Grandma watches "Super Nanny" and she's ready to take action!
Categories: Relatives, Development, That's Entertainment
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Though we have talked about the show for months, my mother first saw an episode of "Super Nanny" last night. And she's ready to take action!
My mother and I have had lots of heated arguments about how I should educate and discipline Sean and Will. And she often disagrees with the rules and limits I've set in my house. It has been hard for me to justify my actions and beliefs all the time.
Sean woke up from his nap this afternoon and started to whine and cry about something. Usually, when my sons throw a tantrum, my mother tries to comfort them, offering them something to eat or a ride on her back. I was trying to talk to Sean and calm him down when my mother entered the room and said:
"That's enough Sean! You have to stop whining and talking like that to your mother! Your mother is tired, so stop crying and tell me quietly what's the problem and I'll prepare you a bowl of cereal, OK?"
I don't know who was the most surprised, Sean, who of course executed immediately, Will or me.
"This can't go on," she said, "I've watched 'Super Nanny' and I think some things need to change here!"
I love you mom.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bonnie 2-22-2006 @ 3:13PM
Rock on, grandma!!! We've been having difficulty dealing with our "terrible two" tantrums at home, and our son's school lent us a copy of Supernanny for guidance. (Way to go school - they keep mulitiple copies of the book around for that very purpose!) Even though we thought we'd been doing all of the basics right: setting guidlines, following a schedule, not yielding to whining, etc. we discovered that we were missing some pretty big points about how two year olds are wired. Now that we are informed, I feel encouraged and confident that we can help him (and help ourselves) even better.
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Meredith 2-22-2006 @ 3:26PM
I don't enjoy the show but have caught a few minutes here and there. I found some really good points, as well.
Isn't is grand when Grandmothers get on the same page. Trying to not only raise children but please Mom as well....it can be a trying time for anyone.
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Pink Rocket 2-22-2006 @ 3:51PM
Your mother and the food!! Now Super Nanny!! HA!
It's amazing what that show has done for so many!
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M. 2-22-2006 @ 3:56PM
I LOVE that show "Super Nanny" she has such great ideas. Didn't she originally come from the show on Fox "Nanny 911"?
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Julia 2-22-2006 @ 4:02PM
I am glad that worked for you. We don't like Super Nanny and refer to her as "Scary Poppins" around here. I think that making a child (which you didn't, but she does) sit on a naughty mat or chair is degrading and there are other ways to discipline children without shaming them. It seems like your Mom is doing a great job, right on Grandma is right!
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momma2mingbu 2-22-2006 @ 4:48PM
I agree with Julia. I have watched SuperNanny a few times and I am not a fan of hers either. I don't like the "naughty mat/corner/stool/step" approach. I think it's degrading as well.
We have a totally different approach to "time out" in our home from the way SuperNanny approaches it. (And from the show it often seems like that is her whole bag of tricks! Sorry but the same methods don't work with every child lady!) We treat time out more like it is treated in sports. It is NOT a punishment or to shame the child into behaving. It is, instead, a time to take a break from what is going on to talk to the "coach" (a.k.a. the parent) and to make a plan to succeed.
Good for Grandma for stepping in to help though!
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Kate 2-22-2006 @ 7:02PM
I think my husband has a big crush on supernanny. What she says is like gospel to him. :-) I like a lot of what she does. And she's turned my husband from an "every kid needs to be spanked sometimes" guy to a timeout devotee so thats an improvement! I've never thought of time outs as degrading. I'll have to think that over. But I do think that people should feel some shame when they break rules.
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Liz 2-26-2006 @ 2:13PM
I don't really have an opinion about the Super Nanny show. What bothers me about your situation, is the fact that your mother is completely stepping onto your territory as mother of these children. She should be supporting your methods of discipline instead of competely undermining you. If she won't respect you, how can you expect for your children to respect you? If they see that she is in charge, they won't take you or what you have to say seriously. I know your mother is trying to help, but she is completely wrong in what she is doing, and you are wrong to let it continue. She needs to see that you are an adult now, and that her job as mommy is over. These are your children and your responsibility and they need to be disciplined by you. Set some boundaries and let her know that you expect she not cross them. I went through the same thing with my parents with my first child. I have four now, and they completely respect me. It's their job to love and even sometimes spoil their grandchildren. The rest is left to me. Good Luck!
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Irene Nam 2-27-2006 @ 9:35AM
The French "Super Nanny" is very different from the US or UK version, and she does approach "time out" more like a break from what's going on for the child to take time to reflect on the situation and then be able to talk with his mother or father.
Liz- I totally understand your position, but this post certainly does not sum up my relationship with my mother. She does not interfere in my methods of discipline. What happened was that she did not agree with my decisions and it was hard for me because I felt like she did not understand how hard it is for me to raise two kids. When she watched "Super Nanny", she realized that what I told her about my kids was true, that the "horrible fours" did exist and that she had not supported me the way a mother should support her daughter. She never tries to take my place or discipline my kids or question my authority. She just tries to "backup", just like my husband would do too.
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