Wow!! I so agree with you. Organization and sense of order would sure help this family. I would be so embarrassed for all the world to see. I also see how spoiled they are and how the parents have enabled their children to be. I am curious how they live but it makes me sad to see the shambles they have made the beautiful home a mess. How sad. Hopefully, they will clean up
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I agree, messy house. I've never understood how they can be on TV with such a cluttered house. Maybe TLC should put some of the earnings from the show towards a 24 hr maid service.
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You people have to realize the health problems these people have to deal with. I know I wouldn't wanna devote my life to cleaning 24/7 if I were in that position.
I must admit, I saw this show a long time ago and continued to watch because I couldn't believe anyone could possibly live in such a mess. I am hoping with the new addition, that they will keep it a little neater but I doubt that will happen until those boys are out of the house. Which should be in the next year or two. Then maybe Matt can get things organized. I love the Roloff's and was very sad about their friend Mike. I felt I knew him and all the others are personal friends.
Molly is just as bad, did you see the episode where she just threw the paper towel on the floor and Matt was trying to tell her to pick it up, then one of the other episodes she dropped Amy's dry cleaned jacket on the floor and left it.
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I am responding to this only because I can not believe this topic is even a discussion! One, I have seen messier houses believe it or not and to insult their family for being a real, everyday family with faults just like everyone else is ridiculous! My mother is a pack rat, always has been and she got it from my grandma who used to hord everything away in the basement. My grandma's house was always clean, and my mother knows how to clean, but as long as I can remember my house was a mess. Now that I'm on my own my apartment is always clean, so there is no saying how those children will turn out. plus all of them but jake are teenagers and teenagers can have an attitude at times. is anyone here truly going to tell me they have a teenager that never spoke back once? to be honest I think the children do a lot! They help out with the farm at pumpkin season, whenever I watch and Amy asks the boys or Molly to go get something they usually do it! So I do not see the problem! As for how Amy is with Matt, I don't see any issues there either! My father is a big dreamer/schemer much like Matt, and anytime she gets frustrated with any of his actions remember, we aren't seeing this family from day one...they had a whole life and a whole pile of triles and tribulations before this show came on, so after over ten years of big surprises and probably a lot of ideas that fell through or went unfinished, I think she has a right to be a little curt with him at times. To me the Roloffs are a wonderful family with real issues and real emotions and real love for each other, and remember that it is still a reality show. We only see what they want us to see. just enjoy the show!
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I've watched this show all day long, today. It's fascinating, to say the least. How on earth did they find these ppl?! Not just challenged by dwarfism, but then to be so insanely successful, I mean, they live in a mansion on a palatial estate. Such extremes!
Jake is a real handful, and tho the kids all seem mostly nice, they are all so lazy! Spoiled rotten, imo. So many things left till the last min, and then they hire someone to come in and take care of all they can't seem to handle, themselves. It's all gorgeous, but it seems oddly out-of-control, so much of the time. Life, yes, but extreme, in this case.
How do little ppl get along in the world when they aren't rich? I guess that wouldn't make for quite as good a show.
Don't understand why the van smells so much? I mean, they hire everything else done, so why not have the van detailed and cleaned? since Zach doesn't seem to have enuf interest in it to keep it decent, yet he's pretty upset when he's punished and can't drive it.
Do they really not have housekeeping help? It hasn't been mentioned thru-out this whole day in any of the shows, but I can't imagine that one person, no matter their size, could keep up that behemoth place on their own.
If I saw a kid running thru the grocery store like that Jacob, I'd wonder, where is this kid's mom?!
Very interesting show, tho. Hard to know how much of it is real, as how real can anyone be with cameras around all the time? That certainly affects everything we see.
there are 10 million things Id rather do than clean my house-and the Roloffs are lucky enough to have other things going on in their family life that chores are not a priority. Id rather my kids remember all the fun they had growing up than how sparkly their house was. I don't remember anyone ever saying "gee-remember when we cleaned the house? wasnt that the BEST time?" I find it reassuring that other people live happy, fulfilled lives and don't sweat the small stuff.They may be sloppy but they sure do seem to do a lot of stuff together and THATS the ideal family!
The family you are seeing now in these episodes is not the same family in the early episodes. The family has changed so much! I used to think that they really worked together and had a good life. Now I just see spoiled and unruly kids who have no respect for their parents. I was so sorry that Mike passed away! He seemed to have some effect on the kids!
The family doesn't have cleaning help because Amy won't allow it. She doesn't want anyone touching "her stuff".
