S11.E10: Let's Go In The Snow!

[BckpckFullaNinjas]

1 hour ago, pdlinda1 said:

This was pure speculation on my part based upon seeing their names in the closing credits as "producers."  They now have a "brand" with their appearances, books, the TV show and Bill's venture with the dog invention.  They are "celebrities" along with the kids so I just surmised that there was a financial windfall for them to continue participating in the show.

Thanks! I googled the shows name & “production hiatus” and got this

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/stars-tlcs-little-couple-seek-reclaim-rights-collect-profits-share-1005462

Easy peasy!!

[BckpckFullaNinjas]

1 hour ago, calpurnia99 said:

His friend must be braindead not to have told her son that her friends were little people. How did she forget to explain this to him before they got there? I mean all 4 of them are little people. It's can't be that she doesn't even think of it with Bill. I think she must be very checked out. 

Au contraire, as they say in .... somewhere: I’ve thought from the first that she & the couple agreed NOT to tell the little boy.  What better tv than a literally clueless 7-yo child coming  face-to-face for the first time with a grown man who’s barely taller than he?

I actually appreciated that they did it that way, because it seemed a very honest interaction —- both from the boy’s age-appropriate (immature) reaction and questions and from  Bill’s answers to those questions, even as he showed (I thought) a little nervousness. Which is perfectly understandable.  

[howiveaddict]

4 hours ago, xldb2004 said:

Would you have the same feeling if Bill was the ambitious doctor?

Exactly what I was thinking.  No one would say a word if Bill was the doctor.  

2 hours ago, BitterApple said:

Have they opened a Rocky & Maggie's in Florida in real time? I wonder if Bill will just sell off the Houston location if it becomes too much of a pain to manage from a distance.

Regarding Jen, I can't blame her for wanting to take the position at Hopkins. They must have offered her a pretty sweet deal if it was worth uprooting the family, plus I think the kids are young enough where they can start a new school with minimal upheaval. It does suck they have to find new therapists, nannies etc., but I think they'll adjust.

It sounds like a great opportunity for her.  Why should she stay in Houston, just because she is there not.

 

I have known several people with broken  bones from sledding accidents.  My neighbor's sons, one broke his femur and was in a body cast  from slipping in the ice.  His brother hit a tree with a sled and broke his leg.  I know a woman who broke her back sledding.  I can see Jen's concern, especially since they all have skeletal issues anyway.   

[camom]

I can't imagine that Bill's lifelong friend hasn't watched the show with her son.  I also thought that Bill could have handled the boy's question better.  It was a perfect opportunity to give an age appropriate lesson in dwarfism, rather than just say that it was the way God made him.  

I laughed out loud when Zoey decapitated the snowman with the scarf.

[floridamom]

Maybe most of these specialty items like Easter egg dying aprons, snowman building kits are for the show and TLC supplied them. ALL of those inflatable Christmas decorations also could have been 'provided'. 

[TwirlyGirly]

9 hours ago, calpurnia99 said:

<snip>

Jen said something about how it is good for them to try new things that might seem a little scary, like sledding, as long as they did it "safely and responsibly".  NO! part of sledding is doing STUPID and unsafe things! God, all the fun my brother and my friends and I had coming up with stupid things to do on a sled. I did put a tooth into my brothers skull when we hit a tree- what a fun time! I did laugh when they crashed at the bottom- that is all part of the fun.

<snip>

His friend must be braindead not to have told her son that her friends were little people. How did she forget to explain this to him before they got there? I mean all 4 of them are little people. It's can't be that she doesn't even think of it with Bill. I think she must be very checked out. 

As has been explained on "The Little Couple," "The Johnsons," and all the "Little Women" franchises, little people have serious issues with their necks & backs (among other things). So, for them "doing STUPID and unsafe things" can have more serious consequences than for people who are of average height.

I am short statured and use a manual wheelchair for mobility. I also drive. When going somewhere alone, I pop off my wheelchair's back wheels and put them behind the front passenger seat, and put the frame of the wheelchair ON the front passenger seat. When I'm going somewhere with someone, in my car, I have the other person put my wheelchair in the trunk, so they can sit in the front passenger seat.

How do I know when someone has truly forgotten I have a disability? When we go somewhere together and after I park the car, they hop out and walk away - still carrying on whatever conversation we were having when we parked - leaving me behind in the car. They usually walk about 10-15 feet before they stop, turn, and run back to the car - apologizing profusely for "forgetting" me. I'm not exaggerating when I say this has happened at least once with every new friend I've made (usually after I've known them for a couple of months) ever since I got my license at the age of 17 - and that was several decades ago. Rather than being offended, when this happens I'm happy, because it means my disability has finally become "invisible" to them and they see me as an equal, instead of someone who is different. So I can absolutely believe Bill's friend forgot to tell her son the Kleins's are little people. To her, they aren't "little people" - they're just "people".

