Jon and Kate Plus 8, Official Thread-Part 4

[3prettyprincesses]

Kate has issued a statement regarding Leah's spanking:
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/06/17/kate-gosselin-spanking/

This is exactly the reason why she should've handled it quietly and in the house. Good grief, that cover is horrible! I don't think she gets it. Her statement tells me that she doesn't give a hoot what people think of her or how she acts and treats her kids. That whole article is going to be spun as Kate abusing her kids or something like it. She really showed poor judgment this time and now it's plastered on a tabloid cover.

 

[MineMail]

Actually, wasn't this interview done in January before the whole scandal with Jon hit? So you think Jon should be cheating then? He should be enjoying the benefits of that, as you say? I don't think that's healthy. We have no idea what his issues are apart from being immature and a tad spineless. Is it because you think Kate treats him poorly that he should be cheating on her? I'm a little confused.

You are confused. I said that, if he wants to do things that make the public think he's cheating, he's pretty stupid if he isn't cheating. Why would you put yourself and your family in the spotlight that way?

Mady is a bit of a drama queen but why do you think that is? I truly believe it's because she quickly took a back seat to the sextuplets when they were born. I see her dramatic behavior as a way to say that she is unhappy and needs attention. That would concern me as a Mom. I think your example of your own daughter is different. It seems like Mady tends to get attention only when she's acting out. She's been allowed to continue in this bad pattern and Kate usually rolls her eyes or makes snarky comments about it during the interview portion of their show. How nice that Mady will have a visual record of her behavior and Kate's thoughts on how she acted.

No, I think it's the same situation - my drama queen wants to be the center of attention and sometimes her timing sucks. My family has a great sense of humor and we use it to defuse situations. That's a skill that I haven't seen on the few episodes I've watched. The kids are funny, but the parents don't have that, maybe because they're on camera.

In a way, it's good that there is a permanent record of this show because it will prevent the "Growing Up Gosselin" stories from being blown out of proportion. Can't you see Mady saying "I remember when I was lying on the floor, parched and begging for a drink and YOU denied me a sip! You poured the water out in front of me, saying nyah, nyah, nyah!" Sorry, just kidding.

Your logic that she's had to take a backseat to the sextuplets is valid. It happens; my oldest still says she wanted to be an only child. At some point, you have to realize that you can't always get what you want in every situation. I don't think the "alone time" has helped (esp. when it's being filmed) and I don't think the current parenting approach is working. Time to take a new tact. Mock them when they get overly dramatic!

Again, the issue wasn't so much that Mady asked for water and was refused. It was Kate's response. She heard Mady's request, got water for herself and then set it aside knowing Mady was thirsty. All because they were going to be interviewed. I'm sure Mady's answer to the question 'Do you think your Mom is a good Mom' was a nice little jab to show her displeasure at Kate's insensitivity. That's my take on it anyway.

When you're tired and distracted, you make mistakes. I would have given her a sip anyway and screw the camera crew. Pass the bottle, after I've "drunk it down" so it won't spill. Then I would have mocked Mady for her diva comment, lol.

 

[DMRick]

This is exactly the reason why she should've handled it quietly and in the house. Good grief, that cover is horrible! I don't think she gets it. Her statement tells me that she doesn't give a hoot what people think of her or how she acts and treats her kids. That whole article is going to be spun as Kate abusing her kids or something like it. She really showed poor judgment this time and now it's plastered on a tabloid cover.

Yeah, she should have picked up her child and carried her inside, so she could really hit her in private (or woud she have been accused of taking her inside to beat her, where the paps couldn't see her)..or at least that's what the housekeeper would have said, when the rag mags paid her a year's salary to quit her job and give them the inside scoop.

Of course, if the paps weren't camped right outside the gate, taking tons of pictures waiting for something that will look bad, it would have come to nothing more than a child getting a swat for not listening to their mom.

 

[blissventure]

This is exactly the reason why she should've handled it quietly and in the house. Good grief, that cover is horrible! I don't think she gets it. Her statement tells me that she doesn't give a hoot what people think of her or how she acts and treats her kids. That whole article is going to be spun as Kate abusing her kids or something like it. She really showed poor judgment this time and now it's plastered on a tabloid cover.

And that is exactly why I think she needs some serious counseling. She appears pretty clueless as to the consequences of her knee jerk actions.
Additionally a patient, understanding nanny-type (or two-alternating) to care for the children (someone who's in the house AND accompanies them in public) would make a world of difference, too.

