What is it with the parents on supernanny?

Question

Their kids are out of control and cause havok yet the average number of kids on the program seems to be three. If the parents can't keep one child under control why do they keep having them?

Answer 1

I agree with you!! I mean, you have to have a license to have some pets, so why not get one for becoming a parent? Newromanticmum hit the nail on the head with her answer. Believe me, I'd never inflict that level of selfishness on others; if I could not handle one child, I woulnd't go and have more until I could handle the one I already have!!

Answer 2

I'm not defending the parents on that show at all. They have no common sense or understanding about children, but how they end up with three that are all out of control could happen pretty easily:

They have one and have no idea of how you need to start talking to them from the time they're infants. That one gets to be two, and is kind of a handful but he's two, after all. Everyone expects a two-year-old to be a little difficult. When children are difficult but only two, three, or four they just look like active pre-schoolers; so their behavior issues don't look all that horrible.

So now these parents get to where they have an "active" five year old (its their first kid; they don't know this kid isn't your average kid and is too wild) and a two-year old ("terrible two's). The mother is getting a little on the "old side" when it comes to having children, so they figure if they'd like at least three kids they had better have the third one now.

By the time that one is born they have an almost-six-year-old who is starting to look pretty off-the-whole now that he's school age and still acting like a nut or brat. They have an almost three-year-old, and it is becoming clear this kid wasn't acting ridiculous because he had just turned two.

They have the infant.

Because they don't know any differently, these parents don't realize how bad their kids are; and, as I said, because the kids are little it kind of masks how ridiculous they are. Because it takes a while for the parents to realize how out-of-control the kids are they go for a few years without realize they made a mistake with Kid 1 and Kid 2, so they just keep making the same mistake with their infant/toddler until they're done it with all three kids.

Over the next three years all three kids "blossom" into horrors, and the parents didn't even see it coming.

They're not horrible people who shouldn't have kids, and most of them seem to love and have wanted their children; they just aren't skilled when it comes to parenting

(For the record, no, the reason I see how this could happen isn't because it happened to me! My kids were well behaved little folks, and I super-enjoyed them all.)

Answer 3

I agree with you and a few others. It is the parents and the fact they keep having more kids. I love my family but my cousin has 4 and those kids are relatively good some of the time. If you can not take care of one what the heck made you think you could have more than that?! My mom has 5 of us and I think it was crazy! I love my brothers and sister but that is seriously 3 too many. Whatever happened to birth control. Besides that the parents of today want to spoil their kids and give them "everything I never had" well, maybe you misunderstood. Children are just that, they are not meant to have it all, besides these kids also grow up to be adult terrors in one way or another too. I agree with one person who said, "routine and discipline." Kids need those things and THAT IS loving them. Not only will you have good kids but also good and responsible adults later.

Answer 4

I agree, they are always the same. (Kids and parents) The ones who let their kids wallop them and trash the house are the worst I think. I feel that people reject the way their parents raised them, often for good reason and then don't know where to go from there.
It's often the older parents who are least able to discipline their kids and I have wondered if it is to do with the fact they have had careers and aren't used to the way kids talk to you and are constantly demanding, (i.e at work no-one can talk to you like that but what do you do when a two year old does it)
I found supernanny really helpful with my own kids but as you say, it's always the same result!

Answer 5

People are too worried to make their children angry and tell their children no. They are more concerned about being a friend than they are a parent, and it just doesn't work that way. It's amazing how many people there are that feel this way and honestly don't know how to maintain control and authority in their own house. And you are right, they shouldn't keep having children if they don't know what to do with them or are not willing to stand up and be a parent.

Answer 6

I think it is because they were reasonably good parents for number 1 and maybe 2, but when they have #3 they feel guilty for not spending as much time with the first ones and they let them get away with things to "make up for it" and children tend to act out when there is a new baby so that is the worst time to "spoil" them by letting them get away with murder.

Answer 7

You know the thing with that is most married couples who have several children don't even plan them. I love that show though. Sometimes even being on birthcontrol doesn't work. Trust me. I got pregnant being on the pill before. Alot of times its hard to get kids to behave if there is an absent parent who is working too much or who just doesn't want to be "bothered" with their kids. When I got out in public with my 2 and 3 year old they don't throw fits or beg for me to buy them things. It amazes me how people in grocery stores will buy their kid something just to get them to shut up. Thats how they get bad enough to be on supernanny. My kids never act like that. I hardly have to dicipline them except to send them to their room.

Answer 8

I personally think that all the families on this program have been payed two act very badly i used 2 watch this program on TV but i think it is a load of crap i think that child care it down to those whom choose be parents and give birth two their child.

Answer 9

omg I completely agree with you. People just seem to reproduce without really thinking. They're afraid to discipline their own kids. I especially love when the parents on the show say "he/she just doesn't listen to me". They don't listen because they have no consequences to breaking rules and therefore have no respect for their parents! Can't blame them really. I doubt I would have any respect for people who would allow me to punch and kick them and call them names, destroy things etc. Love that show though, I think it should be played in highschools as a means of birth control!

Answer 10

I know what you mean!!!

People should be required to take a test to get a license to have kids.. i mean heck... you need one to get married... why not! Those ppl on that show have no business in the world having kids.. they cant even take care of themselves much less a child or two 0r three..