[Snow8585]

16 hours ago, bichonblitz said:

Jen grew up in Florida, right? Orlando area. If I remember correctly, the parents moved to northwest Florida, like Pensacola or Destin or somewhere like that? If that is the case, it's an 8 hour drive from St. Pete. Nowhere near close by. I could be wrong and maybe the parents did move to St. Pete. 

At least during the hurricane, her folks lived somewhere near Pensacola.  It was a very long drive for Jen and Bill et al to get there and to get home.

[RedheadZombie]

13 hours ago, pdlinda1 said:

I have to keep reminding myself that Jen is 38" tall!!  As Will physically grows (to whatever height he eventually reaches) he will, no doubt, tower above Jen and outweigh her by a substantial amount.  On that basis alone, aside from his "boy" rambunctiousness, I think Jen has an inner alert system that may sense possible danger.  I think Zoey is much gentler in nature and will probably more closely resemble Jen in stature.  In their new home, I hope they retain a full time live-in housekeeper so that the kids may be managed by someone more physically (and emotionally) capable of instilling structure and discipline into the kids.  As a matter of fact, they should probably employ a part time housekeeper, as well, so that at ALL TIMES, the kids have adult supervision capable of physically dealing with the kids as they grow.

Child care is included in the responsibilities of a housekeeper?  It seems to me that cooking, laundering, and cleaning Southfork is a full time job, especially while trying to fend off children attempting to "help".

[calpurnia99]

Will knew it was wrong to dump all that cheese onto his plate. He thought it was funny and he knew he could get away with it. Any of my kids pulled that they would have been excused from the table. That cheese is not cheap either, if they hand grated it that takes a long time to do. And he was "ha ha no cheese for anyone else". I would have at least yelled at my kid and told him he was being a total brat and that was very bad. They all just laughed at him. Maybe they are afraid to use the mean voice around the cameras? Maybe if they yell at him there is a scene which they don't want for the cameras either?

I am also Italian-American and we have a family sauce recipe which is similar, except I've never seen the meatballs baked. Usually you cook them in the sauce, either brown them first or else add them raw- which is a more recent idea my mom had to keep them from falling apart. Well mine always fall apart so next time I make this I'm going to try to bake them. I learned a cooking tip from the Little Couple! 

Still cannot understand why Bill's friend didn't say anything to her kid about their stature before the visit. Because she just thinks of them as normal? Maybe but the kid has never met them before. Before the visit you usually tell a kid where you are going and what you will be doing. In this case the mom would say we are going to see my friend and his wife and kids and there is going to be a television camera crew. The kid would then ask how old the kids are and why is there a TV show? The mom would say I don't know why my regular plain old friend has a TV show and the kids are 6 and 7 and you can play with them.  I just don't get it.

[bichonblitz]

13 hours ago, AZChristian said:

He can grab a Southwest direct flight from Tampa to Houston pretty inexpensively.

Yea, I know that but it's not going to be convenient to expand his pet store business from Florida unless he gives up the Houston idea and focuses on Florida pet stores.

[humbleopinion]

Bill's beloved childhood friend doesn't watch his show....Dubious side eye....

TLC hired a child actor to play the role...Son of Friend....

[Absolom]

Ratings:  1.127 M viewers and a .18 rating. 

[camom]

Quote

TLC hired a child actor to play the role...Son of Friend....

I do think that his question about height was definitely scripted.  He was told to ask that.

[pdlinda1]

11 hours ago, BckpckFullaNinjas said:

Thanks! I googled the shows name & “production hiatus” and got this

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/stars-tlcs-little-couple-seek-reclaim-rights-collect-profits-share-1005462

Easy peasy!!

I wonder how the lawsuit resolved???  The show resumed so I have to assume they got some financial payout from it.  Then, when they renegotiated (apparently they have a aggressive legal team in place) they may have become producers themselves to avoid future difficulties with 3rd parties.  Thanks for the update!!

[Absolom]

11 minutes ago, pdlinda1 said:

Then, when they renegotiated (apparently they have a aggressive legal team in place) they may have become producers themselves to avoid future difficulties with 3rd parties. 

Their being listed as producers won't avoid the kind of conflict that occurred.  There is still a production company and a network.  Being producers gives them a bit more money and bit of a say in things, but it doesn't mean a lot of control much less total control.   There are still the regular trained and experienced producers and executive producers plus overall is still the network and what they want. 

Edited November 23, 2017 by Absolom

[Snow8585]

1 hour ago, bichonblitz said:

Yea, I know that but it's not going to be convenient to expand his pet store business from Florida unless he gives up the Houston idea and focuses on Florida pet stores.

