Manalapan mom swaps life on reality TV show

BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

DAVE BENJAMIN The Stallone family of Manalapan, (l-r) Nicole, Michael Jr., Paulette and Michael (rear), will appear on an episode of the new ABC-TV series “Wife Swap.” MANALAPAN — Some families are learning the hard way that the grass is not always greener on another person’s lawn.

“Wife Swap,” a new ABC-TV reality show, will debut tonight at 10 p.m. One of the first episodes of the series is expected to feature a Manalapan family. Viewers will get to know the Stallones — dad Michael, mom Paulette, daughter Nicole, son Michael Jr. and dog Sandy.

“My daughter, Nicole, was searching on the Internet and came across an article recruiting families for a new reality show on ABC-TV called ‘Wife Swap,’ ” Paulette Stallone said. “She thought it would be a good idea because we always do things as a family.”

Stallone said Nicole, 15, was the only member of the family who initially wanted to pursue the idea.

“Everyone else was hesitant about it,” she said. “I felt that 10 days was too long to be away from my family, considering that I have never been away from my family.”

The Stallones called ABC-TV and were asked to send a family picture. A follow-up call from the network requested a 45-minute video of the family’s everyday life.

“Nicole was very excited and said we were going to be chosen because they kept calling us,” she said.

Paulette said her husband was the one person who remained unconvinced about the idea, but after some coaxing he agreed to go along with the idea.

“Wife Swap” originated in the United Kingdom and was honored by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

The show gives families that have different lifestyles a chance to swap wives and mothers. In each case the mother is the family member who swaps a family for 10 days.

For the first five days of the exchange, the participants live mostly by the rules of the family’s lifestyle and established daily routine, which includes shopping, housework and parenting, Stallone said. For the last five days of the exchange, the mother gets to run the house her way, which can create a shock to both families.

Stallone said she is always on time with getting her children off to school and makes sure she is home before they get off the bus.

“I cook, clean and take my kids to their activities,” she said. “I like a clean house and it takes me a while every day to keep it in order. My children are allowed to watch television, use the computer, play video games and enjoy themselves as long as their schoolwork gets done.”

Stallone switched places with Elizabeth Ghani of Inglewood, Calif., who has a different lifestyle.

“She lives with her boyfriend and three children,” Stallone said. “She sets a timer for 15 minutes a day to clean because she would rather enjoy nature. She doesn’t believe in television or video games, and [believes] a computer is only for school purposes.”

Stallone said Ghani meditates every morning, is a vegetarian and does not believe in processed foods or soda.

“All three of her children bathe in the same water, one after another. They wear the same dirty clothes and they don’t believe in flushing the toilet. These children don’t know any better but to live in dirt,” Stallone said.

Stallone said seeing Ghani’s lifestyle was very upsetting.

“I can’t understand how people could live like this,” she said.

Stallone said she was glad to have had the opportunity to be a part of the reality show, but would never do it again.

“I was very proud of my daughter, Nicole, because she stepped in to fill my shoes,” Stallone said. “I am also proud of my son for trying to cooperate. I had a hard time living in that dirty household, and I cried every day missing my family. I was in total shock that somebody could live in filth and not pick up garbage when it was on the floor, just because it wasn’t cleaning time. It was tough to live with having everything taken away.”

Nicole said Ghani did not follow her mom’s rules and said she was the one doing the cleaning.

“I stepped in and took my mom’s role because I couldn’t live in dirt,” said Nicole. “I now realize how hard it is for my mom to keep such a clean house. Living without my mom, who is like my sister, was the hardest part of the 10 days.”

“I couldn’t believe the attitude that Elizabeth had,” said Michael Jr. “I am used to my mom making me different dinners and because she [Elizabeth] was a vegetarian, I hardly ate, but she didn’t care. I was thrilled to have my real mom come home.”

“I was disappointed in Elizabeth because while we tried to understand her lifestyle, she was very critical and tried to change our lifestyle,” said Michael. “I didn’t realize how much my wife does for me and our family until she wasn’t there to do it.”

“I’m glad my family is the way it is,” Paulette said. “I would never trade my family for anything in the world.”