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Post by aln1982 on Feb 24, 2006 20:06:38 GMT -5
I just reread this one and have to say it is my least favorite BSC book. I don't like the way the club handles Betsy Sobak - getting "revenge" by playing jokes on her. I'm not sure what you would do about a kid like Betsy but what they did just seemed to reinforce her behavior. After all, if the baby-sitters did it, why shouldn't she? Besides, it wasn't like they actually "got her back" since all she got was a little embarrassed. I mean, Claudia got a broken leg because Betsy's trick was dangerous.
And I didn't get why they thought at the end that Betsy "really was sorry" - just because she apologized? I usually don't find a lot to complain about in BSC books but was disappointed with this one.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
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Post by macca on Feb 25, 2006 5:29:10 GMT -5
I totally agree. If Betsy's prank, which caused her baby-sitter to break her leg and need an emergency trip in an ambulance wasn't enough to shock some sense into the girl, why would simply being embarrased at the movies do the trick?
Also, where was Betsy's mother and why the hell didn't she forbid her in no uncertain terms to play any more practical jokes on the baby-sitters? If I was Mrs Sobak, I'd be nervous leaving the kid in someone else's care after that little episode. Geez.
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Post by aln1982 on Feb 25, 2006 8:48:03 GMT -5
I think the whole problem with Betsy was her mother. She seems like one of those parents who is just oblivious to anything their kids do. I hate that!
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Feb 25, 2006 20:17:08 GMT -5
The oblivious-parent thing seemed a common trend in Stoneybrook. Weird.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Feb 26, 2006 2:45:57 GMT -5
That way, the BSC could be the brilliant problem-solvers and give the Stoneybrook children the loving care and attention they deserve  |
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Post by buffykay70 on Feb 26, 2006 8:06:55 GMT -5
the womans name was cookie for christs sake, hahhaha. what a dumb mother.
and claud was overreacting a bit, like when she said that she nearly got killed. man.
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Post by aln1982 on Feb 26, 2006 9:39:06 GMT -5
I agree that she was overreacting. Stuff does happen. I once crashed off of a swing - not because it just it broke. One minute, I was being the "cool" big cousin showing my little cousin how high I could swing (I was thirteen and she was three) and the next I heard a crack, the plastic swing shattered beneath me and I and went flying through the air. True, I wasn't hurt but I didn't feel like I had "nearly been killed." In my opinion, the worst thing about Claudia's situation was just the fact that it wasn't an accident.
I also agree that oblivious parents are a trend in Stoneybrook (everywhere in real life, too, it sometimes seems). Maybe they expect the BSC to raise thier kids.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Feb 26, 2006 17:08:26 GMT -5
and claud was overreacting a bit, like when she said that she nearly got killed. man. "Nearly got killed" is probably a tad dramatic, but a broken leg is a serious injury. It should've been enough to stop Betsy's pranks immediately. |
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Amalia
Sitting For The Braddocks
Her Original Point of View
Posts: 3,664
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Post by Amalia on Feb 26, 2006 21:18:11 GMT -5
Maybe it stopped her outside pranks, but it didn't stop her usual pranks that she might have thought was not so harmless, like ones that came from that catalogue. I mean, the swing-being-broken was just something she knew about, that's all.
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ktag
Junior Sitter
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Post by ktag on Apr 13, 2006 19:48:38 GMT -5
The mother pissed me off. Your kid breaks the baby-sitter's leg and you act as if nothing happened? I assume the Kishis are insured, but the Sobaks better have paid for the ambulance. That's the least they should do. I don't think they even visited her in the hospital. It just said Betsy sent her a card. They should be on their hands and knees hoping they don't get sued. The BSC should have just dropped the Sobaks as clients, but I guess there'd be no lesson in that. Not that, you know, scaring a nine year old is exactly ethical.
Claudia seems to contemplate quitting the BSC a lot. How else would she pay for her junk food? Oh! And another thing. Why the HELL did they expect Claudia to pay dues when she wasn't even baby-sitting at the time? I mean, seriously?! "Claudia owes dues from when she was in the hospital. Oh, are you broke? You can pay double next week..." Shove off, Dawn.
