Supernanny Rules

31 opinions for Donate Your Two Cents

• Lisa
  Feb 24, 2008 at 11:26 pm

  Personally, my family’s personal business is just that - personal. I don’t see myself ever airing my family’s laundry - dirty or otherwise - in a public arena. Perhaps I feel that way after watching other families do it… and made a conscience choice that I never would.

  My problem with it, for me, is the consumption. One families pain, heartache, triumphs, let downs, drama… well it’s all put out there for entertainment value. My family and I have gone through some difficult times over the years… I would hate to feel that those times would be held up as entertainment for the masses.

  And it goes without saying, IF I ever did find myself in such a situation - - it wouldn’t happen unless I gave full disclosure to and full consent from any family members involved, directly, or indirectly.

  That’s my two cents - - others mileage will vary on this topic, tho. Good luck with whatever you do, Kadi!

• Gayla McCord
  Feb 25, 2008 at 10:26 am

  I believe in calling on the professionals when you can’t seem to fix the problem yourself.

  I don’t think calling on Super Nanny or other family therapist types should be considered ‘airing dirty laundry.’ I believe it takes a great deal of courage to call out for help.

  While my family doesn’t need Supernanny to visit to help us with the children so much — we have enrolled in a class called Family to Family that’s for families who are dealing with mental illness.

  Bipolar is a heavy issue in our family and one that we just can’t seem to deal with — so we’re reaching out for help in the best way we know how.

  I personally don’t see the show Supernanny as an entertainment option as much as I do an invaluable tool that shares techniques that can often be used in various families with younger children.

  Kadi, I think you are one of the most brave people I know. I’ll look forward to watching your family as they take this huge step and invite the world into your home. I’ll not be watching so much as a spectator, but more as a virtual friend who has a wonderful opportunity to get to know her dear friend and her family in a way many don’t get to.

• Maria
  Feb 25, 2008 at 11:06 am

  I think if that is the way that the family will be helped, and they might otherwise not receive help, then Super Nanny or similar “public airing” is necessary. Doing it to gain your 5 minutes of fame…that’s another story.

• Brooke
  Feb 25, 2008 at 11:34 am

  I think that it really depends on the “help” that someone is supposedly going to get. There are shows that are genuinely helping people - and I believe that Supernanny is one of them. There are others - Extreme Makeover, Home Edition; Oprah, etc. But then there are shows that exploit people - such as Jerry Springer. Who knows how realistic that show really is… I think that when someone volunteers to “air” their dirty laundry on a show that feeds on negativity and publicity instead of honest results, they are hurting their family more than helping, and should get whatever verbal or online flaming comes to them.

• kadi
  Feb 25, 2008 at 11:38 am

  Maria,
  Amen to that sentiment! I pity the person who goes into the Supernanny experience, with dishonorable intentions. It is extremely helpful when done for the right reasons, but not for the weak or those just seeking 43 minutes of fame. There are shows like the ones that Brooke mentioned above, that would be more suitable for fame seekers. Supernanny is not one of those, I can testify to that!

• Devon
  Feb 25, 2008 at 7:04 pm

  I agree with Lisa…to want to go on a reality/talk show by myself is one thing, however to subject my family or young children to it is absolutely done just to get your “five minutes of fame”. If you felt that you really needed the help with your children, I would have hoped you would have sought professional help prior to applying for the show. Parents who subject their kids to the media (in this particular instance), may tell themselves they need the advice of Jo (who, by the way I absolutely LOOOOOOOOVE), but I would hope that they also seek professional help, as well. I watch The Super Nanny because it is entertaining and I believe persons who apply for the show have the best of intentions, however need to be honest about why they applied in the first place. I’m not saying Jo doesn’t help these families-she does, but once you subject your family into these reality shows, you need to prepare your children and other family members on what to expect after the show aires. These reality shows are on t.v. for a reason…they can tweak what a person says or does for “entertainment”. I just hope you and your husband are prepared to live with the consequences.

• joyce
  Feb 25, 2008 at 8:32 pm

  I think it is a helpful show for those that go on it and also for the viewers, my children are grown so it is more for entertainment for us. to those that think it is not good to air your dirty laundry just turn the channel!!!! we love you Kadi aunt Joyce and uncle Kevin

• kadi
  Feb 25, 2008 at 11:08 pm

  Devon,
  Thank you for your concern. We had tried other avenues of help, to no avail. We are fully prepared to deal with the consequences. We did not do it for 15 minutes of fame, contrary to your generalization.