I thought I saw Bill sort of roll his eyes and say "Hopefully" when he spoke about letting the Houston staff run the shop there. Not a huge sign of confidence in the folks employed there.

[walnutqueen]

This episode had me grinning from ear to ear, yet again.  Those kids playing in the snow were just so stinkin' cute!

Bill's broken leg story was hilarious - leave it to kids to figure that out a serious injury could also land them in trouble.  ;-)

Kudos to Jen for landing another prestigious position.  I think it is a good move for the whole family.

[TwirlyGirly]

14 hours ago, camom said:

I can't imagine that Bill's lifelong friend hasn't watched the show with her son. <snip>

I can.

Not all parents allow children in the age range of that child (he was 5)  to watch reality TV, or much of anything on television for that matter - except, perhaps, programming produced especially for children in that age range.

In New Hampshire, "The Little Couple" airs at 10:00 pm, which is a bit late for a 5-year-old - and not everyone has a DVR. IMO, it's entirely possible he's never seen the program or knows anything about it. When my daughter was that age, I didn't share much of anything with her about friends I hadn't seen in years.

[Rap541]

Quote

In the opening of The Little Couple, we hear Jen talk about Houston and how they built their dream home, etc. It sure seemed like Texas Children's Hospital was a sure thing.  Guess not. She does not treat patients anymore. Maybe head of the Sim Lab was really a temporary thing. Maybe no where else to go at that hospital. Hopkins in Florida building a Sim Lab was something Jen was certainly qualified for. She is a Hopkins Alum so I am sure she pulled strings for the job. At dinner with Bill, she said "I got the job." And then a discussion about moving??? Wouldn't you think they would have talked about it BEFORE she applied. Something odd about all that.

Quote

People move for job opportunities all the time.  I'm sure Jen and Bill had many discussions before she accepted the position.  That conversation was for the camera.

I have a close friend who is a doctor - and not a specialist - and she routinely changes jobs when the whim hits her. The truth is that even though my friend is a wee bit prickly, there's such a shortage of doctors that all she needs to do is look thru the want ads and make a phone call. 

My point? I don't think Jen, who is in a difficult specialty, has any difficulty finding work. Now, do I allow the possibility that her being a Hopkins Alum might help? Sure. Thats reasonable and something that most of us do or take advantage of. That sort of advantage - being a member of a group - is why fraternities and sororities thrive, and is why we often mention our social ties to an organization or to an interviewer when we want to get a job.

If this hospital in Florida is hiring people who are grossly incompetent or incapable merely because they are biased towards Hopkins alums... that's on them, isn't it? 

[sATL]

7 hours ago, humbleopinion said:

TLC hired a child actor to play the role...Son of Friend....

16 hours ago, camom said:

I can't imagine that Bill's lifelong friend hasn't watched the show with her son.

I'm questioning both the mom and son - how much of a BFF lifelong friend was the mom? I had a satellite glitch in during show but did they show a scene like Bill and the mom laughing discussing old times over drinks/dinner? Current times? Producing old pictures/memorabilia of "guess what I found" ? I know we all have friends from k-12, college years+ that have since moved anywhere-everywhere and we don't keep in touch with the day-to-day live events. Basically, folks have lived the majority of their lives apart, as adults. What might have been a big deal to them or to you, could be something not known or remembered until you saw each other again. 

It really could be a case of the mom not telling the son b/c she too kinda just 'forgot' about the Bill height, let alone Jen, Will and Zoey. The son was b/w 5-7 years old , and never seen The Klein's. If I saw a person once every 7+ years, I know there will be all kinds of facts I would forget, let alone tell my immediate family.

[Love2dance]

12 hours ago, floridamom said:

Maybe most of these specialty items like Easter egg dying aprons, snowman building kits are for the show and TLC supplied them. ALL of those inflatable Christmas decorations also could have been 'provided'. 

I completely agree and was going to post the same thing.

[Libby]

Jen said that they had many friends in Houston. If they have all of these friends nearby, why did the show have to conjure up these old friends from 7 plus years ago for the show. Both Jen and Bill's great, great freinds who were showed this season seemed to be very old friends that hardly knew them anymore. I think that if all of these Houston friends really existed, it would have been easier to show some of them.

The show did show Bill and Jen go out to a "solve the mystery room" with another couple a couple of years ago. I wonder why TLC didn't just use that couple again for the friends episodes.

[ginger90]

I imagine some people wouldn’t want to be on the show. I personally wouldn’t unless it was for a charity event or something similar.

