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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this Supernanny family should've been reported for neglect?

50 replies

Jobseeker19 · 28/01/2020 22:11

I have just watched a crazy, old episode on YouTube featuring the Chapman family.

"Overwhelmed, two teenagers bear the brunt of caring for three young siblings and home-schooling themselves, so they ask Jo for help in getting their parents to step up to the plate."

One of the teenagers faints from fear of the father.

I am trying to find an update but cannot.

OP posts:
recycledbottle · 28/01/2020 22:31

I'm from a big family and remember seeing this and thinking it was normal enough for big families. The mother and father were lazy enough but based on friends from big families, more common than you would think!

strongswans · 28/01/2020 22:45

I remember that episode, it was heartbreaking. I don't remember which episode it was but supernanny US did report to child services at least once that I heard of

BritneyPeedOnALadybug · 28/01/2020 22:50

I remember seeing this at the time.

I just looked it up as I was convinced this was the family where one of the girls later died in a car crash some years back, but I just googled it to make sure and couldn’t find anything, so it must have been a different family (possibly even a different show). But I felt so sorry for those girls and the parents should have been ashamed of themselves.

Not as bad as the DORK SIDED woman though Confused

www.youtube.com/T0_Sir9DwSg

BritneyPeedOnALadybug · 28/01/2020 22:51

Oops, I think that ^ was actually Wife Swap, not Supernanny Blush

BritneyPeedOnALadybug · 28/01/2020 22:56

Sorry for the multiple posts but I just looked it up and the video I posted was from Trading Spaces, not Wife Swap, and the person I mentioned that died in a car crash was the dark haired oldest(?) daughter in the video.

CodenameVillanelle · 28/01/2020 23:01

I remember that episode. They were raising their siblings and getting no education at all. Poor poor girls.

DeRigueurMortis · 28/01/2020 23:02

Yes I remember that episode and being horrified by it.

The girls were being denied the ability to study in favour of acting as unpaid childcare and general maids.

Their parents seemingly did nothing round the house or parent at all.

I'm not sure what happened but I hope to goodness the lives of those girls changed fur the better.

NotNowPlzz · 28/01/2020 23:23

I just watched an equally bad one where the father called his daughter a 'little bitch' to her face.

Original poster
Jobseeker19 · 28/01/2020 23:23

The older girl would be in her 30s right now. I wonder what happened to her...

OP posts:
JemimaPuddleCat · 28/01/2020 23:46

Had a quick stalk on FB (bored, and some distinctive names). Looks like mom is remarried, but still a photographer. Eldest daughter is either anti-social media, or estranged, as she doesn't feature.

SapphireSeptember · 28/01/2020 23:47

I was thinking about this the other day. I remember one of the girls not being allowed to go out because her mum wanted her to sweep the floor (despite having swept it already.) Which I thought was ridiculous.

There was also a rather disturbing episode of Wife Swap USA where the girls were expected to stay at home and look after the siblings, and then get married and have kids. One of the wanted to be a doctor when she grew up and her father bullied her about it until he broke her down and made her give up the idea. I hope she escaped. Sad

Iambloodystarving · 29/01/2020 00:13

I am so sorry I watched that. It was so sad. The teens are so lovely. The parents clearly have a fixed idea that they are not.

Awfl and awfully sad.

Littlemissdaredevil · 29/01/2020 07:44

That episode was so sad. I hope the girls got an education in the end and were able to escape

EmeraldSky73 · 29/04/2021 07:19

Someone above mentioned how the eldest didn't feature on social media, and another thought she died in a car crash (referring to another person), but I found ForeverMissed page from 2017 listing a Brittany Marie Chapman, and ages line up, but there's no other information on the page. I don't know Supernanny Brittany's birthday or middle name, so this could be someone else. I sure hope this isn't her, but if it is, she died incredibly young, and that's so sad. Here's the page for anyone wondering:
www.forevermissed.com/brittany-marie-chapman/about

Flowerlane · 29/04/2021 07:28

I watched that episode and my heart ached for them 2 girls. The eldest seemed so withdrawn compared to the younger sister.

I pray that’s not the same girl that sadly passed away that’s mentioned above. Both girls deserve happiness I hope they both found it.

MrsBobBlackadder · 29/04/2021 08:55

I've just watched the whole episode - it is so unbearably sad 😢 that poor older girl

lewisa · 21/05/2021 10:41

The family is alive, all of them.
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10154844994320785&set=ecnf.517560784
They are all tagged in this photo.
The mom has remarried though

RubyJack · 25/05/2021 21:38

Lewisa, that picture was taken a month before the obituary.

chocohoardersanonymous · 25/05/2021 22:54

I think I have found the eldest daughter on Facebook

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157851187147057&set=pb.582387056.-2207520000..&type=3

lewisa · 26/05/2021 07:28

If you click on the daughters face in the photo it's linked to her facebook page which is www.facebook.com/britxmariex

Siennawest · 23/08/2022 08:36

Brittany, 17 (born April 27, 1990)

Novum · 23/08/2022 09:36

According to the article linked upthread, the oldest daughter went into the military, then married and now has three children.

WonderingWanda · 23/08/2022 10:04

Have you read Educated by Tara Westover?

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 23/08/2022 10:08

Super nanny USA and other similar American ‘reality’ shows are very up front about the fact that much of it is dramatised for entertainment. I would take this show with a pinch of salt.

I file Supernanny under the same category as the Jeremy Kyle show in ‘immoral programmes claiming they improve lives but actually it’s just baring vulnerable families lives for the sake of so-called entertainment’.