I'm watching "Kate Plus Eight"....

[diznygirl]

I don't think anyone wants to see her destitute. But some acknowledgement of the insanity that is Kate would be nice. Going forward she should see someone to work on her issues so she can stop transferring them on to the children. Those poor children and what she puts them through. Imagine being more concerned that the some guy didn't get a slice of pizza over her own children - and that said pizza was handed over with bare hands. Shocking. That woman is mental.

 

[walden]

I doubt we'll ever really know.

Didn't something happen on last week's show with one of Jamie's kids? (and now wondering if the kids were comped for being on the show, as well) To me, that would be more of a relationship strain than the stuff I've seen posted about Monday's show.

Look at what being (or not being) paid did to the relationship between Kate and her brother. Money sure can bring out the worst in people.

I wondered about the compensation earlier in the thread. As TLC got its knuckles rapped by the DOLI last year, and as new legislation is in the works for PA, the Gosselin children with their nice new work permits now get to split 15% of whatever Kate's compensation is from TLC.

I assume that Ashley and Jamie were paid as cast members for these episodes, but whether Jamie's kids are paid (15% or anything) of her salary would depend on whether they have work permits, the Child Labor Laws in the state in which the contract was signed, and the Child Labor Laws in the states where they filmed during this trip.

Remember the Coogan Law is only relevant to California. It is not Federal Law that child actors get 15% of their earnings put in trust, and most states do not have legislation covering children working in Reality TV.

As far as the breach in the relationship between Kate and Kevin Kreider. Was that estrangement due to money or to Kevin and Jodi speaking out to the PA legislators about their deep concerns over the filming of the Gosselin children?

Only Kate, Kevin, Jodi, and perhaps Jon, know for sure. Everything else is speculation.

I think that the change probably boiled down to money and logistics. I recall hearing what you posted (that the mansion would be kids' home and they'd "share" it then the parent-of-the-week). But in order to do that each parent would need to maintain an off-site home or apartment for when it's not their turn to be with the kids in "their" house (so that'd be 3 homes to maintain instead of 2). Also, I believe that Jon left the immediate area to set up his new life and find a job. My guess is would be challenging to find a job that wouldn't mind you only showing up every other week (or for some other "equal time" arrangement).

If I remember correctly, the house was originally in a Revokable Trust for the children, and what you describe was a temporary arrangement during the separation. There was a much publicized incident when Kate wept and screamed at the gate when Jon was there with the kids. The police had to be called to tell her to leave.

We don't know what happened during the divorce. Only Kate, Jon, their attorneys, the mediator and the Judge know what the current arrangement is, and why.

 

[Coconut36]

I don't think anyone wants to see her destitute. But some acknowledgement of the insanity that is Kate would be nice. Going forward she should see someone to work on her issues so she can stop transferring them on to the children. Those poor children and what she puts them through. Imagine being more concerned that the some guy didn't get a slice of pizza over her own children - and that said pizza was handed over with bare hands. Shocking. That woman is mental.

I have to agree. I by no means wish ill on Kate but I do think the show makes her appear to have issues that I would sincerely hope she seeks help for as I see nothing but damage to her children resulting from it.

IMO though she should not by any means be "destitute" following the end of the show as she has been well paid and has money from talk show appearances, Dancing with the Stars and whatever TLC paid. There is speculation (or was it confirmed?) she will be on The Talk as well so there is income that is not directly related to her children being plastered all over TV.

Will she be able to live a "celeb" life without the TLC money..possibly not but that does not equal an inability to adequately support her children either. Jon I believe is working a "regular" job now in construction isn't it? There is no reason that when Kate's pseudo celebrity status is over with she can't find a "real" job (as I would assume if she properly manages her money she can go back to school or spend time finding a proper career) and support her family.

 

[charming23]

I finally got to watch Mondays show and all I can say is WOW!!!!! Kate sure is something else isn't she. I used to try and defend her but I can't anymore. They way she talks and acts towards the people that are arround her, I am surprised that Ashley lasted as long as she did.

