Jon and Kate plus 8
Posted
October 29, 2007 at
1:13 pm by
Jessica
If you haven’t caught an episode of TLC/Discovery Health’s “Jon and Kate plus 8“, it just may give you a little solace in the hardships of ones own parenting challenges. Jon (an IT Analysist) and Kate (a former nurse) Gosselin used in-vitro fertilization to help spawn 8 kids. One set are twins and the other six are from a subsequent litter.
Last season, I really liked the spunk coupled with the unconventional and imperfect parenting techniques used by Kate. Although she tended to run a tight ship, she was also human and threw political correctness to the wind when it came to the realities of having 6 toddlers and young twins only 4 years older than the sextuplets.
This season, I have to say, the reality parenting TV show has lost some of its charm with me. Although I enjoy, in a voyeuristic sort of way, watching parenting pained by temper tantrums and legal slavery by way of 6 more demanding children than I am left to deal with, I also have found Kate to be as bratty on occasion as her preschool broad.
In some ways Jon and Kate are very lucky. They have a cozy network of incredibly supportive family and friends who take and/or watch their children frequently. In the first couple of weeks of this season, I watched as Kate went to spa treatments, out to dinner with just her and her husband and plan a vacation by themselves in the Florida Keys. Personally, I know of very few 1.3 children families that are afforded so much free time as they are.
Another less than flattering observation I’ve made — Kate is not very nice to her husband Jon. While Jon is easy going and incredibly accommodating to his wifes idiosyncrasies, she is always snapping at him and making condescending remarks. Is it not enough that he spends all of his time at home helping with the children and goes to work on a daily basis to provide for his classroom of children and thus allowing Kate to be an “at-home mom”. Of course, I can’t imagine that 8 kids in childcare would be worth the effort of working outside of the home, but she always acts as if he is clueless and her life is so incredibly hard. Often times, she resorts to treating him like one of their toddlers.
One episode, Kate decided to hire a cleaning person. Through her exhaustive search, she finally settled on the one person who actually agreed to take the job on — so her prospects were limited. After the brave cleaning lady left, Kate then went around her house with imaginary white gloves, pointing out the hidden dust left behind. “Thanks for trying,” Kate said out loud, along with other rumbles of disappointment. The implication was that the cleaning woman was fired, not up to Kate’s high standards. Of course, you should get what you pay for, but cleaning after 6 toddlers and their bigger sisters, something is bound to get forgotten. Perhaps she should have cut the cleaning lady as much slack as she expects in return?
While Kate seems like a lot of fun and incredibly organized, it’s the little things — weird things — that seem to get her in a tizzy, like what shoes the older girls are going to wear to a carnival or if any of her family or friends puts her out by being one minute late. Sometimes you get the feeling that Kate is nothing more than a control freak, loving every challenge that comes her way, but at the same time, expecting others to reward her and recognize her for having it so tough, when in actuality, she really doesn’t. Sure, having 8 small children would drive the sanest person batty, it has also given them a much desired family and tv show. All in all, they have a pretty fortunate lifestyle.
As much as I like this show, I wish Kate would be less focused on herself and the indulgences of her children and complain less. Most families, even with less children, have their own unique challenges and have many other issues to deal with on top of it. Count your blessings Kate. You are not the first “over-worked” mother and you won’t be the last.
———————————-
Discuss on the blog comments or visit our Jon and Kate forums here:
http://www.imperfectparent.com/community/viewforum.php?f=205
Tags: Discovery-Health, Jon-and-Kate-plus-8, Jon-Gosselin, Kate-Gosselin, Parenting, sextuplets, The-Gosselins, TLC, twins |
18,436 Responses to “Jon and Kate plus 8”
Pages: « 1 … 422 423 424 425 426 [427] 428 429 430 431 432 … 615 » Show All
Pages: « 1 … 422 423 424 425 426 [427] 428 429 430 431 432 … 615 » Show All
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Leave a comment
Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately in an effort to remove commercial messages, irrelevancies, excessive foul language, racist/sexist/hateful comments, spoofed/cloaked IPs and/or personal attacks and will be edited/deleted at our discretion. Thank you for your patience.