 

[Mom2Nick]

The police and CPS get involved when someone grabs the arm of a child and spanks their bottom in your area? Ours wouldn't even with a picture of it. Do we even know if it was a light swat, or a pants pulling down full spanking? Or if Kate had already taken a whistle away once and warned her and now she had one of the other kids whistles, or was she already on the phone with the police because the pap was encrouching on her property and she felt the kids weren't safe and the whistle made it hard for the police to hear her (see, even I can turn it all around LOL)? I just don't know how so many of you know all of the cirmcumstances that make everyone of Kate's moves practically jail worthy. We're only allowed to see a part of their day.lives. Who knows what went on before the Paparazzi took a zillion pictures to get that one shot.

Even the water sipping I have rethought after other's have posted. Kate has just a little on her mind (maybe trying to figure out where her husband was..maybe he was supposed to be at the taping), the taping may have been live, they handed her the water and without thinking she took a sip (a few seconds earlier she did ask if they had the kids cups) put it down, heard Mady, went to pick it up and maybe they said, we're rolling. Should we really think that Mady had had nothing to drink that day and was about to pass out, if she had to wait the 5 minutes until the end of the interview? Or was Mady just being, well, Mady. Pushing Kate's buttons. It's too bad that Kate took a sip, but maybe she just wasn't thinking. Just like a normal mom with lots of kids and things to keep straight.

She specifically asked for the bottle of water. They did not just happen to hand her a bottle. Her daughter was begging for a drink, Kate asked for a bottle of water, took a drink herself right in front of Mady and the put the bottle off to the side. Sorry that's cruel. If your kid is thirsty and there's no time for a sip for them then there's no time for a sip for yourself either.

 

[MineMail]

I honestly don't know why many of you bother to either watch the show, or follow all the threads or look at all the pictures. You could just wake up in the morning and say..ah, another day, another time that Kate can do nothing right, or at least not as right as I would do them. You don't even have to look at anything to know whatever she does is wrong.

Exactly. I don't really follow this thread, but it comes up on the "New Posts" link and I was intrigued about the water situation.

 

[madge]

She specifically asked for the bottle of water. They did not just happen to hand her a bottle. Her daughter was begging for a drink, Kate asked for a bottle of water, took a drink herself right in front of Mady and the put the bottle off to the side. Sorry that's cruel. If your kid is thirsty and there's no time for a sip for them then there's no time for a sip for yourself either.

agreed.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Yeah, she should have picked up her child and carried her inside, so she could really hit her in private (or woud she have been accused of taking her inside to beat her, where the paps couldn't see her)..or at least that's what the housekeeper would have said, when the rag mags paid her a year's salary to quit her job and give them the inside scoop.

Of course, if the paps weren't camped right outside the gate, taking tons of pictures waiting for something that will look bad, it would have come to nothing more than a child getting a swat for not listening to their mom.

Yes, she should have taken her inside. I'm not saying Leah did or did not deserve to be spanked but doing so in public is just asking for trouble. Kate knows the paps are around her house so it makes sense to me that she should've taken care of Leah in private. I certainly don't think Kate beat her, not sure why you made that comment. By taking her inside, it would have looked more like she was simply removing Leah from the scene. When my kids were little (2years old) they'd occassionally throw a fit in a restaurant. Rather than sit there and try to reason with a screaming 2 year old while the whole restaurant is staring, I simply took her to the bathroom and told her we would not return to the table until she stopped. People may have assumed I took her to the bathroom to spank her or just remove her from the situation. They don't know for certain and it's none of their business. By Kate handling it outside, she gave the paps all kinds of pictures that people can now interpret however they want.

Of course the paps are partly responsible since they are literally (I'm sure) waiting on their property line for any tidbit they can get. Again, though, why are they there? Because J&K+8 is newsworthy. It's such a vicious circle. Unfortunately it's one that J&K continue to put themselves and kids in. I couldn't handle that and I just don't understand how they can either, especially when kids are involved.

 

[madge]

Yeah, she should have picked up her child and carried her inside, so she could really hit her in private (or woud she have been accused of taking her inside to beat her, where the paps couldn't see her)..or at least that's what the housekeeper would have said, when the rag mags paid her a year's salary to quit her job and give them the inside scoop.

Kate could have:
1. TAKEN THE WHISTLE AWAY.
2. told Leah to sit on the steps, in time out
3. told Leah to go in the house. she's certainly old enough to be alone inside for a few minutes.

Punishing Leah outside was a much better choice.

 

[DMRick]

She specifically asked for the bottle of water. They did not just happen to hand her a bottle. Her daughter was begging for a drink, Kate asked for a bottle of water, took a drink herself right in front of Mady and the put the bottle off to the side. Sorry that's cruel. If your kid is thirsty and there's no time for a sip for them then there's no time for a sip for yourself either.

I know that she asked for the bottle. As I said, I wonde if her mind was wandering when they handed her the bottle. I certainly don't think it was cruel, even if I would have handed the bottle to my daughter. Of course then the rest would want a sip and the converstion would have been..

