Supernanny: The Dostal Family

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February 6, 2008 08:58:24 by Lisa Stauber

Jo Frost travels to Florida this week, to help Bill and Brenda Dostal with their out of control son, Zach. Zach is five years old, but thinks he makes the rules. Both Mom and sister Erin, age 3, are afraid of him, and they have good reason. Zach will scratch and gouge whenever Brenda tries to discipline him. “He digs in for the ride,” a bleeding Brenda says.

Brenda tries to have a playdate, but Zach, once again, attacks her. Erin is ignored while Mom tries to cope with her savage son, and the friends look on in pity. “Can you help us?” she cries on Jo’s shoulder. Supernanny most definitely can!

Mom tries to use Supernanny’s naughty rug technique, but is ineffective. Dad isn’t very supportive and they don’t agree on how to discipline Zach. Supernanny immediately senses the tension in their marriage. She observes the family dinner, and asks, “So, is dinnertime the time you discuss about your day, then?” Both Brenda and Bill laugh derisively. Yeah, right.

Brenda’s clearly in a crisis. Her husband doesn’t communicate anymore, and shuts her out. He is impatient and angry a lot of the time. The situation is so serious, that at the parent meeting, Jo leaves the couple to decide whether or not they’ll be getting a divorce.

“I can help them either way,” Jo says, but she needs to know if they’ll be staying together or not before she can address the children’s issues.

After sleeping on it, the couple decides to stick it out. “We’re moving forward as a complete family,” Brenda says, and finally it’s time to work on discipline.

Zach has a problem playing what Jo calls the Magic Carpet Game, scooting his naughty rug all over the kitchen. Supernanny nips that in the bud by marking out a fixed naughty spot with tape. It’s not long before Zach gets his first time out, and again he scratches and flails. Jo is quite firm with him, though, and he stays.

Zach’s aggression isn’t just limited to Mom. When she is out of the room, he decides to jump on his sister for a pony ride. Dad has a short fuse, though, and knocks Zach to the ground. Jo’s shocked, and as the little boy lays on the floor crying, Bill doesn’t tell his wife what really happened. Of course, Supernanny has to call him on it. Your house is full of cameras, Bill, we know what happened! Brenda confides she’s afraid to turn over the discipline to Bill because she doesn’t know what he’ll do.

Supernanny decides to teach Dad patience. She devises a game, and ties tags to a string throughout the house. Each tag is knotted in place and Bill must untie every single knot. She doesn’t stop there, but manages to constantly interrupt him at every turn. She asks him to help her on the computer, accidentally leaves the teakettle on, and makes messes on the floor. It takes him 35 minutes, but Bill perseveres and gets all of the knots out.

Jo also wants to help the couple open up their communication. She really feels that many of the children’s discipline issues are related to the parent’s marital problems. Jo points out that Bill brings home bad situations from work and that is why he has such a short temper. She puts up a bright red Good Thoughts Mailbox, and tells Bill to leave his problems inside the box - and outside the house. Brenda is encouraged to leave notes on positive things that happened throughout the day as well.

Now Supernanny is ready to address Zach’s aggressive touch. She has Mom practice touching her son softly with a variety of objects, showing him how good nice touching feels. “Practicing gentle touch, I thought it was a great game,” Brenda says, and Zach agrees.

Supernanny pops in during the commercial with a quick tip for parents: Help your child choose an outfit in the morning. Layout three pre-approved choices, and let your child decide which to wear. She’s got a tip for everything!

Now back to the Dostal family. It’s time for reinforcement. Mom works the naughty spot like a pro at the grocery store, and doesn’t lose her cool even when Zach spits in her face. Erin is finally getting some quality time as well.

Jo sets out to help mend the relationship between Zach and his dad next. She sets up a trust game, and blindfolds Zach while Bill gives him directions to find a ball and drop it into a pail. Giving his son directions really helps Bill understand the mind of a five year old, and Zach delights in directing his blindfolded father for a second round. Bill finds the ball, makes it into the pail, and then just plays and goofs off with his son.

Later, the children share candy and Jo actually cries with joy. She’s been a lifeline for the kids and their parents on this episode, and the family is off to a new start. The marriage has been saved, and Brenda is no longer sporting scars from disciplining their son. Brenda and Bill actually play golf together and have a good time, and Bill clearly is happier. Supernanny has worked her magic once again!

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Photo credit ABC, Inc. / Bob D’Amico

Topics: Supernanny |

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