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 |
17,825 Responses to “Jon and Kate plus 8”
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151. Brenda said:
January 9, 2008 @ 1:21 am
[quote comment="136061"]Give me a break, all you women who criticize KATE!!! Jon just makes victim faces and acts passive aggressive to make everyone feel sorry for him!
M. Divino[/quote]
Well said! Jon says rude things to her all the time as well, but I’ve yet to see a post where someone points that out. Either way, these are their personalities — let them be who they are!
Plus, people totally misunderstand her efforts to try to control and manage things — at the end of the day, she’s the one who runs that household. If one of those kids does something that gets them hurt … or if they become seriously sick … no one looks at Jon like it’s his problem to solve. All eyes will be on her. If she were a military commander, you’d think she was a hero — but because she’s a mother, she gets labeled a control freak.
152. Jenessa said:
January 9, 2008 @ 1:21 am
I’m surprised that so many people criticize Kate because she “treats Jon so awful.”
Have you missed all of the times they’ve talked about it? And she’s admitted she can be controlling and snippy at times, but that that’s just her, how she is. And he’s just shrugged it off because *he even says he knows she doesn’t mean it*. That’s just how they get along. That’s how their life works. (Don’t try to fix it if it isn’t broken, people.)
153. kathy said:
January 9, 2008 @ 9:12 am
I bet this show is in it’s last season. I am drawn to tune in but I only want to see the kids.
154. Susan said:
January 9, 2008 @ 9:45 am
I think Jon & Kate have a “give and take” marriage.
I find the kids out of control. Have you ever seen Mady or Kara put in time out? Hitting should not be allowed by any age child. You must expain it is wrong period! Time outs and saying I’m sorry is not expaining WHY it is not allowed.
155. Paulette said:
January 9, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
I grew up with 4 brothers - no multiples but my older brother is 11 months older than me and the next one is 10 months younger than me. Then, there are 2 years between each of the youngest so we were all under 8 at one time and teenagers at the same time. We were also loud, boisterous and remain loyal and close AND we are still very dysfunctional because our mother was a narcissist just like Kate. Our father finally left when I was 18. I saw him 5 times the remainder of his life (he passed away 2 years ago) when I was 49. Between my 4 brothers, there are 8 divorces, failed businesses, bankrupcies, and 2 have been in jail and re-hab.
Between the 5 of us, there are 16 children.
Of those 16 children, 2 have been in jail, one is a stripper/prostitute who has been to re-hab for heroin addiction more than once, and 4 became unwed teenage parents. I have the only successful marriage and knew I did not want to have a big family even though both my husband and I come from larger families. We have been married 30 years and have a 14-yr old child with no issues so far. He is a top athlete and A-student. I know that could change, and believe me, I am not patting myself on the back - it is more like counting my blessings.
I knew there must be a reason for our dysfunction, so when I was 21, I went back to school and am now a school psychologist at an elementary school in a large city. That is where I first heard the term narcissist and realized my mother had a sickness. I have learned from my own aunts and uncles and older friends of my parents that I am still in contact with, that while we were always at family functions growing up, my parents were never invited to the adult weekends and evenings out because my mother belittled my father so much in public that people were embarassed to be with them. We always had lots of friends at our house because my mom was attractive and loved being the center of attention and she was alot nicer to us when people were around, so we tried to keep it that way.
Everything revolved around my mother and if it didn’t, she found a way for that to happen.
To this day, she will take every opportunity to embarass us with stories from when we were growing up. When I was 3, I once put a bug in my mouth and bit down on it before she could get to me and make me spit it out. To hear her tell it, I was on a constant diet of every bug there was and a real contender for fear-factor. Imagine what Kate, armed with pictures of her kid’s poop, will be capable of.
When Kate took Jon to the Florida Keys -
what happened? She REFUSED to use sunscreen (now, come on, she’s a NURSE and a role model for 8 children) - that trip was going to be about her one way or the other.
One of the saddest cases I have seen in my job was that of a 5-year old kindergarden student that would not allow herself to “poop” for days and days on end because her mother was a clean freak and said “poop” was dirty. This poor little girl was constantly sick and in pain.