12781. Grandma frm Ks. said:
July 15, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Sarah R maybe you don’t remember but we heard about Jenny a couple weeks ago also, I don’t think who ever this women is told any thing new, every thing she has said has been talked about a million times, I don’t see one thing in her story that proves who she is. JMO of course
12782. Grandma frm Ks. said:
July 15, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
[quote comment="179322"]i understand that
agreed!
editing is amazing! like the whole crafty thing, discipline thing, affection thing, computer time thing. that’s why none of us can make those “total assumptions” (trying to think of a better phrase, but can’t right now)…about the gosselins…
i’m just curious why kate get’s criticized for disciplining 8 kids and is called “mommy dearest”…i’ve seen that movie ***scary*** farthest thing from kate IMO… :)[/quote]
Well thats kinda mild considering all the other names she has been called, but no matter what she does or does not do will never be enough for some, and yet they say that about her, Hmmmm
12783. ambull said:
July 15, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
grandma-
i was going to mention that, but i wasn’t trusting my memory (and that’s not a good thing to do here)
jenny was mentioned not too long ago, i didn’t think that was new info from the TBH blog….
12784. ambull said:
July 15, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
it just blows my mind to hear some of things ppl say about kate…
as i said on CMG last nite, sometimes i wonder if we’re watching the same show???
now, one thing i will agree on and have agreed on in the past is the way she, at times, speaks to jon. a little harsh, BUT, we’re not in their shoes!
but, as a mother….she does a pretty damn good job!!!
12785. ambull said:
July 15, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
LOL…i just posted something and used the “D” word…guess it didn’t get posted
i just said that i can’t believe some of the things ppl say about kate…like i said on CMG, sometimes i feel as though we’re not watching the same show!
i do agree, at times, that kate can speak to jon a little harshly, BUT we’re not in their shoes!
BUT, as a mother, i think kate does a pretty “D” good job
JMO
12786. ambull said:
July 15, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
oh wow…well, there it is!!! LOL
don’t mind the “double” statement there!
12787. Heather P said:
July 15, 2008 @ 2:47 pm
I am sure that her personality hasn’t changed that much since she met Jon, he knew what she was like before the married and he loves her. What works for one relationship doesn’t work for all…plus he just seems to shrug it off. My sis’s husband is the same way. He half listens to what she says because he knows its just off the top of her head and doesn’t need to be blown out of proportion.
Ambull, I have to had it to you, you are mighty brave to venture over to the CMG site! LOL, I found it a little scary.
12788. Lillyann said:
July 15, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
Sometimes I think Jon & Kate can’t win for losing…when we do see any change in their behavior lots of times ppl say…well, it’s just damage control. IMO, maybe, just maybe they are learning from past situations and making an attempt to improve.
Just my thoughts.
12789. Heather P said:
July 15, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
Lillyann…I totally have to agree…they do something culturally relevant and Jon even says his granny fixes them meals all time, then its staged.
They have been critisized for using family/friends too much, then they get a nanny and suddenly they have pushed the family away…double edged sword.
12790. Patty said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
[quote comment="179314"]HI patty!
just a quick question…should kate never discipline her children?
kate gets criticized if she’s too strict or not strict enough…
if kate didn’t discipline, she would lose total control over her 8 children. do you ever watch “Nanny 911″? there are parents on there with only 2 kids!!! they can’t even control 2 kids!!! i think kate does a pretty good job with 8 kids!
for those that think her “nanny” helps…first, i don’t even see a nanny that much and second, kate and jon are the only ones that truly discipline the children.
for those that are upset that i might actually have an opinion on this b/c i don’t have any kids…first, trust me, i have plenty of experience with kiddos and second, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that discipline is absolutely necessary in the raising of 8 kids!
just my thoughts….[/quote]
Where did I say that Jon & Kate shouldn’t discipline their children? I never said that. What I DID say was that they need to change their approach. I don’t think it’s fair to say a child is misbehaving because he’s confused - Collin crying because the girls were going on their own outing and he tried to get in the van with them; Aaden crying because he didn’t totally grasp the concept that yesterday was his turn and today it’s somebody else’s turn. What 4 year old does understand that?
