NewMom: Supernanny

I hate to admit it, but I’ve become a Supernanny fan. NewDad was a fan even before we had kids. It always struck me as odd because he hates most junk TV, but now he has me hooked. I am fascinated by the most outrageous behaviors among children and their parents. Often you can tell little JoJo is facing an overworked Mom and a frustrated or distant Dad. How that manifests itself may be different each time, but it’s the typical scenario.

Recently, however, the show featured a family with six children and the most emotionally detached mother I have ever seen. Dad seemed willing to give things a try, but you had to wonder why this Mom ever even agreed to do the show (do they pay these families?), let alone have six children. She couldn’t even bring herself to hug her 13-year-old daughter. I know it’s just TV, but that’s actually the depraved beauty of it. It gives us all free license to criticize, analyze, and judge someone else’s parenting skills, or lack thereof. NewGirl’s too young to do anything that would merit a trip to the “Naughty Chair,” but I’m going to keep watching Supernanny anyway. It’s a great ego boost and makes me feel that Mother of the Year may not be that far out of reach for the rest of us after all.