[TwirlyGirly]

8 hours ago, Libby said:

Jen said that they had many friends in Houston. If they have all of these friends nearby, why did the show have to conjure up these old friends from 7 plus years ago for the show. Both Jen and Bill's great, great freinds who were showed this season seemed to be very old friends that hardly knew them anymore. I think that if all of these Houston friends really existed, it would have been easier to show some of them.

The show did show Bill and Jen go out to a "solve the mystery room" with another couple a couple of years ago. I wonder why TLC didn't just use that couple again for the friends episodes.

In the case of this episode, Bill and Jen wanted to take the kids to Vermont, because they had never experienced snow. Bill's friend lived in Vermont with her son. It wouldn't be "easier" (or less expensive) to transport Houston friends to Vermont to participate in the episode when Bill already had friends there.

[sATL]

22 minutes ago, TwirlyGirly said:

In the case of this episode, Bill and Jen wanted to take the kids to Vermont, because they had never experienced snow. Bill's friend lived in Vermont with her son. It wouldn't be "easier" (or less expensive) to transport Houston friends to Vermont to participate in the episode when Bill already had friends there.

I'm still thinking it was more important to see the snow than the old-time BFF if she was a BFF.

doesn't Bill's mom and at least one brother (the one who is a firefighter?) live in NY/NJ -which has an annual snow fall of xx.x inches? My southern born offspring "experienced snow" just by us going back to the midwest for at least one annual family function/holiday starting at 6-8 months old. And yes, snow toys are sometimes make shift items found in the garage/basement/attic/etc.

I wished I had taped the show - to the snow-experts on this post - was that true snow or powder at the place where they did the sledding?

Edited November 24, 2017 by sATL

[TwirlyGirly]

37 minutes ago, sATL said:

I'm still thinking it was more important to see the snow than the old-time BFF if she was a BFF.

doesn't Bill's mom and at least one brother (the one who is a firefighter?) live in NY/NJ -which has an annual snow fall of xx.x inches? My southern born offspring "experienced snow" just by us going back to the midwest for at least one annual family function/holiday starting at 6-8 months old. And yes, snow toys are sometimes make shift items found in the garage/basement/attic/etc.

I wished I had taped the show - to the snow-experts on this post - was that true snow or powder at the place where they did the sledding?

But why can't it be both (play in the snow AND spend time with an old friend Bill hadn't seen in years)?

Especially for the past few years, the states located in the southern parts of the northeast haven't had much snow consistently until late January and throughout February, whereas the areas popular for skiing (upstate NY, Vermont and NH) have had snow earlier (and more of it). So that may have figured into the Klein's decision.

Sometimes I think those of us who participate here ("here" being reality show forums on PTV) are convinced everything we see happening on reality shows is 1) totally producer driven, AND 2) always scripted - but that's not necessarily the case.

How many of us would continue to watch any family-based reality show if all we saw was their relatively banal day-to-day activities week after week? Get up. Get dressed. Make breakfast. Eat breakfast. Get kiddos off to school and adults off to work. Everybody comes home. Homework is done. Dinner is made. Dinner is eaten. Family watches TV. Parents get kiddos ready for bed. Kiddos go to sleep. Parents go to sleep. Done. LOL! Because unless the family is totally dysfunctional, that's pretty much what the "average" day in an "average" family looks like. Not exactly "compelling" TV!

So of course those who participate in family-based reality TV shows, and their producers, do try to film things they think we, the viewing audience, would like to see (admittedly, some of these are "hits," and some are "misses"). Most likely, what we're seeing is the result of a collaboration between the family and the producers. As in the family probably either presents a list of different things they'd like to do during the part of the year they'll be filmed, and after reviewing it, the details are hashed out between the family and production, or they all sit down together and brainstorm and both sides throw out ideas for the upcoming season. Those activities for which the producers can get the permissions to film from all entities are a "go," - those they cannot are scrapped. I doubt very much the producers present the family with a predetermined list of things they want to film and the family just goes along for the ride.

If it was totally producer driven and scripted (a "set up," in other words), and there was snow in NY/NJ during the time of the filming, then you'd be right. But IMO it's more likely when Bill and Jen were discussing different activities that could be filmed for the season, they talked about the fact the kids had never experienced snow, and how if they took the kids to Vermont they could also see Bill's old friend and her son - and production went along with it.

[Sasha888]

14 hours ago, sATL said:

I had a satellite glitch in during show but did they show a scene like Bill and the mom laughing discussing old times over drinks/dinner?

Yes, Bill and his friend were telling their spouses some stories at the dinner (over a lot of kid noise - and I was thinking all 3 kids could have been told 'someone else is talking now' - that sort of thing doesn't fly in my family). 

 

1 hour ago, sATL said:

I wished I had taped the show - to the snow-experts on this post - was that true snow or powder at the place where they did the sledding?