 

[lucas]

Do you think the news media is picking this up because the show was cancelled?

I think the media is picking it up because she came across as crazy!

 

[OhMari]

If I remember correctly, the house was originally in a Revokable Trust for the children, and what you describe was a temporary arrangement during the separation. There was a much publicized incident when Kate wept and screamed at the gate when Jon was there with the kids. The police had to be called to tell her to leave.

We don't know what happened during the divorce. Only Kate, Jon, their attorneys, the mediator and the Judge know what the current arrangement is, and why.

OK, I didn't know it was just temporary. So more or less, Kate somehow got the home, because she referred the house to her's in the answer/question segment and it being the kids home. Like I said before, Kate said when the kids go by Jon, it is treated as just a sleep over place and not their home.

Only time will tell, to what happens with Kate. I think she is going to spiral down like Brittany Spears did and someone is going to have to step in and help her.

 

[ead79]

I had quit watching the show, but I tuned in for both the RV episodes and the Q&A episode. Honestly, I can't believe how she behaved. Way back when the show first started filming, I could sometimes sympathize with the stuff that frustrated her. Now however, it just seems like she's gone off the deep end.

It seems like her main focus is precision/organization, no matter what the cost. Based on her comments, it seems to me that she has somehow decided that what the kids need most is a highly regimented, overly organized life that is full of special trips and experiences. Sadly, it seems that whenever her plans don't work out exactly as expected, she flips her lid. I am a very anal-retentive person by nature, but even in my life with just me and my husband, plans often don't work out perfectly. That's just life. I don't understand why Kate doesn't understand that things just won't always work out perfectly, no matter how good your initial plan.

And what the kids need most is a mother who treats them with love and patience. They won't notice that every little thing is in its proper place 100% of the time, but they will notice quality time she spends with them treating them kindly. Every parent gets frustrated, but it just seems like Kate spends the vast majority of her time that way. It's not healthy for her, and it's not healthy for the kids. The kids don't need total organization, a mansion, or a million fancy trips. They do need love, attention, praise and a stable environment free from constant temper flares. I'm not sure why she thinks their current lifestyle is so important to maintain--that's really not what they need most.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Wait...doesn't the child in question eat with her own hands? I mean, pizza is a hand food, right? So if the kid is fine eating her own pizza, I hardly think bodyguardstan is gonna keel over from it.

 

[Wadecool]

Yes, she will always have me, wanting her to have a job that will allow the kids to be supported without being taped on a show. Shame on me for that. You can make fun of it/me all you want. She's made bad decisions, but I don't think working without the kids is one of them...even if the decision to end wasn't hers. I don't care who's it is, but I want her to be successful in landing a job.

I hope Kate is successful in finding another job in nursing. That is a great job that she can do without involving the kids, right? The vast majority of us manage to slog it out working a normal job, and so can Kate.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Yup, Nurse Kate, I can feel the compassion for others already.

 

[rascalmom]

I will admit I've never watched any of the shows; I'm just not that much into reality TV.

Having seen clips over the years though, I wonder how much of this persona is "invented" to make the show intriguing to people. It is like watching a train wreck, but how interesting would the show be, especially at this point with the children older, if everyone was just a "normal" ordinary family. Kate creates drama and a lot of water-cooler talk with her behavior.

If she's really this witchy to everyone on a regular basis, good luck to her in finding a normal job to support her family. Most employers wouldn't put up with that diva-like BS.

I wish the kids well; they are, presumably, innocent in all this.....but you gotta worry a little if they will reap what momma sowed!

 

[pigletgirl]

I think Kate may need inpatient therapy after all of this....

She's psycho!