Yeah, when Collin hauls off and biffs one of them in the head, that’s when you need to step in. As I’ve said many, many, many times before…it’s all in their approach. Rather than barking ONE WORD orders at them, they need to speak to them in an “inside voice” and just maybe they need to take an extra few seconds to thoroughly explain what’s happening. Maybe they wouldn’t be so loud if they didn’t hear their parents hollering at everybody all the time. CHildren imitate what they see and hear - i.e., Hannah saying to Jon, “Enjoy YOURself.” Gee, I wonder where she picked up that little ‘tude? WHen they hear Kate bellering “JON” from the car, is it any wonder that they pick that up?
I don’t feel sorry for them on that. They’re doing that to themselves. You never hear them say, “use your inside voices.” All you ever hear is “QUIET DOWN!” or “STOP CRYING!” or “NO MORE WHINING!” Perhaps if they approached it with, “Aaden, you need to use your inside voice” or “I’m sorry, I can’t understand you when you’re whining and crying.” They’d be surprised at how the behavior would change!
There’s a huge difference between discipline and structure. You need discipline to have structure. That they do have. No argument there.
12791. Sarah R said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
I know K8te is gr8t with 8!!!! I know K8te is the only one who can do it all, with 8.
12792. Sarah R said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
just a quick question...should kate never discipline her children?
kate gets criticized if she's too strict or not strict enough...
if kate didn't discipline, she would lose total control over her 8 children. do you ever watch "Nanny 911"? there are parents on there with only 2 kids!!! they can't even control 2 kids!!! i think kate does a pretty good job with 8 kids!
for those that think her "nanny" helps...first, i don't even see a nanny that much and second, kate and jon are the only ones that truly discipline the children.
for those that are upset that i might actually have an opinion on this b/c i don't have any kids...first, trust me, i have plenty of experience with kiddos and second, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that discipline is absolutely necessary in the raising of 8 kids! :)
just my thoughts....>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Where did I say that Jon & Kate shouldn’t discipline their children? I never said that. What I DID say was that they need to change their approach. I don’t think it’s fair to say a child is misbehaving because he’s confused - Collin crying because the girls were going on their own outing and he tried to get in the van with them; Aaden crying because he didn’t totally grasp the concept that yesterday was his turn and today it’s somebody else’s turn. What 4 year old does understand that?
Yeah, when Collin hauls off and biffs one of them in the head, that’s when you need to step in. As I’ve said many, many, many times before…it’s all in their approach. Rather than barking ONE WORD orders at them, they need to speak to them in an “inside voice” and just maybe they need to take an extra few seconds to thoroughly explain what’s happening. Maybe they wouldn’t be so loud if they didn’t hear their parents hollering at everybody all the time. CHildren imitate what they see and hear - i.e., Hannah saying to Jon, “Enjoy YOURself.” Gee, I wonder where she picked up that little ‘tude? WHen they hear Kate bellering “JON” from the car, is it any wonder that they pick that up?
I don’t feel sorry for them on that. They’re doing that to themselves. You never hear them say, “use your inside voices.” All you ever hear is “QUIET DOWN!” or “STOP CRYING!” or “NO MORE WHINING!” Perhaps if they approached it with, “Aaden, you need to use your inside voice” or “I’m sorry, I can’t understand you when you’re whining and crying.” They’d be surprised at how the behavior would change!
There’s a huge difference between discipline and structure. You need discipline to have structure. That they do have. No argument there.[/quote]
Well said Patty. :)
12793. ambull said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
with my new job, i work with a TON of women…obviously we do A LOT of talking. i’ve brought up J&K+8 with A LOT of them, and have had so many wonderful discussions. i have yet to hear anything negative. now, i know this is one office in one town, but it got me thinking…
over on CMG the posters occassionally say that for every 1 person that dislikes the show or kate, there are 100 that do…and that is probably sooo true. that is certainly JMO!
it’s one thing to come on here and say you don’t particularly like some things about kate or the show…BUT to come on here and talk about adopting the kids out, or that the girls will grow up dancing on a pole, or that they are verbally abused, or they’re neglected, or they’re over disciplined. then b/c someone thinks this they will start a phony petition and write the gap, inside edition, tlc…etc… IMO, why not put all that energy into truly abused children???
so, i’m just not sure how far all of that petitioning and emailing will go??? i’m pretty sure the show will stay on for as long as the GOSSELINS want it to be on…the show is about them, not merely ONE of us posting on here….
