Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Supernanny: Epilogue

The only thing surprising about this is that it didn't happen sooner. One of the kids in a family counseled by Supernanny has torched their family room and now the family's homeless. (It's also divided, because since being counseled by Supernanny Jo Frost two years ago, the parents have separated.)

I'm sorry, but how could we not see this coming? These nanny shows highlight families where the kids are in charge. The nannies then tell the parents what they're doing wrong in raising their kids and spout all sorts of advice, along with this warning: never, never punish them physically.

In their effort to be politically correct, these "supernannies" take away a tool that parents sometimes need in order to keep their kids safe. If little Joel had been told not to touch the kitchen stove lighter, and given a swat on the tush the first few times he disobeyed that order, and the promise of more swats if he touched it again, the family would not be homeless now. (Even expensive research studies of the human brain have shown that people improve their behavior when threatened with punishment.)

Thank God nobody died in that fire!

2 comments:

Marbel said...

I always wonder what motivates people to go on reality tv shows like this. It seems there can never be a good outcome from putting one's family out on public view in such a way. And I thought everyone knew these shows were manipulated and not "reality" at all? Is it the possibility of fame? Is there money involved?

Barbara Frank said...

I've heard that at least one of the family "reality" shows pays $20K, but I don't think that would be worth it. Then again, if you're really hard up for money, it might be tempting; the cash could make some people forget that television is all about making something look the way the director sees it, which is not generally reality but personal viewpoint.