A Mommy Story

I am unashamed to admit that I watch Nanny 911. Yes, it’s reality trash TV, and I love every minute of it.

I could tell you that I watch it for the parenting tips, so that I can learn their techniques to become a better parent myself. Oh, I could tell you that. But it’s not the truth.

Truth is, I watch it to remind myself that I’m not the worst parent in the world. I feel so much better about my parenting skills after just one episode of Nanny 911. How can you not think you’re not too bad of a parent after watching the people on this show? If Aaron’s home, it’s even worse, because we watch in horror and then say to each other, “Can you believe that? We would never do that!”

Sure, I judge them. Everyone does. It’s something I try not to do in real life, but when you put yourself and your family on national TV, you’re just begging to be judged.

Last night, however, was the first night that a show such as this brought me to tears. Did anyone else see this episode about the Longairc family? They have three kids, and their kids lacked any respect for anyone.

The mother, though, was the worst. While her husband tried to do his best to discipline the kids, she did most of her parenting from the couch as she stuffed her face. She would bark orders at the kids, taunt and tease them, and put them down. And yet she claimed to be a good mother to them.

The part that brought me to tears was when the 6 yr. old daughter was on the couch with her mom. She asked her mom for a hug, and her mom told her no and to leave her alone. The little girl persisted, and so the mom dragged the girl into her room and punished her. All for asking for a hug! As the little girl cried in her room, her mom yelled to her that she was being a baby.

When you’re sitting on the couch doing nothing, and you refuse your daughter a hug and instead push her away, you’re a bad parent in my book. I wanted to reach through the TV and give that poor little girl a hug myself. So, so sad.

Edit: The worst part of the show was the end, when it was clear that the mom had no intention of changing her ways, because she was so in denial about being a bad parent. She thought she was doing a fine job. I hope the dad and these kids can keep working on things even though she’s so useless.