I watch Supernanny. Normally I smile and nod as Jo rescues families in far, far worse shape than mine. Sometimes I even learn a trick or two. But after watching last week's episode (this afternoon) with Wendy Phillips (from Wilson Phillips of "Hold On" fame - guess it was easier than going on Dancing with the Stars) I have lost all respect for the Supernanny.
She had the family go out for a meal. The parents, the four year old boy, the three year old boy and the twin newborns (also boys, Goddess help that woman) and Jo settled into their seats at the restaurant. Jo had the parents go over expectations - fine. The older boys began playing with silverware and whatnot. Jo reminded the parents to do her "direct talking" trick to get them to behave appropriately.
Jo did NOT, however, remind them to bring some appropriate damn toys to the restaurant. The two preschoolers were given the choice of sitting still and silently or eating their food.
Still and quiet for thirty minutes? Are you kidding me?
I guarantee that the boys wouldn't even have touched the silverware in the first place if Wendy knew to whip out a bag of restaurant only toys and books. If they had been engaged with Play-Doh and coloring books no one would have had to correct their damn behavior.
What kind of idiot expects children under five to be still and quiet when not hearing a story or watching Dora?
Uh, unless I should be expecting more sitting still and quiet from my kids? Am I the idiot? It's been so long since developmental psych.
19 comments:
I agree with you. That is just crazy. Boys and sitting still don't go well at all let alone when under the age of 7. Mine never colored either which made eating out even more challenging. They viewed crayons as missles. Boys are boys!
cegrundler - Sounds like you did an amazing job. I think I've read too many experts at this point. And I definitely plan to be cool about video games!
HRH - Okay, I may have to rethink the crayon thing then. :) But I'm so glad a more experienced mom agrees with me!
Anytime there's a long wait involved, there's got to be something for kids to do. Honestly, who can sit still and quiet for 30 minutes? Not me.
i don't usually watch the show, but i watched the wilson one. oh please, we all know that she had a nanny for the twins - really, someone with her background is going to raise 4 kids under 4 without help. this was blatent promotion for her and her sister and their future tour.
I agree with HRH. Boys need to get good & dirty. But four boys 4 and under? And, lofty expectations? Hardly! Shame on Jo. And, I think Jo needs to include spanking when necessary. That's my big beef with her.
I've only watched the supernanny once, and I couldn't watch it ever again. The kids were too horrible to contemplate, and the nanny made me crazy. And the parents. Ugh.
I can't watch that show. I'm pretty sure its because every time I mention something about parenting my children to my mother in law she says "Oh, well did you know that Supernanny recommends...insert idiotic thing that is meant for kids who are FAR WORSE BEHAVED than mine." And then I just want to punch her. (My MIL, not Jo. Though, at that point, I'd probably punch either one of them.)
i've NEVER watched that show. and...i expect age appropriate behavior from my children, when we go out. my older kids...12, 11, 11, 10...i expect them to be able to sit quietly-ish...they can talk and be silly, within reason. my 4 year old...i still bring my bag of tricks...play doh, action figures, crayons...because, he's 4...and, he can't sit still...because...he's 4!!
Yep. Recently I've taken issue with Jo too. A few weeks ago she treated a dad like an abuser when he pushed his son off of his daugheter (the daughter was maybe 2 the son maybe five). It looked like the boy was gonna break the little girl's back for heavens sake! I think I would have pushed him off too. She just thought that was ridiculous. I was thinking, "come on!".
And expecting kids that young not to squirm around without toys in a restaurant. That seems cruel to me.
Does Super Nanny even have any kids? Just wondering.
i used to love me some super nanny but now i just get stressed out when i watch. too much like my every day, i guess.
Leslie - You're right - I can't do it either!
feener - I'm sure there was a lot of promotion involved, but I will say she still looked really stressed out!
AFF - Yeah, it seems like the only consequence Jo uses is the naughty chair - which doesn't always work in real life.
Thalia's Child - Yeah, usually I just want to smack the parents!
Stephanie - Thank you - I was starting to question my sanity!
Karly - Thankfully, neither my mother nor my MIL watches it.
Melbs1969 - Exactly!
