I love reality television. I love the competitions, I love the drama, I love that you get to see everything… or what you think is everything. I also know that reality TV isn’t reality and most of it is scripted in some way to create certain story lines and situations that make for good TV.
But after last night’s Jake and Vienna debacle at the end of The Bachelorette, I was just laughing at how they met in a fantasy world, not reality. They went on expensive, dream dates and life was a bowl of cherries. And then she thinks she’s engaged to a pilot, but he decides he wants a career in show business. He thinks she’s a funny, challenging woman and realizes she’s an immature mouthy girl with bad hair extensions and an awful hair color. (Okay, maybe he realized that when they were still filming.)
So I got to thinking about if cameras were in our home 24 hours a day, what would they see? Nothing exciting, I can tell you that.
Real Housewives of Columbia? Yeah, I’m wearing a t-shirt and some old jeans today. My hair is in a ponytail and I haven’t put on any makeup or left the house today. I’m up to my eyeballs in laundry. And I love the smell of that whole laundry process! There aren’t any cat fights and there’s not any back-stabbing.
There’s not a live-in nanny in this reality. I actually spent a lot of the day on the phone taking care of the preschool process and learning more about drop-in nurseries so I can go to a doctor’s appointment, hair appointment, or just run to lunch with a friend. I’m confident that the viewing audience of our reality TV show would be asleep before the end of the first 30 minute episode.
Tomorrow we’ll actually get out of the house and I’ll be spending the day making patterns for the puppets class I’m teaching for our church’s music camp. Again, not so exciting, unless you like watching someone trace paper and cut out shapes for hours.
TC and I have our share of fights and I thank God that cameras aren’t there to capture them. Certainly no table-flipping fights, but maybe if a camera did capture them we wouldn’t fight anymore. But that’s not an invitation.
Some nights we eat sandwiches, some nights we eat cereal, and some nights I actually cook! I love to cook, but somedays I don’t feel like it.
Now, if my reality could be exactly how I want it to be, I’d probably ask for it to be a perfect dream world somedays. This would mean access to some gorgeous clothes without the high credit card bill that comes with it. Or the ability to scarf down endless bowls of pasta and eat 100 French fries without the promise of popping a button off my jeans.
But what fun would that be?
Okay, you’re right. It would be lots of fun. But I have to think that a time would come when I wouldn’t appreciate the clothes or the food. I might actually miss exercising.
Okay, again. You’re right. It might not ever get old and I’d always appreciate the clothes and the food.
There are actually some blogs that I read that fascinate me and I often think I’d trade realities with them. But then I know that they’re probably only showing a piece of their reality on their blog– and that’s how it should be. But there are some incredible stories, jobs, and lives out there and I love being able to escape from my every day chores and fun to see what other gals are up to. Who wouldn’t want to trade places with The Pioneer Woman for a day? Or with Mrs. Limestone– just for a chance to be in that gorgeous house?
Our reality is a quiet one and I like it that way. And maybe that’s why I go to Bravo and ABC to bring me a little drama.
What would your reality television show look like? What would your dream reality be like?
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I wish I could relate to ANY of this but I’m afraid you’re on your own here, sister. MY life is totally camera-ready. (Excuse me as I go put on concealer and mascara so my husband isn’t terrified when he gets home to a ponytailed wife surrounded by six mountains of folded laundry, having changed 97 diapers today, swept up dog hair, made work calls and scheduled dentists’ appointments with no dinner plans in sight. Honey Nut Cheerios, anyone?)
My reality show would be SO boring! I don’t even want to think about it. In fact, when my boyfriend came in from work last night I was watiching the RHNJ marathon on Bravo last night and he just started laughing at me! I told him I needed just a little drama in my life.
I love keeping up with The Pioneer Woman. Now, if only I could cook like her!
I often think that the bachelor/bachelorette would be way more interesting (and real) if they were forced to live in a studio apartment together with no dishwasher. And maybe for the finale episodes, the competitors could be left alone with a colic-ey baby for 24 hours while competing in various household chore challenges while the bachelor/bachelorette watches them on video.
Much the same way the real world would be interesting if they made them get real jobs!
Some day I’d like to live in my actual reality, only without stress. Is that too boring or too honest? Because what I mean is, our life is pretty great and I feel incredibly lucky to call it mine… but some day, one day, I really want to see what it’s like without job stress, without money stress, and to just revel in it. I don’t need to wear makeup for that fantasy, either.
I feel your reality tv might have been interesting during the Gamecocks tournaments. Seems TC was pretty intense. haha. I think the only reason reality tv is interesting is because of the scripting. I LOVE watching it, but no one’s life is truly THAT exciting or dramatic. At least, I hope not…
I always wished that a camera would record my life in college. I bet it would have been so funny. But now I am glad that I do not1 Ha!
