Mike and I had our daughter-in-law and the grandkids, Hannah (9) and Jacob (6) over last night to eat and spend the night. It's a wonderful time in life when you can serve hot dogs with chili and be thought of as a great chef. I never know which of us is happier to see the other. I do know that they bring me so much joy.
After supper, we settled in to watch Nanny 911. The kids loved it. They were incredulous that children could be so out of control. I have to admit, watching kids bite, hit, and spit on their parents was like watching a wreck or a bullfight. You know that you should look away from the shame of the situation, but morbid curiosity makes your eyes stay glued to the scene at hand. The mother would get all misty after trying to wrestle a smart-mouth 6 year old into time out (which the child NEVER stayed in), thinking that everyone must think her a horrible parent. Duh! The dad comes in and everyone straightens up and flies right. Turns out, he rules them with fear...of his belt. The nanny makes him feel like the heel of the century for being abusive to misty wife and bratty kids (note: they DO tow the line when he speaks and it's not established that he does anything more than spank).
Nanny finally makes her point with mom, dad, kids, they turn into nice children that don't need to be on leashes, and another family is saved. They definitely needed intervention, but on national television? I wouldn't be able to face the PTA again! Was the money or exposure worth the aftermath? A followup series revisiting these people a year from now might be a better gauge of impact and/or exploitation. I think of Richard Hatch from the Survivor series. What's your first thought? That he might be an okay guy in some circumstances or that he walked around a bunch of people naked. Reality bites...and sometimes it bites, chews, and then spits you out!
2 comments:
The one about it hurts the parent more than the child is more true than spare the rod and spoil the child.
If a parent is sadistic you don't want them around a kid anyway, even if they can't strike a kid without going to jail, they get innovative how to take things out on a kid.
It has always bothered me to even hand spank my kids. But I do and did. You can feel the love even in a rage when the anger hits, you still hate having to spank them or even send them to their room.
But you do. Because you love them. That's the only reason you do anything. Sometimes in anger it is also for relief, but that's not the overriding thing. They need correcting sometimes, sometimes in a big way. And you are the one left to do it.
If you are sadistic, they know it, if you love them, they know it.
I have a hard time wathcing Nanny 911. I would be thrown in spanking prison because that is what those kids need! A firm hand and tight hugs.
When did parents grow fearful of their children??
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