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Original poster

Does anyone remember this cutting edge documentary on parenting?

54 replies

SweetMystery · 29/05/2022 11:20

Watched it again recently and feel just as upset as I felt all those years ago.
I’d love to know how Georgina and her family are now 18 years later.

Does anyone know?

Here’s the MN discussion from the time:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/other_subjects/10079-cutting-edge-tonight

OP posts:
monicagellerbing · 29/05/2022 11:45

Why are they dressed like they are from the 80's? Was this only 18 years ago?!

Original poster
SweetMystery · 29/05/2022 11:48

I think it was first broadcast in 2003.
They are an old fashioned couple and he is significantly older than his wife. A different generation as he has adult children.

OP posts:
FlibbertyGiblets · 29/05/2022 11:48

This is very painful. Got to about 25 minutes in. Mum still doesn't want to, still can't kiss her little girl to demonstrate affection. It is quite disturbing. Will watch more later. Feel a bit sick tbh.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Original poster
SweetMystery · 29/05/2022 11:49

FlibbertyGiblets · 29/05/2022 11:48

This is very painful. Got to about 25 minutes in. Mum still doesn't want to, still can't kiss her little girl to demonstrate affection. It is quite disturbing. Will watch more later. Feel a bit sick tbh.

It’s desperately sad. Watch to the end though. The Mum wants to change. She doesn’t understand and doesn’t know how.

OP posts:
monicagellerbing · 29/05/2022 11:49

It's heartbreaking.

Original poster
SweetMystery · 29/05/2022 11:52

I want to know that 18 years later there is a happy family out there… I really hope so.

OP posts:
LisaSimpson77 · 29/05/2022 11:57

Gosh this is desperately sad, I think I remember watching it before (the Penny thing rings a bell, I wonder if there were other episodes?)
Does the mum have additional needs herself? She seems to be having a real struggle and it's sad that there was no help out there for her.

toastofthetown · 29/05/2022 11:57

YouTube recommended that to me a few years ago and it was very sad. Very clear where her behaviour came from. I’d love to some follow up from families who were on shows like this or Supernanny or House of Tiny Tearaways. Many of the children who be adults now, and I wonder what the general view of children from those shows is now they’ve grown up.

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 29/05/2022 12:28

The little girl probably has PDA, which is a form of autism. It's possibly one of the most soul destroying parenting situations out there. My ds1 had it, along with adhd, and I don't know how I survived. It was only really discovered early 2000s.

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 29/05/2022 12:28

monicagellerbing · 29/05/2022 11:45

Why are they dressed like they are from the 80's? Was this only 18 years ago?!

This is what you take away from a heartbreaking documentary? Honestly I despair.

It was desperately sad and honest. I hope the changes that they made continued to be fruitful.

Original poster
SweetMystery · 29/05/2022 12:32

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 29/05/2022 12:28

The little girl probably has PDA, which is a form of autism. It's possibly one of the most soul destroying parenting situations out there. My ds1 had it, along with adhd, and I don't know how I survived. It was only really discovered early 2000s.

From watching, I thought it was Mum and Dad (especially Mum) who had a form of Autism.

OP posts:
Ringmaster27 · 29/05/2022 12:34

I can’t click the link right now as I’m stuck under a sleeping baby and would rather take my chances diffusing a bomb than risk waking her 🙈
What’s the general gist of the documentary?

LisaSimpson77 · 29/05/2022 12:34

The whole family do appear to be on the spectrum to be fair. Mum's tears when she tried to kiss her goodnight and felt repulsed were heartbreaking. It's like she has a phobia of her own child.

bellac11 · 29/05/2022 12:40

Ringmaster27 · 29/05/2022 12:34

I can’t click the link right now as I’m stuck under a sleeping baby and would rather take my chances diffusing a bomb than risk waking her 🙈
What’s the general gist of the documentary?

I dont like to click on links but just seeing the picture of mum in the thumbnail I think it was about a child who was 'out of control' but following the advice given it was clear that it was about parenting and with changes, the child then changed their behaviour

Unless Im thinking of another case

Original poster
SweetMystery · 29/05/2022 12:41

LisaSimpson77 · 29/05/2022 12:34

The whole family do appear to be on the spectrum to be fair. Mum's tears when she tried to kiss her goodnight and felt repulsed were heartbreaking. It's like she has a phobia of her own child.

It was very interesting how the Psychologist focussed on the parent's behaviour towards their child without them even realising!
Wherever they are now, I wish them all well.

