This Triplet Moms Perspective of "America's Super Nanny" Triplet Episode Aired Feb. 7, 2012

Last night, after my daughter finished watching "Dance Moms" (frightening!) on Lifetime, I was about to turn off the TV when the upcoming episode of "America's Super Nanny" caught my attention.  The episode centered around the Gregg Family of Ohio - an average mom and dad, with 6 year old triplet boys, a 4 year old boy and a 1 year old girl.  "Look, Mom, TRIPLET BOYS - and they have 4 boys and 1 girl, just like us!  We HAVE to watch", said my only daughter, clearly hoping that "America's Super Nanny" would share her wisdom and solve all our family's issues.

I usually hate watching nanny shows - once my kids are tucked safely into bed and the house is quiet, I don't have much interest in seeing another family's chaotic, desperate life.  Also, these TV super-nannies can really make a normal parent feel thoroughly inadequate.

But this family seemed kind of familiar - the parents indicated that they just tried to survive each day without going to the hospital.  (During a particularly rough patch a few years ago, our triplets visited the ER 7 times in an 18 month period.)  The nanny (Debra) was astonished that the mom's expectations are so low that she only hopes for survival.  (Been there, done that!)  This poor mother was just giving up, often laughing to keep from crying.  The nanny walked around saying things like "This is crazy!" and "This is a free-for-all".  Then she said "if I lived in this house I would be cuckoo", and with a sympathic "I pray you get some sleep", she left for the quiet comfort of a hotel.

The next day she came back for a "Reality Check", where she confirmed for the parents what they already suspected - the children controlled the discipline and had no fear of their parents.  She then set up some house rules that look really good on paper - stay in your bed, 1 warning followed by 3 minutes in the calm down corner as a form of discipline, and a large bell that the parents were to ring to demand the children return to them when they run away, and NO YELLING because the children were just not listening to the yelling.  Debra the Nanny said that the kids are hungry for discipline and the parents must be united and consistent to regain authority.

The mom admits that she hasn't taken them out alone for 3 years because they run away.  The Nanny plans a trip to the supermarket, which the mom calls her "worst nightmare".  (I hear ya, sister!) They are required to use the buddy system, paired up by 2's and must hold hands.  They are given black belts - if they are bad they will be taken away, if they are good they will get a series of white stripes added to their belt that all add up to a reward.  I need to talk to Mrs. Gregg - her boys seemed even rougher than my own and the belt reward system would never fly here.

At home, the mother was instructed on how to use the Calm Down Corner as a discipline method.  The parent is to remain straight faced and calm, no yelling, because we should model the behavior we want for our children.  This poor woman eventually defeated her 4 year old, who escaped from the Calm Down Corner 105 times!  I repeat - 105 escapes - enough to bring the strongest man to his knees!

The Nanny returns at a later date to see if the "wild family has been tamed or if chaos continues".  It appears to the camera that the Nanny has performed a miracle and the family is now living by her rules.

I really don't mean to mock the Nanny.  I just know first hand what it's like to raise triplets (+2).  There is a unique dynamic that exists within a set of triplet brothers.  A good friend of mine once lovingly compared my boys to a litter of puppies.  She's right - they're really cute, full of energy and they destroy my house.  Things get broken, or spilled, or someone gets hurt, and they blame it on each other.  It's hard to get to the bottom of things, so sometimes everyone gets punished for one guys bad deed, or everyone gets off the hook because there's simply not enough evidence to convict one of them. 

I would like to offer Mrs. Gregg some hope - my boys are 8 now and have matured so much from where she is now.  They still fight and break things, but they are becoming independent and responsible for their own actions.  We're onto the next step - heavy competition - who's smarter, faster, taller, funnier, etc.  Instead of working as one crazed mob, they are becoming their own individual people.  I really consider it a blessing and an honor to be the mother of this unique group of little people!