Unsolicited advice for Jon and Kate
Posted
June 23, 2009 at
11:48 pm by
Marge
The Interwebs have been aflutter over Jon and Kate 
Gosselin. Who did what to whom? How much of a role did the cameras play in the disintegration of their relationship? Did their greed compromise their judgment as parents and as life partners? Who cheated on whom? It’s easy to point fingers, especially since they’ve chosen to live their lives so publicly.
I have no great sympathy for their claims that the media should back off, respecting their privacy as a family. When you open your life as they have (and as I have on my blog), you have to take the good with the bad. There will be those that love you no matter what. There will be people who will celebrate every stumble and heartbreak you experience. Others will question everything you do. It’s part and parcel of the deal.
In the end, though, what we have is a couple who is ending their relationship in a very public way. Regardless of my opinions about their relationship and parenting choices, I can’t help but watch their faces and see so much that is familiar.
I saw it months ago, the lack of physical contact, the emotional detachment, the harsh words that were only half-joking. They got further and further from each other. Soon, that interview couch could not have been long enough.
Eyes were swollen. Walls were up. The end was near. continue reading…
Tags: Divorced Parenting, John and Kate Plus 8, Jon and Kate Gosselin, parenting after divorce, parenting-advice, TLC Comments (9) |
Toddlers and Tiaras
Posted
January 21, 2009 at
6:30 pm by
Hillary
After all the pomp and circumstance surrounding President Obama’s inauguration, I thought I’d chill out and see what TiVo recorded for me over the past few days. Little did I know I’d witness another kind of pageantry on, frankly, a creepy scale.
Toddlers and Tiaras is a documentary that first aired on TLC last year. Now the network is turning it into a weekly series, going behind the scenes of the child beauty pageant industry. (The first episode airs on Jan. 27th.) We’re not talking about teenagers here. The kids featured in the documentary were between 5-9 years of age.
I can summarize the show pretty quickly. Young girls wear tons of makeup, hideous dresses, up-dos, fake nails and eyelashes, and perform cheesy talent routines in the hope of winning, well, their entry fees back. And possibly winning trophies that I’m not sure would fit in the back of the SUVs some of these pageant families drive.
Some of these pageant-moms pull out all the stops so their kids will win. Lose your top front baby teeth? No problem! Get a “flipper”, which is the equivalent of false teeth for kids. Have a professional makeup artist doll up your kid.
One mother, when asked why she has her daughter doing pageants, said “it’s a great way to help her build confidence and self esteem.”
Honey! How about letting your daughter be comfortable with the way she looks without plastering her face in more makeup than Tammy Faye Bakker? How about letting her be a kid!
The one cute moment of the entire show was when the producers asked one of the little girls what she would do with the money should she win the pageant. She said she’d like to get a cow.
I hope that little girl, and her bovine, can retire from pageantry and live happily ever after.
| Tags: children's beauty pageants, TLC, Toddlers and Tiaras Comments (23) |
The Jon and Kate Plus Eight Wedding Infomercial, er, Event
Posted
November 18, 2008 at
8:06 pm by
Hillary
Jon and Kate Plus Eight has become nothing but one big infomercial. The couple’s wedding vow renewal was no exception.
This episode, “For Better or Worse”, featured 60 minutes of all the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa in Hawaii had to offer … from the spa (yes the 4-year-old girls got pedicures), the hair salon, the chapel, the catering services, the lawn overlooking the ocean. TLC could have just shown a video of the premises, and I wouldn’t have had the added annoyance of enduring Jon and Kate. (They did renew their vows, by the way, in between resort glamour shots.)
| Tags: Boston Herald, Figure 8, gosselins, Grand Wailea, greed, Jon & Kate, jon and kate wedding, Jon-Gosselin, Kate-Gosselin, TLC, travel, tv-as-infomercial, wedding vows Comments (154) |
The Purity Ball
Posted
November 5, 2008 at
9:00 am by
Hillary
This takes the father-daughter dance and dramatically ups the weird factor.
According to a documentary “Purity Balls” currently airing on TLC, these events are “where fathers and daughters subscribe to the single fundamental notion of chastity, with the fathers pledging to protect their young daughters’ purity, and the daughters pledging to remain virgins until they marry.” The narrator stated one in every six American girls take purity pledges, and girls as young as five are encouraged to attend a Purity Ball.
| Tags: abstinence, father-daughter dance, purity ball, Religion, TLC Comments (5) |
And Baby Makes … 18??
Posted
October 11, 2008 at
10:02 am by
Hillary
Step aside, Gosselins. The oh-so-fertile Duggar family is taking center stage on TLC with its new series, 17 Kids and Counting.
