Must Love Kids: Single Moms Looking For Love Reality Show-style
This weekend I caught an episode of the show Must Love Kids on TLC. Basically a dating reality show, wherein three single moms meet single men, get to know them, and then see how they relate to their children. The show is on Saturdays at noon and they offer the first episode for online viewing.
I caught the first episode when it first aired and the women had their choice of a variety of men, but they were way, way past that point by the 9/30/08 episode. Now it’s meet the family time, with each man hosting one of the three moms and their child(ren) for dinner. It wasn’t going well for any of the moms. The kids were acting up, throwing tantrums, sitting under the table, refusing to eat even pizza. I felt bad for all of the moms and very happy for myself that my kids are past the going under the table stage.
Kids are tough as it is, but put them in an unfamiliar place, with an unfamiliar grown-up telling them what to do, and then point a camera and some hot lights at them and ………well, it’s not pretty. There’s only so much you can expect from a kid at that age.
The men, their reactions where interesting. One guy had his own child there, a girl who was older and well-behaved. He stood there, arms crossed, as his date had a pretty uncomfortable battle of wills with her daughter. When speaking to the camera, he made it plain that she needed to take control now, that she had to show who was boss. One man appeared to have no kids - he was pretty judgemental. It’s very easy to sit there and say, she should do this, that kids a brat, whatever, but unless that man has spent much time with children, he has no idea what he is talking about.
Watching the show, I was reminded all over again of how lucky that I am to have my boyfriend. Steve has three kids and I have 3 kids. It’s a full house when we are altogether. I don’t tell him how to parent his kids, he does occasionally point out what he thinks I should do in relation to mine, but for the most part, he supports me and keeps his mouth shut. Someday, if we live together, I’m sure that this will change a bit, it will have to, but in the meantime, I am thankful that I have chosen a man who understands that being a parent is a large part of who I am. He knows how hard it is to find a way to balance the adult aspect of self with the parent aspect of self.
I’m going to continue to watch the show, I’m rooting for the ladies to find true love and I’m a sucker for a good reality show romance. If you’ve been watching the show all season, please let me know what I’ve missed and if you are rooting for any of the couples to find a good match.
Tags: , Dating, dating show, reality shows, single dads, single momsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Reality Television
2 opinions for Must Love Kids: Single Moms Looking For Love Reality Show-style
Nancy Nugteren
Sep 5, 2008 at 6:50 am
Like the show One disturbing thing about the show is the one mom who has the little girl who is clearing out of control Mom needs some help and I feel abit sorry for her No child should act the way she does She is spoiled and Mom has no control I cannot image any man having the patience with that child
Michelle Smith
Sep 5, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I agree, that little girl does act a bit out of control, Nancy.
I can remember my older daughter acting the same way sometimes. Kids aren’t as easy to control as the parenting books would have you believe. Sometimes you have to go through your entire arsenal until you find the right “trick.” I have a feeling that the mom and the daughter have been on their own for awhile and the mom has fallen into the habit of giving in because it’s easier. An understanding man and not a judgemental man who feels he knows best, that’s what she needs. She needs a partner, not a judge.
Parenting is so exhausting. Not so easy to date with a teenager, either. Trust me.
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