It seems that my opinion of the Wife Swap participant is correct.
Channel 4 have kindly shared an interview with Margaret with us at
http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/W/wife_swap/shows/02/
In this interview, Margaret clearly states that she likes the idea of having the opportunity to transform someone's elses way of living by showing them that there are other ways to do things. Obviously this includes completely dominating the situation, refusing the child any comfort by his parent and refusing to accept that the parent of the child has the ultimate say.
Sadly, Frankie's father was only to willing to admit that Margaret's way is right. What a shame that Frankie has a female parent (I can't bring myself to call her a mother) who is prepared to leave him for 2 weeks and a father that is prepared to let a complete stranger dictate how he parents his son at bedtime, a time that should be relaxing and comforting for the child.
She goes on to compliment the way that the other wife has raised her children. Why, then, could she not resist the temptation to interfere with the bedtime routine, or lack of given that this is something that is most likely vitally important to the child in that he needs to feel safe and secure before a night of separation from his parents if they are not co-sleeping.
Deirdre, Frankie's mother, comments that taking part in the experiment has improved her self esteem. It certainly wouldn't, and shouldn't, improve my self esteem to know that I had let my son be without me for a fortnight and let him have his usual bedtime routine disrupted by a complete stranger who had no regard for his well being whatsover.
Apparently Frankie loved his new room, what planet is this woman on? Since when has a hysterical child loved his new room? She might have wanted to think that to salvage her own conscience, if she has one, but all the evidence suggests that this was one desperately unhappy little boy who undoubtedly deserved better.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Wife Swap?...or child abuse?
Tonight I had the misfortune to watch Wife Swap on E4.
The visiting wife was adamant that the little boy (Frankie) was going to be in bed at 7pm regardless of whether or not he was tired.
The poor little boy was crying so much that it was obvious that he was really really distressed. He was being forced into bed earlier than he was used to, in a manner that he was not used to, by a complete stranger and was told that he couldn't have his father. He was so hysterical that I, as a parent, was sure that he was going to be sick.
She wanted the father to spend more time with the children yet is happy to deprive a little boy of his father at a time when his mother is absent and he is struggling to make some sense of what has happened in his life.
Since when has it been acceptable to manipulate and abuse children in the name of entertainment?
The relevant companies, and individuals involved, should be ashamed of themselves.
The visiting wife was adamant that the little boy (Frankie) was going to be in bed at 7pm regardless of whether or not he was tired.
The poor little boy was crying so much that it was obvious that he was really really distressed. He was being forced into bed earlier than he was used to, in a manner that he was not used to, by a complete stranger and was told that he couldn't have his father. He was so hysterical that I, as a parent, was sure that he was going to be sick.
She wanted the father to spend more time with the children yet is happy to deprive a little boy of his father at a time when his mother is absent and he is struggling to make some sense of what has happened in his life.
Since when has it been acceptable to manipulate and abuse children in the name of entertainment?
The relevant companies, and individuals involved, should be ashamed of themselves.
Over ambitious parenting
The current issue of the excellent Junior magazine has a short piece about how a father's parenting style and influence his child's career choice.
On the same page, there is a piece about a 6 year old boy from Mexico who is already an expert (though the piece doesn't go on to say how this has been determined) in diabetes, osteoporosis and anaemia as a result of studying medicine on his own.
He now wants to become a doctor and has applied to go to university but, quite rightly, has been refused a place because he is too young to study at such an advanced level. The refusal to allow him to study is now to be challenged in the courts.
I wonder what his father's parenting style is if he is prepared to deprive his son of a childhood and what future career awaits him if he is burnt out due to stress before he is even a teenager as a result of relentless pressure from an over-ambitious father?
On the same page, there is a piece about a 6 year old boy from Mexico who is already an expert (though the piece doesn't go on to say how this has been determined) in diabetes, osteoporosis and anaemia as a result of studying medicine on his own.
He now wants to become a doctor and has applied to go to university but, quite rightly, has been refused a place because he is too young to study at such an advanced level. The refusal to allow him to study is now to be challenged in the courts.
I wonder what his father's parenting style is if he is prepared to deprive his son of a childhood and what future career awaits him if he is burnt out due to stress before he is even a teenager as a result of relentless pressure from an over-ambitious father?
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Insanity!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/5193184.stm
Clearly the heat is going to some people's heads; or perhaps they are just a jobsworth.
Who in their right mind would be this inflexible in this heat?
Surely we need head teachers who can use their own initiative, after all isn't that one of skills we want our children to learn in school?
Clearly the heat is going to some people's heads; or perhaps they are just a jobsworth.
Who in their right mind would be this inflexible in this heat?
Surely we need head teachers who can use their own initiative, after all isn't that one of skills we want our children to learn in school?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
