The Wischmeyer Family is the fourth episode of Season 1 of the American Supernanny show.
In addition to this episode, the Wischmeyer family members also appeared on the Season 1 Family Update Special.
Episode summary
See also: The Wischmeyer Family/Transcript
Jo meets the Wischmeyer family, John and Melora who have three children: 9-year-old son Jared and 4-year-old twin daughters, Ashlyn and Alaia.
While dad John works away from home, mom Melora has chosen to work from home because she can spend both time with her three kids and have a career. However because of the lack of balance throughout the day with Melora works a full-time job from home, that leaves her children to fend for themselves or crave their attention.
The Wischmeyer twins have big personalities but they’re ruling the household with them torturing their parents and bullying their brother. They’re both very rowdy, defiant, sassy, they call their parents and their brother names, and both of them go as far as to hit them. The girls each take turns being the ringleader.
During the day, Alaia has her turn being the ringleader of the duo. She is stubborn and headstrong. Though both of the girls misbehave during the day, their parents have more problems with Alaia than they do with Ashlyn. When Alaia and Melora argue, Alaia can get physical with her mom and would usually hit and kick her.
At night, Ashlyn has her turn to lead. Alaia is calmer at night and Ashlyn is very emotional and defiant during bedtime. Ashlyn refuses to sleep unless it’s on her terms. She would end throwing a pretty big fit and demands that her mother lie down with her. In the middle of the night when she gets up to get something to drink, Alaia will follow suit.
Meanwhile Jared feels that the girls get more attention than him, and sometimes feels left out. When an argument or a problem happens between between him and his sisters, he gets blamed and sent to his room by his mother.
Can Jo help the Wischmeyers control their twin daughters' behavior?
Recap
Also see recap at Fans of Reality TV
Observation
After watching the submission reel, Jo arrives at the Wischmeyer home and meets the twins and their parents. Ashlyn and Alaia appear calm and rather shy. Melora explains that their son Jared is at school. John is then off to work and Melora, who works from home, sits down in front of the computer, leaving the twins to their own devices. Ashlyn accidentally drops the toaster on the floor while attempting to make herself Pop Tarts. When Melora scolds her, Ashlyn complains that she couldn't ask her as she was on the phone. Melora points out that she is always on the phone because it is part of her job.
Later on, Alaia and Melora get into an argument over a paper and pencil. When Melora attempts to put Alaia in time out, Alaia lashes out and hits her mother. Melora then goes back to her computer. Alaia repeatedly calls her mother, "Stinky butt!" and chanting "Na-na-na-na boo boo", while her mother is working. Melora rips off her headset to deal with Alaia who runs to the bathroom for cover. When Melora sits down again, Alaia continues to irritate her. Melora is about to get up again. However she turns around and admits to Jo that she does not know what to do. Melora then gets emotional as she tells Jo that she has a boss that is telling her that she needs to get on the phone or she’s going to get fired and she has kids that are “totally out of control”.
Later that day, Jared comes home from school and meets Jo for the first time. It isn’t long until Alaia runs into his room and steals his playing cards. She runs to the living room where she throws them on the floor. Alaia dances around as Jared picks up his cards. Meanwhile Ashlyn picks up a recorder and plays with it. Jo asks Jared what his parents do when his sisters annoy and disrespect him. Jared feels that his parents do nothing to stop the girls. As Ashlyn continues to play the recorder, Melora, who is still working on the computer, tells Jared to "quit that.” Jared tells Melora that Ashlyn is the one playing the recorder and Alaia just threw all his cards on the floor. Melora isn’t listening to Jared.
Later, Alaia teases Jared by calling him a "fool" and "stinky butt". Then Jared over to her to tell her to “shut up”. When Melora comes up to yell at Jared to not use the word “shut up”, Alaia runs up to Melora to tattle that Jared keeps say it. Melora tells the kids that she is still working and doesn’t want anyone use that word again. Then Melora sends Jared to his room. Jo goes to speak to Jared, telling him that it is important for him to speak to Melora about his feelings.
John comes home, and then he and Melora both go downstairs to put the girls to bed. Alaia is calm at night, but Ashlyn doesn’t go down without a fight. Melora ends up laying down with them to try and get them to bed, and falls asleep before the girls do. The girls then seek out John in the living room and start asking for milk and snacks. Jo leaves John to deal with the girls, having seen enough for the day.
