• Blog
    • Musings
      • General
      • Parenting
      • Gadgets
      • Reviews
    • Travel
      • Abroad
      • Home
    • Dining
      • Food
      • Drink
    • Home Styles
    • F&F
      • Fitness
      • Fashion
  • Work with us
  • About/T&C
Island Living 365

How The Hunted TV Programme Is Like Parenting

October 27, 2016

The Hunted map

I love the Channel 4 programme ‘The Hunted.’ For those of you that haven’t watched the programme it follows Brits as they go on the run from our surveillance state. Now, for someone who is a prolific user of all social media I am fascinated by this idea. Why? Because deep down (believe it or not), I am quite private. I am also rather distrustful with the level of surveillance we are all under which is one of the reasons why I refrained from joining Facebook for so long. I have been thinking about The Hunted and why, as a mum, I would make the perfect contestant:

 

  • On the run means you remain undetected. Have you met my two children? They can find me hiding in the wardrobe as I try to scoff a chocolate biscuit in peace.

 

  • Past contestants have said that taking part in the programme turned them into a “paranoid savage”. Welcome to parenting. That Health Visitor, teacher, midwife, elderly lady in the shop. They had better watch out, you will turn on them if they dare criticise your parenting skills! Do not talk to me about breastfeeding after a night of no sleep!

 

  • Begging strangers. Sometimes in The Hunted the contestants have to rely on the help of strangers to survive. The same can be said of parenting. When you are desperate for a good night’s sleep we will turn to those online parenting forums, you know the ones where penis beakers are discussed at length, aka Mumsnet.

 

  • The key to a good day of parenting is constantly staying on the move. The same can be said for The Hunted. If you stay still too long then your child/investigator will sniff you out and destroy you! Keep moving!

 

  • You rely on the kindness of strangers. In The Hunted it is giving you a lift in a car to your next destination. In parenting it is when a stranger sees you dealing with a temper tantrum and they tell you that they have all been there;  that it does get easier. On both counts you want to hug them.

 

  • When it is quiet you have a sense of impending doom. In parenting you are waiting for the kids to kick off; in The Hunted you are waiting for those investigators to sweep in.

 

  • The Hunted sees contestants getting twitchy and moody; much like me after a night of no sleep thanks to little ones.

 

  • The Hunted sees contestants not realising how hard it will be physically and emotionally. Same for parenting. That first week after giving birth – HELLO!

 

  • The Hunted requires you to be wiley and secretive. Parenting uses the same skills. My kids do not know about my secret sweet supply.

 

  • The Hunted requires you to vanish. Being a stay-at-home mum means that it often feels like you have vanished from society.

 

  • The Hunted has automatic plate recognition. Stay-at-home mums have similar automatic recognition. Nest for hair, bags under eyes, yoghurt handprints on trousers, hello fellow mummy.

 

  • The Hunted is unpredictable and so is parenting.

 

The Hunted might be like parenting but is it wrong that I am actually considering going on The Hunted for a holiday?

 

What do you think? Is The Hunted like parenting?

 

Subscribe

Fill in your details below and get exclusive news and posts straight into your inbox. I look forward to cracking open the Lambrini. It’s a classy place in the Island Living 365 VIP section 😉 

[wysija_form id=”2″]

Picture with how to subscribe via email

Related

Filed Under: Musings, Parenting

  1. Lizzie firstooth says

    October 27, 2016 at 8:29 pm

    I do like the hunted and I can look at it with a whole new perspective now! I’d go further than begging strangers on Mumsnet and beg them in the street. With my second child, while my first needs a wee – anybody will do to look after baby number 2. I sometimes laugh while they’re having a tantrum and question nearby shoppers “why are they like this”, they think I’m kidding. I could write something about each of your points because they’re hilariously spot-on but I’ll stop at the emotional and physical pains of parenting. The only time you can have major surgery or have serious body dismembering and be sent home the next day, is child birth. You’re put through the wringer emotionally and physically and sent off with a little Bounty pack. Liberty. #fridayfrolics

    • Emma @ Island Living 365 says

      October 27, 2016 at 8:31 pm

      Haha-yes, the bounty pack!

  2. kristin mccarthy says

    October 27, 2016 at 8:38 pm

    I adore a funny post that parallels something like tv or music!

    I don’t even know what this show IS and I thought it funny!

    #fridayfrolics

    • Emma @ Island Living 365 says

      October 27, 2016 at 8:39 pm

      Haha! Thanks 🙂

  3. Baby Anon says

    October 27, 2016 at 9:05 pm

    Ha ha, this is so true. Especially about relying on the kindness of strangers -I have revelled in positive feedback from random people in the street. And as for the impending doom – so true. My daughter went quiet yesterday and I was happy for a second and then thought – oh no…. #FridayFrolics

    • Emma @ Island Living 365 says

      October 27, 2016 at 9:12 pm

      Haha, thanks for your comment 🙂

  4. Catherine Radley says

    October 27, 2016 at 10:12 pm

    I haven’t seen The Hunted but I really want to now, it sounds brilliant! You are so right though, gone are the days when I didn’t have to share a chocolate bar! #fridayfrolics

    • Emma @ Island Living 365 says

      October 27, 2016 at 10:24 pm

      The Hunted is brilliant!

