I "try" to keep in touch with your mom? WTH???

So what gives? Where has he been? The writers probably don't even know.>>>>

Of course he has liberal visitation rights, but.......where does he want to take him if he has no house or big enough apartment. so it seems it is just Thomas's fault that he does not get to spend more time with Douglas. IF he really wanted him, he could make it happen.

Wanda

It does sound that way to me. And I was thinking about it. Thomas has not been settled ever since Caroline's death. He lived with Brooke and Ridge, and then in that tiny apartment with Vinny and then I guess it became his apartment. Then he went to a hotel, I guess? Now he wants to live with Eric. Not very stable.

This can’t be Bell’s doing . What new person has come to the show and is asking fans to forget the what they’ve seen and heard with their own eyes and ears.. If they are going to do that for one character, do for all. I have no problem with resetting show but that usually happens in the multiverse, not on a daytime serial with consistent fan base. No wonder soaps are going by the way side. The powers that be don’t understand their fan bases at all because if they did they wouldn’t do the things they do.

I don't think they understand what a soap is anymore. A soap builds on HISTORY. That's the fun of it -- a viewer's ability to remember and go "Ah-ha!" or "OH, yeah, because, I remember when...." And the stories tie together like real life ties together. You have to remember things. We understand some stuff that goes by the wayside, but everything can't be erased just because the writers have a new plot idea.

And it's so easy to address with dialogue. Case in point, Thomas did not have to say he was "trying" to get talk to Hope. That word "trying" opened up a can of worms and drama for me that will never be explained. I hate that.

GracieGirl said:<<<<Here we go again! We all remember the story when Tom was flirting with Paris where Thomas was going to get a larger home so he could spend more time with Douglas. So why is this a big deal now?>>>>>

Because once again the way it played out. He never got that big home, in fact he never got any home or apartment, just was gone and there was no Paris either, so Thomas clearly was not in position then to make any other arrangements but to leave Douglas where he was and happy with Hope. The kid is definitely old enough that he KNOWS something is going on, and Dad is not entirely truthful with him. He HAS been away somewhere if not to see and be with Douglas as he is allowed. Hope has not kept them from each other so if Douglas feels neglected or wants to see more of his father then he needs to address that situation as he did today and just say so, and then it is up to Thomas to man up and make that happen.

Wanda

Yes, but I want to know why Thomas is not around so much. What is he doing? Dating the mannequin? Seriously, what is it? Work? Because of this Sheila stuff? We never see him, so what is it?

And he does need to man up and make it happen, but the problem is -- he thinks he can solve it by taking Douglas from his adoptive mother. That's not going to help Douglas. That's just going to transfer it from Thomas to Hope -- unless the magic pen makes Douglas fine with it.

He's had time to hang out at Steffys to go surfing and play catch the grapes with his mom.

Hotel. He said so when he sublet the apartment to Paris.

I heard it as Thomas cannot seem to find an acceptable house…picky picky…so he will move in with his grandfather since Eric’s home is all the family’s home. Now that he’s not in a hotel…which he said he went to after leaving Vinny’s (RIP) apartment which Thomas took over then sublet to Paris…he will have an appropriate place for Douglas to live (if you’re a Forrester you need a pool and tennis court, etc. etc).

As to not spending as much time with Douglas…Thomas has often said he had to go pick up Douglas. But as we can see, Douglas is now SORAS’d into a preteen young man who wants to spend more time with his father…like see him at night at bedtime and in the morning at breakfast. Honestly how much fun is it for him to go down to Brooke’s tennis court to jump rope with his “sister” Beth? He’s a dude…she’s still a baby…a toddler. I think despite the years he has lived with Hope…and despite their calling her his “mom”…I think if he were asked, he might feel that Eric’s is more a family home. Grandfather Ridge is in and out of Brooke’s life and home…so I think of that place as Brooke’s home…just hers. And that cabin is as big as a cracker box…does Douglas have his own room?

Aside from the physical location of where Douglas plants himself, as he enters his teen years he needs to know his father is there with and for him. He knows he will always have Hope…but Hope has Beth and Liam. Thomas has no one and Douglas may feel his father needs him as much as Douglas needs his father.

