Starting Over Blog

The show begins with Antonia in the confessional talking about graduating today. She is very excited and says she has "really started over." Jennie McNulty, a representative of Curves, arrives to lead the women in a workout at the tennis court. In the confessional, Sommer says it is freezing outside, she is tired, and she just doesn't feel like working out. The women jog around the tennis court a few times and then Jenny gives them some tips on running the 5k.

In the confessional, Jill says her family on her father's side is coming to the house today. She says she has some trepidation about the meeting.

Rhonda arrives and in the confessional she says she wants to be sure that Christie understands how organizing and running the 5k applies to Christie's life. Rhonda tells Christie that she wants her to go get her body painted today as a way of fully expressing herself. In the confessional, Rhonda says this assignment will determine whether Christie has overcome her body issues. She tells Christie that she will be wearing a bikini top and shorts to have her body painted. In the confessional, Christie says she is thinking, "Holy crap," when Rhonda tells her about the assignment and she doesn't want to do it.

The women gather for group and Iyanla arrives. Iyanla calls Antonia up to sit next to her and asks her how she feels about graduating today. Antonia says she knows now that she can finish what she starts and that she can work hard to fix things in her life. Iyanla tells Antonia that she will be getting a makeover from Andy Paige today and then brings in Andy. Andy asks Antonia's housemates whether they have suggestions for the makeover. Jodi says she thinks Antonia should be open to getting her eyebrows done. Jill agrees and says it would give Antonia a polished look. Antonia is against it however, and in the confessional she says she is not going to do it. Andy and Antonia leave and group is adjourned.

Jill's father, stepmother, and two brothers arrive at the house. In the confessional, Jill says she can't explain the joy she is feeling at having her father's side of the family all come to see her.

Christie leaves to go get her body painted. She arrive at the Beauty Academy and meets with Jeff Siegel. In the confessional, Christie says she is nervous about this assignment, but is going to talk herself through it. Christie lies down on a table and Jeff and another man begin painting Christie's arms.

Antonia and Andy arrive at the clothing store called Ma Jolie, and meet with the owner, Lisa Stern. Antonia tries on various outfits and finds one she is very excited about wearing for her graduation.

Iyanla, Jill, and Jill's family sit down to talk. Iyanla thanks them for coming and asks Jill's father, Leonard, whether he has anything to share with Jill. Leonard says he is not an "advocate" of looking to the past and wishing things were different, but he is an advocate of looking to the future and hoping for things to come. He says back when Jill was conceived, he was living a very "self-centered" existence. He said there was a stigma concerned with having a child out of wedlock back then, so when he found out Jill's mom was pregnant, he "did the right thing" and married her. He says, however, that then his selfishness took over, and he wasn't able to stick it out in the marriage, and they winded up getting a divorce.

Iyanla asks Jill how she feels about what her father has said. Jill says she feels that she and her father made a mistake (when her mom got pregnant with her). Jill won't look at her father as she is speaking and Iyanla tells her to look at him. Jill starts crying. Iyanla tells Jill she has waited 40 years to talk to her father, and she needs to talk to him now. She says, "you can do it."

Jill is crying and she tells her father that she feels like she was a mistake. Leonard says that is far from true. He says he and Jill's mom never felt that way about her. He says he was just lost back then. Iyanla then asks Jill to share what she knows about the events that led to her father leaving. Jill says she was told that Leonard came home from the military, and when Jill's mom told him she was pregnant, he decided he didn't want a family and he left. Leonard agrees that this is basically the way it happened. In the confessional, Jill says she was thinking all along that perhaps the story her mom told her about Leonard wasn't true, but it turns out it is the truth. She says the realization is the closest she has come to feeling stabbed.

Jill says the biggest question she has is why Leonard never contacted her. She says his lack of contact made her feel that she was unwanted her whole life. Leonard then "humbly" asks Jill to find it in her heart to forgive him. Jill is crying, and so is Leonard and Leonard's wife. Jill tells her father that she forgives him and that she looks forward to their relationship as adult father and daughter. Leonard then asks his two sons who are also there (Brad and Winston) to forgive him as well because his early decisions fractured the family.

One of Jill's brothers, Winston, then speaks up. He says in their family they don't normally open up or get emotional. He says he knows how difficult it is for Leonard to be so open now, and he tells Jill that what their father is saying is genuine and truly heartfelt. He also tells Jill that he and Brad want a relationship with her too. Jill's step mom, Celeste, then says the dad Jill sees today is a "new dad." She says Leonard is being sincere and that "it's real." She says Jill will find love, support, and caring from them. Leonard and Jill then hug each other.

Andy and Antonia arrive at Wax Poetic to have Antonia's brows waxed. Andy thinks it might turn out to be difficult since Antonia's eyebrows are an "issue" for her. Antonia is initially nervous, but then lies down and has her eyebrows be waxed. When it is done, Antonia looks much different and she really likes her new look.

