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.
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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”
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13201. Heather P said:
July 18, 2008 @ 9:55 pm
Bree,
I totally agree with you, both genders are sooooo much more advanced now, my grandmother called it forward and no nice girl would call and in the same vein no nice boy would accept. LOL! Times are a changin’!
Momof 3, GREAT pov
13202. momof3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
HI Lil! (waving) Nice to see you!
Iowa & Lil, it is a pic on her blog. *Edited by Moderator* I dont go over there very often but did the other day and saw the pic. Its Jodis sister not Kates sister.
Bree, thats too funny about your friends sons girlfriend. (whew that was a mouthfull! lol) My parents hated when boys would be calling me all the time! I used to get so many lectures about it! Kids are growing up too fast these days and its sad! Kids need to be kids and enjoy themselves! What I wouldnt give to be a kid again…(sigh)
13203. iowafan said:
July 18, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
It’s sad to think that Mady and Cara will probably end up knowing about this. Hopefully the tups can be oblivious, but even a gossipy mom of one of the twins friends could speak in front of the wrong ears.
13204. Mary Beth said:
July 18, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
With all due respect the quote from the G’s statement reads as follows…..”jealous bystanders, family included, who for whatever reason insist upon telling hurtful untruths.” Essentially, what they are saying is the jealous bystanders (including family) are telling hurtful untruths. Ladies, a hurtful untruth is a lie therefore they are saying that bystanders and family are telling lies.
And there ya’ have it! It cannot be put any more plainly than that. They did not say names but they said bystanders and family.
13205. mommyplus3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
LOL bree…i know what ya mean :). i always say we have our own private ER room…with a plaque LOL
and yes girls are so much more brazen. we have the rule in or house that the girls are not allowed to call boys..and it is for that reason. it just seems so tacky…especially when it is constant. we tell our girls that they don’t need to “beg” for attention…that the boys (and we’re only starting to get to that point) should come to them. and then secretly, i whisper to them…”make ‘em work for your affections, girl!” LOLOLOLOL…
13206. momof3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:02 pm
Very good point Iowa! But hopefully parents of the kids that are friends with the girls are a bit more…respectful and tactful with the way they talk about the family, especially in front of the kids! Well…if Mady and Cara ever read this in 10 years…HI! We think youre all great!
lol
13207. Bree said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
Heather P -
I just saw something on one of our local talk shows about the terms kids use nowadays for dating.
I never really knew what “hooking up” was - boy, were my eyes opened. (and I thought I was pretty hip!)
When I was the age of our kids (14) - we would send our friend over with a note that said “My friend likes you, do you like her? Circle yes or no”
I actually wanted the boy to say no because I wouldn’t know what to do if he said yes.
Kids are just in such a hurry these days.
My son just finished his freshman year of high school - a junior girl (just a friend) asked him to the prom - I said no way - you just have to wait for some things - you do it all now and what do you have to look forward to.
13208. Heather P said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
That is too funny! I do wish there were more parents like you!
Mary Beth, yes they did say hurtful untruths and we do realize that equates with lies, way worse has been said about them. However I am interested in this…what would you do? Without saying you wouldn’t be in their shoes and on tv…how would you respond or anyone else for that matter?
I really don’t know…I think we have all been victims of gossip, I think they did their best with the response. I think I would issue one statement and let the cards fall…anyone else?
13209. Lillyann said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:07 pm
More than ever, I hope Kate has a friend that she can talk to and just say whatever the hell she wants to without fear of that person being a big mouth!
13210. heather P said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
Bree,
I didn’t mean your post was way funny, I was referring to MP3 whoops…that hooking up stuff in NOT funny, its scary!
Kids are in way to big a hurry, I wish I had a big bubble but OMG, I sound like my own mother now!
13211. Bree said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:13 pm
Momof3 -
I learn so much from what my friend is going through - I laugh at her now but I know it is just around the corner for me.
Her son is so good looking and a soccer star - they say he will be an Olympic soccer goalie in a few years. The girls are crazy about him.
They actually buy him gifts!!
I asked what the parents think and are you ready for this? My friend actually said one girl’s MOM was calling her son.