What nerve..that Kate talks about germs and instead of holding up a live interview, while they got the kids their cups, she sent the bottle down the line to all the kids. Oh gross, they had to share spit!! What an awful mother. She should have had them wait, so they didn't share the germs.

 

[mrsksomeday]

She specifically asked for the bottle of water. They did not just happen to hand her a bottle. Her daughter was begging for a drink, Kate asked for a bottle of water, took a drink herself right in front of Mady and the put the bottle off to the side. Sorry that's cruel. If your kid is thirsty and there's no time for a sip for them then there's no time for a sip for yourself either.

I completely agree with this. She could have waited just like Mady to drink after the "live interview". It was selfish.

 

[kidshop]

That's what I was thinking too. If my kids do something like that while I'm on the phone, I warn them once. Should they continue then I send them to their room. I certainly don't reach, grab and spank. Luckily they've experienced it enough times to realize when I'm on the phone, don't interupt unless someone is bleeding or the house is on fire! I just can't imagine grabbing my 6 year old, spanking her and causing a scene with photographers close near my house. That's ridiculous and is just asking for trouble with either the police or CPS. [/QUOTE

I haven't read farther yet, but in my mind I think who gave her a whistle in the first place? And the child is outside, while I do think whistles are evil and they always get lost at our house )) if you can't do it outside where can you? Can't Kate take her call somwhere else on their giant property? Or just take it away from her? I think Kate is seen with her phone a lot, she probably could have taken the call later and had time with her kids sans phone. That is a pet peeve of mine in any case. I don't see any real discipline/direction given in the current reports, if she spanks her and walks off. I don't see how that is directing or teaching or child.

 

[DMRick]

Kate could have:
1. TAKEN THE WHISTLE AWAY.
2. told Leah to sit on the steps, in time out
3. told Leah to go in the house. she's certainly old enough to be alone inside for a few minutes.

Punishing Leah outside was a much better choice.

And you know that she didn't take the whistle away and she got one from a sibling because how..the Paps said so?

And you know she didn't tell Leah to sit on the steps in time out how?

And you know she didn't tell Leah to go in the house..or maybe if she had, you know no paparazzi would have snapped a picture of her going into the house and the headlines woudl have read :

Kate on the phone with her bodyguard (and we know this because the paparazzi at his house saw him get up and answer the phone) and sends child into house by herself, and she may (or may not) have gotten into the knives.

Doesn't matter what she did or would have done. it wouldn't have been good enough.

That's what I mean about a lot of these posts. Not a one of us (including myself) knows anything beyond what either TLC or the paparazzi wants us to see. Maybe that was the 5th time she blew the whistle. Maybe she has already had time out. Maybe she hadn't. Who knows..just her mom, who did what she felt was best in disciplining her child, knowing the facts. I'm just glad that most of you didn't live in my neighborhood. I have no idea how I turned out 3 wonderful adult children with all I did wrong.

 

[lsyorke]

And you know that she didn't take the whistle away and she got one from a sibling because how..the Paps said so?

And you know she didn't tell Leah to sit on the steps in time out how?

And you know she didn't tell Leah to go in the house..or maybe if she had, you know no paparazzi would have snapped a picture of her going into the house and the headlines woudl have read :

Kate on the phone with her bodyguard (and we know this because the paparazzi at his house saw him get up and answer the phone) and sends child into house by herself, and she may (or may not) have gotten into the knives.

Doesn't matter what she did or would have done. it wouldn't have been good enough.

That's what I mean about a lot of these posts. Not a one of us (including myself) knows anything beyond what either TLC or the paparazzi wants us to see. Maybe that was the 5th time she blew the whistle. Maybe she has already had time out. Maybe she hadn't. Who knows..just her mom, who did what she felt was best in disciplining her child, knowing the facts. I'm just glad that most of you didn't live in my neighborhood. I have no idea how I turned out 3 wonderful adult children with all I did wrong.

Ah, DM...there ya go gettin' all logical. This thread amazes me with the rampant speculation as if it's fact.

 

[madge]

And you know that she didn't take the whistle away and she got one from a sibling because how..the Paps said so?

And you know she didn't tell Leah to sit on the steps in time out how?

And you know she didn't tell Leah to go in the house..or maybe if she had, you know no paparazzi would have snapped a picture of her going into the house and the headlines woudl have read :

Kate on the phone with her bodyguard (and we know this because the paparazzi at his house saw him get up and answer the phone) and sends child into house by herself, and she may (or may not) have gotten into the knives.

Doesn't matter what she did or would have done. it wouldn't have been good enough.

That's what I mean about a lot of these posts. Not a one of us (including myself) knows anything beyond what either TLC or the paparazzi wants us to see. Maybe that was the 5th time she blew the whistle. Maybe she has already had time out. Maybe she hadn't. Who knows..just her mom, who did what she felt was best in disciplining her child, knowing the facts. I'm just glad that most of you didn't live in my neighborhood. I have no idea how I turned out 3 wonderful adult children with all I did wrong.