Rhonda gathers the housemates and brings in Christie (who is back from having her body painted). Rhonda tells the women that the body paint was a way for Christie to express herself. Christie shows them the artwork on her arms. In the confessional, Rhonda says it is now time to see whether Christie knows how the 5k applies to her (Christie's) life. Rhonda asks Christie how it applies, and Christie says it reaffirms that she can do challenging things in her life and not "breakdown." She says she has truly learned to love and accept herself. Rhonda then brings out a gift bag for Christie. Inside the bag, Christie finds a pair of running shoes. Inside one of the shoes is a scroll; the scroll reads, "you're graduating." She shows the women and they all hug and congratulate her.

SO graduate, Kelly, arrives, and with her is Antonia's roommate from college and best friend, Danielle. Rhonda, Stan, and Iyanla arrive next. Everyone gathers and waits for Antonia to arrive for her graduation.

Antonia comes in and is very excited to see Kelly and Danielle. She hugs them and then takes a seat as Iyanla goes to the podium.

Iyanla says that Antonia brought power and energy to the starting over house. She says Antonia came into the house thinking she was a "grown-ass woman," but then realized she was mistaken. Iyanla says Antonia came to the house to clear up her debt, and then they flashback to Antonia's meeting with Robert Kiyosaki. Iyanla then says Antonia looked at an issue she didn't want to face; her issue with her father. They flashback to the exercise she and Iyanla did called "pin the dollars on the daddy." Iyanla says Antonia wasn't ready to go any further with that issue after that. In the confessional, Iyanla says that as Antonia matures she will be able to reconnect with her father and deal with those issues. Iyanla continues her speech and says that she and Antonia then moved onto practical steps Antonia needed to take to get out of debt. She says Antonia faced the mountain, which represented her debt, and they flashback to Antonia making her way up the mountain while her housemates blocked her way. Iyanla says her hope for Antonia is that she continues to allow life to bring her people and experiences that call forth her genuine nature. Iyanla and Antonia hug and Antonia cries.

Stan goes to the podium next. He says it sometimes takes him years to help a patient reveal her authentic self. He says it took one minute for Antonia. He says he realized that Antonia had not made the transition from childhood to adulthood. He says that as they unpeeled her layers they also found Antonia's "ethical self." He says Antonia has now made the transition to adult life. He hugs and congratulates Antonia.

Jodi is next to the podium. She says she is joyful for Antonia, but also sad because their journey together is ending. She says she became friends with Antonia, and they became like sisters. She says she then found herself wanting her mother Antonia and saw her as the child she never had. She tells Antonia she is proud of her and that she loves her. They hug.

Niambi goes to the podium next. She says she can't do this without crying, even though that is usually not the way she is. She tells Antonia she loves her and that at times in the house, Antonia was the only person with whom she felt safe. She says there were times when the only reason she stayed in the house was because Antonia was there. She says she doesn't want Antonia to leave, but that she deserves to graduate. She says Antonia has an innocence and a passion, and she wants to "be just like you when I grow up." She tells Antonia she will always be there for her. She is crying and tells Antonia she loves her. Antonia, who is also crying, tells Niambi that she loves her too. They hug.

Rhonda, Iyanla, and Antonia then go to the podium, and Rhonda presents Antonia with her gifts. They are giving her $1500 towards rent, and $1500 towards buying new furniture. Antonia is very excited and appreciative. Iyanla then presents Antonia with her trophy, which reads, "Antonia, Rich in Spirit-Starting Over 2006."

Antonia then goes to the podium. She says when she got to the house, her life was in shambles and she was sinking. She says Starting Over chose her and that proves that everything happens for a reason. She says to Iyanla that she can't express in words her gratitude. She tells Stan that he is "one hell of a man," and Stan says she is "one hell of a woman." She say to Rhonda that she (Rhonda) has "as much passion" as she does. She says she knows now that all three of them were only there to help her. She says to Jodi that she didn't know what to do when Jodi graduated and she thought Jodi was leaving the house. She tells Jodi they will always be in touch with each other. She tells Niambi that they share the same language, but that Niambi's "heart is weak." She says she wants to see Niambi's heart grow strong. She says she and Niambi will "grow old together." She says the house has changed her life forever. Everybody hugs and congratulates her.

Iyanla brings Antonia out by the pool to light her candle. In the confessional, Antonia says her hope for herself is that she continues to be a responsible adult and she knows the "best is yet to come."

Jill, Jodi, and Christie are in the living room talking. Jill is telling them about how her father asked her for forgiveness. In the confessional, Jill says now that she has addressed her father, she desperately needs to have a conversation with her mother.

Preview: Christie could be in for the most dramatic makeover of her life. Niambi struggles to stay positive in the house. Jill tries to heal old wounds.