Oprah.com Community: producersh's Blog: Challenge Your Family!!

Are you and your family UP FOR THE CHALLENGE? If you are the family we have been looking for -- e-mail me right away!

From shopping to technology to activities, does your family do everything in excess? Are all the distractions in your life driving your family apart? Would you like to scale back and simplify - but you don't know where to begin? Do you buy too much "stuff?" Do you spend too much time grocery shopping and end up throwing away most of it at the end of the week? Are your closets packed with things you never wear or use? Does your family spend way too much money? Have you tried to cutback only to give in to your spouse and kids? Are you addicted to shopping? Is your kids room filled with toys that they don't play with? Do you shop too much? Do you have an expensive coffee or eating out habit? Is your family overscheduled? Has technology taken over your family & left you feeling more disconnected? Are you ready to challenge your family to live with less? Feeling disconnected by the technology, the activities, and the stuff that is distracting your family...and want to challenge your family to simplify for one week!

Please only e-mail me if you are willing to appear on TV...

4 Comments

Comments

cubfnatic

May 22, 2009 3:25 AM

Hi Suzanne,
I really enjoy your blog and watch the Oprah show everyday. Would you ever consider doing a feature on a story line that is on the soap opera Guiding Light between the characters of Olivia and Natalia (a.k.a. Otalia)? It is a slow burning love story about two women who fell in love with each other that never expected to. I think this story line would fit in well on a piece about same-sex couple love stories becoming more prevalent on television. It is the best love story that is on television right now and has a huge fan base that can also be found online. This story line has touched so many people across the world and has been handled beautifully by the writers. I think it would be facinating for your viewers to be introduced to this storyline and the performances that are given by Crystal Chappell (plays Olivia) on Guiding Light everyday. Keep up the great work in the world of OW!

saldog0

Jul 26, 2009 10:35 PM

Hi there Suzanne!

Oprah does so many wonderful shows, please consider my family for any upcoming shows about the challenges of parenting.

My philosophy of parenting is the same as that of a physician, "First do no harm." Sometimes that is easier said than done. So often it is a balancing act, joy one minute, total chaos the next, always hoping that you are not completely screwing up!

We came back from a recent trip with beautiful photos of our girls, 7 and 10, in a field of sunflowers. Everyone oohed and awwed, but all I can recall is the girls screaming about the bees and me becoming as mad as a hornet. How easy it is to lose patience and lose sight of what matters. They are little such a short time.

I have written a letter a day to the girls for seven months to share a bit of myself with them, to show that mommy is far from perfect. I hope it will help us to better understand each other as they grow. Writing is a cathartic thing for any mom to do, and anything that helps you grow as a parent is worthwhile.

Good luck with your upcoming shows!

curstofire

Oct 21, 2009 2:32 AM

too much stuff. small space. clutter. my house is very clean, and even when it is picked up it still feels cluttered. a basement full of boxes of stuff we will probably never use. it feels heavy. how many times can i organize and purge? it comes right back. will i feel better only when i have nothing left? my son has a room of toys that he never touches. a book shelf we don't read from. it just seems that at the end of the day we're tired and so i turn on a movie to have some peace and quiet. i'd rather go on a walk, play catch in the yard, go to a museum, do a craft project... why don't i take the time to change? i want to, i think about it, but then days go by and the crayons haven't left the box.

ppappas

Nov 16, 2009 8:41 AM

We are a family of 5, I have three daughters ages 9,10,11. They all have CLOSETS filled with clothes, yet never have anything to wear. I go through their closets, give away piles of clothes often, yet, the closets are still full and I can't seem to get a handle on what's really needed. I end up buying stuff that doesn't work over and over. I also have a refrigerator and pantry full of food. I go to the market about 4 to 5 times a week, yet, there is nothing to eat! Mostly it's stuff I can turn into a meal but not things my family can snack on or make quickly. I end up throwing away alot of food and it makes me sad. I want us to have less, to be more practical and economical. I know if we can do this, we'll actually have more of what we want?! This is something I think about alot and something as a mom and manager of a household I know I need to get a handle on.