Parent meeting
During the meeting, Jo comes down hard on how appalling the girl’s’ behavior is and there’s no discipline, how there is no consistent routine for bedtime, and about Melora’s treatment of Jared. Melora claims that she and Jared are close. When Jo points out that Melora has a full-time job at home and she and her kids are suffering for it, Melora gets emotional. She wants to be a super mom and a career woman because she loves her kids. Jo says that there needs to be balance.
Teaching begins
Jo brings in her usual family routine, which has red circles that indicate Melora's work hours which equal about six hours a day. Melora feels a sight of relief that she can have more time to play with her kids and still have a career.
Jo then introduces the household rules (while Jared is at school). The girls cover their ears shut and say "can't hear you." They are not having it. Then Jo introduces timeout for girls called the Naughty corner. When the girls break the house rules, they have to stand there until their 4 minutes are up. Melora thinks the Naughty Corner will be a challenge especially for Alaia because she is very stubborn and she doesn’t know she will stay there.
Sure enough, Alaia puts her dad to the test when it comes to the Naughty Corner. Alaia is in the middle of coloring at the kitchen counter top where the kids sit usually sit at. Then John tells her it’s naptime. Alaia is very unhappy about that and she puts up a fight. Jo walks him through the steps of the discipline. When Alaia refuses to cooperate, John tells her she is going to the Naughty Corner for a time out for not listening and she “will not act like this” and he takes an angry Alaia to timeout. Alaia is not having it. She leaves the corner to go to another room and slams the door. Jo instructs John how to take a kid back into timeout after they escape. John is overwhelmed Jo assures him that it is only a tantrum and to stay strong. John takes her back to time out and Alaia tries to swing at her father but her father walks away. No sooner has John walk away, Alaia conceited and stays in the corner, still upset about the whole thing. John says that he is surprised by Alaia. He has never experienced Alaia this explosive and it makes him feel like a failure as a parent. John admits that he hasn’t shed a tear in a decade. He ends getting emotional finally realizing how out of control the girls really are. He wonders what did he and Melora did to get to that point? Jo reassures John that Alaia does not love him any less. John admits that the whole thing is just hard to watch. Jo points out to John that the technique is working which John understands. Eventually Alaia calms down. When her time is up, John comes back to talk to her about what happened and he would like an apology. Alaia willingly apologizes to him. John and Alaia hug. John proudly admits he “made it through the roughest parts of having control again.” John carries a calmer Alaia to naptime.
Later in the afternoon, Jared comes home from school. Jo brings introduces the Thoughbox for Jared and Melora. Every night once the girls are in bed, Jo wants the pair of them to sit down and talk about anything Jared wants to share. Jared can ask questions, voice how he feels and or talk about some ideas. Jared will write his thoughts on a piece of paper, fold it and put it into the box. Jared feels it’s a great idea that he can talk to his mom without any interruptions from the girls. Melora agrees with Jared.
That night Jo introduces the bed time routine and the Stay in Bed technique to Melora and John. Alaia as usual is calm at night and stays in her bed. However Ashlyn isn’t giving up without a fight. Ashlyn comes out of her and tells her mom she wants her to lay with her. Melora does step 1 and comes out while Alaia tells her mom “she wants you to lay with her.” The second time, Ashlyn toughly tells her mom “if you don’t lay with us, dad’s going to.” Jo insists that they ignore that. An upset Ashlyn comes out a few times while throwing a fit because she can’t believe what is happening. Soon, Ashlyn seeks revenge by throwing pillows and books. Then she continues going in an out. Ashlyn admits that she is having a bad night and demands her parents to basically give up. Melora admits the toughest part is hearing Ashlyn cry for her mom to sleep with her and is on the verge to give in. After 11 times of coming out, Ashlyn stays in her bed and calms down. Jo proudly admits to Melora she isn’t laying with the girls. Melora agrees as she notices “it’s getting quieter.” After 45 minutes both girls are sound asleep. Melora and John are proud of themselves. Jo is happy for them. It is a major milestone for Wishcmeyers. Melora admits that the Stay in Bed Technique is wonderful. She believes that it should be “manually written, handed out at birth to every mother and dad in the world.” The next day Jo’s teaching is over and she leaves for a few days to see how the parents do. Melora admits she and John wish Jo stays a little longer but they will do without her for a little bit.
Family test run
The Wischmeyer Children playing a card game.
The day after Jo leaves, the girls begin to test their parents and the parents go back to square one.
