Here is another thing I can add to the list: “Stupid S*** People Have Said About Me”. Apparently, I’m going to be on a reality series about “Extreme Parenting”. Wait, I am? Why didn’t anyone tell me this?
I was notified of this by several posts circulating around the internet saying I’ve “signed on” to be a part of a new TV series that is currently in the bidding phase with cable networks. I’ll skip the links to these posts because I refuse to give traffic to the lies, increasing traffic and attention. At first, I thought the writers of these posts were pulling this out of their behinds. Then, I actually spoke to one of them and she explained that the show’s production team was spreading this rumor! Well, since we know the production team is prone to publicizing lies, what do you bet that sentiment will carry over into the editing room?
So, what are the facts? We were contacted? Yes, by multiple production companies. We immediately said no to all of them. I spoke with the other mothers from the TIME shoot and they all declined reality series offers, as well. I did tell one production company that a reality show about my family and attachment parenting was not going to happen, but I would be willing to work with them on a documentary special about the Sidama region of Ethiopia. They pretended to be interested, but I could hear them yawning in the background.
I know people like to vilify everyone associated with the media, but I am not one of those people.I believe there are people who really want the public to see how others live and help educate society. They want to encourage tolerance and understanding. While there have been reality series that have helped create a positive shift in the societal view of a group and lifestyle (Sister Wives is one of the few), many reality shows have had the opposite effect on society (Toddlers and Tiaras, anyone?).
Ultimately, why not be involved in a reality show, assuming the producers and editors had good intentions? It would simply be wrong for our family. We had decided early on that participating in the TIME cover photo shoot was solely about bringing awareness. Any sort of financial compensation directly related to the TIME cover would not be accepted by our family. We felt that, in light of the TIME cover, a reality series would be exploitative of our family. We also felt that it would be too much emphasis on one family, when really this should be about many families bringing this issue to light (we are one of many). And finally, we are personally not comfortable with film cameras following our family around in daily life…not to mention we’re boring. If you combine the boring factor and the fact that our family is traveling to areas I’m sure no production company would want to send a team, I think we would make an incredibly expensive and dull flop.
riveting
However, I believe this situation and the apparent disregard for facts is an example of how this “Extreme Parenting” series will handle its families. I don’t think the goal will be to encourage tolerance and understanding. If the families who have signed on to “Extreme Parenting” believe the show has honorable goals, I am very concerned for them.
They contact my wife and I last summer when they first started doing pre-production on the show, we did multiple interviews, and an audition because originally they made it sound to be a neat idea. Then at one of the interviews they pretty much explained that they only really cared about how much drama we could create, real, or not, and if we weren’t willing to cooperate, that they would cast someone else. Of course we immediately stopped talking with them, and ignored all contact afterwards.
Dots, wow you have the real inside scoop on this show! Was it the same production company that is getting reported all over the place? (I know there are several AP reality series in the works)…
Again, maybe I’m being naive, but I believe a lot of AP families would have their heart in the right place wanting to participate in a show about AP. That is why I am nervous to see what the finished product will be.
I love the picture and caption LOL. I would totally watch that show.
I don’t think we could create drama even if we tried… isn’t AP kinda designed to reduce drama? I see it like that. Attached kids and parents just aren’t terribly dramatic, ideally.
What I really wanna know is, what is Brian watching… lol
But seriously, reality shows are largely based in the “Reality Free Zone.” And while your audience may not be as broad as it would be on some major cable/network show, the bottom line is by discussing your life on THIS forum you have complete control and bring honest and thought-provoking awareness to the subject.
You keep doing what you do. It’s working.
Exactly! And thank you!!
I didn’t practice attachment parenting with my now 10 year old and she is a pretty good kid- just doing the typical “in one ear and out the other” with things i ask her to do.. so i think i would watch that show to see “how the other side did it”. I might end up surprised and a little more knowledgeable about it, but i certainly wouldnt want to watch if it was all drama and craziness. if i wanted drama in a parenting show, i think i would rather watch Real Housewives.. do those ladies even have kids??? A good parenting show for me would be Super Nanny, where we present an issue, come up with solutions, and then show the final result of better behaved kids.. not .. “lets see how crazy we can make these AP parents look”.
Amy, exactly. I think the “in one ear out the other” is pretty normal behavior for a happy normal child regardless of whether you practiced AP or not. My kids do it, too.
The name alone makes me feel that this show is set up to be a freak show. I hope I’m wrong.
I think the title of this show displays their intentions perfectly. Extreme. Um, yeah. If their intent was anything else, the title would be different.
EXACTLY.
Wow, count me in. My son needs his college paid for. Ha! What a bunch of jerks starting such rumors.
LOL! You actually bring up a legitimate point. I think if there were some way to have the families have some sort of creative control or legal wording in their contracts to be portrayed authentically (which may mean they keep in some of the less attractive aspects of their life, but give a real picture) I think it may help people learn about the way other people live. If the majority of the money made when the college funds that would make even more sense. I don’t think all media is bad- we can learn so much from it. We just need to crack down on how untruthful it is getting… All for ratings.
Can someone please explain to me how doing what is right for your family (i.e. co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, adoption, etc) is EXTREME…I thought it was love and care for your family dynamic. I must be thoroughly confused!
You are speaking my language. I am confused as well…
I appreciate this. I was contacted by the same company. They told me they want to make a documentary and that they’ve won awards for their balanced portrayal of sensitive topics. Sounds great, right? But as I talked with them more, it just wasn’t sitting right with me. I felt like they were steering the conversation and questions in a way to sensationalize things, not normalize them. I actually contacted your PR person, Kendall, just because I wanted your perspective on whether this whole concept of trying to put AP out there is even a good idea. I’m not sure if it’s worth it. Anyway, she told me you’d been contacted by them too and directed me to this post. Thanks for making my decision easy! I already wrote them to say I’m not interested. Not fair to my kids. Writing about it is one thing…being on tv, and giving up all control over the angle of the story, is something else.