TV crew at Skylark Wednesday night – help fill up the crowd

During open-mike time at Skylark Café and Club tomorrow (Wednesday) night, around 9 pm, Jason Brunet plans to rap. And, he says, an ABC News TV crew will be there to record him, so perhaps you’d like to be there for the crowd cutaways. Jason has gained media attention lately for an unusual reason: His mom is a “hoarder,” and his family was featured on the reality-TV show “Hoarders.” He also was recently on NBC‘s “Today” (here’s the video clip). Now, he says, ABC’s “20/20” is doing a segment about the children of hoarders, and wants to include video of him performing, so he’s hoping to have a TV-worthy audience at Skylark tomorrow (3803 Delridge Way SW). You can check out his music, by the way, at threeninjas.net.

Sonoma June 28, 2011 (10:53 pm)

No offense to Jason, but this “reality” TV thing is getting sillier and sillier. And now 20/20 is doing a piece on CHILDREN of hoarders?? Is all this really so fascinating? Next up: Dogs of Guys Who Don’t Put the Toilet Seat Back Down. Regardless, all the best to Jason in his musical (not child-of-hoarder) career.
P.S. If everyone fills up Skylark, would that be considering people-hoarding?

WSB June 28, 2011 (10:58 pm)

Sonoma, after getting Jason’s note, I did some web-roving, since as I had admitted to him, I watch almost zero TV and wasn’t familiar with this phenomenon. While it may be a small population segment, he says the plight of children growing up in these types of homes is real, and now it’s getting some attention. The Today segment seems to have followed a New York Times article. – TR

coffee June 29, 2011 (5:05 am)

TR-good for you on watching almost zero tv, you are missing not much!

Yardvark June 29, 2011 (8:21 am)

I would be interested in a movie called Dogs of Guys Who Leave the Toilet Seat Down. But not a TV show. That’d be ridiculous.

kate June 29, 2011 (8:51 am)

What about American Pickers and Pawn Stars? Those are great TV shows! Funny with a ton of American history. I must admit, though, I’m a sucker for Horders and Intervention.

Donna Austin June 29, 2011 (8:54 am)

It’s unfortunate that so many are unaware of the impact hoarding has on the children who grow up in it, as well as the challenges presented when an elderly parent hoards. (see Tracy’s Story: http://bit.ly/my9vv8)

Awareness about Adult Children of Alcoholics did not begin until the 80’s, thanks to Dr. Janet Geringer Woititz.* (http://www.drjan.com/janbio.html)

Hopefully with the increased interest of doctors, therapists, and counselors, awareness about children of hoarders will reach the same level as ACOA– and the same understanding will be afforded to us, who identify to so many of the same ACOA traits (http://www.drjan.com/13char.html).

-Donna Austin
http://www.childrenofhoarders.com

*Dr. Woititz was among the first practitioners in the world that addressed and identified the impact on family members from exposure to chronic alcoholism and drug dependence. Subsequent research has shown that the same dynamics affecting the families of alcoholics also applies to dysfunctional family systems in general and transcends culture and age.

CJ June 29, 2011 (9:57 am)

Please, if you are unfamiliar with the issue, don’t be so quick to assume its legitimacy. As a child of a hoarder myself, hoarding takes it’s toll on those who have to live with it. Hoarding is tied to OCD and clinical depression so it’s not simply about having too much stuff. It’s a mental illness and just as you can’t tell a depressed person to get happy, you can’t simply reason with a hoarder to tidy up. There is a financial strain, the threat of eviction, physical well being, conflicts with family.. and while it’s the hoarder who has the illness, it’s the family who has to deal with the consequences. I’m glad the media is giving this issue attention for the sake of those suffering who can then realize there is a name for this, there are others who understand it, and there is help.

Nulu June 29, 2011 (10:08 am)

Is there also awareness of parents of children who are hoarders?
–
The impact of this far is reaching with consistencies to the better known more established ACOA.

sam-c June 29, 2011 (10:22 am)

My mother (r.i.p.) was a hoarder for much of her life, ever since she became a widow (when she and my dad were around 35).
The depression manifested itself as hoarding. Not only could she not part with my dad’s stuff and stuff from when he was alive, but she couldn’t part with newspapers, magazines. She even hoarded organizing and cleaning supplies, even though they weren’t put to good use.
I tried to help, but she would get really upset if I tried to throw any newspapers, etc away. So, instead of getting in fights I’d just give up.
I remember being eternally embarrassed that I couldn’t invite friends over.
And the times I did have friends over I got my room clean, the bathroom clean, and made my friends walk thru the house with their eyes closed.

I’ve never seen this show (don’t have cable) but yeah, being the child of a hoarder does have an impact.

Three Ninjas June 29, 2011 (11:45 am)

I can’t blame anyone for initially thinking it’s ridiculous. I loled at Sonoma’s comment, too. And yes, that would be people hoarding!

I would have thought the same thing myself, and I grew up in it. But about once a month someone emails me and tells me that either they grew up in a situation similar to mine, or that they are a kid currently in such a situation, and they like knowing they’re not alone.

SaraJeanQueen June 29, 2011 (7:24 pm)

There’s nothing wrong with watching TV. I personally can’t watch Hoarders because it honestly skeeves me out (so many cats!), and I recognize there’s a mental disorder going on there.. so I always wonder, once they’ve cleaned the house out: what are they going to do now? I doubt that counter will remain spotless for very long…
And that’s upsetting.

Three Ninjas June 30, 2011 (10:11 am)

After they clean the house they give you an aftercare budget that the hoarder and family are free to spend on therapy, home repairs, organizers / cleaners, etc.

In my mom’s case, she had a hole in her wall and in the ceiling over her bed and she hadn’t had hot water in the house for at least five years. The house is getting filthy again, but at least those things were taken care of.

Sorry, comment time is over.