If Kate does scrub her kitchen floor on her hands and knees 3 times each day, as she told one of the cleaning people she interviewed, she is setting herself up to fail and it will not go down well when it happens.
Someone posted earlier that Kate was a narcissist and posted an article about the traits of the classic narcissist and Kate has more of those traits than my mother had and my mother was medically diagnosed.
I have posted before that Kate could benefit from therapy and I hope she gets some.
156. Mary H. said:
January 9, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
I am not judging their behavior. I am suggesting that condensing a chaotic household where dad says “you always leave me stuck with Collin” will reverberate in those kids years from now. The jealousy, smart-mouthing and parent putting each other down are now captured for the kids to replay over and over. Whatever sibling rivalry will develop into will have root causes well documented. The parents are exploiting their children for money and I believe they will pay an emotional price much later. I came from a large family and I thank God I can’t press rewind to see my mother huff and puff around the house, putting one or another of us into a time out and hearing my parents bitch to each other about how each does more work than the other.
TLC started out with good intentions and now they are manipulating the story line that focuses on all of these things.
157. Anne McPherson said:
January 9, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
Re Jenessa’s comment:
I detest the way everyone on this website attacks each other in a forum that is supposed to be for the purposes of expressing one’s thoughts(hmmm … something to do with freedom of speech, I believe?); however, I digress. I just have to comment on JENESSAS’S comment that Jon says he knows that Kate doesn’t mean it when she is absolutely hateful towards him. Well, my mother used to beat the living daylights out of me and my two sisters. We knew she didn’t really want to be that way, but did that excuse her behavior or in any way make it right? Abuse is abuse, folks. REMEMBER: These people claim to be good, God-fearing Christians (although you never see them set foot inside of a church). And I reiterate my original comment, which was Kate and Jon are the perfect example of why I would NEVER want to be get married again. Before you bloggers jump all over that, I am single because my husband died in May, 2000 from lung cancer. He was a good man who absolutely adored me. However, given the chance to live my life all over again, I would never get married or have children. I have walked on both sides of the streets and much prefer the single life working, paying bills, looking after my home and myself, in addition to helping my children and grandchildren get through life. So, I owe Kate and Jon a debt of gratitude because now when my friends try to extol the virtues of marriage or having a partner, or ask my why I’m not even the least bit interested, I can just tell them to watch Kate and John Plus Eight.
158. sunshine said:
January 10, 2008 @ 9:16 am
To Anne McPherson, you just sound like an old bitter, selfish, lady, who is trying to blame something on her miserable life, deal with it. If your marriage sucked, tough, it’s not Jon & Kate’s fault! To make the comment that if you could do it over, you’d never get married or have children, hope none of your children read this, because if my mother wrote something like that I would be heartbroken. Some comments should be kept to yourself. I guess you have nothing better to do with your time, you don’t seem to be a likeable person, so I would guess you have very little friends. I am sorry if my comment sounds mean, but your comment is just uncalled for!!!!
159. Anne McPherson said:
January 10, 2008 @ 10:35 pm
Sunshine, you are sadly misnamed. You didn’t read my post very carefully because I did not become single by choice (my husband died). If you reread what I wrote, you will notice that I commented on the fact that my husband absolutely adored me. We had an unusual relationship that was based on trust and mutual respect for each other’s strength and abilities, as well as tolerance and understanding for each other’s weaknesses. Where I was weak, he was strong and vice versa. I was trying to make the point that because I have been both married and single, I much prefer the single life. You also didn’t read the part where I said that I ENJOY helping my children and grandchildren get through life. Believe me - that costs money, so how does that make me selfish when I give them all the financial help that I can with no strings attached? However, thanks to your attack, I have cancelled my subscription to this blog and will not be returning here again.