The family was not wealthy when the show began. I'd say upper middle class, but not rich. Now? Yeah, they seem to be very well off.
My family has always traveled, all over the world. We've done lots of other things too, but my children did not grow up in a mess. It's not an either-or thing. It's possible to have a very busy, very happy, well traveled, family, and still have the kitchen counters clean, trash in trash cans instead of all over the floor, clean clothes, sheets on the children's beds. Most American families manage to live in a fairly clean environment. For rich families like the Roloffs, who could hire housekeepers, there really is no excuse for living in such a mess.
They ALL need some discipline and Amy needs to admit that she will never keep a decent home so that she can let go and get some help in there to clean.
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When my kids were small, I had a needlework print I lived by. It said: "Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow, for babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my babies and babies don"t keep." Amy said it best on "Farewell to Mike". I don't remember her exact words, but family & friends are so much more important and fulfilling than a clean house. God bless you Amy.
I am sadden by Mikes passing as a viewer and I feel empathy for those on the show that were so close to him over the years. I too, agree he had a positive affect on the attitudes of the children, encouraging them to try and 'complete' whatever they set out to do. However, I must add here, and it seems to be about half and half in consensus, the pro-Amy's and the anti-Amy's(I am of the latter) I was appalled when I watched her 'employ'her ideas connected to Mikes passing pointedly, to excuse her messy house as something unimportant, with the speech that family, friends and times together were more important than a clean house. I thought, how inappropriate! Having a family, busy lives, and friends, happy times and those of grief, does not negate the need nor should it, to keep a clean house, or to teach the children manners, respect and responsiblity. I found it like scraping the bottom for Amy to make any reference particularly to her lack of caring about household issues, by specifically mentioning cleaning house didnt matter, because that anyone could be gone in a flash, and time spent cleaning, is time taken away from family! WHAT a crock!(for her to say)! She doesnt stay home to be with them as it is. She doesnt get involved with their needs, she is too busy being all about herself. She overrides every single time Matt attempts to insert some measure of discipline. And to have her use this sad event, to justify herself was disheartening as well as just wrong.
i understand everyone's point but there is not excuss why all of the kids,amy and matt cant or wont keep there rooms clean yes life is too short but all kids should be made to keep the house clean why remodel if its going to continue to look like a pig sty take out the time at least twice a week to clean and it wont get so bad
Hello: I think that the SUPER NANNY should visit this family. Teach them about the CHORE CHART. Set up a chart w/ moveable pieces. I did this with my son over 15 yrs ago and it worked! there was a reward for it..I didnt give him an allowance. I feel that chores is part of life! but...you all must admit that the kids dont pitch in and dont do as they are told most of the time. Ive seen this too! Its typical though. But it needs to be nipped in the budd! They need to be prepared for life ahead,,and Im sure that the boys' future wife doesnt want to be their maids!
Yes, they have a messy house, but I think the Roloff's are a great family. Amy can be a real pain but I think she has good values. Yes, she's all about herself. Matt is a doll. He doesn't let her rain on his parade. I am amazed at how little attention ANYONE pays to the dog. That poor dog..he's so sad and so ignored.
so, ok...yea their house is a little untidy, but come on people! they do live busy lives. and the kids, honestly, ive seen worse! they are good kids and remember....THEY ARE TEENAGERS! do any of you remember being a teenager? i do very well and i was the same way!one more thing to remember is....A SPOTLESS HOUSE ISN'T A LIVED IN HOUSE!!!!
I clearly remember being a teenager. I also clearly remember having chores, some of which involved cleaning the house. It's not a foreign concept. Children have been helping their parents with chores since the beginning of time itself most likely.
In the Roloff house though, only one parent wants a clean house and that is Matt. Amy simply doesn't care, and since she is the ruler of the land, she gets her way.
It does appear though that all of that has changed. From the looks of the recent episodes the house was most definitely cleaned, presumably by an entire cleaning crew. So, it looks like Matt finally won in the battle for a clean house... at least for now.
True, it's a fact: the Roloff's keep a disgraceful house, squander money, allow shameful mess to be shown on television without being embarrassed at all. They're laughing all the way to the bank, and they are not reading this forum. Meanwhile, the writer of this post has shameful grammar and spelling, yet posts without embarrassment where all the readers of this forum will see that like the Roloff children who are struggling in school, this writer also lacks basic linguistic skills. Frankly, both the Rolloffs and this writer irk me equally.
quote:
Originally posted by dthomastlc: It's the boys' bedrooms that drive me nuts. I guess if leaving items on the stairs for days at a time (safety hazard) and who knows what on the couch/floor/table or any surface capable of being 'placed on' is status quo for this family, why would the boys' rooms be any different?