  5. Twin Pickle says

    October 27, 2016 at 10:23 pm

    This sounds like my kind of show! I wonder if it’ll make it into US Netflix?! And I total see the link with parenting, ahaha. #FridayFrolics

    • Emma @ Island Living 365 says

      October 27, 2016 at 10:25 pm

      I’m sure you would love The Hunted!

  6. Single Mum Speaks says

    October 27, 2016 at 10:50 pm

    This sounds like an interesting TV programme! The one that is definitely me on this list is the hiding whilst eating. I have discovered that the secret to, erm, secret eating is to always eat dark chocolate and preferably mint flavoured, as it is disliked by Piglet, then hide the offending choc in a secret cupboard and scoff quietly whilst he watches Thomas on Netflix. I’m becoming a pro. #FridayFrolics

    • Emma @ Island Living 365 says

      October 27, 2016 at 10:53 pm

      Hahaha, are you sure you haven’t watched The Hunted? You sound like a pro

  7. Mummy Muckups (Anna) says

    October 27, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    Wow; that really sounds like a great show…haven’t seen it here in Oz. But, I definitely hear you, especially the need to be constantly on the move. #FridayFrolics

  8. Barrie bismark says

    October 28, 2016 at 4:41 am

    I’ve never seen this show. But your post is really funny!

  9. Squirmy Popple says

    October 28, 2016 at 6:57 am

    I’ve never seen the programme, but I definitely feel hunted by my daughter at times. No matter how absorbed she is in a toy, the second I get up to go for a pee or do some chores, she’s toddling after me. There’s no escape! #FridayFrolics

  10. Jane Taylor says

    October 28, 2016 at 7:34 am

    Eldest told me about this show so I know the concept. Love these kind of posts! Really made me chuckle….Not sure mummyhood has a cash prize at the end of it, but if you survive it does have it’s own rewards!!

  11. Alison (MadHouseMum) says

    October 28, 2016 at 8:40 am

    My daughter watches this and loves it. I like your analogies. Would it be a holiday though? I once applied to go on, Bear Grylls: The Island for a break…I think I got a distorted view from my comfy sofa! Alison x #FridayFrolics

  12. Claire - Life, Love and Dirty Dishes says

    October 28, 2016 at 10:15 am

    Brilliant. I love the first series. I think deep down I believe I could actually do it! #FridayFrolics

  13. Pen says

    October 28, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    I have never watched the Hunted, but it sounds a lot like parenting! Pen x #FridayFrolics

  14. Laura: Adventures with J says

    October 29, 2016 at 7:22 am

    Ha ha! I hadn’t thought of it like that but now that you mention it… definite parallels! Ha ha! Well spotted

  15. jeremy@thirstydaddy says

    October 29, 2016 at 3:03 pm

    I’ve never heard of this show over here in the States, but it sounds very cool. I’d imagine if its successful on your side of the pond, we’ll have our own version soon enough. Assuming we still have a country in another few weeks….#fridayfrolics

  16. Carolina Twin Mom / Mary Peterson says

    October 29, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    OHMYGOSH, you reminded me of the ghastly know-it-alls who proactively “informed me” that my breastfeeding challenges were due to my not trying hard enough. This after much lactation consulting AND weird stickums that I’d put on my nipples so that my poor babies had something to latch onto. KISS IT, you hags! #FridayFrolics

  17. five little doves says

    October 31, 2016 at 9:09 pm

    HAHAH YES!!! Parenting is exactly like The Hunted!! And my kids just keep on finding me!! No matter how fast I run!! #fridayfrolics

  18. Silly Mummy says

    November 3, 2016 at 11:38 pm

    Haha – it does sound pretty similar! I haven’t seen The Hunted, but it sounds like something I might like – perhaps I should try it! #FridayFrolics(Apologies for terrible timekeeping – the chaos of moving has been rather more chaotic than anticipated this week!)

Back to Blog

Hi, I’m Emma

Mum to two girls and wife to Mr C.
We used to live in wild and wonderful Yorkshire on the edge of the moors. We have now moved to the rather lovely and sunny Jersey, Channel Islands. Read about our adventures here.

Thank you

“BiBs

Subscribe to Get Posts Straight In Your Inbox

Success! Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription.

Worked With/Featured

Logos of the companies I have worked with

Subscribe To Get Posts Straight In Your Inbox.

Success! Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription.

HIBS100 Index of Home and Interior Blogs
HIBS100

Copyright 2021 Island Living 365

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. If you would like to know more about cookies (not the tasty kind) please click on read more. OkRead more