160. sadie said:
January 11, 2008 @ 2:44 am
[quote comment="136210"]I bet this show is in it’s last season. I am drawn to tune in but I only want to see the kids.[/quote]
exactly
161. Carina the Lawyer said:
January 11, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
Ladies lets be honest here: both Jon & Kate [especially] are wonderful parents! Come on, i bet most of you cannot even deal with your child for a couple of hrs let alone deal with 8 children. The children are all extremely intelligent… Aaden is adorable. Kate takes care of her kids very well… because everything they know is because of her. The twins are very different! Mady is very jealous of even Cara, but that’s very normal for children. Cara is wonderful with the younger children… very pretty as well. However, i do find that Kate tends to favor one child from the other… like she use to be extremely close to Leah the first 2 sessions, but is now closer to Hannah. From the boys she seems to favor Joel. We also have to give her credit, because come on not even her parents or mother-in-law are around to help. That is also another strange thing… i wonder why they are not in the children’s daily life. I mean, Kate’s brother lives a couple of doors down from them… and not even they seem to be very close… at least not as close as the family is with Beth. Beth also has 4 kids of her own… but Kate doesn’t seem to be as interested in her kids as Beth is with the 8 of Kate’s! I’m actually quite surprised that Kate is only 28 yrs old… wow!
What do you ladies think about Kate’s comment on the family’s website that the children do not have a college fund How not, i mean the television show has to have set aside money for each child and the family as a whole. Don’t you think?
Well thanks and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
162. Jenna Roberts said:
January 11, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
So what I would like to know is since when did being extra clean and extra diligent about our homes and children become abuse? There are plenty of parents who like things clean and like to have as much order in their families lives as humanly possible. I would think in a household where there are eight young children this would be a given. As far as the interactions between Jon and Kate being inappropriate last time I checked no couple acts 100% appropriate all of the time. As far as Kate and Jons interactions with the children, I find it hard to criticize two individuals who are constantly on the go with eight children. Yes we all would like to see more hugs and kind words but even in a smaller household there can be a shortage when life is at its busiest. In the quiet moments that we do not get to see on T.V. I am sure there is plenty of affection and love to go around. When you think of it hug your kids more and make it a point to show more affection even when the days are busy. This is the message we should take away with us!:)
163. Jenna Roberts said:
January 11, 2008 @ 11:36 pm
You raise an interesting point Carina the lawyer.
I would think that a huge priority would be setting aside monies for college. I am a mother of 10 month old twins and their college funds were set up from birth. We put money into these accounts as often as possible since we know they will not be this little for long! Hopefully they are able to get this started soon. I would also be curious to know if any monies are set aside from the show for this purpose?
164. Mary said:
January 12, 2008 @ 12:32 am
You know that they went to DisneyWorld for free!!! That is so unfair!! So I have to have 9 kids to go to DisneyWorld for free!! Kate obviously wanted to do this show for all of the perks!! Let’s not forget they even went to Cirque de Soleil for FREE!!! Stop bitching Kate!!! I would love to take my 2 kids to Disneyworld for free!! Oh that’s right, I am unimportant because I have 2!!! Also, Jon and Kate didn’t have to wait in any lines at Disneyworld in their PEAK SEASON!!!! And she’s bitchin about ice cream!!!
165. Mary said:
January 12, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
[quote comment="136782"]Ladies lets be honest here: both Jon & Kate [especially] are wonderful parents! Come on, i bet most of you cannot even deal with your child for a couple of hrs let alone deal with 8 children. The children are all extremely intelligent… Aaden is adorable. Kate takes care of her kids very well… because everything they know is because of her. The twins are very different! Mady is very jealous of even Cara, but that’s very normal for children. Cara is wonderful with the younger children… very pretty as well. However, i do find that Kate tends to favor one child from the other… like she use to be extremely close to Leah the first 2 sessions, but is now closer to Hannah. From the boys she seems to favor Joel. We also have to give her credit, because come on not even her parents or mother-in-law are around to help. That is also another strange thing… i wonder why they are not in the children’s daily life. I mean, Kate’s brother lives a couple of doors down from them… and not even they seem to be very close… at least not as close as the family is with Beth. Beth also has 4 kids of her own… but Kate doesn’t seem to be as interested in her kids as Beth is with the 8 of Kate’s! I’m actually quite surprised that Kate is only 28 yrs old… wow!
What do you ladies think about Kate’s comment on the family’s website that the children do not have a college fund How not, i mean the television show has to have set aside money for each child and the family as a whole. Don’t you think?
Well thanks and HAPPY NEW YEAR![/quote]
Shes 33 not 28!!! And I thought she was around 35!! She was born in 1975!