And, by the way TLC, I’m now calling you The Large-family Channel because the mainstay of your programming consists shows about very large broods. (Like this is all we care to see or something.)
Back to Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and the J’family. They are very, VERY conservative. No High School Musical CDs in the van; they have religious sing-a-longs. The girls wear skirts. The kids are homeschooled. Older kids help the younger ones. They have a family bus that would make John Madden jealous.
And, every kid’s name begins with J. Who knew so many J names existed?
So the first couple episodes take them to NYC where we see the group the size of my daughter’s first-grade class attempt to hail a fleet of cabs, take up 1/2 a pizza restaurant having lunch, and finally to the Today Show where Jim Bob and J’Michelle decide to surprise the kids with the news of #18, due around New Year’s Day.
Of course, the kids smiled, but weren’t jumping up and down with glee when Mom broke the news. Seriously. In that household saying “I’m pregnant” is like saying “It’s time to take a shower.” Because the pregnancies happen ALL. THE. TIME.
Upcoming episodes include the Duggars hosting another mega-family and providing tips on how to stretch a dollar. Also, the eldest Duggar, Josh, will be proposing to his girlfriend. (He got married a couple weeks ago.) Of course, I scoped out the newlyweds’ website,scrolled down to the bottom and snooped at their Walmart wedding registry. (OK, when I got married 15 years ago, I did not register for Gatorade or beef jerky. I’m just saying.)
So, J names anyone? Are there any left at this point?
| Tags: 17 kids and counting, Discovery-Health, Duggar-family, duggars, J baby names, large-families, mega-families, TLC, wedding registries Comments (56) |
Jon and Kate Plus 8: The ones we love to hate
Posted
September 29, 2008 at
6:00 pm by
Jessica
Well, it’s been almost a year since I wrote my first critical post on Jon and Kate Gosselin. Of course I had no idea what I was getting into. Never could I have imagined that a reality TV show would be met with such ardent opinions, with Kate Gosselin turning out to be quite a polarizing figure. The very mention of Kate Gosselin to those who have caught the show conjures up resentment on one side and admiration, and even sympathy (dare I say “pity”), on the other.
I have mentally divided the “pro” Kate crowd and the “anti” Kate crowd and even though I don’t watch the show on a regular basis (I lost a lot of interest after the first few seasons), I do happen to catch it once in a while. I was never a super-fan, but found some redeeming values in Jon and Kate and can now admit after catching a few reruns that I really can’t stand Kate Gosselin. There, I said it. Now, lest I be associated with the obsessive-stalking-loathing-Kate camp, I wouldn’t waste anymore bandwidth on the subject matter than this post is taking up. Subscribing to the KIA philosophy (Kate is an a-hole), is priority number 16,232, after plucking a stray eyelash out of my eyelid. And even though I have come to terms with the disgust for this woman, I’m not as prepared to run with the KIA crowd. In no way do I want it to be part of my identity. First of all, I have many internet friends who happen to like her, and I have been known to reach across party lines to embrace those with differing opinions [Ed. note: You're such a maverick]. Second of all, I kinda like having my very own villain. Even if it doesn’t make a lot of sense, I kept on watching the reruns while cursing at the television. In fact, the more angry I got, the more I stayed glued.
So, either Kate Gosselin is an a-hole and doesn’t care, or she’s an a-hole who knows how to keep viewers entranced or enraged. After all, Howard Stern gained his popularity by listeners that hated him more so than from listeners that loved him. Something tells me that she isn’t that smart though.
Or is she? continue reading…
| Tags: discovery, gosselins, jon and kate plus eight, Jon-and-Kate-plus-8, multiples, reality-tv, septuplets, TLC Comments (686) |
Jon and Kate Plus 8 - Color Me Gosselin
Posted
March 25, 2008 at
7:03 pm by
Allison J
I used to be a HUGE fan of Jon and Kate + 8 – I don’t have children, so I get a tickle out of watching others who do. I knew Kate was a bit wacky, but I took it in stride. I didn’t have anyone to vent to, so my pent-up frustration went unchecked. I must say, I enjoyed watching the show in ignorant bliss – until I found Jessica’s post on this blog! Now I watch each episode with a critical, and sometimes unfair, eye.
So yesterday’s episode — Color Me Gosselin. Why are you taking your kids to the Crayola Factory if you don’t want them to get dirty, or clean up after them, or use markers??? Kate, the reason your kids are having meltdowns is because you don’t let them do anything. And it’s not just me who feels this way – just ask your husband. He seems to think markers are fine.
While I am on the subject of markers – they are called washable for a reason. Last week I came home to find my precocious pooch with a chewed up purple Crayola marker. There was purple everywhere – on my cream rug, on his white paws, and all over my very expensive, very large tan micro-suede sectional sofa. But here is the real kicker – it washed right out! HA! Who would of thunk washable markers would just wash out!