 

[Promomx2]

Just saw Kate on Inside Edition. They just talked about the People article and how Kate is "freaking out". Funny that is not what she said right after the show cancellation. Maybe she'll start "extreme couponing". I actually felt sad for Kate when she said that even though the trip had been hard and didn't go like she thought, she enjoyed the organization part of the trip. Really, you didn't enjoy spending any time seeing things for the first time with your kids?? Talk about someone you can't see the forest for the trees. She needs to stop and remember that she has 8 kids, not a bunch of preschoolers.

 

[lucas]

Got this link from TMZ. Kate is "freaking out" over the show ending:

http://www.toofab.com/2011/09/07/kate-gosselin-freaking-out-over-shows-end/

 

[DMRick]

But some acknowledgement of the insanity that is Kate would be nice.

And I should have to acknowledge this on a talk board? Because why? If I don't say bad things about her that makes me bad? I didn't even say anything bad about J and A, or Jon for that matter. I don't need to voice bad thngs about the kids mom here or anywhere.

OK, I didn't know it was must temporary. So more or less, Kate somehow got the home, because she referred the house to her's in the answer/question segment and it being the kids home.

Maybe it depended on who paid the mortgage? Or maybe it came up in court, when he had a sleep over? I doubt we'll know that, but I assume the court had something to do with who is in the house with the kids.

I hope Kate is successful in finding another job in nursing. That is a great job that she can do without involving the kids, right?

And I assume (just assuming and I know what that means) that will be the end result eventually, when the 15 minutes are finally over (and I've heard that they were over for years now), but I doubt anyone would hire her at this time. Not even taking into consideration of how long she has been out of the field, or how much babysitting would cost, since it's not that easy to get a daytime (while kids are in school) position when first starting up.

 

[Geoff_M]

And what the kids need most is a mother who treats them with love and patience. They won't notice that every little thing is in its proper place 100% of the time, but they will notice quality time she spends with them treating them kindly.

I doing some searching last night, I found a "fan" site for the show that features some really funny snarky synopses. In the middle of a very funny write-up of RV Trip, Part 1 the author had an interesting and rather sad observation:

The kids start a playful mud fight in the creek. How confusing for a child who one day is not allowed to get even so much as a granule of sugar on the floor, and the next is allowed to roll around in the dirt like it’s Woodstock. This will be the one and only time on this trip Kate relaxes and has fun with a child, only it won't be with any of her own kids--she chases around Clay and they sling mud and get the giggles and have a good ole time. My mouth is sort of half open because I've never seen Kate interact with a child like this in my life. She is covered in mud so it's hard to tell, maybe this is just her stand in? Will the real Kate please come out and hit her mark?

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?!" Kate cries as she puts him in a headlock. I don't know, but when's the last time she told her bio children that? This whole thing should be so cute. But because she never, ever cuts loose with her own children, it has this bizarre undertone. In a way, it's almost like she's trying to rub it in with her own kids. What message she's trying to send them, I don't really know for sure, (maybe, if only you could be like Clay then I could really have fun with you?) because it's the mind of a narcissist and their motives often have no basis in any rational thinking. Weird.

Since everything is on Kate's terms, when she decides she's done and announces as such, all the fun screeches to a grinding halt. These kids must have developed amazing brakes by now.

Of course, later Clay becomes the problem child of the trip in Kate's eyes and is need of being brought under "control".

I don't doubt that Kate tells her children that she loves them periodically, but I agree that it's this sort of "cutting loose" and "letting your hair down" interaction that so seems to be lacking but, as ead79 points out, is so needed in a kid's life.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Good lord, is this show still on?? I haven't watched since the big divorce episode extravaganza. Wow, I can't believe it's lasted this long. I thought that now since the kids were so much older, the show would've lost the charm it once had.

Oh, I see several familiar posters here too! Looks like DMRick is still being raked across the coals! Don't worry Doris, I won't attack you! I see Madge is posting her information links too . Sheesh, this brings back memories of that 2008 spring/summer of the J&K+8 thread we were all on.