TROUBLE!!
I am glad my son is still a scrawny little thing!
13212. momof3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
Bree, Good for you! I think that was an excellant call on your part! They DO need to wait until its their time/turn! If he was my son I would say no too! I never was allowed to go to a dance with someone that much older than me….wait….except for my hubs! lol
MP3, I think youre teaching your daughters great! They need to play hard to get so to speak! Let the boys come to them and make them work for it! Flowers and all! I wasnt allowed to date until I was 16. Is that still the norm? When do you guys let your kids start dating?
And one more thing…Mary Beth, J&K IMO did a great job handeling their response to everyone. Yes, maybe they didnt really need to but they felt it was necessary. I really do try to be nice, honest, calm and forgiving BUT Jodi and her sister are doing/saying things that are hurting Kate and IMO she (Kate) couldve said so much more but decided to take the high road! I dont know if I wouldve been as nice about someone that Im “close” to saying things about my and my family online! Yes, so she called them liars (not in so many words)…AND? Like I said before, she couldve said so much more! Im sure shes incredibly hurt!
13213. Mary Beth said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
MP3, I don’t know if I would issue a statement at all. Their statement sounded very defensive and when people act overly defensive, it usually means they are guilty. (can you tell I work in the court system?) Anyway, I think I would “not dignify that statement with a remark.”
Lillyann, Kate does have someone she can talk to who will not blab and that is her husband, Jon. Maybe this will renew their friendship and bring them closer together. Good things can come from bad circumstances.
13214. iowafan said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
Heather,
If you find a website carrying that bubble, please pass it on!!!
I have a beautiful (I know, biased opinion) daughter going into 6th grade. She is the sweetest thing. She is starting to turn the heads of older boys when we are in stores or out in public. She’s starting to look like a lady
I fear the teen-age years!!!
13215. momof3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
Bree, I worry about my kids getting older! Not to brag on my kids but my oldest is GORGEOUS!!! She has this tiny little tan body and gorgeous brown curly hair! Everyone says that we’ll have to lock her up when she gets older! That scares me!!! And my son…well, hes nicely built (as much as he can be at 3 anyway). The docs say he will be around 5′7″ and with all of his health issues will be a thin fit kid. He also has the biggest dark eyes and the cutest smile that melts your heart…Im sure he’ll be a heartbreaker some day! As for my youngest…well we’ll have to wait and see I guess. Anyway, it scares me that Im going to have to go through these things! Im over protective now…what will I be like when theyre teenagers? OMG I will definately need some meds! lol
Lil, I have said many times that I really and truely hope that Kate has a good honest friend that will be there for her to lean on and talk to. She needs someone that will keep their mouth shut and be there through thick and thin! (Besides Jon!) All friends have their ins and outs but a true friend sticks around through them all! A not-so-true one goes off and blabs everything to someone else to get some attention and payback! YUCK!
13216. Heather P said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
Wow…so many opinions on one thing! I don’t think they sounded defensive and if they were, I think by now they have the right….possible betrayal by family members, public discussion ( and alot WAY off topic remarks about their physical apperances) by people who don’t know them. I would be cranky too.
I am sure she has talked to Jon but men can be more detached about things like this…you need a good woman friend to hash and rehash it until you feel better…:)
13217. mommyplus3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
iowa…i understand
the summer my daughter turned 12, she really began looking like a young woman. i will never forget a friend’s grandson came to the pool one day, not knowing her age, and asked his gma about her. are you ready? he was 17!!!! flipped both of us out! as she gets ready to turn 14, it is evening out with the other girls (she looks more along their lines)…and all i can say is thank god!
13218. momof3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
OMG I just read what I wrote and it sounded bad what I said about my youngest!!! What I meant to say is that we’ll have to wait and see b/c she is still a baby. She is a gorgeous baby though!