OP posts:
Discodreams · 29/05/2022 12:43

toastofthetown · 29/05/2022 11:57

YouTube recommended that to me a few years ago and it was very sad. Very clear where her behaviour came from. I’d love to some follow up from families who were on shows like this or Supernanny or House of Tiny Tearaways. Many of the children who be adults now, and I wonder what the general view of children from those shows is now they’ve grown up.

One of the kids from super nanny has a TikTok account and she talks about her time on the program. I can’t remember her name though, it came up as a sun newspaper article on my facebook

Original poster
SweetMystery · 29/05/2022 12:44

bellac11 · 29/05/2022 12:40

I dont like to click on links but just seeing the picture of mum in the thumbnail I think it was about a child who was 'out of control' but following the advice given it was clear that it was about parenting and with changes, the child then changed their behaviour

Unless Im thinking of another case

Show quote history

You are absolutely right.

You can search: 'Parents Are Being Pushed To Brink By Daughter Bad Behaviour Full Documentary' on You Tube if you like.

It's a C4 Cutting edge documentary from 2003.

OP posts:
mnahmnah · 29/05/2022 12:45

I watched this at the time and still think about it every now and again. I’ve mentioned it numerous times to other people too. Can’t believe it was that long ago! The change in the little girl when mum started being affectionate was amazing.

Ahlola · 29/05/2022 12:51

I watched all of five minutes. It is blatantly obvious that mum has some form of ASD/learning difficulties as does the daughter. I don't think blaming the mother for everything due to a lack of attention or affection is fair TBH.

I grew up in a home with a similar mother. I did not grow up to be like this child. I always knew my mum 'wasn't like other people' but it has only been since my eldest child has been diagnosed with autism that all of the pieces have fallen into place with my family. My mum is identical to my son in behaviour as is my sister.

I suspect I also have Autism and am about to begin my own road to diagnosis. Looking back now I feel like I was masking and only just coped with life. I love my kids to pieces, but I find day to day life with them is so hard. I also look at my own mum with 4 kids and understand why she was how she was. I try not to be like my own mum. I make sure I take that time to myself to recharge and DH supports me with it too. So my kids only see the best of me and not the meltdown monster. I actually felt so sorry for the mum in that video.

Wallabyone · 29/05/2022 12:53

I think that we are much further forward today in understanding attachment, and how significantly a lack of appropriate attachment at a young age will really impact on a life.

I've watched 15 minutes and it's so sad 😞

LisaSimpson77 · 29/05/2022 12:54

mnahmnah · 29/05/2022 12:45

I watched this at the time and still think about it every now and again. I’ve mentioned it numerous times to other people too. Can’t believe it was that long ago! The change in the little girl when mum started being affectionate was amazing.

Mmm it was although you do have to bear in mind that they were making a programme and wanted a nice tidy ending to the story.
Editing is a wonderful tool.

CoralBells · 29/05/2022 12:57

I do remember that. I remember my Aunt saying she'd have smacked her, thinking that would have solved it. My Aunt wasn't a good mum though. She had an appalling relationship with one of her kids who she bullied

bellac11 · 29/05/2022 13:08

SweetMystery · 29/05/2022 12:44

You are absolutely right.

You can search: 'Parents Are Being Pushed To Brink By Daughter Bad Behaviour Full Documentary' on You Tube if you like.

It's a C4 Cutting edge documentary from 2003.

Show quote history

Yes I remember from the time, it was amazing and really changed my view about various disorders and the need to focus intensively on parenting. I dont think it really has been adopted as much as we like to think

bellac11 · 29/05/2022 13:10

Ahlola · 29/05/2022 12:51

I watched all of five minutes. It is blatantly obvious that mum has some form of ASD/learning difficulties as does the daughter. I don't think blaming the mother for everything due to a lack of attention or affection is fair TBH.

I grew up in a home with a similar mother. I did not grow up to be like this child. I always knew my mum 'wasn't like other people' but it has only been since my eldest child has been diagnosed with autism that all of the pieces have fallen into place with my family. My mum is identical to my son in behaviour as is my sister.

I suspect I also have Autism and am about to begin my own road to diagnosis. Looking back now I feel like I was masking and only just coped with life. I love my kids to pieces, but I find day to day life with them is so hard. I also look at my own mum with 4 kids and understand why she was how she was. I try not to be like my own mum. I make sure I take that time to myself to recharge and DH supports me with it too. So my kids only see the best of me and not the meltdown monster. I actually felt so sorry for the mum in that video.

From memory there was no blame of mum, she was being supported to make the changes that she could. Im not sure how it could be interpreted that way?

Justkidding55 · 29/05/2022 13:12

The girl is on YouTube and has asked that people stop going on about the documentary. She is happy and her relationship with her parents are good. Her mum needed help and turned it around for them all.