• Devon
  Feb 26, 2008 at 10:39 am

  Just out of curiousity, what other types of help did you seek out to no avail?
  People who apply for these types of shows tend to appreciate the notoriety or fame it brings. You would not find parents or people who don’t like the spotlight applying for shows like this. You may say that you did not apply for the show for your 15 minutes of fame, but it does seem that being on the show was self serving. I only hope that this was not your only avenue that you took in “helping your kids”. You asked for our two cents and I am giving it.

• BMS
  Feb 26, 2008 at 10:44 am

  I like to read about the advice Supernanny gives, but I never watch the show, or others like it. I don’t like the idea of being party to making money off of other people’s misery. I don’t watch TV news for the same reason - there are ways of being informed without sensationalizing other people’s troubles. I guess if you feel desperate enough to go on Supernanny for help, then that is your business. I for one would feel very uncomfortable dragging my young kids in front of a camera. The potential for teasing at school, vilification by neighbors for perceieved parental faults, etc, is just not something I want to deal with. Good luck to you, but I won’t be watching.

• Kadi
  Feb 26, 2008 at 10:56 am

  Devon,
  Yes, you are right. I did ask for your opinions and I appreciate everyone’s candor. We had a lot of issues that contributed to our parenting problems. We asked our kids if they had any problems with this endeavor, before agreeing to do the show. We regularly consult with our pediatrician on our struggle with Daniel’s ADHD. We tried to enlist the school’s help in getting counseling. We consulted psychologists. Our problems were too many for any one source to address. There were also things that we were unaware of, that contributed to my stress and desire to seek help.
  My husband is very camera shy, but he could see that I needed more help than we could afford or enlist.
  Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with being on television. I am not shy. I did not do this to seek fame. There are many other options that could have pursued if that were my only intent.
  I thank you for all of your honesty and I hope this answered your question.

  BMS~ I totally respect your lack of desire to watch the show. To each, his own.

• Devon
  Feb 26, 2008 at 12:55 pm

  How old are your children? Are they old enough to make a decision to be on television? If they are under the age of 10, I highly doubt that. Of course they are going to want to be on t.v. They don’t know any better, so asking for their permission or if they had any problems with it seems useless. Did you consult with any of your own family, or extended family and ask for their advice or help? Does your insurance cover mental health? It is hard to believe that you exhausted all of your options. You need to realize that being on the show (especially because you say your husband is extremely camera shy) was obviously something YOU wanted and stop saying it was something you as parents did because you needed more help than what you could afford and enlist. It is hard for me to believe that a reality show was able to help you more than psychologists, school counselors or your family.

• kadi
  Feb 26, 2008 at 3:04 pm

  Regretably, I do not have the time to convince doubtful readers of my genuine good intentions for doing the show, by answering a plethera of questions. I have done my best to be informative and I take joy in the knowledge that our episode is going to help a lot of people besides our own family! I thank you all for your comments and wish you a blessed day!

• Brandi
  Feb 26, 2008 at 7:53 pm

  But isn’t this the reason why you posed this question to us…why not answer Devon’s questions. I am interested to know why people would apply for reality shows. I would like to know if you really did exhaust all of your avenues for help.

• kadi
  Feb 26, 2008 at 8:03 pm

  Ok. I posted the question to get a general concensus of the publics’ feelings towards people who choose to do the Supernanny show. I do not have the time or energy to try and convince people who are hell bent on proving a point that is based purely on opinion. To answer it…again. We did exhaust a lot of avenues. Maybe not every avenue. I have seven kids and life is crazy enough just living it out. The show was a way for us to solve many problems in as little time as possible…for free. Yes, there were other ways. None were as easy and fruitful as having Jo work with us. I hope that satiates your curiosity. You are welcome, Devon, to hold fast to the belief that it is a fame issue, but that is far from the truth. I know my intentions, and that is all that matters.

• jessica
  Feb 26, 2008 at 9:34 pm

  i think going on Supernanny is a very brave thing to do. i honestly believe that no matter what the intentions of the families are, the episodes of the show help educate the American public with tips on how to deal with their kids. Having someone you trust with your kids, (Jo, who i’d trust in a heartbeat) come and give you a crash course that has proven to do a successful job again and again is perfectly fine to me. i am grateful to those who have gone on the show for helping bring to light some behaviors i might see in my children and how to deal with them.

  i think with 7 kids, i wouldn’t have the mental capacity to get up in the morning, much less exhaust all areas of help. If Supernanny works, why not do it? i doubt being on one episode of a reality tv show is going to scar kids more than it will help their families.

  Way to go, Kadi! i’m thrilled to have gotten to know you a bit through your blogging, and i think you are an inspiration to us all. As my mom has always said: “A wise woman knows when to ask for help.”

