One recent commenter asked how I would compare myself to Kate Gosslin, the co-star of “Jon And Kate Plus 8″. Not being a personal friend of Kate’s, I wouldn’t know how to make a fully accurate comparison. Having been on television (for a whole 43 minutes,) I can attest to the fact that it is impossible to “know” somebody just by what you see on a television show, even if it is “reality.” I have watched Jon and Kate Plus 8, a few times. I must say that I enjoyed what I saw, purely because I could relate to having a large family of youngsters. I have gotten to know Kate’s television persona a bit and I think that we are alike in many ways, but I see some clear differences, as well. Here is my unprofessional list of Kate/Kadi comparisons, based solely on what I think I know about her (which may be close to nothing at all):

• Kate has 8 kids.
• Kate was pregnant for almost 9 trimesters, approximately 16 months, or less.
• Kate is organized.
• Kate has multiples (which I always prayed against!)
• Kate had to use fertility treatments to conceive.
• Kate has short hair.
• Kate has a husband who adores her and agrees to do crazy things like TV shows, to make her happy.
• Kate has her own TV show, based on her life.
• Kate has someone come over and do her laundry.
• Kate gets paid to do what she does, on a consistent basis.
• Kate seems to love being a television star.
• Kate loves being a mommy.
• Kate is a tad controlling and bossy.
• Kate has a formal education and is a registered nurse.
• Kate gets to take cool vacations with her family.
• Kate’s husband works at home.
• Kate only has two kids in school and six at home still.
• Kate is in her early thirties.

Okay, now here is a list of contrasts or similarities, as they correspond to each of the above:

• Kadi has 7 kids.
• Kadi was pregnant for 21 trimesters and almost 66 months.
• Kadi is only semi organized.
• Kadi does not have multiples.
• Kadi did not use any fertility treatments to conceive.
• Kadi has short hair.
• Kadi has a husband who adores her and agrees to do crazy things like a TV episode, to make her happy.
• Kadi had one television episode, based on her life.
• Kadi has someone to do her laundry…herself.
• Kadi got paid to do the show, but other than that, she doesn’t get a dime.
• Kadi did not love being a television “star”
• Kadi loves being a mommy.
• Kadi is a tad controlling and bossy (okay…a lot bossy.)
• Kadi has one year of college to her credit.
• Kadi gets to take cool vacations in a tent in her backyard, with her family.
• Kadi’s husband does not work at home.
• Kadi has four kids in school and three at home.
• Kadi is a few months away from turning thirty.

As far as who has it harder, there could be arguments for both. I definitely would not have wanted to be her on the delivery table! I do think that she is very brave for putting her life out there for the public to scrutinize. Is it what I would do? No. It is hard to see a woman devoting her life to such a difficult task and keep an optimistic attitude, and not have respect for her, though. The only thing I know for sure about Kate Gosslin and I, is that we would have one heck of a play date!