Looked like real snow to me. I don't know if I'm an expert, because I sure don't go out and play in it anymore! :-) It's a shock that I don't have any snow here yet where I live, but it will be coming, and soon. And then we'll be stuck with it until March or April, so I experience snow more than I care to. 

[sATL]

3 hours ago, TwirlyGirly said:

But why can't it be both (play in the snow AND spend time with an old friend Bill hadn't seen in years)?

Especially for the past few years, the states located in the southern parts of the northeast haven't had much snow consistently until late January and throughout February, whereas the areas popular for skiing (upstate NY, Vermont and NH) have had snow earlier (and more of it). So that may have figured into the Klein's decision.

Sometimes I think those of us who participate here ("here" being reality show forums on PTV) are convinced everything we see happening on reality shows is 1) totally producer driven, AND 2) always scripted - but that's not necessarily the case.

How many of us would continue to watch any family-based reality show if all we saw was their relatively banal day-to-day activities week after week? Get up. Get dressed. Make breakfast. Eat breakfast. Get kiddos off to school and adults off to work. Everybody comes home. Homework is done. Dinner is made. Dinner is eaten. Family watches TV. Parents get kiddos ready for bed. Kiddos go to sleep. Parents go to sleep. Done. LOL! Because unless the family is totally dysfunctional, that's pretty much what the "average" day in an "average" family looks like. Not exactly "compelling" TV!

So of course those who participate in family-based reality TV shows, and their producers, do try to film things they think we, the viewing audience, would like to see (admittedly, some of these are "hits," and some are "misses"). Most likely, what we're seeing is the result of a collaboration between the family and the producers. As in the family probably either presents a list of different things they'd like to do during the part of the year they'll be filmed, and after reviewing it, the details are hashed out between the family and production, or they all sit down together and brainstorm and both sides throw out ideas for the upcoming season. Those activities for which the producers can get the permissions to film from all entities are a "go," - those they cannot are scrapped. I doubt very much the producers present the family with a predetermined list of things they want to film and the family just goes along for the ride.

If it was totally producer driven and scripted (a "set up," in other words), and there was snow in NY/NJ during the time of the filming, then you'd be right. But IMO it's more likely when Bill and Jen were discussing different activities that could be filmed for the season, they talked about the fact the kids had never experienced snow, and how if they took the kids to Vermont they could also see Bill's old friend and her son - and production went along with it.

It would be a nice change of pace to see the everyday hum-drum with this family. The season premiere was the hurricanes (which yes, was important to see and very real), then it was Scotland/London, the trip to Jen's brother's baby christening, then it was trip to Dr in DE? then, birthday, then Halloween, then another birthday, then Christmas, then a snow-cation that included a birthday. 

Granted it snows later in the season in NY/NJ. Midwest too. Somewhere along the line (ie 3 yrs) I think you could have found snow somewhere without also digging up a long-lost BFF, that we viewers didn't know existed until the episode.  The more add-ons to these events leaves doubts with the viewers.

[jumper sage]

On 11/22/2017 at 9:19 PM, pdlinda1 said:

This was pure speculation on my part based upon seeing their names in the closing credits as "producers."  They now have a "brand" with their appearances, books, the TV show and Bill's venture with the dog invention.  They are "celebrities" along with the kids so I just surmised that there was a financial windfall for them to continue participating in the show.

I was in and out of this episode so I didn't see the whole snowman but........we always raffle off, and I buy snowman making kits for our kids.  They are ridiculously cheap and a good product and will last for years.  This kit is the usual hat, scarf, face etc and arm twigs all made out of a hard plastic.  A note to all who think Walmart is cheaper, this product is twice as much money at Walmart.  I never understood why some people think the store is cheaper when it has been proven to be more expensive all the way around.

On 11/22/2017 at 9:36 PM, AZChristian said:

I'm glad that's the worst thing that happened to you. A dear friend of mine was similarly adventurous, and dared her husband of six months to go sledding with her in an isolated area - before the days of cell phones. She hit a tree on what was to be their last run at twilight. As a nursing student, she realized immediately that she had broken her back. Her husband had no choice but to leave her there alone while he drove over an hour to get help. One decision changed her life forever. 

I'm a member of the better safe than sorry club.

I guess it is how someone is brought up.  Our parents were with us when we were little and would bark out safety commands all-the-damn-time.  I have cousins who live in a very rural area and weren't even required to wear coats or even shoes in the snow..........one of them broke both legs sledding down Cemetery Hill - it's right there in the name and yes, you guessed it, he hit a tombstone.  My brother and I were about 6 and said out loud, "That wasn't very smart".  Our dad patted the tops of our heads and said, "Smart kids", and then ran off to get cousin into the car to take him to the hospital.  His own dad laughed and laughed.  The cousin was about 13 years old.  We weren't allowed to spend time away from our parents at that house.

