Agreed. I also used to think Cali looked so anxious and unsettled as a baby. I know their thing is all being brave and trying new things, but I feel I’ve never seen/heard any real focus on anything except physical endurance/sports/bravery for the kids. They brand the kids as “young travel journalists”, but we never really read their words or hear their voices. Or anything much about their eg on the road homeschooling. I know the travel is supposed to be educational, but it’s not as if they’re anywhere long enough to learn the language or properly engage with history, instead of a few luxury travel/animal/sporting experiences.
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I actually recently started watching their videos and it took me a very short time to realise that there are some problems. Searching whether other people felt the same way or if I was being the weirdo got me to this site and other comments on Reddit.
i. Dorothy actually has several close-ups and zoom-ins that are very inappropriate many times in their videos. When a child is swimming you don't follow her from behind while she does it, you take shots from the front or side. () How does the father edit that and just leave it in? Yikes! 2 million views on that video, you have no idea who is watching. And now their videos are almost always about swimming, hardly ever anything interesting like when they were in Bhutan.
ii. And in the recent video it is clear that Dorothy and Cali want to be home. Dorothy wants a best friend and Cali wants to join a soccer team. Can't exactly do that if you are traveling around the world. Actually, Dorothy has said it very clearly in her own words ( - Notice how Dorothy doesn't read as well as Claire despite being the same age ) This traveling and fun in the sun lifestyle isn't for the children, it's for Garett.
They were a lot more watchable in the early days when they were still a full time travelling family. When they had Calihan it caused them to have to slow down for a few months and now they have the house. Part of me thinks that Garrett resents the fact his kids are restricting his lifestyle, I'm not sure he wants the house I think he still wants to be full time travelling. I haven't watched most of their recent videos but their "summer semester on safari" seems to have extended itself into them only just getting home now in January which I guess means they missed the first terms of school.
I did watch their last video and Dorothy's new year's resolution to "have a best friend" is kind of heartbreaking. Nobody wants a best friends who is never around to play with.
I did watch their last video and Dorothy's new year's resolution to "have a best friend" is kind of heartbreaking. Nobody wants a best friends who is never around to play with.
I came searching on Tattle to see if the family were on here after the most recent video, I see I'm not the only one! Much like others I've followed them for a while now and found it quite fascinating, but am becoming increasingly uneasy.
I find it quite bizarre how money grabbing they're coming across now given that he previously sold a company for $54 million dollars.
I find it quite bizarre how money grabbing they're coming across now given that he previously sold a company for $54 million dollars.
Completely agree. They should have enough money!
it was nice to see one of the kids actually reading a book today, albeit a picture book. In the never-before-seen “reading nook”…
it was nice to see one of the kids actually reading a book today, albeit a picture book. In the never-before-seen “reading nook”…
Cali saying “my legs are so cold” in Garrett’s insta story broke my heart 
He was crying as soon as Garrett put him in the ice bath. Horrible putting little kids in there. I know he asked them if they wanted to do it but of course they’re going to say yes to their daddy - if they say no then he’ll just tell them to be brave and force them in
I’ve unfollowed Garrett cuz he winds me up
He was crying as soon as Garrett put him in the ice bath. Horrible putting little kids in there. I know he asked them if they wanted to do it but of course they’re going to say yes to their daddy - if they say no then he’ll just tell them to be brave and force them in
I’ve unfollowed Garrett cuz he winds me up
That is so messed up, he was actually crying
And it's so silly. What's the purpose?
Our bodies work so hard to keep our feet warm and then you just dip your 3-year-old's feet into ice water for likes on social media?
Our bodies work so hard to keep our feet warm and then you just dip your 3-year-old's feet into ice water for likes on social media?
It’s gross. Garrett is like one of those “be a man”/mental toughness is all dads that you see in the flashback scene of some film about why eg a male sportsman character is incredibly messed up. “My dad made me go in an ice bath when I was 3 even though I cried” is like an anecdote from some harrowing autobiography. “My dad made me go in an ice bath FOR AN INTERNET VIDEO when I was 3 even though I cried” is even worse.
I also can’t get over how dangerous and stupid the piggyback surfing is. I wouldn’t put a child that size in the sea without a flotation device (I surf) and not out of their depth. When kids that size have proper lessons they’re on boogie boards, attached to them, and in ankle deep water. He could let go and drown really quickly.
I also can’t get over how dangerous and stupid the piggyback surfing is. I wouldn’t put a child that size in the sea without a flotation device (I surf) and not out of their depth. When kids that size have proper lessons they’re on boogie boards, attached to them, and in ankle deep water. He could let go and drown really quickly.