Kathryn - I remember that one! That little boy deserved a good push, in my opinion! Good question about the kids - somehow I doubt it.
Zoloftmom - I hear that too - I couldn't watch it when Lovebug was a newborn and every day felt like a race.
If it's on while I'm flipping I'll stop and watch. Usually it makes me feel like, "hey, I'm doing pretty good with the whole parenting thing afterall"...
and yes, I ALWAYS have a bag of tricks at a restaurant. Crayons, paper, matchbox cars, books, whatever it takes.
Well, I don't often watch it, but that's pretty high expectations for a kid. Seriously.
prevention is always the best medicine!! things can go so much more smoothly when you're prepared!
Nanny Jo needs a little reality check if you're going to eat at a restaurant with anyone under the age of 12.
No kidding! Packing something to distract the kiddies is the FIRST thing we do when planning an outing that is not all about them. This is especially necessary when you are going to a restaurant. What was she thinking?
Life - That's usually how I feel about it too - the Writer's Strike has forced me to tape reality shows. It's a good thing it's over.
Becky - So glad that I'm not some low standards mom - I was kinda nervous there after listening to supernanny.
Silken - That's one of those things that I thought supernanny would be all over. Prevention.
PunditMom - 12 sounds about right for the whole"sit still chill" idea. Maybe.
Heathersway - I know, I always have toys in the diaper bag, plus backpacks of other toys stashed in the car for those LONG waits.
I'm a stay at home dad. I also run a home based business. Some times I have take my three year old to a meeting. He bounces all over the place. That's why I'm on this site to find consise, positive ways to redirect his energy. Listed below is the best feedback from the comments above:
*cegrundler
Pack ‘travel toys’, like Magnadoodles and even a game-boy. It’s not natural or fair to expect a child to sit like perfect little adults in a restuarant. Hell, even I can’t sit like a perfect adult. My daughter always carried her little backpack of goodies, and behaved like a small child prepared to wait for her meal. Another trick was we’d pack some nibbles, like crackers or raisins, because food can take forever for a hungry little stomach.
I never studied developmental psych or even held a baby before my daughter was born. I just trusted my instincts and ignored the experts.
*stephanie (bad mom)
it is unreasonable to expect children to wait in a still, quiet position for anything. I still (with 9 & 7 year olds) bring small bags of tricks to occupy them, along with some word games & such.
*heathersway
Packing something to distract the kiddies is the FIRST thing we do when planning an outing that is not all about them. This is especially necessary when you are going to a restaurant.
*jerseygirl89
I always have toys in the diaper bag, plus backpacks of other toys stashed in the car for those LONG waits.
*LifeAsIKnowIt
I ALWAYS have a bag of tricks at a restaurant. Crayons, paper, matchbox cars, books, whatever it takes.
Thanks to all for sharing your experiences.
I'm a stay at home dad. I also run a home based business. Some times I have take my three year old to a meeting. He bounces all over the place. That's why I'm on this site to find consise, positive ways to redirect his energy. Listed below is the best feedback from the comments above:
*cegrundler
Pack ‘travel toys’, like Magnadoodles and even a game-boy. It’s not natural or fair to expect a child to sit like perfect little adults in a restuarant. Hell, even I can’t sit like a perfect adult. My daughter always carried her little backpack of goodies, and behaved like a small child prepared to wait for her meal. Another trick was we’d pack some nibbles, like crackers or raisins, because food can take forever for a hungry little stomach.
I never studied developmental psych or even held a baby before my daughter was born. I just trusted my instincts and ignored the experts.
*stephanie (bad mom)
it is unreasonable to expect children to wait in a still, quiet position for anything. I still (with 9 & 7 year olds) bring small bags of tricks to occupy them, along with some word games & such.
*heathersway
Packing something to distract the kiddies is the FIRST thing we do when planning an outing that is not all about them. This is especially necessary when you are going to a restaurant.
*jerseygirl89
I always have toys in the diaper bag, plus backpacks of other toys stashed in the car for those LONG waits.
*LifeAsIKnowIt
I ALWAYS have a bag of tricks at a restaurant. Crayons, paper, matchbox cars, books, whatever it takes.
Thanks to all for sharing your experiences.
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