Wade on Birmingham

‘Supernanny’: And the hits keep coming

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Review: Reality show comes to Hayden to take on spanking mom

Review at a glance: “Supernanny” Jo Frost works with the Phelps in Hayden to help them discipline the kids without resorting to spanking.

I’ll admit it: I have a slight crush on Supernanny, a k a Jo Frost. She just has a way of saying “Birmingham” and “naughty spot” in her British accent that slaps my tickle. I might even follow her into hell and back, or in this case, Hayden.

Back in May, Jo came to visit the Phelps family to tape a sixth-season episode of “Supernanny,” which aired Friday. The ABC reality show visits families in need of parental training. This was her first visit to Alabama.

Video: The Phelps family on “Supernanny”

Amy and Jimmy Phelps are at odds. She’s a stay-at-home mom, and he works outside of the home. They have three boys: Jacob, 9; Brody, 5; and Aiden, 2 1/2.

SuperNanny - Phelps family

From left, Aiden, Brody and Jacob.

And like any three boys, they’re a handful. They eat junk food, they talk back and they’re rambunctious. Amy’s solution? A good old-fashioned spanking. Or 12.

Jimmy and Amy don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, including the spankings. He’d rather find another way to discipline the boys, while she feels it’s an effective tool.

SuperNanny - Phelps family

Amy raises her voice to Brody.

Jo makes it clear that her bag of tricks doesn’t include spanking. But throughout the episode, Amy resists the challenge to try timeouts instead of spankings.

But it wouldn’t be “Supernanny” if Jo’s patience and chiding don’t win out in the end. Along the way, we’re treated to couple’s drama, too, as we see how Amy and Jimmy argue more than listen.

SuperNanny - Phelps family

Jo has the family set rules for children and parents.

Jimmy comes off as the sometimes naive, sometimes passive dad. Amy comes off as the frustrated wife and mom.

Jo insists that Aiden start sleeping in his own bed, which lays bare Amy’s pain. She had been using her baby boy to fill an emotional hole, even as he needed to sleep on his own.

SuperNanny - Phelps family

Jo gives Amy a pep talk.

We’re also treated to a reboot of family meals, as Jo tells Amy she’s lazy for not fixing proper meals; the kids usually do prepackaged lunches, and then, only the dessert. The boys help choose and make a balanced dinner. Yes, okra, too.

SuperNanny - Phelps family

Jimmy, left, and Jacob prepare okra for dinner.

In the end, it appears Amy has begun, reluctantly, to use timeouts whenever the boys misbehave. Jimmy says he feels more confident as a father.

It was a typical episode, but one that raises questions about whether corporal punishment really works, and if parents have alternatives.

Also: “Supernanny” is looking for additional Alabama families starting Saturday.

• • •

Other Alabamians on reality television:

Plus, another review from Reality TV Magazine.

• • •

Did Jo have the right solution? Did Amy know best?

8 Yips for “‘Supernanny’: And the hits keep coming”

  1. Wade on Birmingham » ‘Supernanny’ casting in Alabama next week
    Monday, November 9, 2009, 10:30 pm
    1

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    Monday, November 9, 2009, 11:21 pm
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  3. uberVU - social comments
    Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 5:43 am
    3

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by WadeOnTweets: SUPERNANNY visits Hayden, Ala.: Can she help spanking mom Amy Phelps control her 3 boys? http://bit.ly/supernanny

  4. Rachel @ Grasping for Objectivity
    Saturday, November 14, 2009, 9:13 pm
    4

    That is quite a can of worms you’re opening up there, Wade. As a rule, I don’t blog about discipline – it’s just too sore of a subject for too many people. But I do have some pretty strong convictions about it…but since I don’t talk about it online, I suppose this comment is completely useless.

    Forget I’ve been here.

  5. Wade
    Sunday, November 15, 2009, 9:44 am
    5

    Rachel, I’m surprised more parents won’t discuss discipline. The ones I’ve asked won’t talk about it publicly, or at least, leave a comment.

    I’ve certainly seen enough public comments judging how others raised their children, so I figured some parent would step forward and share what worked, what didn’t.

  6. Rachel @ Grasping for Objectivity
    Sunday, November 15, 2009, 2:20 pm
    6

    Maybe that’s just it – we know how judgmental people can be and what a hot button issue it is, so we keep to ourselves.

    I will say that I think the key to effective discipline is for parents NOT to let a child’s behavior escalate to the point where the PARENTS are punishing out of anger, rather than disciplining out of love. So whatever form the discipline takes, it should NEVER be performed out of anger or frustration. That just teaches kids to lash out when they’re angry.

  7. Wade
    Sunday, November 15, 2009, 4:43 pm
    7

    Rachel, I think that’s sage advice. If parents could keep cool, it might make all the difference.

  8. TJackson
    Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 10:07 pm
    8

    I was raised “old school” got the belt but at this day and age you’ll get in trouble for that, my father passed away just before my son was born, I wanted to go back home to hang with Mom thinking this will “help” her, when my son was old enough for “time out” I believed in sit per minute of age, it worked for me but not her because my son was born totally deaf she couldnt see it as working for her, but I do have to say “Have faith in God and time will ease things” I felt just because he couldnt hear doesnt make him helpless/handicap, our ideas were differnt, I wanted him to learn how to tie shoelaces and pull up his fly (jeans) she wanted him to wear sweatpants and shoes with velcor.. get the idea now ? He is now 22 and I couldnt be more proud of him ! He is not the best “kid” but are any of us ?

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