Ahh but if they don’t do that they can’t post any videos showing how brave their children are
All those kids will need therapy when they're older, except maybe Dorothy. Their lives are not their own because of Garrett. Manilla and Calihan have very different personalities compared to their Dad. They never have gotten the chance to explore life at their own pace, in their own way. They have never been in one place long enough to grow some roots, get confident in their friendships/environment because they are jostled about all the time. Every single thing those kids do, is for Garrett and his twisted way of how life should be/look.
I see Garrett was surfing with the boys in the moonlight.....once again no flotation device for Cali and no heed to potential problems of surfing in the dark! ...he woke the boys up and didn't tell Jess where he was going...so bloody irresponsible and it seems the vast majority of their followers think so too!
Can't watch the anymore on insta, he's very irresponsible doing what he did and not telling Jess..what would have happened if he had got into difficulty?
You can tell he doesn't like being home.
That is why he is creating these weird adventures. Honestly, who does that? There are so many other ways to have fun with your children and create memories that they will cherish.
Another thing is could he be messing up the children's adrenaline? Cali is too young to be doing some of the things they do and I wonder whether this is how some people who are always chasing adrenaline rushes grew up.
That is why he is creating these weird adventures. Honestly, who does that? There are so many other ways to have fun with your children and create memories that they will cherish.
Another thing is could he be messing up the children's adrenaline? Cali is too young to be doing some of the things they do and I wonder whether this is how some people who are always chasing adrenaline rushes grew up.
Garrett seems like the kind of parent who is unwilling to meet his children on their own level regarding their interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes. Dorothy seems to enjoy soccer and surfing but I don't feel like Garrett would put the same effort into her with them if she decided she didn't want the same hobbies as him anymore and she wanted to do say ballet or sewing/fashion design (he might put some efford into them if he can find a good way to monetize them though). He really seems to push his interests onto them and eventually they will push back and start becoming more their own people which he won't like. He really comes across as such a selfish man-child.
Glad to find this thread! I feel awful for all three kids. You can tell how much they want to be home and I do get the feeling Jess wants that too but it’s always about what Garrett wants.
I have seen them put those kids in risky situations so many times in their videos but the surfing with Cali on his back is especially terrifying. Also the surfing at night is idiotic.
You would think that they would have slowed down a bit after Jess’ skiing accident/injury but nope.
I also wonder what kind of education the kids are getting. The whole traveling the world thing was fun for a bit but they really need to settle down and let those kids have stability, friends, and just live a normal life.I get the impression that Garrett is one of those people that just can’t relax and always has to be moving, doing something, pushing the envelope because he gets bored too easily.
I have seen them put those kids in risky situations so many times in their videos but the surfing with Cali on his back is especially terrifying. Also the surfing at night is idiotic.
You would think that they would have slowed down a bit after Jess’ skiing accident/injury but nope.
I also wonder what kind of education the kids are getting. The whole traveling the world thing was fun for a bit but they really need to settle down and let those kids have stability, friends, and just live a normal life.I get the impression that Garrett is one of those people that just can’t relax and always has to be moving, doing something, pushing the envelope because he gets bored too easily.
A video last night of “bedtime stories”! Interesting, I’m not sure I’ve seen that before. Given this plus the reading nook, I wonder if other people have been asking about the kids’ education and this kind of stuff too.
the point about the kids’ adrenaline is a really interesting one. He’s encouraging them to be incredibly athletics-focused and sensation seeking, and not to understand danger. No amount of “being brave” makes surfing in the dark with a child as young as Cali safe. But hey, Jess, you just get on with the morning routine! 2 of your 3 kids will need showers this morning, hope that doesn’t mess up the schedule!
the point about the kids’ adrenaline is a really interesting one. He’s encouraging them to be incredibly athletics-focused and sensation seeking, and not to understand danger. No amount of “being brave” makes surfing in the dark with a child as young as Cali safe. But hey, Jess, you just get on with the morning routine! 2 of your 3 kids will need showers this morning, hope that doesn’t mess up the schedule!
Worldschooling can be done really well and you can see people putting in the effort to educate their kids whilst travelling on other channels but these kids are never in school and when they are traveling we hardly ever see them do things that are historical or cultural. It's just endless luxury hotels and swimming/snorkeling.
It would be lovely to see them take them to like a children's museum or something like that just for them. I think there were occasional museums (i feel like there was a car one in germany) and more things like that in their earlier vlogs when they were more watchable but they seem to not do those sorts of things at all anymore.
Something that makes me laugh is; each family member has an account on Instagram and for example when "Cali" posts something "Dorothy", "Manila", and the family main account all comment and like and talk to each other.
In reality, it is Garettt talking to himself from all of these accounts except Jess'.
I know it's part of the job but it makes me laugh so much.
In reality, it is Garettt talking to himself from all of these accounts except Jess'.
I know it's part of the job but it makes me laugh so much.