Jared is in his room working on his homework and both twins come in. Jared tells them they know they’re not supposed to be in his room while he does his homework. Ashlyn ignores him and Alaia tells Jared “you’re not my boss.” When he tells them to get out, Melora scolds her son and says “I’m asking them nicely to leave, they’re leaving.” Jared tells his mom he asked them nicely 5 times. Melora argues that he didn’t and she scores him for how delivered it. She tells Jared to sit down and do his homework. Jared admits that it feels really unfair that he gets in trouble and the girls don’t. He writes a note asking, "Why do I get consequences and the girls don't?" for his thought box. Later that night when Jared and Melora talk about this, Melora, argues that it's because they are only four while he is nine. Jo says, "You're missing the point, Melora" at her TV set.
Later that evening Melora tells the girls to get their pajamas ready so they can take a bath after dinner and playtime. Alaia admits that she is not listening to her. Melora tells her she will lose her playtime privilege if she disobeys. Then Melora asks if Alaia would like to sit four minutes in the Naughty Corner. Melora is far away from Alaia so they’re having a conversation across the room. Jo says to the TV “You’re starting this wrong. Get down to her level give her a warning.” Melora says “You better stop talking to your mommy like this.” Alaia runs down stairs. Melora says “We’ll see, four minutes let’s go.” When Melora grabs ahold of her, she holds Alaia down in the corner downstairs to keep her from escaping. Alaia and Melora keeps arguing about the Naughty Corner. Then Alaia slaps her mother in face, with her mom looking angry as a hornet. Then Melora and Alaia continue to argue some more. Then later on with Alaia in her pajamas, she tells her mom to “Back off right now!” while her mom refuses to back off. Jo says to the TV that “Melora you just been defeated.”
That night, bed time is a catastrophe. John tells the girls that story time is over and it’s time to lay down. Ashlyn wants her dad to read another story, John refuses. The parents kiss the girls goodnight with Ashlyn throwing a fit. Alaia tells her dad calmly but slightly annoyed that “she wants a story so just do it.” When Ashlyn gets out, John keeps talking to her. 30 minutes later with John putting Alaia back in bed, Ashlyn demands for milk and Alaia demands for her hamster guy. John gives in with Melora shaking her head. Another 30 minutes later, Ashlyn and Alaia team up to run rings around their parents. Ashlyn challenging them says “Try to get us to put us to bed.” Then Alaia stands in front of John and Melora as Ashlyn standing by the door saying “I get to read a book so night you butt pie”. John gets up and the girls hurry in their room. Melora is meanwhile on the couch looking at the floor in dismay.
It takes the girls over an hour to go to sleep.
DVD meeting
Jo returns to show the family where they have gone wrong with implementing the techniques starting with how Melora handled the comer wrong by holding Alaia down and giving her negative attention, instead of telling her what she did and walk away so Alaia can do her time.
Then Jo shows the disastrous bedtime. Jo makes it clear to Melora and especially John need to follow through with each step of the Stay in Bed Technique. It won’t work if they don’t get ahold of the smaller details. If they’ve done that, the girls would not have gang up on them and the whole thing would’ve been nipped in the bud.
Jo finally shows a clip of Melora scolding Jared for his tone of voice. Jo says that Melora tells Jared that he was the one being disrespectful when Melora herself talks to him with disrespect. Jo declares Melora needs to give a good example of how she speaks to Jared. Jo is ready to help them reinforce the techniques.
Reinforcement
Later on, Alaia decided to turn off a video game Jared was playing to annoy him. Jared asks Alaia how would she feel if Jared came in and turned the TV off while she was watching it or playing a game. Alaia refuses to listen. Melora breaks up the argument. Instead of blaming Jared, Melora sits Alaia down on the couch while holding her instead of holding down. She tells Alaia to stay away from Jared and let him play his video game. When Alaia doesn’t give up without a fight, after a warning Melora gets Alaia up with a second struggle to go the Naughty Corner. Then Alaia and Melora go there without anymore struggles after that. Melora explains to Alaia that she turned off Jared's game and tells Alaia to turn around and stand there for four minutes. Jo instructs Melora to walk away and Alaia stays in the corner without a fight. Jo tells Melora about how she can do better with talking to the girls without losing her patience. Melora, however is proud of Alaia for not putting up a fight as much about timeout. After the four minutes is up, Alaia apologizes and then Melora and Alaia go off and play. Melora says that the girls especially Alaia understand that the Naughty Corner is here to stay.
Jared admits that the thought box is working for him because he can be able to talk to his mom more. He feels his mom respects him a lot more. Melora tells Jared that she loves him very much and he can come to her anytime. Melora feels like she and Jared have gotten a lot closer together and the Thought-box has helped a lot. Melora has a lot of interest of what Jared has to say.