166. Carina the Lawyer said:
January 12, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
O0oPpsss! So i was off by a few yrs, she hasn’t yet turned 33 though. And Jon is only 30. Damn… yet extremely young to have 8 children & even to start conceiving so young! Because lets face it, Americans now a days typically have their kids when they should already have grandchildren. You said she has all thOse perks… well the family sure deserves it. Because as you said if you cannot afford it and you have 2 kids imagine them… they would never have anything. This family is a nice representation of an American family -finally-!! They’re not on welfare, trail-trash, or uneducated idiots… as commonly ppl with so many kids at such a young age are!!! Anyways… they deserve all the help plus more. I believe they are wonderful parents and those kids can’t get any cuter or smarter… she has done a great job with raising them. It’s just a shame that the grandparents aren’t around: very strange! Also strange that Kate says the tv show hasn’t even the kids a college fund… they should! It’s just weird to me that now this new season Kate is looking for a nanny! why… especially now that the kids are older and easier to discipline and take care of. Anyways… watcj it on Monday… should be gO0d!
167. Preesi said:
January 12, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
Carina?
Actually for those viewers outside the USA that have watched the show, this show is NOT a great representation of the “Typical American Family”.. My international friends who have seen the show are appalled at Kates behavior and the narcissistic way she expects handouts…
Kate is a PIG!
Plain and simple. Shes a narcissistic PIG!
“Anyways… they deserve all the help plus more.”
Are you for real Carina? They deserve NOTHING.
THEY wanted to have all those kids, THEY chose to get IVF knowing there was a chance of multiples. They dont DESERVE anything more then other parents!
If you know that you dont have enough money to support more kids, you dont go ahead and get more IVF expecting to be compensated by welfare (which she WAS on or did you not know that?) and whoring your kids out to TV shows for money!
168. Carina the Lawyer said:
January 12, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
And yet… if your concern is that she is whoring out her kids on tv for money… she’ll continue to be a success because look at all of you who watch the show and yet even blog about it!!!
169. Carina the Lawyer said:
January 12, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
And yet… if your concern is that she is whoring out her kids on tv for money… she’ll continue to be a success because look at all of you who watch the show and yet even blog about it!!! In other words… you supporting the cause: the more viewers the longer the show will run & the more money Kate will get! But they’re a great family!!
170. Preesi said:
January 12, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
Carina?
Can YOU turn away from a car wreck?
I mean really?
Can you stop watching Britney Spears spiralling downward?
I dont even think Kate realizes how bad she appears to MOST thoughtful viewers!
Kate is horrible to Jon and is making her kids neurotic whiners…
I dont think thats a great MOM…
People watch J&K+8 for the same reason people watch NASCAR, for the wrecks!
171. Cynthia said:
January 13, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
Greetings,
Have any of you noticed that there is ALOT of hitting and I mean HARD hitting? The kids smack each other hard and she repeatly smacks John hard too. One eposide she sent one of the girls to time out for making a mess with her cereal and yet she did absolutly nothing for a hard smack that Maddy did to her younger brother…Also she is uses a tone with John that she needs to use with her kids…
172. shelia said:
January 13, 2008 @ 11:43 pm
I think Kate would do anything, and I do mean ANYTHING, for attention. She is one of the most narcistic people I have ever seen. Everything has to be “about her”. The film of her naked stomach just before the kids were born was utterly revolting. Did she really think that was an attractive sight? Who needs to see photos of kids taking a poop? Bet these kids will really love it when they are teenagers and realized that this was aired on national TV! Has anyone noticed how she whines about needing a new camera, full time help, etc.? Goodness, wasn’t having all those kids a personal choice. What makes them any more needy than any large family. Just because they were all born at one time does not mean that their needs are any greater than any other family. Did anyone notice how she jerked Aaden’s arm when he was whining about another ride on Dumbo? Maybe she isn’t the kind, cool mother she wants everyone to think. Jon needs to stand up to Kate and be a man. She treats him like a kid. I am ambarrassed about the way she talks down to him. Money isn’t everything——-when is he going to realize that he doesn’t have to put up with her constant harping and complaining.
