camom

One positive ... the chore wheel seemed to be a good idea and the kids responded well. It was funny when the one girl (Parker) was supposed to spin the wheel and she just moved it to where she wanted it to be.

Instead of moving Riley up a grade at such a young age, it would make more sense for her parents to make sure she is challenged at home. Smart kids like her love workbooks, dot-to-dot, matching, etc. If they have things like that available for all the girls, they can advance at their own pace. If Danielle is spanking the dog, you know darn well she is spanking the girls. Perhaps the reason we see them acting up so much is because they know they won't be spanked as long as the cameras are rolling.

My friends who have a French bulldog and a pool put a doggie life jacket on the dog whenever the pool gate is open. Those dogs are "front-heavy" and can drown easily. From the looks on the girls' faces when Adam brought in the dog, it was obvious that they were expecting Danielle to blow up. And she would have I'm sure if it hadn't been for the other people and cameras in the house. I'd love to know what the conversation was like when Adam and Danielle were alone later.

My daughter was asked to audition for two reality shows (she has done some acting). I said absolutely not. People go on the internet for scripted shows and they talk about the characters. With reality shows, they're talking about real people. I didn't want her exposed to that. (One of the shows got made, one didn't.) Of course it is best if they have a diverse group of friends. As the parent of a child with a disability, I found it quite useful to be in contact with other parents in the same situation. The support I have gotten is invaluable. It would also be good for Will and Zoey to have contact with other little people their age. Their typical friends are simply not able to relate the same way, and the differences will only increase as they age. Bill and Jen can teach them coping skills of course, but in a short time the kids are going to be more interested in hearing how other kids deal with teasing and other issues specific to their size. Some involvement with LPA or a similar organization certainly wouldn't hurt.

I sure hope the camera crew got to eat! I thought about the awkwardness of inviting friends and family to a party and having to ask them to sign waivers to be on camera (at least it would be awkward for me). I think as a guest I would much rather be invited when the cameras weren't rolling.

I think Jen is overly cautious with the kids because she knows that, if anything happened, she would be physically unable to do anything about it. Even if they fall down, she would not be able to pick them up.

I'd be willing to bet that the knife is not accessible to Will and is given to him only under supervision. As soon as Will swung the axe, Bill should have taken it away from him. Will needs to learn that there are consequences for not obeying his parents. I used to love camping (I was a lot younger) but I would never go for one night. Too much work. For me, a week of camping was perfect. I also avoided places with a lot of bugs.

I noticed he wasn't seen in the background when Erin was doing her interviews, either. For me, James was definitely the best and Lamar was the worst. I couldn't believe that was the best he could do after 3 weeks of rehearsals.

I thought poor Tarek was going to have a stroke waiting to hear the winner. It was obviously between Trevin and Sophie. I was kind of pulling for Sophie, but based on tonight's cakes I can't argue with a Trevin win.

I was also looking for Randy's mom and thought I saw her sitting in one of the few chairs. I'm too lazy to look again.

I'm sure Jen would handle it well, but I don't think she would have been as matter-of-fact about it as Bill. Mainly I think that Zoey would have reacted differently.

I'm kind of glad that Jen was out of town when Zoey hurt her foot. In the hospital Zoey was calm with Bill and his dad, but I have a feeling there would have been anxiety if Jen had been there. I liked how Bill handled it. Accidents happen, and he talked to Will about how to prevent it from happening in the future. No big drama.

He wanted guarantees that his child would never ever be hurt. If that's the worst thing that ever happens to the child, he should definitely consider himself lucky.

Carrot cake and salsa are two things I wouldn't even consider making without a food processor. I wish Duff or Valerie would have nudged her that way.

Bill knows that he isn't an experienced boater and I'd bet that he will take some classes. He also said that it's been a long time since he drove a boat, so it's not a totally new experience to him.

I get giving the kids a turn to steer the boat, as long as the adult was right there and they were going slow. I'm sure the kids won't be taking the boat out on their own. When you go that fast in a boat it can be very "bouncy," especially if you hit wake. Bill said one of the reasons they couldn't ride personal watercraft was because it wasn't good for their spines; it seems to me the same would be true in the boat if you aren't careful.

What a delightful episode. I was thinking that those kids hit the jackpot when Bill and Jen adopted them. Their lives are so different than if they had stayed in their home countries.

My vacation last week took me through Parowan. There are only two reasons I can imagine anyone staying at the Inn. (1) They are visiting family/friends in Parowan or (2) they're super fans of Meri. There's absolutely nothing there to make it a destination.

I hate the shows where they bring a GBF. They always push for what they want instead of what the bride wants. I don't remember a single one who didn't act like a jerk.

This used to be the policy at pretty much every hospital. When my daughter had surgeries in the late 70s and 80s, I wasn't allowed to stay with her after visiting hours, either. I wonder if the increase in in-hospital infections (like sepsis) is in any way linked to more lax rules on visitors.

I noticed that, too, and wondered if it was an emotional or physical thing. I'm sure Bill and Jen are aware and are taking whatever measures are necessary. While watching Zoey, I thought she would do well in a kids theater program. She is obviously outgoing and likes the attention. Being in such a program would allow her to "show off" but would also teach her to listen, be patient, and let others have the spotlight, too. I was glad to see that Bill was right off camera during the kids' interviews. With all the TLC shows that feature kids, I've wondered where the parents are during those talking heads.

At first I didn't understand Jen's level of anxiety, but when she talked about the difficulty of establishing an airway, and that for her last hip surgery it took an hour and she woke up during the process, it made more sense. And I feel so bad for her mom. It doesn't matter how old our kids are, they're still our kids. 35 surgeries is A LOT. Will is taller than his mom, and Zoey isn't far behind. He still acts a little young for his age, but they seem to be pretty normal happy kids.

I remember one bride several years ago who specified that her budget had to include the veil and alterations. I thought that was really smart.

As others have said, people on reality shows are not eligible for SAG membership or benefits. They don't have the protections about working conditions that SAG projects have (limits on hours, meal period requirements, schooling for minors, etc.). Even SAG members have to work a certain amount to be eligible for the health insurance. And once a reality show is taped, the network can air it 24 hours a day and the people on the show don't get another dime. So after the show ends, that's it.

I think it's good that they talk about Hazel's eye issues on the show. I'd never heard of her condition before and it might be helpful to other families. But I don't like that they talk about some of the girls -- "bad" Riley or "anxious" Parker -- in a negative way. There's a difference between a physical issue that is obvious and that the child has no control over and labeling their kids negatively for all the world to see.