Tuesday, March 18, 2008

The Baby Borrowers

Thanks to a reader for alerting me to a new reality show called The Baby Borrowers. I could go off on a tirade about sensationalizing every single facet of life in order to make a TV show. But I am sure most of us agree that this, like every other reality TV show, is ridiculous, trivial, inane, etc. (Okay, I admit that I am a bit intrigued by home renovation reality shows, and I like to think that my husband and I would kick some royal home improvement butts if we were ever given the opportunity...)

But here is a thought I had when I was reading through the show's description. Watching someone else's children is nothing at all like having your own. I really don't care for other people's children. I don't like babysitting. I don't like children in general. I don't get all mushy and sentimental about them. But. BUT...I am completely head-over-heels in love with my own child. It's nothing at all like what Hallmark makes it out to be. It's very intense, very passionate. It's much more visceral and primal than romantic love.

11 comments:

  1. That's a good point, Rixa. Not only are these little kids being separated from their parents for extended periods for the sake of experimentertainment, the experiment really won't work because these aren't the teenagers' own kids.

    I agree -- I'm not big on other people's children. I dislike babysitting because I don't really know how to relate to other people's kids. But I get along with my own baby quite well. There have been times I haven't really known what to do, but it's still WAY easier than with other people's children.

    Apparently the teenagers in one episode fail to feed one of the children for an entire day. I don't know too many parents who would actually do such a thing, no matter how young they might be!

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  2. This show sounds like it will inflict a lot of unhappiness on the babies. I think the dolls that have cry and pee and have sensors to monitor how the doll is taken care of are better. There's still no emotional attachment, but at least an innocent baby isn't being separated from the parents.

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  3. This was just posted on my AP web group too...who lets their poor innocent babies be part of this experiment??!! Obviously they're not breast-fed, attached babies. I think this is pretty much sick - and sends the message that our children can just be pawned off for the sake of entertainment/social experimentation. *shaking head with sour look on face*

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  4. On the NBC site there's a section written by the nanny who was involved with the show. She tells us we can check back soon for pointers on childcare! In the comments, one mom says she wants to sign her 3 boys up for the next season. So I guess not everyone is seeing what we're seeing, and I'm just not sure what that means.

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  5. Wow, I can't imagine putting my baby in that situation. I had a hard time leaving him with my DH until he was over a year old.

    I can imagine my 10 year old and maybe even my 7 year old doing it though, especially if they were togeter. They would probably get a kick out of it. But they are very laid back and social, so it wouldn't freak them out.

    I agree about other peoples kids... when I am asked to help with kids at church, I say, "I don't really like kids. I love my own, but others, not so much."

    I actually love all babies, but once they start walking and talking I have a limited number that I like. Same with my boys friends (age 7 and 10), some are great and others I can only handle for an hour or two.

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  6. is there anyone there to coach the teens on appropriate care? it's plenty easy to neglect a child if you're completely ignorant. what would they learn other than "it's hard"?

    terrible.

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  7. I haven't seen the show, but are they really letting these teens do this? Like the babies aren't eating for a day because of neglect?
    I'm amazed that parents would let that happen- or even that the layman would let that happen.
    If that happened in a regular situation and people knew about it, CPS would be all over the parents' cases! But we can get away with it on TV, huh?

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  8. I think the show is great, just because it's not the teenagers own kids it's good to give them an idea of what they'd be getting themselves into, as well as educational to teenage viewers at home. Anyone else agree?

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  9. hopefully this show will teach immature teens a real lesson. i wonder how successful it going to be here in the US, cause i hear its real big in britain, i guess we'll just see after the premiere next wednesday night.

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  10. Olivia--

    That wouldn't make for very good television, would it? That's what it is all about, creating drama. Although, maybe they will illuminate some teens about the real rigors of parenthood.

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  11. I think this show is a great idea, teens need a wake-up call. And I hope parents with teenagers watch this show with their teens, especially if they are sexually active. They should discuss safe sex and contraception. Because if they don't get involved in their kids life they will end up like the parents of those teens in Mass.

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