The Mom Crowd

I recently received a copy of Ty Burr’s book “The Best Old Movies for Families” from the TCM channel promoting their new summer show ‘TCM Essentials Jr.’ Every Sunday night hosts Abigail Breslin and Chris O’Donnell present a family-friendly classic. This Sunday is ‘Goodbye, Mr. Chips.’ The book was too good not to tell you about it.

There is a reason that Ty Burr’s book, ‘The Best Old Movies for Families’ has received five stars in every review on Amazon.com. The book is a great reference guide to be used by parents to help them decide which old movies are appropriate to introduce to your children. People familiar with old movies can use this guide as well as those who don’t know anything about older films, but want to watch a great movie with their kid.

The author tested a lot of the movies on his two daughters whose ages are 9 and 11 and their friends. Mr. Burr has been a film critic for over ten years and has had many other jobs requiring him to watch movies. He claims that he averages about 1 movie a day and over thirty years that is 10,680 films. The author is one of those guys that make you want to pick their brain and discuss films and trivia all day. Luckily, we get to read his thoughts in the book.

The book focuses on films made in the golden age of the film studios, from the silent era to the early 1960s. The Introduction opens with a hilarious rant about the Hollywood-junk that is currently being spoon-fed to our children and the MPAA rating system. I found myself saying “Yes!” out loud many times and reading parts out loud to my husband. The author does recognize that your kids will still watch what is out today, but wants to build a bridge between parents and children and introduce them to a wider spectrum of films that aren’t trying to sell them something.

After the first “Starter Kit” chapter, each subsequent chapter lists movies in its respective genre, like Comedy, Dramas, and Musicals. There is one chapter about movies not to show your kids. Then, each movie lists: the director, stars, appropriate age range, the sell, the plot, why it is in the book, useless trivia, pause button explanations, notes about the DVD extras and availability of the film, and further movie suggestions if your child liked the movie. The guide gives you great tools to help you decide if a movie is right for your child. However, the author does caution that if you are on the fence about a movie it is better to error on the side of caution and preview the film first.

The great writing is one of the reasons why this book is so highly rated. The writing is smart without being patronizing or dull. I feel like I know a little bit about Mr. Burr’s family and why his two girls enjoy showing old movies to their friends. Also, the book gives you practical suggestions on how and when to turn on an old movie. Hint: Don’t tell them it is good for them.

I enjoy movies a lot and watched ‘Roman Holiday,’ ‘An Affair to Remember,’ and ‘Guys and Dolls’ as a kid. I enjoy catching an old movie once in a while now. I recently watched Hitchcock’s ‘North by Northwest’ for the first time and enjoyed watching Mr. Gable being chased. I hope that my little one will enjoy movies as much as I do. Now I am thankful to have a tool to help me decide what to watch with her.

If you made it through the review and want to win my copy – all you have to do is answer the question “What is your favorite movie from the golden age of film and why?” in the comment section. The giveaway will end this Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. and only one winner will be chosen at random. Also, be sure to leave your email address in the comment form, so I can reach you.

UPDATE

Vered from Momgrind.com is our winner! I assigned all the comments a number and entered them into random.org and hers was the first number to pop up. Congratulations!

Turner Classic Movies graciously agreed to sponsor my giveaway and will be sending Vered her book! Thank you to all that entered. (If you didn’t win, check your library for it. Mine had the book on the shelf.)

The reading program I was working on with Darah is still in pilot mode and it was getting difficult to progress past the point we had made it to. I loved the program, but needed something that was a little more complete. I began a new reading program with Darah a few weeks ago. I wrote an article reviewing Out of the Box reading a while back. The company has now changed and is called eReadingPro. They are one of our newest advertising sponsors. The only problem I had with Out of the Box was the cost. eReadingPro has modified their program to accommodate tightwads like me people who are wanting to try it out first before making the big investment. Well, I am a total believer and believe that it is worth the big investment!