So, it appears from the CNN link I just watched that Kate freaked over unwashed kid hands handing the fabulous Steve his pizza? Apparently he's too good for salad or macaroni & cheese? Goodness, lots of previous episodes come to mind with that...gumgate with Aunt Jodi, Disney and ice cream, Jon not using a coupon, solar panel installation and so on.

Kate certainly brings out something in everyone, doesn't she? Personally, I really enjoyed her in the beginning because it was interesting seeing her take care of that many kids. It was relatable and I looked forward to watching. Then things started going south...more nit-picking with Jon, less patience with the kids and more unrelatable episodes (trips here, there and everywhere and really, how many times do you have to be on Oprah?). Truthfully, if Jon had bothered to grow a pair, he could've taken charge of Kate. I really think that's the kind of man she wants, someone to tell her what to do and to stop acting like a female dog. Jon was too passive aggressive for that. They both brought out the worst in one another, didn't they?

But I will say that Kate didn't start out as horrible as it appears she is now. I distinctly remember that early plastic surgery episode with her and Jon. How she clung to him, he prayed for her and they were so happy to be together. Or that other early episode where she got a makeover and came home so happy to Jon and the babies. I don't think she's all evil but she has certainly IMO lost her way. In the scramble to find a way to provide for eight children, she traded in her morals and standards. I'm certainly not faulting her for trying to provide, I'm just sad that this is way it came about. (Jon certainly had trouble in the past holding a steady job and with eight little mouths to feed, that would scare the tar out of me.) But I wonder, will she (or does she already) look back and think it was all worth it? She's a single parent to eight children, most of America despises her and now her show is kaput. Maybe instead of animosity, what Kate truly needs is pity. Hitting rock bottom is probably just around the corner for her. How is she going to pay for that Mcmansion, private school, spray tans, manicures and so on? My guess is she's scared crapless to find herself in this situation. I think she overestimated her worth and now it's crumbling down all around her. This might be the wake-up call she needs. If I were her good friend, I'd show her season one of her show and then the most recent episode. I'd ask her if this is the life she envisioned, the life she now chooses. Is she happy with the transformation and was being on tv worth that. I hope she has one true friend somewhere to help her, she really needs it. For the record, I am not a perfect parent and I certainly wouldn't want a camera around to chronicle my parental failures. I also wouldn't choose that life for my family either. I've always thought this whole run of J&K+8 was like a runaway train that picks up steam going downhill fast without enough time to hit the brakes. In the beginning it seemed like a good idea and then it just snowballed into what it is now. And she seems to have some serious OCD issues...cleanliness, over the top organization, more cleanliness, santizing, more organization and of course, a little more cleanliness.

I suppose one of the kids' tell all books will truly let us know how this all really happened. I used to think Mady would be the one to write it but it appears Cara is the one acting out, yes? Perhaps it'll be her book to hit the shelves first. Either way, I'm glad the kids will not have to deal with being on camera. I just hope that Kate can find some other way to provide. BTW, what the heck is Jon up to now? Anyone know?

 

[Tinkh]

Good lord, is this show still on?? I haven't watched since the big divorce episode extravaganza. Wow, I can't believe it's lasted this long. I thought that now since the kids were so much older, the show would've lost the charm it once had.

Oh, I see several familiar posters here too! Looks like DMRick is still being raked across the coals! Don't worry Doris, I won't attack you! I see Madge is posting her information links too . Sheesh, this brings back memories of that 2008 spring/summer of the J&K+8 thread we were all on.

So, it appears from the CNN link I just watched that Kate freaked over unwashed kid hands handing the fabulous Steve his pizza? Apparently he's too good for salad or macaroni & cheese? Goodness, lots of previous episodes come to mind with that...gumgate with Aunt Jodi, Disney and ice cream, Jon not using a coupon, solar panel installation and so on.