I thought possibly due to Amy and Matt's size, they may not go upstairs often enough to see the disaster areas. Then I recalled Amy waking the boys and seeing them sleeping on mattresses and covering with sleeping bags. YUCKY! That blew my theory, at least in regard to Amy, about not going up there a possible contributing factor.
Really, Amy sympathizers, what mother would allow a child the age of Jacob to sleep in a bedroom with such cluttered surroundings? My goodness, where, if ever, will Jacob learn about maintaining a semblance of even a tidy bedroom? He's a child for darn sakes! If mom or pop don't guide him, who the heck will? Surely not the 'time' that is spent doing other things.
I don't care how the Roloff's live or what conditions they live in. I am, after all, at a posting board for the LPBW program, I've made observations while watching the program, and I am posting from the position I would take in my own home. I would not let my child's room go that far.
Clutter....no excuse. I could never visit people who live in such a mess. Amy is not a role model....she is a expeditionist!! I sorry I don't believe in excuses. Those children are going to be dysfunctional individuals.
Originally posted by cricket5: Clutter....no excuse. I could never visit people who live in such a mess. Amy is not a role model....she is a expeditionist!! I sorry I don't believe in excuses. Those children are going to be dysfunctional individuals.
Expeditionist...as in one who goes on expeditions? Good for her. As to excuses, I do not recall her having offered any..for anyone to 'believe in'. Even a qualified person, such as a clinical psychologist, would not make such a blanket prediction as 'dysfunctional..one and all".
Good one, Rita! I haven't visited the forum for awhile and didn't see any posts from you at first glance and hoped you were doing all right.
Everything I read at first was in "TEXT" language and I thought this site had radically changed in just a few short days! OMG! haha. I'm afraid the text language is going to produce generations of people who can't write a grammatically correct sentence. I'm sure I sound really old and really square. No offense, just an observation.
Hi Sally. Good to hear you are better. I've had a few of my own health issues,some still unresolved, but not so bad as yours. I'm OK and so happy spring has arrived here in New Jersey.
I have decided no longer to tell posters that the Roloff's neither read nor answer the questions directed to them. I think some posters come on with a question, and, rather than doing a little homework (you can find just about anything on Google or the internet), they ask and then we never her from them again. I was also taken to task for being "rude" in my abrupt suggestion. So, OK. Other regulars can answer--or not.
About English grammar and usage, it is deteriorating in front of us. Now I see there is no difference between "less" and "few" in commercials. The words are not interchangeable, as I'm sure you know. I agree that texting has had a negative effect on young people.
Ah well. I'll be 77 in a couple of weeks and will not be here to see the world without newspapers and magazines, and the language increasingly corrupted.
On a rainy day, there is nothing like curling up with a good book. YIKES. It's on a computer????.
Rita... You bring up an interesting point. Numerous newspapers have had to close down because of lack of subscribers. With the internet available at our fingertips, I know news is available 24/7, so people really don't have a need for a newspaper. So, I wonder if magazines and even books are also taking a hit?
I wonder if books will become a thing of the past. With texting and emails and such, will the written word lose it's magic? Will people lose their interest in reading? It just seems that proper English is no longer a priority and the written word is no longer important. When people don't even write in complete sentences, it just doesn't look hopeful that books will be in our future. Who knows.
We are on the same page, sadly--so to speal.. I love books and our library is always busy, so someone is reading. I wonder if the young people today have a short attention span.
You betcha they have a short attention span. A friend of mine, father of 4, believes that his youngest has had so many wrecks because he's used to playing video games. He thinks that because the kid is used to having the video car stop immediately that his real car will act like that too.
I quit watching TV for 2 years several years ago. I noticed that when I first quit, every 10 or 15 minutes I felt like I had to get up and do something, as if I was still living in the world of TV and commercials. It was weird. I also got a lot more done in my day. I'm back to being a TV junkie now, oh well.
I think it would be interesting to talk with a seasoned English teacher to see how kids have changed over the years. I've noticed in my neighborhood that it's rare to see kids out playing for very long anymore. They're plugged in. Things have changed.
When I go out to dinner with my family, the young ones are always texting while they eat. They can't even have a conversation with you because they're so distracted. It's beyond rude, and I've said so before. They simply don't see anything wrong with it.
