February 11th, 2010
Coming to a Television Near You on March 3rd…
If you’ve been watching Discovery Health in the last few days, you may have seen my family on your television. The promos for our parenting special are running as we speak!
Our special airs on Wednesday, March 3rd at 7 pm central time (check your local listings for your time zone.) The show is titled “Radical Parenting” and, oh boy, I can hear the collective eye-roll as you all read that. BUT – they were going to call the special “Extreme Parenting” s0 “Radical Parenting” seems fine to me, comparatively speaking. We did what we could to help everything come off as well as possible, now it’s up to the producers to make sure nobody looks like an asshole.
So now to answer some of your questions:
Q: Are you nervous?
A: Yes. I might throw up.
Q: Have you seen it already?
A: No. I haven’t. In fact, many TFB fans saw the previews before I did. I don’t know if we’re going look to great, or look like asshats. Which is why I might throw up.
Q: What do they consider “radical parenting?”
A: Well, we’re featured on the show as parents who raise their children in a “gender neutral” environment (as much as that is even possible.) Also on the show is a family who does “Unschooling” and a family that has 5 kids and do babywearing, extended breastfeeding, Elimination Communication, family bed, and generally just lives an uber-crunchy lifestyle.
Q: So, what the fuck is so radical about that, goddammit!?!?
A: To me? Nothing. To America? I suppose it’s interesting. Let’s not all kid ourselves and pretend that most people babywear, breastfeed for the full amount of time, unschool, and practice feminist mothering. We know we’re in the minority, which is why those of us who did the show felt it was important to lend a voice to these “out of the box” parenting styles.
Q: Okay, wait – you’re gonna be on Discovery Health? WTF?
A: Oh, sorry, if you’re new to my blog, you can go back and read all about this adventure here.
Now, hop on over to the Facebook page and RSVP to the virtual viewing party! Then leave a comment and tell me if you’ve seen the promo yet (the narcissist in me is dying to know what you think.)
Click to Leave a Comment
I am seriously SO excited to see this!!! 
I hope they do you justice!
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How exciting! I really hope the producers weren’t dicks and edited it to make y’all look silly or OTT. I’m glad they changed the title to ‘Radical’, that’s much better than ‘Extreme.’
I wonder if TLC puts its shows up on their site after they’ve aired, or if anyone will be able to sneak your clips onto YouTube somehow? Would love to watch it from here in the UK!
FertileFem´s last blog ..Mindful language: what does ‘mothering’ mean? 
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Actually, this post has made me question something i hadn’t even considered before.
Are you thinking of homeschooling the boys?
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Gee-the show’s line-up sounds a lot like my Twitter feed. I guess I am a *Radical Tweeter*–lol.
Can’t wait to see it!
hillary´s last blog ..flowers13: RT @mouselink: NEXT WEEK: There are still spots available for Social Media Marketing for Business #Ithaca http://mslnk.bz/aZMjzg
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Yo no tengo TV. Do you know if Discovery/this show will be available online? I’d love to see it!
Thanks, and congrats! I know the media is notorious for cwazy editing, but I hope they cast you (and the other families) in a positive or at least open-minded light in the final cut. Congrats and kudos!
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I am still beginning to think that this stuff isn’t as radical as it seems- I think people do a lot of these things quietly. I do/have done all of those things except homeschooling/unschooling, but people wouldn’t know it (except for the babywearing), I don’t discuss it and I look pretty mainstream. And even though I’m a SAHM, our parenting at home sure cross gender lines and I see that all over. I have to wonder about the talking heads at tv stations and what’s in those heads.
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Can’t wait! We’re going to be in FL, I will watch it there, but I will DVR it at home in case FL people don’t watch Discovery Health!! hee hee
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Ohh I hope I can find this online, do not own a tv! I am just 7 weeks pregnant and we have already decided not to find out the gender of our babe. My mother in law actually gasped and said something like -oh you will change your mind, how will you buy things!-(sorry my quotation key on my crappy laptop no longer works!) I watched my sister get a zillion pink things when she had my neice.
If you(or any of your readers) know of any website that sells cool unisex clothes then please let me know!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog.
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I don’t own a television either, but I’m sure there will be a way to catch the recorded show after it’s aired? I hope so! Congratulations, Gina. It’s so cool that you, and the other families are going to be highlighted on such a huge network. I hope many see what you’re doing and either feel a)not so strange after all, or b)they’ve been thinking about alternative routes but don’t have the support and are more encouraged by watching the show.
Bring Birth Home´s last blog ..Welcome to Bring Birth Home
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Holy moly! I didn’t even realize that was you! Well, I am new to your blog so that could be why also ::chuckles::
Though I remember when I first saw the previews and it was called radical parenting and they mentioned the gender neutral thing, I was like “whaa that’s radical?”. Anyways, I can’t wait to watch it now!
Thasanee´s last blog ..Remember to Brush Your Teeth
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I have thought about how I would try to raise any possible kids i might have as feminists, knowing that even I have yet to conquer all of the gender-roles/ideas that I was taught growing up. The term ‘gender-neutral’ never occurred to me. I cant wait to watch this show as a means of guidance.
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Hi! We are the radical unschooling family from this special. I’m dying at your blogpost because you answered all the questions just as we have in our discussions. Crossing my fingers that everything is put together in a way that actually represents what we do thoughtfully- tough to do in 20 minutes. Did you hear they got a parenting ‘expert’ to give opinions? We shall see!
Sarah
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Hi! I’m so excited to see how the producers put this together! We’re friends of Sarah Parent (the radical unschooling family) and took a small part in the filming. I figure even if it turns out to make all you awesome families look like kooks (which I’m hoping it doesn’t), there are still bound to be folks out there who watch it and say, “Wow!! I’ve been looking for a better/different way to parent! Thanks!” …. or folks like some of the ones who have left comments here – now they know they are not alone and that maybe there are more folks out there like them than they realize.
How ever it turns out, all you awesome families get a big “YOU ROCK!!” from this “radical” whole-life-unschooling family.
Peace!!
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UPDATE!!! Please, everyone, note that the special airs at 8 pm EASTERN time, and 7 pm CENTRAL time tomorrow (Wednesday, March 3rd.) I originally said 8 pm central time, but I was wrong. Apologies. If you DVR’d it, your machine is smarter than me, so no worries.
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