I am totally addicted to The Baby Borrowers. If you are not familiar with the show, it's a reality series in which five teen couples are given babies, toddlers, pre-teens, teens and elderly people to care for. (Not at the same time, of course!) They are given a house and one of the pairs has to go to work. The parents of the children are able to watch the events unfold and can intervene when necessary. And believe me, they do! At the end of the 72 hour period, the teens and the parents of the children discuss the encounter.
The teens think that they can take care of a child, and for the most part, they cannot. Last night was their introduction to toddlers, many of whom where not potty trained yet, as evidenced by a child peeing on the sofa! Their reaction is proof why teens should not have children. And it reminds Husband and I why we don't have children at 40 and 42!
One of the problems I have with the show is that these teens are given a house that there is no way they could afford if they were truly in this situation. They have a newer build in a nice cul-de-sac, in what appears to be a upper middle class neighborhood. I mean the house is nicer than MINE and my husband and I have decent jobs and an education!
Another problem is that although one of the teens has to go to work, the jobs they have would never allow them to earn a decent living in the environment the show has for them. There is no way in hell that they can earn a living for a family on $12.00/hour with only one spouse working. The reality is that they could not live in a house like that, pay bills like a mortgage, utilities, taxes, food and diapers. No way.
OK, so I guess the premise of the show is to expose to teens what it is like to be parents. But, show them what the reality of being an adult is also! Show them what real teens in their situation go through.
How's that for a reality show?
About Me
- Seeking Solace
- I am a college professor who is fumbling through the chaos of academia, rheumatoid arthritis, working on my PhD and just being a 40 something woman. I used to be a lawyer, which made me a snarky little person. I have a wonderful Husband and a German Shepherd named Junior. They help keep me sane.
Paws to Consider
My Sister's Keeper
3 comments:
Holy crap, I'm LIVING the baby borrowers right now. And since the little monster is currently sleeping in the sling, I think I might go watch an episode right now...
Here's a slightly different take on the show from Prevent Child Abuse New York.
In this "social experiment," babies and toddlers are separated from their parents for three days and placed in the care of young and inexperienced strangers.
Yes, the parents are monitoring everything from a closed-circuit television nearby. Yes, there is a nanny on hand in case the parents by proxy have any concerns. Still, The Baby Borrowers flies in the face of everything we know about infant and toddler development.
Infants and toddlers need loving, attentive and stimulating care from a trusted caregiver. Early childhood is when kids learn to trust their parents, to feel secure in their world, and to feel confident exploring their environment. This is the foundation upon which self-esteem, self-sufficiency, and future healthy relationships are built. To simply thrust a baby in the hands of a stranger, for the purposes of entertainment no less, threatens to undermine that foundation.
Our thinking is more in line with Zero to Three, an organization that support the healthy development and well-being of infants, toddlers and their families, who said in a statement, "Legitimate social experiments are not conducted on national television or on reality shows. 'Baby Borrowers' may have a catchy theme, but it exploits young children with potential harmful consequences. This is no social experiment. It is an extremely misguided endeavor that puts at risk our most vulnerable citizens, young children who need our love and protection."
Jim
yah sounds like there are issues. like the only problem is the kids, not all the responsibilities of being an adult. otoh, sounds like something entertaining i should watch in this summer of pathetic tv shows.
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