tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post4193527285735187846..comments2023-08-06T05:53:49.308-07:00Comments on The Former Anne Spollen's Author Blog Is Being Retitled to "Notes from Living Upghetto": Balloon Boy and Other Parenting NightmaresAnne Spollenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-44987059829170688912009-10-26T09:23:32.367-07:002009-10-26T09:23:32.367-07:00These kinds of stories make me sooooo irate. The w...These kinds of stories make me sooooo irate. The worst part is that the parents don't seem to find a single bleeping thing wrong with it.<br /><br />Grrr...Carrie Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893023777471521703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-1215254972206377392009-10-23T12:45:21.322-07:002009-10-23T12:45:21.322-07:00It was uncomfortable, Adrienne. I felt like I coul...It was uncomfortable, Adrienne. I felt like I couldn't breathe right when I was watching that. I'm actually glad the media coverage has died down.<br /><br />I take it you liked the novel, Erin! Thanks so much. I work right now because I pretty much have to work. If I ever write a novel that would keep us in pizza rolls and mortgage payments, I would quit in a nanosecond. Maybe less. I would love to be a writing housewife. <br /><br />See what you notice because you're a nurse, Glynis? You're right; that boy was really active (read normal- at least as of right now) to have been quiet. What must it do to a kid's head to have his parents "pretend" to look for him while the tv people show up? I can't imagine. <br /><br />A lawyer friend of mine suggested there could be contributing to the delinquency of a minor charges brought, but I just wish those kids were living somewhere else.Anne Spollenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-50241024801714661172009-10-22T03:06:46.055-07:002009-10-22T03:06:46.055-07:00The mother kept nodding when the little boy gave t...The mother kept nodding when the little boy gave the correct answer. The siblings sat so seriously it was scary.<br />I hope the child abuse team help the child who was shut in an attic for hours,alone. To me he would have had to be threatened to keep quiet. He was too active to have done as he was told, he would have had to be threatened into silence and low activity.<br />Horrid story,horrid parents.<br />Interesting post,thanks.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-5088370829475372902009-10-20T11:45:57.568-07:002009-10-20T11:45:57.568-07:00Anne Spollen!!!! I just finished your freakin book...Anne Spollen!!!! I just finished your freakin book and IT WAS GREAT!!!!! What the **** r u doing WORKING when u should be writing ALL THE TIME. YOU ARE AN AMAZING WRITER -- that book was freakin AWESOME!!!! I say Quit yr job and JUST WRITE -- I feel like that girl Magda is sitting right next to me. U NEED TO WRITE MORE< :<br /><br />-Erin (in PA)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-39680836239885165042009-10-19T15:52:49.536-07:002009-10-19T15:52:49.536-07:00I heard about the interview on Larry King, but onl...I heard about the interview on Larry King, but only got around to watching it today. What an uncomfortable thing to watch. I feel for those boys.Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05583029102450754497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-7368097045834116132009-10-19T06:30:38.874-07:002009-10-19T06:30:38.874-07:00Hi there, Katie. Our posts crossed. Everyone did s...Hi there, Katie. Our posts crossed. Everyone did say it all (well, they're all writers...)Anne Spollenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-75954330695776739922009-10-19T06:29:47.066-07:002009-10-19T06:29:47.066-07:00Hey, Freckles and Deb, welcome! It is disturbing. ...Hey, Freckles and Deb, welcome! It is disturbing. I almost never comment on the news, but this story got to me.<br /><br />OMG, Mary. My boys wanted to go on the roof whenever I tied a cape around them (which was most days when they were toddlers). We "flew" around the carpeted, basement playroom instead. That mother was looney tunes. Unfortunately, she wasn't the only one with kids living in looney land.<br /><br />And SF, I've bribed my kids to do things like send thank you notes or not fight in the car. But you can't call that bribing: we are teaching "negotiation skills" -- <br /><br />I'm glad, K.C. It can't just be me who thinks those kids should be taken away. The other, new piece is there is a history of domestic violence in the marriage. The story just gets bleaker and bleaker.<br /><br />Welcome, JM!Anne Spollenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-52633727830858550782009-10-19T06:28:04.309-07:002009-10-19T06:28:04.309-07:00I have nothing to add. You guys said it all...I have nothing to add. You guys said it all...Katie Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08067504634291164972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-45133956054005590592009-10-18T18:42:23.615-07:002009-10-18T18:42:23.615-07:00That whole story is sad at so many levels, I feel ...That whole story is sad at so many levels, I feel bad for the kids.Jm Diazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02542245056831474827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-79317346106380720592009-10-18T10:58:39.213-07:002009-10-18T10:58:39.213-07:00From what I've heard, the parents are in troub...From what I've heard, the parents are in trouble. I heard a short interview on the news with some official who said they were checking with the DA's office to see what kind of charges would apply. I'm glad. What horrible parents. At least their son wasn't actually in danger--but next time, maybe he will be. After all, it's might make a good show. >:(K.C. Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12467201304235217944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-17960279980593278932009-10-17T18:49:13.902-07:002009-10-17T18:49:13.902-07:00They must have promised that kid something really ...They must have promised that kid something really HUGE to have him agree to stay in that attic. Not that I believe in bribing children--but it definitely works . . . temporarily.<br /><br />Call child welfare AND make them pay the entire cost of the rescue mission. They should also be blackballed by the media.<br /><br />sfHardygirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02268385174949496800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-54714964860427265172009-10-17T14:04:57.014-07:002009-10-17T14:04:57.014-07:00What Bish said. I don't know the balloon boy s...What Bish said. I don't know the balloon boy story, but I can imagine. Fifteen years ago, there was a mother who claimed her little girl really wanted to fly a plane all by herself. And perhaps she did, but the mom was right behind it, always in the picture, smiling away. The little girl got to live her dream and fly her own plane, with an experienced pilot in attendance. They crashed the plane and she died. The whole thing was just so wrong. The mother claimed that the little girl had gotten to do what she really wanted to do and that that helped with her grief, but what a load of rubbish. No kid has the kind of maturity to make such decisions. <br /><br />I can't get my kids to do things either, but like yours, they think for themselves. And that's a blessing.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-53102219883405571252009-10-17T09:05:05.585-07:002009-10-17T09:05:05.585-07:00I know, Bish. It's almost as if we are grantin...I know, Bish. It's almost as if we are granting the dad his wish of having a reality show through all the media coverage. <br /><br />And Wife Swap...I can't imagine. It's disturbing just to stumble upon.Anne Spollenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-6497637681056038492009-10-17T08:53:41.360-07:002009-10-17T08:53:41.360-07:00This is a disturbing story. The family does seem t...This is a disturbing story. The family does seem to need help.Deb Cushmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564044064322450488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-56416395648562766312009-10-17T05:41:40.884-07:002009-10-17T05:41:40.884-07:00Yes all of that is disturbing. But what's dist...Yes all of that is disturbing. But what's disturbing to me is that there's a show called Wife Swap (along with all those other "reality" shows)and that people actually watch and/or participate in them. Why do people feel the need to look in on other people's lives? Do they not have lives of thier own to live? Are they living vicariously through other people? Are their lives that boring to them? Are they that empty? Do they totally lack imagination?<br /><br />This trend of watching people/celebraties etc. on TV and in magazines has, to me, become a kind of sick voyeurism. The trend may very well be producing people like those parents and their children and a sick need for their 15 minutes of fame.<br /><br />The other thing that gets me is that it was HEADLINE news. SURELY there are more IMPORTANT things happening in the U.S. and the world.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-60899228858838372282009-10-16T14:34:57.221-07:002009-10-16T14:34:57.221-07:00I once "lost" Philip at a water park whe...I once "lost" Philip at a water park when he was about two. I was screaming, crying -- absolutely bonkers -- and this was within the first three seconds of his one minute diappearance. You're right: those parents were too calm, too comfortable with the cameras.<br /><br />And how do they live? He says he spends most of his time searching for evidence of extra terrestrial life. That's a career when you have three kids?<br /><br />I guess I'm ranting now.<br /><br />But yeah, when you see him or listen to him, something is very fishy in Denmark (you can always quote Shakespeare)Anne Spollenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7837908059809422462.post-14345739642288907712009-10-16T12:51:49.613-07:002009-10-16T12:51:49.613-07:00My husband was watching that interview and I said,...My husband was watching that interview and I said, somethings fishy in Denmark, (uh-oh, dating myself with that old cliche), and I told him, that Dad is strange. The Mom kept smiling. Who would smile when something so seriously disturbing had just happened. If a mother really believed their son was 6000 feet in the air? The whole scene frustrated me on so many levels. Will they get in trouble for causing such a costly ruckus? Who knows.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.com