I know this a little off the original topic, but some interesting points have been made, and just wanted to add a few comments
I too used to be an avid book reader, but i'm finding myself reading much more on the internet now. The volume of knowledge readily available still astounds me, and i find i have to make a real conscientious effort to pick up a book these days.
'The times they are a changing' (Bob Dylan song)
I agree Sally, you don't see many children playing outside where i live either? I'm from England (lived in the states 6yrs) and it's pretty much the same back home too. Along with all the gadgets and gizmos that keep the kids indoors, a rise in crime and danger is also to blame, quite rightly parent's keep their kids closer to home these day's. I was always out and about when i was young.
Amy often acknowledges how blessed ahe is that her kids (and their friend's) can play, hang out on the farm not having that worry. Again apologies for going off topic.
about texting at the dinner table: A few years ago, one of my nieces had her phone in her lap at a holiday dinner. No one noticed but I saw her texting, looked at her in the eyes and sliletly mouthed "put it away". No one else knew and she put it away. Since then neither niece has brought their phone to such dinners. I still see them texting occasionally at less formal dinners, guess they know they can get away with it sometimes. I just couldn't let it go at a formal dinner in the living room with the fine china and silver and they understand that. It's a shame that the kids don't see anything wrong with texting while they are at a dinner with relatives. We might actually say something that they might be interested in! Maybe everyone, parents included, should check their phones at the door. The phones are out of hand, I've almost gotten into 2 wrecks because of drivers on the phone.
Coral, maybe you should give those texting kids a good smack! I'm very much just kidding.
Ever since video games came around, kids have had less of a need to play outside. I remember this myself as a kid, when the Atari came around, suddenly we were all staying inside and playing with it. We used to all go outside and ride bikes and play softball or anything else, even board games... but when that Atari came around, we wanted to play it.
Now with all the gadgets these kids have today, there's simply no need to go outside for entertainment. We're all fatter these days because of it too.
As for the texting, yeah, we all need to speak up against it. There's simply no need to do that constantly. It's ridiculous. Now we have this twitter thing, something else that's ridiculous. As if I need to know when someone is about to go to the potty.
In regards to the current line of thought being followed on this forum, I have to agree with most of it. As I read the first page and a half of responses here, I could not believe that people who were so compulsive about how the Roloff's house was being cleaned or not, could possible let their spelling and grammar be so sloppy. Have they never heard of SpellCheck? As far as kids playing outside so little these days, my grandchildren are 7, 8, and 9. They would play outside all day long, every day, if they could. When we were all kids, playing outside, no one dared tell you how to raise your children and if your child fell and broke a bone, the child deserved it for not being careful. Now the parent would be in jail for child endangerment. And believe it or not, apartment complexes, while they do have play grounds for children to play in, rarely allow it. Our complex has so many rules it is unreal. No balls, no bikes, no rollerskates. No unsupervised children under 13, (personally I think it should be the ones over 13!) and an 8 o'clock curfew, (even for adults who just may be working nights!), even during the summer when the sun doesn't set until 9 or so. And about the original topic, I see both sides of the arguement. I have lived in both sides. While my husband was terminally ill, my house was almost never completely clean. Taking care of him, 24/7, plus three kids, was more than I could handle. I did the best I could, and let go of what I couldn't get around to doing. But now, for the most part our apartment is clean. And don't think it is because my kids are grown and gone. I live with my oldest now, her husband, their three children, and several others, (friends we are trying to help). The camers crews come in and spend a week or more taping EVERY little moment of the time they are there. Then they take it back to the studio where very clever people EDIT this mountain of footage into about 20-25 minutes of show. (Sometimes a little less.) As for you people who say that the Roloff children aren't being taught proper values, I have seen those same children doing their own laundry, cooking their own meals and generally taking care of themselves. (Did you not see those parts of the episodes, or did you only see what you wanted to see?) Matt and Zack have severe health issues that would stop a lot of people in their tracks, and they still keep on tickin'.
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Most everyone who posts here does so because they enjoy the show and want to discuss it with other people. Like everything else though, the topics with the most discussion are those that are more controversial.
Come one people. I bet 50% of the people complaining have horrible houses that I wouldn't eat in. My husband's job takes him into many local houses and he says those people who act high and mighty and yuppies and the well off tend to have the worst houses~~pathways with piles of their junk to the ceiling, basements filled with garbages, etc....They have lives, they have kids and dang it it is their life to live not yours. All this talk about dire consequences and housekeepers give me a break. If they punished their kids everyone would scream ABUSE. If they hired a housekeeper everyone would scream (with envy) that the money is making them different. Don't watch if it bothers you. If all you can do is complain, go volunteer somewhere and get yourself out of your own house.
scrmnmimi65... There are always going to be various issues that some people want to discuss, while others don't. I don't see the point in attacking those you disagree with.