12794. Heather P said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Actually 4 year olds can grasp the concept of time especially if it is part of their daily routine as J&K stated, they are doing a rotation. Its not your turn, you went yesterday, the end. Don’t get me wrong there is a time and place and some things need to be discussed more thoroughly than others BUT everytime a 4 year old melts down? No,that just reinforces the naturally self centeredness of that age group..I scream, I get more attention AHA!
12795. Lillyann said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Hmmm, are we *stuck* again?????
12796. Patty said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
[quote comment="179350"]I know K8te is gr8t with 8!!!! I know K8te is the only one who can do it all, with 8.[/quote]
Remember…a former classmate of mine was one of 10 children - FOUR sets of twins and two singles. No free trips, clothing, hair plugs, tummy tucks. No royalties from DVD or book sales. No TV show.
What about the family in Iowa with septuplets and one other daughter? You don’t see that woman in a spa. You don’t see her husband getting hair plugs. You don’t see them getting their teeth whitened. We don’t see their children in designer clothing every day, do we?
What about that other family that has 17 children? Do we see their parents at the spa? Do we see them in designer clothing?
Kate Gosselin is not the only woman in the world to give birth to multiples. Besides, they were conceived with medical intervention. My friends were all conceived the “old fashioned way.” I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that either. But, you know the risks going into it, so you should be prepared to deal with the consequences, right?
Yes, the family in Iowa used fertility treatments, too, but they are dealing with it on their own. I don’t see anybody doing her laundry, folding it, ironing it, or putting it away. I don’t see anybody cleaning their house. AND, this woman also has a couple children who are physically challenged, too.
Sorry, but Kate Gosselin is no super hero to me. Take a look around you, Kate. I think you have it pretty darn good all things considered.
12797. Sarah R said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
Patty that because, K8te is gr8t with 8, K8te is the only one who can do it, we moms with only 2,3,etc, kids…have nothing to compare with K8te plus 8.
12798. mommyplus3 said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
okay so maybe i’m just ill because my kids are driving me crazy today…i normally don’t get in the arguments (or whatever you want to call them)…but what designer clothes are these people wearing? please enlighten me!! i have seen nothing but your average middle class family, what am i missing????
12799. Sarah R said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Patty, I am being sarcastic…
12800. Grandma frm Ks. said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
I’m not sure what other families with a lot of children have, but not sure they don’y have as much if not more than the Gosselins, I do know for sure what Chris and Diamond Harris said, and that was how their community rallied together to help them, they could not do what they do with out their help,
They have several health issues (which I’ve heard Kate several times say they are blessed they do not have) and Diamond also said she could’nt handle all of those babes by herself. We just don’t see the other large families and ALL the HELP they get, simply b/c they are not on T.V.
And for any one to talk about the Gosselins childrens future in terms of one being gay, or dancing on a pole or getting pregnant is not only shameful, but certainly tells what kind of mentality they have.
12801. Heather P said:
July 15, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
The family in Iowa got a new house built for them by the church and she had round the clock volunteers for at least the first year…I think the article was in Time….
Plus this is the life the Gosselins chose, I don’t begrudge them any freebie, if the people wanna give it, take it, I sure would!
12802. mommyplus3 said:
July 15, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
and the family in iowa had a van given to them…and they had college scholarships (if i’m not mistaken - to a religious college - maybe bob jones?)…and i’m sure much more.
imho…the reason people don’t take issue with that (other than the fact that they’re not on tv every week) is that they are not as fun to watch. the gosselins have a successful show because the family is attractive, healthy, and fun. that’s what people want when they watch tv - a lot of them anyway.
