Super Nanny

We spent today down at the beach. What was going to be a brief picnic on the beach ended up being a whole afternoon sitting, soaking up the sun with friends down there.

The beach was yet again absolutely packed, even down the quiet end where we were. Whilst we were there we noticed a camera crew over by the coffee van. When getting a coffee earlier I had overheard whisperings of Super Nanny coming to town but did not realise they had meant today.

So I wandered over and tried to get some covert pictures of them filming. It was all a bit sureal really watching the filming of someone coaching a family in parenting. The Super Nanny way is not really our way of parenting, but then we do not have loads of problems that a good sleep wouldn't solve. It was very interesting watching how good Super Nanny and the camera crew were at getting the right shots and moments, though I have to say it was also a little contrived.

For instance when the parent was getting food and drink for her children she did not have the pressure of a queue breathing down her neck and did not have to mess around with money at the end of her order. Mind you what they did have in abundance was the pressure of a camera crew and an audience of the public whilst trying to take in parenting instructions as well.

I discussed thoughts on what the main objective of the programme was with the lady next to me on the bench. Was it making good parents or making good TV. The lady turned to me and said "Why is it Nannies never have had children", I think she may have a point.

Anyway when the family under study went down to the seafront the swarms of sun soakers took note and suddenly tons of kids were trying to get in on the filming. One of our friends went for a swim to try and get in shot but I think current was just too strong for him to make an impact. Wife and another Mum also made efforts to get into the background to some of the shots.

So if you ever watch watch Super Nanny and they are on a beach and in the background you see either a strange bloke loafing about with a camera pretending to take pictures of an ice cream van, or a man doing a fierce breast stroke but not moving at all, or two women breast feeding either side of Super Nanny's head in the distance then thats us.

After they finished filming, and having sent the family in help home, Super Nanny and her crew sat for a bite to eat. I was in discussions with Toddler about the merits of wearing her sunhat (which she dispelled) when I decided to wander over to Super Nanny. At this point all her crew wandered off leaving her just about to bite into her sarnie when I asked if she would mind having her picture taken with Toddler so that we can freak out the grandparents.

She had a sudden panic about needing to wipe her hands and ran off for a napkin and reappeared with some bloke. However she then happily obliged and was very good with Toddler. She asked her name and age and then Toddler mentioned her hat, that was in my pocket. Super Nanny / Jo told her she should wear her hat in the sun, Toddler agreed,and I felt smug. I then took the shot, talked about the weather, thanked her and we went on our way and I paid Toddler her agreed one Smarty special photographic fee, without letting Super Nanny see.

Oh and in case you are wondering what Super Nannies eat for lunch its tuna mayonnaise on white and as for Toddler well she wore her hat all the way home!