Jo says the the techniques and scheduling are working well. Melora is reducing her work hours, she understanding Jared more and is doing a fantastic job keeping the girls in line, especially when she is seen is disciplining Ashlyn with the Naughty Corner technique with Jo’s assistance. As a result the kids getting along much better as they are all playing together. However, bedtime is the last thing Jo wants to work on before leaving again.
As soon as the lights go out, the girls are both calmer at bedtime but these girls just wanna have fun. The girls come out and they they both sing “Na na na na boo boo!” This time John follows through with the small details and use little verbal communication and both parents tag teamed. The girls came out three times in 14 minutes but after those three times they gave up. 4 minutes later the girls sound asleep. Melora happy with the progress and she says that the girls especially Ashlyn realizes that their parents aren’t giving up putting them back in into bed. Melora realizes if she and John remain consistent, bedtime will get easier.
Jo notices that the family is improving slowly but surely. Jo spends more time simply having fun with the family. They play in the snow, dance around, do the Hokey Pokey, and tell stories. Mom is even seen playing with the girls. John says he’s happy with girls’ improvements: Alaia is doing what her parents ask her and she’s not as aggressive or hostile and as for Ashlyn she is more under control when it’s bedtime. Melora proudly says that she is no longer laying with the kids anymore which is huge to her. Then Melora and Jared are joking around with a chapstick and talking about what Jared’s first kiss would be like. Jo is proud to say that Jared feels empowered and the lines of communication are open and Melora is okay with not working as long and she is happy to enjoy being a mom. Then Jo says farewell to the family. The family are sad and they say they will miss her.
Family Update
John admits that Jo has brought their family together and there’s more happiness. Melora admits that there really hasn’t been as much joy in 3 or 4 years. The family is seen having a laugh at the house, the kids entertaining mom with their breakdancing, playing at the snow outside and they went sledding. John say “I am a better parent before Jo showed up and I will be a better parent days ahead.” At the end, the kids are seen roaring up with laughter.
Pop Culture
- Alaia wears pajamas, which have Dora the Explorer on them.
- Ashlyn wears Care Bears pajamas in the episode. You can see Funshine and Love a Lot bear in the shirt.
- When Ashlyn wants Melora to lay with her, Disney movie VHS tapes can be seen.
- A Winnie the Pooh plush can also be seen.
- Very few Strawberry Shortcake videos can be seen, even movies like Dennis the Menace and Mouse Hunt are seen too.
- In the reinforcement, Jared is seen playing on the PlayStation 2.
Gallery
Family Members
| Person | Age | Relation to Family |
|---|---|---|
| John Wischmeyer | 36 (born May 26, 1968) | Father |
| Melora Wischmeyer | 34 (born January 30, 1970) | Mother |
| Jared | 9 (born September 29, 1995) | Son |
| Ashlyn | 4 (born April 9, 2000) | Twin Daughters |
| Alaia |
| The child was disciplined via one of Jo Frost's techniques. |
| The child was disciplined but not via one of Jo Frost's techniques. (she may or may not have approved of any of the methods) |
| The child was disciplined via one of Jo Frost’s techniques but it is seen in the extra footage. |
Trivia
- This episode is considered to be the most-viewed episode of season 1, with a whopping 11.39 million viewers. This is also the most viewed Supernanny episode on the official YouTube channel with a total of 16,000,000 views.
- This is the only episode where a younger sibling snitched on an older sibling, which got him or her punished by their parents.
- This is the first episode in the US series where the Stay In Bed technique was used.
- This is the first episode featuring Jo wearing a Frenchtwist hairdo until The Beck Family.
Behind the Scenes
This was filmed in December 2004, as confirmed by Melora in Family Update Special, mentioning that Jo left since Christmas.
Goofs
- When Alaia says "Stinky butt!" after Jo says "It's outrageous.", Alaia is kneeling on the floor. However, when the camera zooms out when she says the quote the second time, she is standing up.
External links
- Full Episode on YouTube
- Full Episode (Complete) on YouTube
- Ashlyn's Instagram (Private)
- Alaia's Instagram (Private)
- Press release from American Broadcasting Company
| Season 1 |
|---|
| The Jeans Family • The Bullard Family • The Orm Family • The Wischmeyer Family • The Weston Family • The Bailey Family • The Gorbea Family • The Ririe Family • The Collins Family • The Burnett Family • The Christiansen Family • Family Update Special |