Did you watch Nanny 911? Oh my gosh!!!

Hi all, Did anyone else watch Nanny 911 last night? I only saw the second half, so did not get the whole scoop. However, this family has apparently adopted 32 kids from foster care, many with special needs (physically and mentally...they probably all have special needs emotionally). They currently have 24 boys at home :eek: ! I just kept thinking "this is insane"! They seem to truly love doing this and have their hearts in the right place, but how could you possibly begin to care properly for that many kids, ESPECIALLY considering their special needs. DH pointed out that they must be receiving huge sums of money each month, so I would hope they are using that to get some help (housekeeper, cook, babysitters). As I said, I didn't see the first half. The thing that really blew me away is that I did not know until the couple came home after being gone for a few days (so the nannies could impose some structure and rules with the kids) that the dad is in a wheelchair and seems to have only limited use of his arms. For the life of me, I can not begin to imagine why the SW's and the courts have allowed these people to adopt that many children. Is it just me, or does this crazy? Anyway...I continue to struggle along and barely keep my head above water with my two. Have a great day!

many of the children were adopted from other contries, not the us foster care system. i am not an expert, but i don't think you get subsidies from international adoptions.

Actually, they had a good handle on the situation "for the most part." Better than most of us would ever come up with. Basically, the Mom needed a vacation. Nanny 911 was able to provide them with that plus a little more structure for the boys.I think this family should be applauded instead of called crazy.

i agree, i was amazed at the schedule the family kept. they only issue i saw that was "out of control" was that mom did not stop. it was nice to see her sitting at the end of the show and releasing some of the control to the older kids.

I agree, McKenna. She had their schedules better than I have DH's and my own. They have offered those children SO much stability. It broke my heart when they were leaving for vacation and a few kids were having trouble understanding that it wasn't a "final goodbye." But I did chuckle when they "partied" after they left. I think it was a good break for all, really. I think some valuable lessons (for parents and children alike) may have been learned. Bonus!

I thought it was an amazing show. I can't imagine life with 24 kids in the house. The mom was an incredible woman. All of the work she does for her family...I'm just in awe. I think the mom had said she very rarely hired babysitters and even when she did she never left all of the children with them. I absolutely loved all the children's framed artwork that was in their entry hall. What a wonderful way to showcase their art and make everyone feel special. Kat

I have watched this family on Adoption Stories and they have CNA's that come in to help with the most medically needy children and theripist etc.They love the children and adopt and love children that a lot of people would not take in and they would live in a nursing home/facility. People though we were crazy for wanting more children when we had 4 already bio kids 2 with a terminal illness,but your heart wants what it wants and if you can love and provide for them then go for it!!!! Yes the children (from the us) more than likley get SSI and some kind of money from the state and it looks like it is used on the children,I know alot of foster parents with 1-4 kids dont use the money on the kids and it shows,these kids had plenty of clothes,tv,beds,etc. sorry to go on a rant. Deb Bio mom to 4 Brett 17 JJ (8-26-90/8-15-03) Hilliary 13 Veronica 12 FM to O 3 and J 21 months

I saw this family on Adoption Stories too. They have lots of help during the day and night. I guess they left that out to make things seem more dramatic. There is not way one person can take care of that many children as well as a husband with special needs.

There is a family in our area who have adopted 12 or 13 kids. Most, if not all, of their kids have FAS (I can't remember for sure). Someone commented to us how horrible it was that they were allowed to adopt so many kids. This person felt it was unfair for the kids. I disagree. These children have a forever family. They are no longer in foster care, waiting and hoping. I believe it gives the kids a major advantage to progress further in life when they have a forever family. I'm sure this family receives PCA help, but so what? I don't see anything wrong with them getting help with their children, which in turn helps their family, and household, run smoother. I've spent the past hour reading various stories on [url="http://www.allourboys.com/index.htm"]http://www.allourboys.com/index.htm[/url], which is the website for the Silcock family. They are an amazing family, that is for sure! It has been an inspiration to read about the boys, and how far they've been able to come because of Jim and Ann Silcock. One boy, Mathew, who was adopted from Russia, was very close to being moved to an institution for adult disabled, (where disabled children are sent when they turn 16) for the remainder of his life. Ann and Jim were able to finalize his adoption just 2 months before his 16th birthday. That story alone shows the love, and dedication, this family has to their children. It's really too bad that Nanny 911 didn't show the help Jim and Ann receive. IMO, that was a disservice to the Silcock family. I have a lot of respect for this family, and others like them. The first time I heard about large families like this was when I found out about Sue Badeau and her husband Hector. They fostered more than 50 kids and adopted 20 kids with mental and/or physical disabilities, plus had 2 biokids. If a family wants to adopt many kids, and they are approved to do so, then I say more power to them!

Darn, I wish I'd seen it!!! I can't imagine that many kids! Wow!!!

I am very glad to hear that the family does take arrange help for day-to-day life. In no way did I mean to imply that shey should not receive financial help...I only meant that they should use the money to get some help caring for the kids. My point was that it would be impossible for two parents (one of them disabled himself) to properly care for 24 children without challenges, let alone 24 kids with special needs. I don't think anyone can rationally argue that these people could adequately care for the kids without outside help. Again, I am glad to hear that they do have help.

The other show that they were on covered their lives in detail. They even told how much they receive in adoption assistance and SSI a month. It was over $30,000 a month and all was used to care for the boys. Nanny 911 is strictly about discipline for children so they are not going to cover that aspect. I still think they should have mentioned something about the additional caregivers because they would factor in the discipline process. Nanny 911 made it look like the state dumped the kids on them and left them hanging. I think more people would adopt special needs kids if they knew about the available services. I have only 1 child in my house and it's not that clean. If I remember correctly they even have someone come help them clean the house.

I didn't see the show, but I am of the persuasion that the Silcock family is amazing. Many of the children care for one another. I think it's wonderful that a child can go from an institution, where everyone is just _there_ to somewhere like the Silcock home where other children like themselves are helping each other to grow around their disabilities, see that there are functioning members of society just like themselves and learn to be successful. One of the things that struck me deeply was on their family website (I think) in reference to all the children having chores and responsibilities. Depending on their abilities they had more or less intense chores, some as simple as getting napkins to the table for meals. Anyhow, they mentioned how one of the children is blind and in a wheelchair. This child does not realize that his primary care giver, another of the children, who pushes him around in the wheelchair, is missing limbs. By golly. :eek: What a family!

Hi my name is jarrod silcock I am the son of ann belles and Jim silcock the show nanny 911 was completely staged most of us grew up and live on our own. at the time there were and still are morning noon and night staff my mom and dad do not do everything on there own all of the staff were told to stay out of the house and area for the day my parents did not go on a vacation they were only gone for a few hours sorry for the very late reply. Have a good day.