I purchased the eBook Do-it-yourself Reading Program Book 1. I paid through paypal and the program conveniently arrived in my email inbox before my paypal receipt arrived! Talk about fast! I quickly downloaded my eBook and got to reading. I had the advantage of having attended their Out of the Box conference, so I had a basic understanding of the program and how it works. The eBook came with everything you need to know to get started and 178 days worth of lessons. It included pictures for some of the abstract words being taught and illustrations for books later on. I got to work making my flashcards and started the program a few days later. This program is a sight-word based program and is not a phonics program.

So how does it work?

This program is geared toward the visual learner. Children with Down syndrome, autism, dyslexia, and an “overwhelming percentage of the population” are often visual learners. While many parents of children with special needs have embraced this program, they have a series for typical developing children as well. It does take some time to get it all set up, but once you set up the program you are good to go. I should be completely set for 178 days and then I will purchase Book 2. You can purchase the program with the flashcards preprinted. I saved a little money by writing them out myself. I keep the flashcards in order in a basket on my refrigerator and look at my daily schedule of what flashcards to present that day. I then show Darah the flashcards three times a day. As simplistic as it sounds, it works! By presenting these gigantic flashcards in groups of 5 over a cumulative 10 minutes a day, Darah has learned about 13 sight words! We are currently working on learning single words, but we will soon progress to learning to read sentences. The best part of this program is it has improved her speech! When she sees the flashcard with the word on it, she is articulating so much better than she did before. Her little voice is just way too cute when she says “pancake.” I am seeing results MUCH FASTER than with the other program we were doing. It requires much less energy and time on my part as well, and Darah seems to engage very well to this program.

eReadingPro will soon be releasing reading programs for teens/youth, adults who are learning to read, and for children and youth who are learning English as a second language. The whole word approach to learning to read is a very effective method! We are also working on phonics and individual letters. For phonics, I strongly recommend this DVD and this toy!

Here is Episode 3 of The Mom Crowd Show! We were able to leave the kiddos with their grandparents while we filmed and I think that is why we were so giddy. I hope you enjoy the show!

Also, did you know that we are in iTunes? Just search for “the mom crowd show” and we will come up. Select our show and click “Subscribe.” Then iTunes will download the show automatically every time a new episode comes out. The best part is that it is FREE! Also, if you are a regular iTunes user be sure to leave us a nice customer review. (It would be really sweet of you.)

The Mom Crowd Show Ep #3: Date Nights at Home, Using a Mirror During Delivery, and Quirky Bird Designs

Tired of not being able to afford a babysitter to go on a date? Have a date night at home! Have you thought about using a mirror during delivery? Hear what McKenna has to say about her experience. Plus, Amanda interviews Staci from Quirky Bird Designs. Finally, we share about our webpicks: Momgrind.com and Big Blueberry Eyes.

Posts:

30 Ideas for a Date Night at Home

Using a Mirror During Delivery

Friends:

Staci at Quirky Bird Designs

Evolving Mom

Workout Mommy

Mom on the Run

Iowa Avenue

Web Picks:

Vered at Mom Grind

Big Blueberry Eyes

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On Wednesday, NBC premiered its newest reality series, The Baby Borrowers.  It’s about five teen couples participating in an “experiment” to care for a baby, toddler, pre-teen, teenager, and an elderly person, along with random pets.  They spend 3 days with each “borrowed” person, in a brand-new house on a cul-de-sac in a nondescript small American town.  The real parents are watching all of the action on a monitor next door, in case something serious happens.  There is also a professional nanny in each home, there to shadow the couples and make sure nothing goes too terribly awry.  The point is to learn about parenting first-hand.  There are no prizes or eliminations. 

When I first heard of this show, I felt skeptical about its overall premise, but I thought I would give it a look-see.  The first episode introduced us to the couples and showed them preparing for the arrival of their baby, as well as a glimpse at their first day with the child.

I’m not gonna lie.  Watching this was painful.  And I am capable of watching a lot of painful stuff, y’all (like this, and this, and this.  Who’s with me?)  I started off taking notes, but stopped after a few minutes.  From that point on, I was trying very hard not to gouge my eyes out with my pen. 