4 hours ago, TwirlyGirly said:

How many of us would continue to watch any family-based reality show if all we saw was their relatively banal day-to-day activities week after week? Get up. Get dressed. Make breakfast. Eat breakfast. Get kiddos off to school and adults off to work. Everybody comes home. Homework is done. Dinner is made. Dinner is eaten. Family watches TV. Parents get kiddos ready for bed. Kiddos go to sleep. Parents go to sleep. Done. LOL! Because unless the family is totally dysfunctional, that's pretty much what the "average" day in an "average" family looks like. Not exactly "compelling" TV!

I agree!  I can't even be a real housewife for even with kids grown we still veg out all the time.

[TwirlyGirly]

1 hour ago, sATL said:

<snip> Somewhere along the line (ie 3 yrs) I think you could have found snow somewhere without also digging up a long-lost BFF, that we viewers didn't know existed until the episode.  The more add-ons to these events leaves doubts with the viewers.

Well, bear in mind, too, while the kids are now 8 and 5 years old, three years ago at 5 and 2 they weren't as physically capable as they are now, and probably wouldn't have enjoyed the experience as much as they did with the trip we saw. I doubt very much Zoe would have been willing to participate in the sledding even a year ago; she was much more fearful of new experiences back then.

The other thing is - I'm much older than Bill and Jen. But just in the past year, three old friends have popped back into my life! All through Facebook. One contacted me (someone I was very good friends with in high school - we lost touch after graduation). Then, I got a message from her completely out of the blue - she had found me on Facebook! I was thrilled to renew our friendship. The other I contacted; someone I had been very close to 20 years ago, then one day I was thinking about some past experiences and her name just popped into my head., in an "I wonder what happened to....?" way. I went on Facebook, found her, sent her a message, and we've been communicating almost daily ever since! The third was someone I knew in college - we hadn't been close friends, but she did pierce one of my ears one night in the dorm when I decided I wanted a second hole in my left earlobe (there was alcohol involved, along with a sewing needle and a cork). I started to wonder if she remembered the incident. We had been students at the Rhode Island School of Design, and I remembered her as a very talented artist. I found her on Facebook, too, and discovered she lives only about 15 minutes from me! It was great to reconnect (she's STILL a very talented artist, BTW - and she did remember that night!).

The point is this happens A LOT now with the popularity of social media. It's really not that unusual. It shouldn't "leave doubts" in the minds of viewers at all. Through social media, we now have a way of locating and reaching out to people we may have lost touch with decades ago. Lives happen, people change, and time passes. But often the things we had in common with someone that brought us together 10, 15, or 20+ years ago endure, and just because life got in the way and separated us, doesn't mean we no longer have those things in common anymore. If we're lucky enough to reconnect, often times those friendships can be renewed. That time has passed doesn't make those relationships any less genuine.

Something like this may have happened with Bill and his friend in Vermont. They may have lost touch, and then one got in touch with the other awhile back on social media, and they renewed their friendship online months or a year or more ago. I know if I could arrange a trip to visit the two friends I mentioned above, now that we no longer live in the same state, I would jump at the chance.

Wouldn't you?

[sATL]

1 hour ago, TwirlyGirly said:

Something like this may have happened with Bill and his friend in Vermont. They may have lost touch, and then one got in touch with the other awhile back on social media, and they renewed their friendship online months or a year or more ago. I know if I could arrange a trip to visit the two friends I mentioned above, now that we no longer live in the same state, I would jump at the chance.

Wouldn't you?

yes. social media and/or a tv show will make old friends re-appear. 

I would have preferred to see and if it was me, to take the kiddos to family , who live in high-probability snow areas. the major named snow storms/blizzards are predicted in advance and I am sure there is a high probably of catching minor snow fall during some event or just plan a trip during the main winter months. The idea of making a snowman/sledding/hot-chocolate with Uncle ( I can't remember if he has a wife/kids) or Grandma/Grandpa warms my heart more. 

As far a visiting old friends, yes, sure I will go at my leisure and hope to have fun, but I wouldn't bring kids and spouses in tow. I would have enjoyed reminiscing with a person who knew me childless, without kiddies with me. it is luckily that Bill and his friend have kids the same age. I guess all of college age and below friends  (the ones I remember) have kids now in their 20s+. I have been the odd person during a conversation b/w others about an event decades ago. Not much fun for me. Good to hear it was fun to watch - I missed it due to satellite issues.

Edited November 24, 2017 by sATL

[jumper sage]

4 hours ago, sATL said:

a tv show will make old friends re-appear. 

Fixed it for you.

