Supernanny: The Tafoya Family

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February 27, 2008 08:50:48 by Lisa Stauber

Holly and Jimmy Tafoya need Supernanny’s help. Their Arizona oasis is marred by their unruly children. They have three boys - three aggressive, rambunctious, untruthful boys. James, age 7, is the worst liar of the bunch. Tyler, age 5, copies his brother. Ryan, age 2, is a handful of naughtiness. Can Supernanny help this family live happily ever after?

A huge problem with the boys is their tendency to play videogames. They play all kinds at their friends’ houses - even games rated T for Teen or M for Mature. There’s plenty of gunplay and hitting before, during, and after gaming sessions as the boys act out what they’ve seen. “I like to play with guns,” says Tyler. “They like to re-enact the violence,” Holly admits.

Observation begins and within twenty minutes, while Mom cooks and Dad plays more videogames with James, Tyler wanders outside to go to his friend’s house. Alone. In the middle of the street. Supernanny Jo Frost keeps him safe, then goes to have a chat with Mom. Holly sees nothing wrong with letting the boys go outside on their own, but Jo warns her that nowadays kids aren’t safe even in their own yard.

Jo knows that the games are influencing the kids, but feels that their violent tendencies are coming from somewhere else. She doesn’t have to wait long before discovering that Jimmy yells, bops, whacks, and bullies. Jimmy gets hot under the collar quick, and he can’t blame it on the desert heat. “He’s got louder and louder every year,” Holly laughs. Jo’s not so pleased, naming a laundry list of parenting faults. “He’s intolerant of behavior, impatient, angry, and aggressive,” Supernanny rants. It’s so bad, she cuts observation short in order to confront him right there.

The Parent Meeting is anything but confrontational however, as Jimmy shows his sensitive side. “You didn’t really have a role model, did you?” Jo asks a tearful Jimmy. “You’re still hurting, aren’t you? Let me give you a hug.” Supernanny becomes a nurturing encourager, convinced that Dad is ready to change his ways and become a great role model for the kids.

Jo has harsher words for Mom. “If these points are not addressed, then you are going to be getting that 2 AM phone call from the police,” Jo tells her. She points out the irresponsible supervision, and doesn’t let Mom make excuses. “No, you don’t get it, Holly,” Jo says. “Or your kids wouldn’t be out.”

Next the parents are taken to task for their lenient video game policy. Our Supernanny Stat of the Week is that 21% of kids say that their parents do not have any rules about what video games they play. That’s going to change in the Tafoya household!

Teaching begins with Jo encouraging Holly to write down the house rules. No Lying, Holly’s pet peeve, tops the list. “It’s important for me to teach Mom the naughty step rule,” Jo says, and after a brief tutorial decides Holly is ready to be challenged.

Holly, Jo and the boys go on an outing to a ceramics workshop, and two year old Ryan is a bull in a china shop. Holly’s got her hands full, but she manages to put the naughty step technique into play despite the fragile surroundings. Score one for Mom!

The boys learn teamwork while climbing a rock wall at the next stop, and Holly’s confident she can hold her own with the boys in public.

The next lesson is all about ratings. Mom, Dad, and the boys gather around for a long talk about appropriate games and inappropriate influences. James is shocked that he is going to have to give up his T for Teen games, and bursts into tears. Later, Supernanny shows Holly how to work with other moms to lay down the law and keep the kids following the rules. Neighbor Laurie agrees to never let the boys play games that are not specifically approved by Holly and Jim.

James isn’t just upset about his video games. Supernanny sees him crying on the couch, and tries to sooth him as he cries for his dad. “He always has to work,” James sobs. “He cares more about money than he does of us.” When Jimmy comes home, he has a heart to heart with James and assures him that they will spend time together every weekend. Not content to wait, Dad takes the boys out to practice football right then and there. Jo congratulates him on being a good role model.

Four days later, and the lying is continuing. Holly has had enough and gives James a squirt of soap in the mouth for his falsehoods. When Jo confronts Holly, it’s pretty clear that the two women will never agree on this issue. “Are you insane?” Jo asks. “It’s not that big a deal,” Holly replies. Jo begins a lecture about respect, insinuating that Holly’s love for her children is conditional. Mom’s had enough and storms outside.

Jimmy’s able to talk her back to the table, and Supernanny decides to move on without comment. Holly’s not sure she has anything to learn from Jo, but just as Supernanny begins an explanation of why the naughty step is better than a mouthful of Dial, James lies again. The naughty step technique is immediately employed, and it actually works. James apologizes for lying - instead of denying it - and Holly becomes a convert to Jo’s methods.

A little tweaking, and fewer bad influences is all this family needed and Supernanny’s work is done. “She showed me how to be a better role model,” Jimmy says. “The future is bright.” As bright as the Arizona sun, Jimmy! Where in the US will Supernanny turn up next?

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Photo courtesy ABC/Bob D’Amico

Topics: Supernanny |

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One Response to “Supernanny: The Tafoya Family”

Tedius Zanarukando Says:
February 27th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I got offended by this Supernanny episode’s video game censorship content. I got offended when it showed the incident of ruling out T-for-Teen video games. This episode of Supernanny can be an offensive to video game players, and I am one of them. This episode was filmed in 2007. James was 7 at the time it was filmed. Holly Tafoya speaks in an angry tone (usually). I particularly have a low opinion of her, and she is mean and ugly, but Jimmy may be okay with me. I am no longer living with my parents, and I am a bachelor and never want to be a husband. I am the same age as Jimmy and older than Holly. I believe I can rule over Holly. This is the worst Supernanny episode I ever seen. Oppressive beliefs can cause children to dishonor their parents. After Supernanny, I believe that Holly Tafoya has oppressive beliefs. If I meet her in person at least six years later, I will make her give up her oppressive beliefs.

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