Kate certainly brings out something in everyone, doesn't she? Personally, I really enjoyed her in the beginning because it was interesting seeing her take care of that many kids. It was relatable and I looked forward to watching. Then things started going south...more nit-picking with Jon, less patience with the kids and more unrelatable episodes (trips here, there and everywhere and really, how many times do you have to be on Oprah?). Truthfully, if Jon had bothered to grow a pair, he could've taken charge of Kate. I really think that's the kind of man she wants, someone to tell her what to do and to stop acting like a female dog. Jon was too passive aggressive for that. They both brought out the worst in one another, didn't they?

But I will say that Kate didn't start out as horrible as it appears she is now. I distinctly remember that early plastic surgery episode with her and Jon. How she clung to him, he prayed for her and they were so happy to be together. Or that other early episode where she got a makeover and came home so happy to Jon and the babies. I don't think she's all evil but she has certainly IMO lost her way. In the scramble to find a way to provide for eight children, she traded in her morals and standards. I'm certainly not faulting her for trying to provide, I'm just sad that this is way it came about. (Jon certainly had trouble in the past holding a steady job and with eight little mouths to feed, that would scare the tar out of me.) But I wonder, will she (or does she already) look back and think it was all worth it? She's a single parent to eight children, most of America despises her and now her show is kaput. Maybe instead of animosity, what Kate truly needs is pity. Hitting rock bottom is probably just around the corner for her. How is she going to pay for that Mcmansion, private school, spray tans, manicures and so on? My guess is she's scared crapless to find herself in this situation. I think she overestimated her worth and now it's crumbling down all around her. This might be the wake-up call she needs. If I were her good friend, I'd show her season one of her show and then the most recent episode. I'd ask her if this is the life she envisioned, the life she now chooses. Is she happy with the transformation and was being on tv worth that. I hope she has one true friend somewhere to help her, she really needs it. For the record, I am not a perfect parent and I certainly wouldn't want a camera around to chronicle my parental failures. I also wouldn't choose that life for my family either. I've always thought this whole run of J&K+8 was like a runaway train that picks up steam going downhill fast without enough time to hit the brakes. In the beginning it seemed like a good idea and then it just snowballed into what it is now. And she seems to have some serious OCD issues...cleanliness, over the top organization, more cleanliness, santizing, more organization and of course, a little more cleanliness.

I suppose one of the kids' tell all books will truly let us know how this all really happened. I used to think Mady would be the one to write it but it appears Cara is the one acting out, yes? Perhaps it'll be her book to hit the shelves first. Either way, I'm glad the kids will not have to deal with being on camera. I just hope that Kate can find some other way to provide. BTW, what the heck is Jon up to now? Anyone know?

John is working a 9-5 job and just staying low. I really do see that he lost his way, but I think he lost it after being pushed if that makes sense. Kate is soooo not the person that she was at the beginning.

 

[ead79]

I doing some searching last night, I found a "fan" site for the show that features some really funny snarky synopses. In the middle of a very funny write-up of RV Trip, Part 1 the author had an interesting and rather sad observation:Of course, later Clay becomes the problem child of the trip in Kate's eyes and is need of being brought under "control".

I don't doubt that Kate tells her children that she loves them periodically, but I agree that it's this sort of "cutting loose" and "letting your hair down" interaction that so seems to be lacking but, as ead79 points out, is so needed in a kid's life.

Exactly--Kate needs to act like she did in the mud slinging incident MUCH more often! Let the little stuff go, shower some affection on your children, and let them know they are loved. Whether things go according to plan or not.

 

[tink20]

I don't trust reality shows 100%, but what I seen, on the shows I watched, Kate would be VERY difficult to be around, I would find no joy in being with her. She seems extremely unpleasant. I hope she gets herself straighten out soon, because the teens years are fast approaching and those kids aren't even going to want to be with her, and it seems they are all she has, I think she would go insane if she every lost them. I feel sorry for her and hope she can get some help. Those kids are so cute, divorce is hard on kids, at least they have each other. As far as Kate dating, I couldn't see anyone wanting to do that, just my opinion.

Does John pay child support? If so, how in the world could he afford it?