[gonecrackers]

So why did Nanny Kate go along?  Their friends were the sledding 'experts' they needed. I felt out of place for her, especially during the dinner. Hopefully it wasn't as awkward as it seemed.

When Jen told Will at the table 'you know we don't do that', I wondered, does he know? I noticed Nanny Kate watching them & was wondering if she wanted to jump in there but couldn't, since technically the parents were supposed to be handling it.

I did commiserate with Jen over the sledding, as I'm an annoying safety nut as well. But at her size, & with their physical issues, I can totally understand her apprehension.

The chocolate shop for Will's birthday- just no... really bad choice.

It did remind me a bit of the classic I Love Lucy chocolate assembly line scenes so that thought gave me a smile.

The date night important talk dinner was a scripted way of announcing to the viewing audience what everyone already knew.

Edited November 25, 2017 by gonecrackers

[jcbrown]

I guess I was watching a different episode or I just wanted to enjoy a show that was not intellectually challenging. I really enjoyed this episode and thought a good bit of it was delightful (though the chocolate shop scene turned me off).

[Libby]

1 hour ago, gonecrackers said:

So why did Nanny Kate go along?  Their friends were the sledding 'experts' they needed. I felt out of place for her, especially during the dinner. Hopefully it wasn't as awkward as it seemed.

 

Other than when they picked Will up in China, I have never seen Bill and Jen travel alone with the children. 

Even though they make it appear as though they don't, I think that they probably have 24 hours a day help at home as well. 

When they travel, the show can't avoid showing the people who go along to help. When they are home, the show can leave the helpers out.

[BitterApple]

It seems like whenever they travel, Bill is wrangling the luggage, which means someone needs to handle the kids. I don't think Jen is able to chase down Will or Zoe if they run off, so that's probably why there's always another adult tagging along. 

[AmyFarrahFowler]

Favorite moment? Will saying to Zoey Go Go Go Princess Leia! It's nice to see genuine playfulness between them.

[floridamom]

Why did Jen say that when you have kids at home, parents can't discuss anything important with one another? My husband and I did all the time, AFTER THE KIDS WENT TO BED. It seems to me, not to be critical, but this is my opinion from what I see on the show, that Jen is DONE with children. Yes, she loves Will and Zoey, but her reaction when another child was mentioned, even jokingly by Bill, was telling to me. She just about admitted that she wasn't great at being a parent...their 'football" analogy...man to man then zone defense. Then she said that she wasn't very good at football. She's still uncomfortable with the kids. Still too many words when speaking to them.

[humbleopinion]

Wasn't much of a discussion..awkwardly staged.

Bill wasn't having much of the faux "talk" with his hands on his face...read his body language...

Hopefully, Jen did the research to see if Will can get the behavioral, speech support he needs to integrate into mainstream classrooms.

Bummer leaving the earnest speech pathology lady who has been helping Zoey and Will.

Edited November 25, 2017 by humbleopinion

[Awfarmington]

3 hours ago, floridamom said:

Why did Jen say that when you have kids at home, parents can't discuss anything important with one another? My husband and I did all the time, AFTER THE KIDS WENT TO BED. It seems to me, not to be critical, but this is my opinion from what I see on the show, that Jen is DONE with children. Yes, she loves Will and Zoey, but her reaction when another child was mentioned, even jokingly by Bill, was telling to me. She just about admitted that she wasn't great at being a parent...their 'football" analogy...man to man then zone defense. Then she said that she wasn't very good at football. She's still uncomfortable with the kids. Still too many words when speaking to them.

Our neighbor was a teacher, before she took a break to stay home with her kids. We weren't overly friendly, but her sister in law would walk over to chat if I was outside doing yard work. Her boys were friends with mine so we were acquaintances. She also wasn't fond of the neighbor lady but their husbands were brothers, hence the reason she would be next door visiting. One time,  when she walked over to chat, she mentioned that SIL was very 'teacher like' with her parenting. Very structured and formal with lots of words. Jen reminds me of my neighbor, I think she cares about them. But parenting doesn't come as natural. Bill seems a lot more comfortable but lacks  discipline. The nanny is probably more suitable to be doing the parenting, 

[ginger90]

46 minutes ago, humbleopinion said:

 

Hopefully, Jen did the research to see if Will can get the behavioral, speech support he needs to integrate into mainstream classrooms.

 

Has this been stated by Jen or Bill, about Will?

[humbleopinion]

The speech therapy in Houston has been shown...wishful thinking about the behavioral therapy....for Will's sake...

[gonecrackers]

10 hours ago, BitterApple said:

It seems like whenever they travel, Bill is wrangling the luggage, which means someone needs to handle the kids. I don't think Jen is able to chase down Will or Zoe if they run off, so that's probably why there's always another adult tagging along. 