Dawn was making junk jewelry. Is that where Claudia got it from? And she was making it out of paper clips and rubber bands? Was she sticking the paper clips in her ears?! Is that safe??
Oh and there was a male nurse.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Apr 13, 2006 21:29:58 GMT -5
Total word on the Betsy Sobak's parents. Ever heard of discipline, or ya know... somewhat regulating your eight yr old daughters' activities? Your daughter is responsible for her baby-sitters broken leg and you have no issue with her continuing to play pranks on the numerous baby-sitters over the next couple of weeks. As for the male nurse...  ... just finished Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls. Couldn't believe that both police officers were MALE!!! Ann, what's going on? |
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Post by sotypical42483 on Apr 14, 2006 12:03:35 GMT -5
man if I was the BSC I would never sit for Betsy again and I certainly would proclaim a loud WTF to her mother.
How do you guys remember such exact details from books?? I can barely do that when I've just read it!
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Post by aln1982 on Apr 14, 2006 15:10:30 GMT -5
Seems to be a trend with parents not disciplining their kids and just laughing about it. I hate that! I wish the books would have had the parents be a little more involved in their kids' lives. Like I Boy Crazy Stacey it says that the Pikes don't believe in having rules. They let the kids just do whatever they want as long as it is not dangerous. So who is going to teach them right from wrong??? The BSC who learned it from who knows where??? And people wonder what is wrong with today's society....
Don't mind me - I feel like going on a rant today.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Apr 14, 2006 17:55:48 GMT -5
^ haha, your conservative views are certainly not terribly common anymore.
While I tend to lean slightly more toward the liberal parenting style, I don't agree with the Pikes' attitude at all. Allowing your children to be mean to one another (remember Nicky and the triplets!) isn't acceptable IMO. Even the 'earth mothers' believe in a gentle discipline approach. It just seemed like the Pikes couldn't be bothered.
In some cases, I don't think the Pikes were terrible - such as when Claire used to run around the house naked. Obviously that's not something she'll WANT to do much longer and the appeal will definitely wear off if she's not given any attention. I believe in "pick your battles" and that's not a major issue in my book. Also, Adam's popsicle for breakfast. The nutritional content of ice cream doesn't change from 7am to 7pm. Eating a popsicle for breakfast goes against the standards set by society, but if the Pikes have a one-popsicle-a-day rule and Adam chooses to eat his first thing in the morning, that's not something that's likely to continue much after the initial thrill has worn off.
BUT... the Pikes really did seem to have rules. Remember all of Mallory's bitching? Normally those 'hippy' type parents would never place restrictions on a child's clothing, provided they weren't provocative.
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Post by aln1982 on Apr 15, 2006 7:51:29 GMT -5
Totally agree with your thoughts on the Pikes. I wouldn't have any problem with Claire running around naked - in fact, I used to do it myself when I was a little younger than her  Picking your battles is certainly important when you have 8 kids and I really don't think the Pikes' discipline is actually lax. It was just the statement and its implications that bugged me. You don't have to be strict to have some rules and standards for behavior. Kind of relates to the whole issue of whether or not MA's dad is strict. I don't think that some of things that he did, which helped contribute to the girls' description of him as "super strict," were that bad - like wanting MA to eat a balanced meal with him every night. I actually think this is a good thing. I'm getting way off topic so I will stop now. As for the Pikes, though, their parenting itself doesn't bother me. Just their claims of such a liberal attitude. |
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... just finished Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls. Couldn't believe that both police officers were MALE!!! Ann, what's going on?
Picking your battles is certainly important when you have 8 kids and I really don't think the Pikes' discipline is actually lax. It was just the statement and its implications that bugged me. You don't have to be strict to have some rules and standards for behavior. Kind of relates to the whole issue of whether or not MA's dad is strict. I don't think that some of things that he did, which helped contribute to the girls' description of him as "super strict," were that bad - like wanting MA to eat a balanced meal with him every night. I actually think this is a good thing. I'm getting way off topic so I will stop now. As for the Pikes, though, their parenting itself doesn't bother me. Just their claims of such a liberal attitude.