12803. Grandma frm Ks. said:
July 15, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
MP3, I’m with you, I do not see them wear any thing fancy, my daughter has 4 girls and she is a single mom, they shop at Gap and childrens Place also in K.C. but they also have sale racks, and alth J & K have a nice home it is not fancy or huge, Their vehicles are not what I would call xtra fancy either, They look like they are a middle class family,
If they get all the freebies that is guessed about well thats great, why not, I wish some one would offer me some freebies and truth be tol everyone could say that, Look at the Duggars, now there is a mansion, they got their piano free, and their furnishings in their house were free, and they have how many washers and dryers? and how many kitchens? Lordy Be they did’nt pay for it, now their kids do have it all, I think just their foyer is the size of the Gosselins whole house. ITA with you.
12804. Sarah R said:
July 15, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
[quote comment="179366"]The family in Iowa got a new house built for them by the church and she had round the clock volunteers for at least the first year…I think the article was in Time….
Plus this is the life the Gosselins chose, I don’t begrudge them any freebie, if the people wanna give it, take it, I sure would![/quote]
Thats right Heather, Gosselins chose this life and just like the movie stars, singing stars, etc., get the weridoes,qacks, and the stalkers… I would never put my family on tv, for know amount of money…but I could be wrong…you know K8te is gr8t with 8, if only I could have 8 and be as gr8t as k8te!!!
12805. mommyplus3 said:
July 15, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
agree grandma ;o). my MIL and i used to have this argument all the time. my kids were raised in gap, gymboree, limited 2, etc (now it’s abercrombie and hollister ;o). she would tell me to go to wal-mart to buy their clothes…and hubby almost agreed…until i took him shopping and showed him that it was actually cheaper at those stores. gap jeans? $9.99 on clearance - which is every week!…wal-mart jeans? $14.97 - and they never go on clearance. hmmm….which is the samrtest purchase? LOL
12806. Sarah R said:
July 15, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
[quote comment="179367"]and the family in iowa had a van given to them…and they had college scholarships (if i’m not mistaken - to a religious college - maybe bob jones?)…and i’m sure much more.
imho…the reason people don’t take issue with that (other than the fact that they’re not on tv every week) is that they are not as fun to watch. the gosselins have a successful show because the family is attractive, healthy, and fun. that’s what people want when they watch tv - a lot of them anyway.[/quote]
Besides having 8 kids, they have to be attractive, thats probably why that family in Iowa did not get to be on tv, because they are not attractive(just guessing), wow!!!! Ok so all the not so attractive people are not worth being on tv……isn’t that a little vain for you say that….
12807. mommyplus3 said:
July 15, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
no…not meant as vain. the point is that television is a business about ratings…period. what i said was that the attractiveness and “normalness” of the gosselins is what makes them watchable, which in turn makes it a successful show, which in turn makes it $. i am in no way saying that any other families are not attractive (the mccaugheys).
what i am saying is that because the g children all seem to be healthy and all is going well in their life, then folks have no problem judging them. if they were another family dealing with physical or developmental disabilities…or any weakness, then people would feel more uncomfortable making some rash comments.
12808. Grandma frm Ks. said:
July 15, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
MP#, Heather, not sure if you girls have met Kadi Prescott yet but she has some great stories, she will make you pee your pants in laughter, LOL, but I just posted on one of her links I think you newer girls would like , Sarah R remined me of it when she used the phrase Kate is Great, Kadi wrote one called Kate the Great vrs Lady Kate, it is really good, hope you enjoy it.
12809. mommyplus3 said:
July 15, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
omg! kadi is how i found this site…i found a blog of hers, and it was so funny that i kept linking. LOL she is hilarious!!
12810. Grandma frm Ks. said:
July 15, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
[quote comment="179346"]Sometimes I think Jon & Kate can’t win for losing…when we do see any change in their behavior lots of times ppl say…well, it’s just damage control. IMO, maybe, just maybe they are learning from past situations and making an attempt to improve.
Just my thoughts.[/quote]
Hey there Lillyann, just had to holler at ya before I go do the supper, but I have to agree also with you, they can not win, but there are more great comments than bad, as far as TLC or any of the sponcers, they could care less, what any one of us think, they are making money, so why would they step on their own foot and cancel out the show, they are not stupid ppl.
I really doudt the e-mails or petitions ever get read.