In the introduction, one of the actual “lending” mothers declared, “It’s important for teens to learn about the realities of parenting and be responsible for another little person.”  I couldn’t agree more.  My question is, is this the most effective way to teach them?  Furthermore, what is the purpose of this experiment: to prevent teenage pregnancies?  To dispell any notions kids might have that having a baby is a glamorous thing?  One of NBC’s promos shouted at me, “It’s not tv… it’s birth control!”  So I guess that’s my answer.  Never mind that the poor babies had no idea what was going on and had to live in some sterile house with nervous, inexperienced teenagers for three days.  No wonder they were crying nonstop.

We were able to get a glimpse as to why the couples were participating.  One pair, Morgan and Daton (name game: figure out which is the boy and girl!), said they were using the show as a test for their turbulent relationship.  Morgan said, “Our relationship is at stake here.”  Like we care.  They’re what, 17?  That said, Daton (the guy) was a doll.  Of all the teens, he appeared the most comfortable slipping on a parenting role, and came across very responsible, which was endearing for the young San Diego surfer boy.  Morgan, on the other hand, didn’t want to read her instruction manual at all while their little charge was napping.  Instead, she picked at her split ends and complained of boredom.

Another boy, Sean, was a natural with his baby.  But that didn’t interest him so much as the idea of using this experiment to convince his girlfriend Kelsey that she’s too young to be a mom.  That’s his mission on the show, and he was determined to burst her bubble.  Kelsey, in turn, was more upset by the fact that the baby preferred her boyfriend over her.  Many tears ensued.  That baby girl had some nerve!  

I was pretty creeped out by the narration throughout.  I felt like I was listening to storytime in my worst nightmare.  “Austin and Kelly are a preppy southern couple from Georgia with traditional values.”  Cut to them playing tennis in matching outfits.  Five minutes later, we see Kelly throw a tantrum at the idea of wearing a realistic pregnancy belly.  Austin didn’t display much sympathy for her, and I didn’t blame him.  She was living in a beautiful house with her boyfriend on a national tv show, presumably by choice, and she locks herself into their bathroom before the first day is even over.  The poor guy had to listen to her moan about how he didn’t respect her and that he hurt her and she’s worried that she can’t be with him anymore because he did that.  And this went on for another 10 minutes, complete with multiple bleeped-out expletives and her adamant refusal to play along with the rules, which included wearing that blasted fake belly.  Dear God in Heaven, is this how all teenagers are? 

If they’re not spoiled princesses, then they’re grouchy mean girls with dirty mouths, like Alicea, another participant.  As soon as her 7-month old baby started to fuss about eating (he was teething, poor guy), she threw down the spoon and said, “Beep this, you can starve.” (Or something to that effect.  Remember, I wasn’t writing anything down at this point.)  Hey Alicea, Mom and Dad are watching.  I can’t believe little Karson’s mom waited out the whole evening before coming over and trying to give Alicea some pointers.  Had it been me, I would have said, “Watch your mouth around my child, girl, and change your attitude right now!”  But the mom was surprisingly patient and gave helpful tips.  Alicea didn’t listen.  She said she didn’t take any BEEP from anyone and from that moment on, pouted in her bed.  Her boyfriend Cory was the only one doing anything for the child for the rest of the episode.  And Alicea blames Karson’s mom for that.

I think I’ve made my point.  To be fair, there was one couple, Jordan and Sasha, who seemed to really care about one another and have good heads on their shoulders.  If you like watching teenagers get a taste of “reality” and you enjoy seeing them pout, then this show is for you.  If I wanted to hear them whine this much, I’d go back to teaching middle schoolers, so it’s safe to say I won’t be watching again.

More reviews about the show:

from Variety

from the L.A. Times

Did you catch The Baby Borrowers?  What are your thoughts on reality tv as a tool for educating teens?  Should the “lending” families be criticized for putting their unwitting kids in that situation?  Like me, were you put off by the fact that the unmarried teen couples were sleeping together in their own master bedrooms?