• Gayla McCord
  Feb 26, 2008 at 10:30 pm

  I can easily imagine that many families apply to the show in a moment of desperation - never in a million years believing they will be called. Then when they are, it’s like a Godsend or sign that better things are coming.

  Sometimes the best benefits come from a certain amount of humility and there’s nothing more humbling then taking your family deficiencies before television viewers in effort to help the family and viewers alike.

  I think it’s a very selfless thing to do and applaud you for it.

  There has only been a couple of families that I’ve ever heard of having negative results from being on Supernanny. It’s not like you’re going on Fifth Wheel or Temptation Island for Pete’s Sake - it’s Supernanny - the greatest parenting trainer of modern day.

  I think those who are stepping up and being overly critical of the action might not be able to see beyond their own reality. Perhaps if they went on such a show, they’d end up on the short list of families left humiliated and condemned.

• christy
  Feb 27, 2008 at 5:24 pm

  Hi,
  I admire you Kadi!!
  My husbands job cut his mental health insurance so we really didn’t have many other options. People, please build others up instead of knocking them down. Moms especially need encouragement from where ever they can get it.
  Christy

• solo
  Mar 5, 2008 at 10:31 pm

  I saw the show. I don’t understand what difference it will make. You could not have possibly been unaware that you needed to stop screaming at your son with ADHD or that 7 kids, especially under age 8 was a stupid idea.

• Ashley
  Mar 6, 2008 at 8:45 am

  Kadi:

  I loved, loved, loved the show and your family..Ya’ll were unbelievably real and sincere an heartbreaking and we were so excited as each change happened and as you and your husband addressed the issue of your dad. Bravo for being so fearless and open! I think ANYONE who goes on super nanny is extremely courageous (sp?) and brave and if everyone was trying to front and not yell or whatever like they normally do it would be pointless!

  Also, I’ve been living in a new town for about a year and haven’t made new friends because I’m too hung up and sad about being too far away from my old ones..I literally had tears in my eyes when Jo brought over neighbors and friends for you and spoke about how mothers NEED other mothers because otherwise they feel isolated..couldn’t have hit more home for me. Good luck with your beautiful, normal, roudy family! :)

  And girl, hold onto that cheerleader uniform, hell, wear it to the grocery store if it reminds you of being young and free! whoo hoo!

• Ashley
  Mar 6, 2008 at 8:51 am

  Okay also, to BMS:

  Supernanny IS NOT one of those sleazy shows that makes money exploiting people’s problems! It is closer to a public service/educational hour than anything we’ve had in a while besides extreme home makeovers or whatever. My gosh, we finally have a show that informs, helps, strengthens families. It offers GOOD, healthy advice and shows you how to actually apply it to your life! Yes, it uses real life families - this is helpful. It is like one big session of group therapy and it’s free to anyone who tunes in!

• solo
  Mar 6, 2008 at 3:07 pm

  “And girl, hold onto that cheerleader uniform, hell, wear it to the grocery store if it reminds you of being young and free! whoo hoo!”

  Two words: Stretch, Marks.

• Ashley
  Mar 6, 2008 at 3:43 pm

  what?

• solo
  Mar 6, 2008 at 4:09 pm

  Are you dense? The comment should not require explanation.

• Ashley
  Mar 6, 2008 at 4:14 pm

  no wonder you’re alone

• christy
  Mar 6, 2008 at 4:30 pm

  I wonder if people that fight online go around fighting in their real lives. We should encourage not smash!!!

• Ashley
  Mar 6, 2008 at 4:34 pm

  I was encouraging.

• Ashley
  Mar 6, 2008 at 4:42 pm

  to Kadi

• solo
  Mar 6, 2008 at 7:18 pm

  I don’t understand SmAshley. Is your best girlfriend looking over your shoulder telling you what to write?

• Ashley
  Mar 7, 2008 at 8:36 am

  Yes, she and the rest of the cheerleaders.

• Ashley
  Mar 7, 2008 at 8:39 am

  Actually, I never was a cheerleader - it never fit me. I was the girl smoking in the bathroom.. But for Kadi, it seems like the uniform represents a young, carefree happy part of her life (solo - try not to throw up from reading the word happy) and if she feels good when she brings it out so what?! I have an old scrapbook of memories and stuff from high school and it helps me remember who I was then, how far I’ve come and how much of my original self I’m hanging onto.

Have an opinion? Leave a comment:

• Use this area to discover new blogs and content in the b5media network.
• Beauty & Style
• Business
• Entertainment
• General
• Health & Wellness
• Lifestyles
• Music
• No Channel Selected
• Sports
• Team Blogs
• Technology
• Travel & Culture

• Social Web
• E-mail