He’d be right.

The only question I have about Thomas is if Thomas does not have time to see him regularly at Hope's, how is he going to be a full-time dad? Is Douglas going to be dumped on Eric and Donna while Thomas is so busy or is Thomas going to hire a nanny? What stability can Thomas offer Douglas? Hope has lived in one place all of Douglas and Beth's lives. Thomas has wondered from place to place. Will Douglas be uprooted over and over?

Kids at school all day I am sure tom can design at home .....I don't see a problem, Hope used nanny and Donna so can tom.....kid wants to go let him go if he wants to return he has a mouth... I don't know why these crazy writers involved Hope raising the kid anyway it was dumb...I thought tom had a real estate looking for a house I suggest he fire them get a new realtor....also Taylor should move....this soap is nuts all these people sharing houses and all rich too weird..

If Thomas is just gonna pawn Douglas off on a nanny or Donna, then why move Douglas at all? The problem is Thomas NOT having time for Douglas -- which Thomas made evident when he said he wasn't around as much and has been "trying" to call Hope about Douglas -- a comment I still do not understand.

I thought it was your position that Hope should not pawn her kids off on Donna or nannies. So Thomas should not, either.

Hope is rarely at the cabin and we never see her with Douglas. Her children are often with a nanny…she has one yes? I cannot think of the name of a nanny they have other than possibly using Amelia at times? .If not then they are with Aunt Donna.

Thomas’ being “too busy” was in the interim. He has been involved in his family’s recent months of drama which I don’t think he really wants to bring up with Douglas. Even Kelly who is now old enough to understand better has been sheltered in what they told her about Finn and I think they did the same with Douglas. Also, Thomas has likely filled in for the grieving Steffy and the distracted by his daughter’s grief and the slippery escaped Sheila Ridge. I think we can authentically fill in those blanks. That’s over now…I mean Steffy and Ridge will be back at the helm, freeing up Thomas “just” to be lead designer …he won’t be as involved in the running of the business. He will be back to having more time.

And I see nothing wrong with Eric and Donna taking care of Douglas in Thomas’s absence.. That actually makes good sense. I think it’s wonderful when grandparents and great grandparents are involved in the care of a child. By the way, when Thomas said he was moving into Eric‘s, I envisioned Quinn living there. I completely forgot that it’s Donna now! There has been so little continuing of that story of Eric and Donna and Quinn and Carter. I know it will pick up now but it actually went off my radar for a moment lol.

Thomas is also free to hire a nanny just like Steffy has so that Eric and Donna are not on constant duty. Unless they want to be. I’d want to be…nothing better than caring for my grandchild! But Douglas is in school and has activities – he doesn’t require the constant presence of someone in the family when he’s at school, etc.

And you see how much Douglas wants to be with his father. Again, Hope has Beth and Liam and will probably be pregnant now (as will Steffy possibly)…Douglas probably thinks his father needs him to be with him. And he’d be right. Plus Douglas is a preteen guy now…his father’s presence …living with his father…would be a positive. Hope did a fine job while Thomas got himself together. Bottom line…the boy wants to be with his father now. He knows Hope adopted him …he knows Beth is a step sister which is fine and no less a sister but he knows he has a whole other family (by blood as they say) he hasn’t been enough of a part of. I am all for his being with Thomas at Eric’s. Donna just needs to cover up the lacy bras and tiny panties more.

Douglas had Donna baby sit with him and Beth at Hope's home. He knows her and has done fun things with her.

Hope is rarely at the cabin and we never see her with Douglas. Her children are often with a nanny…she has one yes? I cannot think of the name of a nanny they have other than possibly using Amelia at times? .If not then they are with Aunt Donna.

Thomas’ being “too busy” was in the interim. He has been involved in his family’s recent months of drama which I don’t think he really wants to bring up with Douglas. Even Kelly who is now old enough to understand better has been sheltered in what they told her about Finn and I think they did the same with Douglas. Also, Thomas has likely filled in for the grieving Steffy and the distracted by his daughter’s grief and the slippery escaped Sheila Ridge. I think we can authentically fill in those blanks. That’s over now…I mean Steffy and Ridge will be back at the helm, freeing up Thomas “just” to be lead designer …he won’t be as involved in the running of the business. He will be back to having more time.