There are new people signing on here everyday. I have a feeling the messy house comments are coming from old episodes and not new ones. Since the renovation they have organized the house and things are more tidy.
Mmm, perhaps your id may be a precursor to your basic demeanor.
In any event, we are all entitled to our opinions, just as you are yours. I have criticized this family in the past concerning their hygiene and their living conditions.
The family has changed, they are much better now. Prior to that, the conditions of the house and yard were atrocious. There is usually a reason for it. Basic laziness comes to mind. Discontent would be another.
Reality TV has gone to far. We turn on the set to watch a family deal with the hurdles in their life because they are little people. What we saw was filth and clutter. That had nothing to do with their stature. TLC should have cleaned that place up when the first comments came to light about the mess
Thanks TLC for allowing us to vent, rant, adore, commiserate, and get to know these little people named Roloff.
It is so hard to believe how bad that house looks, why not use some of the money you get from TLC and get help with it Amy. Aren't you embarrassed just a little knowing millions of people see how you keep your home?
Originally posted by lilypad: "kudo's to Amy--the true hero of the show and only genuine, real personality."
amy is the reason that house is like it is. she does nothing to clean up nor has she taught those children to do anything. when matt does try to get the children to pick up amy jumps on him. she's supposedly a teacher yet the kids are flunking in school. she eats like a kid, thinks she's one of the kids "buds" and has carefully taught those children to disrespect their father by her nasty attitude toward him. she's disrespectful to her in-laws, uses foul language and has no standards as to how those children should behave. real personality? yeah, she's a real ball of fire.
Wow couldn't have said it better myself. Kate has 8 kids her house is beautiful
Originally posted by Denton: The family doesn't have cleaning help because Amy won't allow it. She doesn't want anyone touching "her stuff".
The family was not wealthy when the show began. I'd say upper middle class, but not rich. Now? Yeah, they seem to be very well off.
My family has always traveled, all over the world. We've done lots of other things too, but my children did not grow up in a mess. It's not an either-or thing. It's possible to have a very busy, very happy, well traveled, family, and still have the kitchen counters clean, trash in trash cans instead of all over the floor, clean clothes, sheets on the children's beds. Most American families manage to live in a fairly clean environment. For rich families like the Roloffs, who could hire housekeepers, there really is no excuse for living in such a mess.
They ALL need some discipline and Amy needs to admit that she will never keep a decent home so that she can let go and get some help in there to clean.
We have had pages and pages of comments on this subject. I hope that now that the series has renewed, we can give up this talk about the messy house. It's been done to death. I think they have been generated from re-runs. Tonight's show will give us plenty to talk about--pro and con.
Originally posted by J e s s: It's really weird that some people care so much about something as frivolous as how organized and neat another persons house is.
I am disabled and can tell you that the house is DANGEROUS for Matt. I am shocked he hasn't fallen and am amazed that they haven't become ill from the poor sanitation practiced by the Roloffs.
Amy always acts so darned stressed because she is unwilling to tidy the mess and won't back up Matt's efforts.
They aren't sick or falling down due to their environment so we can relax now!
Despite eons of time rolling by in which the house has been totally remodeled--looking much neater and tidier..and still the subject fascinates. Not really!
Originally posted by J e s s: It's really weird that some people care so much about something as frivolous as how organized and neat another persons house is.
I am disabled and can tell you that the house is DANGEROUS for Matt. I am shocked he hasn't fallen and am amazed that they haven't become ill from the poor sanitation practiced by the Roloffs.
Amy always acts so darned stressed because she is unwilling to tidy the mess and won't back up Matt's efforts.
I'm sure if Matt felt that it was dangerous then more effort would have been put into keeping the house neat. Unless I am missing something, I only saw disorganized clutter. Having clutter everywhere doesn't look good, but I don't see how its unsanitary.
I think many are seeing this show for the first time in reruns, so they are seeing older episodes when the house was very cluttered.
I do think in these older episodes there was no doubt that the clutter could be dangerous for Matt because he walks on crutches. There were piles of laundry and all sorts of things all over the floors, and that is dangerous to anyone, but most of all to someone on crutches.
Good for her.