I definitely understand them needing her for travel, etc, but Bill made a specific comment about Kate being along as some kind of snow expert, or something like that. Then the sledding expert friends show up, & Kate just stands there while everyone interacts.

I guess it sounded better for Bill to say Kate was some kind of snow expert rather than they needed her to wrangle the kids since Jen is unable to do so while he handles the luggage.

[ginger90]

49 minutes ago, humbleopinion said:

The speech therapy in Houston has been shown...wishful thinking about the behavioral therapy....for Will's sake...

I was referring to the part about mainstreaming. I should have quoted that part.

[Absolom]

For Will and Zoey it may come down to the parents and whether they choose for them to attend parochial school or public school.

[jumper sage]

5 hours ago, floridamom said:

Why did Jen say that when you have kids at home, parents can't discuss anything important with one another? My husband and I did all the time, AFTER THE KIDS WENT TO BED.

I agree and will go even further to say that too many parents keep too much stuff from their kids.  Kids should see parents struggle financially and then see how they plan their way out.  Kids should not be shielded from the every day rigors of life.  That's how you show kids how to manage life when they are adults - age appropriate, of course.

 

2 minutes ago, Absolom said:

For Will and Zoey it may come down to the parents and whether they choose for them to attend parochial school or public school.

I don't know about all the states but here in Michigan if you need special services you need the public school.  I guess if you can pay a steep price for a private school with the understanding that your child needs special help it would be ok.

[sATL]

19 minutes ago, jumper sage said:

I don't know about all the states but here in Michigan if you need special services you need the public school.  I guess if you can pay a steep price for a private school with the understanding that your child needs special help it would be ok.

agree. that is why I originally thought they went to public. Many of the private schools just don't have the resources for special services - esp if those schools who proclaim to boast  higher academic test scores, placement and opportunities, all with smaller class size and exceptionally well trained teachers. 

If the child can't pass the entrance exam (grade appropriate ), then they are not admitted from the jump.

I wouldn't be surprised if k4-5 private  requires recommendations from prior sitters, pre-school, etc for admission. 

But I guess if you can write a check anything is possible - IE have the specialist(s) come into the private school.

[Kid]

On 11/22/2017 at 10:25 PM, howiveaddict said:

Exactly what I was thinking.  No one would say a word if Bill was the doctor.  

Amen!!!Nor would  the other derogatory comments  made about him be made  about her if she made less money than him.  Behavior problems those children have have nothing to do with the fact that she’s an ambitious doctor and a career woman.    I think she is an excellent role model for her daughter.  Their behavior problems exist  because  neither one of them properly parent.  They do not say what they mean and mean what they say and their size has nothing to do with that. When I was a student teacher, I had 200 pound football players in my senior English class. They listened when I talked because they knew there would be consequences if they didn’t.

My mother stayed at home, didn’t work a day in her life, and I was her victim.  But, I am no longer a victim, I am a survivor of years of abuse. So, bad parenting has nothing to do with a woman being a career woman.

This is all my humble opinion, of course!

Edited November 25, 2017 by Kid

[Absolom]

18 minutes ago, sATL said:

agree. that is why I originally thought they went to public. Many of the private schools just don't have the resources for special services - esp if those schools who proclaim to boast  higher academic test scores, placement and opportunities, all with smaller class size and exceptionally well trained teachers. 

If the child can't pass the entrance exam (grade appropriate ), then they are not admitted from the jump.

I had also initially expected that they would send the children to public school for the services that they could receive there.  Private school attendees are theoretically entitled to services but access can be really problematical.  Private schools have the option of not taking the child or placing them at the level where they deem the best fit.  I've had friends choose various options and change their minds and switch after a year or even four with one approach.  What I have learned is that there isn't one approach works best for all children or families.  The two things I've seen most often is a child begin to struggle somewhere around middle school years with work that is too far beyond them in public school and be happy a few grade levels lower in private school and kids that struggled a few years earlier in private school and got moved to public school and more resources.

[sATL]

2 minutes ago, Absolom said:

I had also initially expected that they would send the children to public school for the services that they could receive there.  Private school attendees are theoretically entitled to services but access can be really problematical.  Private schools have the option of not taking the child or placing them at the level where they deem the best fit.  I've had friends choose various options and change their minds and switch after a year or even four with one approach.  What I have learned is that there isn't one approach works best for all children or families.  The two things I've seen most often is a child begin to struggle somewhere around middle school years with work that is too far beyond them in public school and be happy a few grade levels lower in private school and kids that struggled a few years earlier in private school and got moved to public school and more resources.

hold up  a sec.. so a 13 yr old who is struggling in public and needs extra resources , could get placed in an elementary class in private?