And I see nothing wrong with Eric and Donna taking care of Douglas in Thomas’s absence.. That actually makes good sense. I think it’s wonderful when grandparents and great grandparents are involved in the care of a child. By the way, when Thomas said he was moving into Eric‘s, I envisioned Quinn living there. I completely forgot that it’s Donna now! There has been so little continuing of that story of Eric and Donna and Quinn and Carter. I know it will pick up now but it actually went off my radar for a moment lol.

Thomas is also free to hire a nanny just like Steffy has so that Eric and Donna are not on constant duty. Unless they want to be. I’d want to be…nothing better than caring for my grandchild! But Douglas is in school and has activities – he doesn’t require the constant presence of someone in the family when he’s at school, etc.

And you see how much Douglas wants to be with his father. Again, Hope has Beth and Liam and will probably be pregnant now (as will Steffy possibly)…Douglas probably thinks his father needs him to be with him. And he’d be right. Plus Douglas is a preteen guy now…his father’s presence …living with his father…would be a positive. Hope did a fine job while Thomas got himself together. Bottom line…the boy wants to be with his father now. He knows Hope adopted him …he knows Beth is a step sister which is fine and no less a sister but he knows he has a whole other family (by blood as they say) he hasn’t been enough of a part of. I am all for his being with Thomas at Eric’s. Donna just needs to cover up the lacy bras and tiny panties more.

With Thomas' past, how can anyone tell from just a few months if Thomas is going to be there in the future. Thomas pretended that he was over Hope and ended up making out with a mannequin. Thomas has always had an unbalanced edge about him. It has been stated that Douglas is thriving with Hope. Thomas does not even have a permanent place to raise Douglas. At least Hope has a separate building from Brooke. Is Douglas going to live with Grandpa forever?

Hope is rarely at the cabin and we never see her with Douglas. Her children are often with a nanny…she has one yes? I cannot think of the name of a nanny they have other than possibly using Amelia at times? .If not then they are with Aunt Donna.

Thomas’ being “too busy” was in the interim. He has been involved in his family’s recent months of drama which I don’t think he really wants to bring up with Douglas. Even Kelly who is now old enough to understand better has been sheltered in what they told her about Finn and I think they did the same with Douglas. Also, Thomas has likely filled in for the grieving Steffy and the distracted by his daughter’s grief and the slippery escaped Sheila Ridge. I think we can authentically fill in those blanks. That’s over now…I mean Steffy and Ridge will be back at the helm, freeing up Thomas “just” to be lead designer …he won’t be as involved in the running of the business. He will be back to having more time.

And I see nothing wrong with Eric and Donna taking care of Douglas in Thomas’s absence.. That actually makes good sense. I think it’s wonderful when grandparents and great grandparents are involved in the care of a child. By the way, when Thomas said he was moving into Eric‘s, I envisioned Quinn living there. I completely forgot that it’s Donna now! There has been so little continuing of that story of Eric and Donna and Quinn and Carter. I know it will pick up now but it actually went off my radar for a moment lol.

Thomas is also free to hire a nanny just like Steffy has so that Eric and Donna are not on constant duty. Unless they want to be. I’d want to be…nothing better than caring for my grandchild! But Douglas is in school and has activities – he doesn’t require the constant presence of someone in the family when he’s at school, etc.

And you see how much Douglas wants to be with his father. Again, Hope has Beth and Liam and will probably be pregnant now (as will Steffy possibly)…Douglas probably thinks his father needs him to be with him. And he’d be right. Plus Douglas is a preteen guy now…his father’s presence …living with his father…would be a positive. Hope did a fine job while Thomas got himself together. Bottom line…the boy wants to be with his father now. He knows Hope adopted him …he knows Beth is a step sister which is fine and no less a sister but he knows he has a whole other family (by blood as they say) he hasn’t been enough of a part of. I am all for his being with Thomas at Eric’s. Donna just needs to cover up the lacy bras and tiny panties more.

Douglas said he misses his father. It defeats the purpose to move Douglas and hand him off to a nanny or Eric or Donna. Totally defeats the purpose.