I think this is why we all read/write on blogs. It’s our own little version of sharing our life with the world and reading all about everybody else’s. So fun!
The previous two years {with all the wedding planning and first year of teaching} could have used a camera but these days everything is pretty calm, except when assignment are due for a class. Now my MIL and SIL are pretty insane and could probably get their own show, thankfully that lady moved 5 hours away from us two months ago {yay}.
Ohh our reality TV show would be so boring!! They’d basically film us continually watching reality tv while doing household chores, haha! I would also like to have the same reality as you, endless amounts of beautiful designer clothes and calorie-less food!
What a great post! Unfortunately my life isn’t very reality TV worthy either! My dream reality would consist of a beautiful house, a glamorous job, and a spectacular wardrobe!
If I had my own reality show it would get canceled after the pilot episode. Lately I have virtually no free time to get into ratings worthy any drama. For the last 6 weeks I’ve had 13 hour days of work followed by school. Then I come home and write a paper and watch other people on reality TV. I don’t need a perfect Bachelorette like existence, but I do long for a reality where I can do what I want.
Sorry I just dumped all that on your wall friend.
LOTS of diapers and laundry in this reality show. If I DO actually make it out of the house, it’s usually to go grocery shopping. Ugh. Super fun post, though! Loved reading it!
If the cameras sat at my house all day they would see my sweet dog sleeping and occasionally running to a window at the sound of a car door shutting. Then after 5 we would slowly come in, change out of work clothes, find yoga pants and proceed to pour adult beverages before sitting down to read, play a game or watch tv. All of that somehow gets accomplished before bed which is promptly at 10. I am pretty sure the camera crew would offer to take our dog outside for us just for a bit of excitement. I think you’re ‘reality’ world of clothes and food sounds wonderful!
Hands down my dream reality would be to live in The Pioneer Woman’s world. I am a country girl at heart, I married a rancher and would love nothing more to live on a big ol’ ranch, raise my kiddos and cook. To me, that is perfection.
Ugh, the boredom of my life would overwhelm even the most determined viewer. Work, workout, dinner, bed. Depressing. My weekends are usually pretty exciting though!
Since you like reailty TV so much I think you should watch Big Brother. You would love it.
Hi! I’ve never commented, but wanted to this time. After I had my first son (I now have another little guy) I realized with NO family even remotely close, I (and hubby) would NEVER get alone time! Or just time for a work out, laundry, appointment, etc…But I didn’t want (or trust) daycare/preschool. And I didn’t want to miss anything with them either! Anyway, all that to say I went to our local Craigslist and searched and interviewed DOZENS of ladies and finally found the right one who comes to our home as a “Mother’s Helper”. She comes 8am-Noon most mornings to play with the boys (while I am still home) so that I can get things done! It took a few months (as I am over-protective) until I felt ok to leave for appointments and such. It’s been the best thing for our family! Anywhooo…thought I’d throw that idea out! I love your blog and the way you write!
Blessings,
Janna
Isn’t it funny how we always think that someone else’s life is so much more glamorous/interesting/etc? Because, and I’m going to just risk being 100% honest here, at the risk of sounding like a total loser/stalker: um, that is how I think of your blog. The “who wouldn’t want to trade places with her?” kind of blog. For one thing, you live in South Carolina. My husband, baby girl, and I lived in Charleston for just one year before the housing market crashed and my husband had to leave his job there. We had to move back to Salt Lake City, where we’re both from, and I haven’t stopped missing SC for a single minute since then (and it’s been two years). I know Columbia is pretty stifling in the summer, but man what I wouldn’t give to live back in South Carolina! And then there’s your house. Gorgeous, charming, historical, but nicely updated with a modern kitchen, etc. You and I have very similar design taste, so I love how your whole house is decorated, and I could pretty much just move right in. Then there’s you. No matter how you might feel (we’re all so much harder on ourselves than others are), I think you’re absolutely gorgeous. Thin, fabulous clothes, and that incredible hair.
Okay, so now I’m really sounding like a stalker. But it’s honest. From this outside perspective, it seems to me you lead a pretty charmed life. And I’m not saying this to express envy, truly. I’m saying it because sometimes it’s really nice to have someone else point out all of the good they see in our lives, because it reminds us to look at those things and enjoy them a little more. For what it’s worth.
Oh how funny you want to trade with me! Trust me, my life is quite boring 99% of the time. You are 100% right that I post only about the things I find interesting. But I know how you feel – Id love to trade place with someone who doesn’t have to work or who lives in another glamourous city. The grass is always greener.