Frustrated families tell TV nanny show: Help!

WEST JORDAN — It isn't that these people actually want to be on television. They just feel like they've tried everything with their children, and if "Supernanny" Jo Frost can help, the national exposure is worth it.

Families lined up at Gardner Village on Saturday for an open casting call for the ABC show "Supernanny," in which Frost coaches parents to tame unwanted behavior in their kids.

Frost wasn't around Saturday, but families with an average of four children showed up to fill out applications and sit down for short interviews with "Supernanny" casting producer Katie Sole. The producer asked parents to describe what help they need and talk about the worst things their children have done in the past week.

Jerry and Julie Lomax, from Salt Lake City, brought their four children, one of whom, 5-year-old Maggie, has Down syndrome.

"She's like seven kids in one," Jerry Lomax said.

With a thyroid problem and the medications she takes, Maggie goes bouncing off the walls, her parents said. Recently, Maggie dumped six bottles of shampoo on the floor and overturned a 32-inch television. Keeping control of her is a challenge.

And then there are the other three children — ages 7, 3 and 14 months. Jack, the 3-year-old, has begun drawing on the walls.

The Lomaxes watch the show regularly to get new ideas. They have recently implemented a job-assignment sheet and become more diligent about enforcing time-out rules.

Still, "we're kind of at a loss," Julie Lomax said.

So are Tyler and AnnaMaree Karren from Kearns. Their five children are all under age 6. While Tyler is at work, AnnaMaree feels like the children gang up on her.

Going to the store with all five is pointless, because they escape into the store and come back with open drinks AnnaMaree hadn't planned on buying.

Their youngest is still in diapers. "That's good if we can keep him dressed," AnnaMaree said.

The Karrens have read books on parenting. "Reading a book is different than having someone to guide you," Tyler said. "The help would be nice."

"The help would be great," AnnaMaree said.

Robyn and Jon Jorgensen, of Clinton, are also looking for help from "Supernanny." With six kids and "one or two on the way," the Jorgensen parents have different parenting styles.

"I'm passive. He's aggressive," Robyn says.

She says she wants to find a way to keep her children from fighting without being mean.

Robyn's parents think Jon is too rough on the kids, but Jon says he would like to teach his children how to listen to him and how to better control himself.