173. mary said:
January 14, 2008 @ 12:53 am
She is young and will probably look back at this show in 15 years and not recognize herself, that is if she isn’t given too much encouragement to continue like she does now. She needs to grow up so her kids can too. Being a whiner doesn’t make for good TV and def doesn’t make for good parenting.
174. Cynthia W said:
January 14, 2008 @ 1:04 am
Yes, Kate is a bit bossy with her hubby and needs to be more in control of her kids! A little smack to one of those mean, nasty twins might do alot of good. Kate made her bed having all these kids. She will be lucky if he sticks around, the way she talks to him. But where can he go with all that child support? He’s stuck. And Kate…It is “Morro” Bay, you bossy biatch.
175. mary said:
January 14, 2008 @ 1:06 am
People should go to the family’s website sixgosselins.com, her voice in her writing is consistent with the show and I think folks are reading her pretty accurately. And, she invites you to attend her speaking engagements all over the country as well as advertise on the site. This is not the site of the show’s producers, just the family.
176. delores said:
January 14, 2008 @ 9:50 am
APPARENTLY THE MAJORITY OF YOU ARE THE PERFECT PARENTS!! (or perhaps you see alot of yourselves in Jon and Kate and this upsets you so…) And to Shelia, why are you watching the show?
177. Carina the Lawyer said:
January 14, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
i completely agree w/ Delores… thank you for reality! Shelia, who r u to comment on Kate’s belly Yes… how amazing that she was carrying 6 babies in there and yet looked so good. She wasn’t a fat cow… as most women are these days; some not even mothers. Kate is a good parent… and her kids aren’t any bigger whiners than the average child. I could guarantee that none of u could control one of your kids… let alone 6 of the same age! As for Jon… no one should feel sorry/ pitty for him. He’s a good husband and someone has to have control of the family: so Kate does a good job. I am also confused on where did one of u get the information that Kate was once arrested. I have looked for articles under her pre-marriage name: Kreider and her town and county and found nothing!
ADVISE TO ALL WHO CRITICIZE: STOP WATCHING THE SHOW.
178. Josephine said:
January 14, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
I am a new viewer of the show and most likely an unlikely viewer. But, I liked the couple’s candidness and the show’s depiction of the challenges of a real family, regardless of the number of children. I am appreciate that this family is willing to share their story and the challenges involved with raising eight kids. As viewers, the developing diverse personalities among the children represent personalities we see across children of our own communities. It is how we are able to relate and enjoy witnessing the growing Gosselin children.
Similarly, the real life challenges the parents face, are challenges any household has seen.
I was surprised to see the number of strongly negative criticisms regarding Kate and Jon’s personalities–primarily Kate’s strong personality. Having observed leadership skills in company employees, Kate demonstrates the organization, energy, efficiency and leadership qualities needed to raise a brood of eight (and needed in the successful management of any business).
Likewise, Jon complements the relationship with his relaxed, analytical personality. There is nothing “wrong” with who they are–they simply represent the diversity of individual traits in our world.
For those who can’t relate or feel threatened by either individual, it is okay to express your opinion. But, it is NOT OKAY to express opinions intended to hurt others or expressed with maliciousness. There are too many comments on this blog containing unacceptable language that you would not use with your own family. To me, this represents a degradation of American language and culture. To those individuals using this unnecessary language, shame on you for your embarrassing inability to form critical thought and judgement without derogatory language.
In regards to the kids–I see nothing but the “usual” child behavior. Yes, boundaries and controls are important in parenting technique. And, yes, creating boundaries and controls can be difficult to maintain across eight kids. However, with the resources already available to the Gosselins, they should be applauded for their efforts to provide a fair and loving home for their children.
179. Peggy said:
January 14, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
Kate always has to be right, do you notice that when Jon and her are talking and she doesn’t agree with him or things aren’t going her way, she says “let’s move on to something else.” Kate needs to take some parenting classes. Mady is just like Kate, when she doesn’t get her way she throws a temper tantrum.
180. jenna roberts said:
January 14, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
I thought your post was very well written Josephine. I agree with your assessments of this family. I would like to assert that since we do not see this family and their interactions with one another around the clock, it is easy to see why viewers are formulating some negative opinions. I think when you are watching this show it is important to remind yourself that there is more to this family then what you see in an hour of television.