The title of this blog should really be "Wife Swapping," but it's probably not what you're thinking.
There's an ABC Television series, entering its 5th season this year, in which an under-appreciated (and often over-worked) mom switches lives with another equally as under-appreciated mom. It's called "Wife Swap" and, hopefully, at the end of the show, the moms return home, tearfully welcomed by a considerably more humble, more grateful, and more appreciative (read: traumatized) family.
It's really kind of a "feel-good" kind of show. By the end, everyone realizes how grateful they are to live where they live, live HOW they live, and have the families they have. And hopefully, everyone has learned a little in the process - about themselves, about how and where they could do better, and about things they will most certainly work to avoid.
This week I was contacted by a casting agent with ABC, looking for Boot Camp Fitness Instructors (who happen to be moms) who run their lives and their families with structure, self-discipline, rigidity, expectation and principle to be on their show.
Wouldn't you know it? I had the perfect person in mind. No - it's not me. lol. Strong (but kind), determined (yet flexible), self-disciplined (yet tolerant), structured (yet spontaneous) and strict (yet loving). She's a formerly overweight self-trained marathon runner, certified personal trainer, nutritionist, devoted student (working full time plus going to school), mother of three very well behaved children, and wife of a former Marine turned police officer. How's that for structured, disciplined, and responsible?
Anyway - within 2 hours, they were on the phone with her. Within 4 hours they had interviewed her, her husband, and both the kids still living at home. Within 6 hours they had booked flights for their New York Production Crew to fly to Tucson to pay them a home visit and within 24 hours, she was sitting in her living room, talking to a television producer about the intricacies, quirks, and secrets of daily life in her home, (oh, yeah - and they brought cameras, of course,) and thinking about what kind of wife (or mom) she'd be to someone else's family.
We don't know if she'll get picked, but it's pretty big news around here. And it's gotten me thinking, "Would I do it?"
The monetary compensation isn't huge, but it's enough to make you stop and think. Knowing that the place they would send you would be the most miserable, intolerable, and frustrating place they can think of for you, and that you would be subjecting your family to what might possibly be a week and a half of pure, unadulterated Satan's Haven, could you do it? Would you do it?
So Tucson may have a celebrity on its hands. And my friend might have a nightmare on hers. Then again, maybe it will be an opportunity to grow, learn, gain some insight, and take a paid vacation. But I don't know..........
Could you do it?
2 comments:
imho...
what everyone forgets in these shows are the children.
Nobody has any idea what type of psychological/emotional effects these shows have on the very young members of these families.
Anything in the name of ratings.
So true. In the case of my friend, her children are teens (one's in college, one is 17, and the other is 15.) I don't know that the emotional/psychological effects would be permanently damaging, but there's no question that the experience will change the family dynamic, reveal flaws, and challenge their beliefs, lifestyles, and family values. But it takes an already-strong family to even begin to withstand that kind of scrutiny. I worry about families who don't already have that sense, who are lured by an easy buck or a chance to get their mugs on television.
Anything for ratings is right.
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