13219. mommyplus3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:34 pm
i agree momof3! i hope that there is someone in kate’s life that she can confide in. i don’t know how i would get by without my bf. she is the only one that can understand things taht you would never want anyone else to hear. when you think your child is a *#@&*! or you want to run away….there has to be someone to let you be right, while making you change your mind and attitude (without you realizing it). someone who loves you because…who the heck knows why…LOL…still trying to figure that out LOL
13220. Heather P said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:35 pm
Momof3…LOL..I think we understood, just thinking about the teenage years gets me TOTALLY out of whack!
13221. Bree said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
I tease my son that I am going to go to college with him. My husband and I say pick someplace warm and we will just retire there (we are older parents.)
He is saying Southern Calif so that sounds good to me.
I don’t know what I would do without my best friend to confide in. We have so much in common but mostly we can empathize with each other about the dysfunction in both of our families.
It is kind of like “Oh, yeah, well I can beat that!”
(of course, we are the only normal, rational ones in each of our families (SARCASM ALERT!)
13222. momof3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
MP3, I agree! My best friend that Ive been blessed enough to have in my life since we were both 3, is the dearest person that I know! She knows more about me than anyone else in the world! She has been there for me through thick and thin and Ive done the same for her. We’ve never even had a fight! Shes the greatest! I wish that everyone could have a friendship like the one we have but not everyone is as blessed with one. I really hope that Kate does! She needs one now more than ever! Im sure Jon is a great friend for her to talk to but women need other women friends to talk to! I dont know what I would do w/o my friends! Especially when its something that I dont/cant talk to my hubs about!
13223. Mary Beth said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
I don’t think has had a lot of time to cultivate those types of friendships. Maybe her friend, Beth, but then again…she wrote a book about them! That might be a little scary but Beth seems like a true blue friend. Jodi seemed like a true blue friend, too.
Does anyone think it is sad that Kate is not detached from most of her family members? Her parents, her siblings?
I was always so thankful when I had my children, that my mom would come stay with me for a week and then my mother in law would stay with me for a week. It was a precious time. I am sad that Kate did not have that.
13224. Heather P said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
I can’t imagine how alone Kate must feel, it really just takes one negative comment to ruin your day and she has had hundreds, everyday.
I do hope she has someone she can kick back with and be herself without fear of judgement or betrayal.
13225. mommyplus3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
momof3…and the best time for the best friend? when it is ABOUT your hubby LOLOLOLOLOL…when i’m on the phone with bf (i moved away last year), and go outside, hubby says uh-oh…here we go man-bashing.
oh….and our other used to be fave thing to do? we would go out in our jammies at dusk, get a coffee, and drive around neighborhoods, looking in their wndows and critique paint colors…hehehe…that was really fun!
13226. mommyplus3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
bree…too funny…yes, we are the only sane and ratinal ones in our family
13227. Heather P said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
Mary Beth,
It is sad IF they are estranged, we did see her sister’s husband, maybe just don’t want to be filmed. If they are estranged, maybe they will come together and find a way to put this behind them…like you said good from bad times. My sister and I didn’t speak for about a year and it took something terrible to bring us together and now all is well.
PS..my husband won’t drive slowly past ppl’s open windows at night so I can see in, but that is what my friend & I are doing when we walk at nite! LOL!
13228. Bree said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:51 pm
Time to say goodnight.
I think we all have some things in common (just not Jon and Kate!) and I appreciate all of you in your own way - I am sorry if I am confrontational at times - I do learn from each of you - I just need to allow myself to do that sometimes. I have my own reasons for my feelings about Kate and I get my feathers ruffled when I am put into a group like “us” and “them”. I know you all must feel the same way.
13229. mommyplus3 said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:53 pm
heather, i knew it!! we are not the only ones
i agree with you…IF they are estranged. i have no reason to believe taht they are. all we have been told as fact is taht none of the gparents are involved in their everyday lives. neither is my mother in law. neither is my brother. i just took it at face value….meaning, you won’t see them on this show. who knows what the deal is…and i doubt we will ever know for sure, unless jon and kate want us, as viewers, to know.
13230. iowafan said:
July 18, 2008 @ 10:53 pm
It was fun reading your posts and commiserating on the future (current for some) years!
And yes–even one true friend is something everyone deserves.
Happy posting–I have to hit the hay for an early morning tomorrow!
Nite!