Kate, you do not need to spend hours treating stains, as you claimed. You just stick the marker-decorated clothing in with the rest of the wash – you know, the stuff other people fold, iron and put away for you.
Your kids are what, three and a half and six (almost seven), right? Let them use a marker! They are freaking out and “melting down” because they are pissed. And the damn blue glue won’t kill them either. Do you really think that Crayola would supply toxic, hazardous and stain-inducing materials for their young patrons to use?
I know I don’t have any children of my own to clean up after, but during the day I am responsible for 20 – 25 youngsters. And it’s just me! No one else there to wipe noses, clean messes, correct papers, or march to lunch, music, gym, or the library.
Here’s my next complaint — stop complaining about taking your kids to public places. As a teacher I can tell you that field trips are much worse! 25 kids and only three adults to corral them. They have to be fed, taken to the bathroom, and shown an educational and enjoyable time – all of which is easier when the adults chill out and let the kids be kids.
So here is my final note on this episode – Jon, step up and put your foot down when it comes to Kate’s obsessive compulsive mandates. And Kate, quit your damn bitching! If you didn’t want to clean up after eight kids, you shouldn’t have had eight kids.
Read more at the Jon and Kate site at Examiner.com
| Tags: Discovery-Health, Jon-and-Kate-plus-8, Jon-Gosselin, Kate-Gosselin, large-families, multiples, Parenting, sextuplets, The-Gosselins, TLC, twins Comments (16,190) |
Trading Spaces: The Return of Paige
Posted
January 27, 2008 at
11:14 am by
Prescott
Hi, my name is Prescott, and I’m a home makeover show junkie. (Hi, Prescott!)
Seriously — if the show involves tearing down walls and slapping up paint, I’m so there. I have a season pass set for Property Ladder on the Tivo. So it’s no surprise that when Trading Spaces debuted in 2000, I was immediately hooked. The chaos, the low budget, neighbors screwing up each other’s living room, Doug making women cry, what’s not to love?
Then TLC had to mess with their winning formula and take the show in a “new creative direction”. Paige Davis was dumped, designers left, they ditched a carpenter, and the participants went from soccer moms to young, trendy couples. And we didn’t like it. I gave up watching after a few episodes, along with millions of others. Trading Spaces’ ratings sank lower than a lead weight in the Mariana Trench.
But instead of canceling the show, they decided to give it one more try and go old school. Paige’s career as a stripper wasn’t working out, so they were able to woo her back — although sporting a kicky new haircut, which the wife could not get past (”Where’s the flip? WHY DID SHE CHANGE HER FLIP?” Yeah, she has issues). The budget has returned to $1,000 without all the “bonus room” and extra cash that was floating around the past couple seasons. Many of the original designers have returned as well — Frank, Laurie, Hildi, Doug, and Edward are on this season, but sorry, gentlemen, no Genevieve. We do have a little eye candy for the ladies (and closeted homosexuals like myself): meet Thad and Brandon, filling the role of hunky carpenter #1 and #2, respectively, a prerequisite on these shows.
The one big difference from the original is that they are no longer having neighbors trade spaces. Instead, the teams are put together to create maximum tension: a woman trading with her mother-in-law, an executive assistant trading with her boss, and on the premiere episode, ex-spouses trading bedrooms. It sounds gimmicky, but it did add a nice flavor to the show, especially since the ex-wife has since remarried but the ex-husband has not. So he constantly had the pained expression of, “sure, I would love to help design a lovely bedroom where ANOTHER MAN WILL BE BANGING MY WIFE.”
Doug came up with something completely non-offensive as always (although he did add a meat cart to the “steak house” look he was going for). Hildi is thankfully still working her “unique” (i.e., bat shit crazy) designs which usually feature 2,000 pounds of feathers or 6,000 doll heads, this time nailing up 1,500 rubber rings all over the walls. Have you noticed that she sadistically makes it so that if the homeowner doesn’t like what she’s done, it will require hours and hours of time to remove?
Bottom line: The original fun of Trading Spaces is back, and I’m glad to once again have my regular Saturday night date.
| Tags: brandon-russell, doug, Entertainment, hildi, paige-davis, paige-davis-haircut, paige-returns, thad-mills, TLC, trading-spaces, trading-spaces-review Comments (23) |
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 Analyst) 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
Read more at the Jon and Kate site at Examiner.com
| Tags: Discovery-Health, Jon-and-Kate-plus-8, Jon-Gosselin, Kate-Gosselin, Parenting, sextuplets, The-Gosselins, TLC, twins Comments (23,076) |