I'm offering alternatives to what was presented to me, based on 19 years as a parent. There is no way to know what Kate specifically did in this event, although Kate's statement confirms she spanked her child.

Doris, your posts suggest Kate was better off spanking her outside for all the world to see. I disagree.

 

[kidshop]

And you know that she didn't take the whistle away and she got one from a sibling because how..the Paps said so?

And you know she didn't tell Leah to sit on the steps in time out how?

And you know she didn't tell Leah to go in the house..or maybe if she had, you know no paparazzi would have snapped a picture of her going into the house and the headlines woudl have read :

Kate on the phone with her bodyguard (and we know this because the paparazzi at his house saw him get up and answer the phone) and sends child into house by herself, and she may (or may not) have gotten into the knives.

Doesn't matter what she did or would have done. it wouldn't have been good enough.

That's what I mean about a lot of these posts. Not a one of us (including myself) knows anything beyond what either TLC or the paparazzi wants us to see. Maybe that was the 5th time she blew the whistle. Maybe she has already had time out. Maybe she hadn't. Who knows..just her mom, who did what she felt was best in disciplining her child, knowing the facts. I'm just glad that most of you didn't live in my neighborhood. I have no idea how I turned out 3 wonderful adult children with all I did wrong.

Apparently there were lots of witnesses and your scenarios have not been reported. Do you think they are all just lying b/c they hate Kate? If she had acted lovingly and Leah was behaving very badly wouldn't at least one person who saw it make the claim? yeah, yeah I know you'll claim that wouldn't sell a magazine; no one would ever come forward for their 15 minutes to say something nice about Kate. Ever. Not even once in response to any accusation against her. Becase it wouldn't sell...

 

[DMRick]

I'm offering alternatives to what was presented to me, based on 19 years as a parent. There is no way to know what Kate specifically did in this event, although Kate's statement confirms she spanked her child.

Doris, your posts suggest Kate was better off spanking her outside for all the world to see. I disagree.

I can up you. I've had 40 years of parenting LOL! 3 kids, that IMO are wonderful adults with 3 and 1/2 grands. I see them all, we are a part of each other's lifes, and they tell me I did a good job.

As I said earlier, I spanked my children, although not often. If I could turn the clock back, I wouldn't have at all (and I wouldn't have had a TV either..isn't that funny considering where I'm posting). None of my grands have been spanked. Best would have been for her not to touch her child IMO. But she did, (she's obviously a spanker as are many others..that's their choice) and I have no idea what led up to her child being disciplined at that very moment. I guess next time she should be looking out at the street to see if there was a camera on her, and if so, brought her into the house to spank her. But in that case, see my above post.

 

[madge]

Doesn't matter..she can't win. You can have your way. She's a horrible mother, no one here would ever spank their child when they are doing something they shouldn't (at least not in front of the camera's..better to do it in private..unless you have nothing to hide), Kate should just lock the kids in the house, rather than deal with it by calling the authorities. God forbid she should think they shouldn't be encrouching on her property. Better she should have waited until they chase her down in the car with kids in it. She shouldn't have a bodyguard, she shouldn't be able to be on her front lawn, whatever. Her kids should ride bikes on the grass, because people know the back yard couldn't possibly allow the paparazzi to take photo's. Everything she does is wrong. If she plays with the kids, it's for the camera's, if she stays inside, she's letting someone else bring her kids up, if she let's Mady get away with her mouth, she's a bad mother, if she disciplines a child, she should have the CPS on her. If she accepts play houses for the kids, as part of the show they are on, shame on her, she should buy them, so the manufacturer can donate the ones meant for Kate's kids. She can't dress right, she can't do her hair right, she doesn't clean, or cook and she sits in a chair while her children play (unless she's playing with them..then it's for the camera's). A playful swat on Emeril's arm has turned into a hit, and she's just a big witch, that no one gets along with. I just don't understand why the heck TLC has this show on the air, since apparently it has no value.

Kate & Jon Gosselin made this choice for their family. This is the life they wanted to lead, and for better or for worse .. they've got it. What's the saying? As ye sow, so shall ye reap? They must be ok with it all, otherwise they wouldn't keep putting themselves out there. And at the end of the day, Jon and Kate have to answer to each other and the children if it's worth it.

 

[longstangetrip]

Kate (and Jon for the most part) is doing nothing to improve her image. If she wants to be a celebrity, since she has no talent, that's all she can go with. The whole mother of 8 angle. So far this spring and summer, so bad. What has she done to indicate mothering is her priority? How about being a wife? The whole family first angle is being really skewed. I don't have to read the blogs, see the pictures, or watch the show. It's always Kate without Jon, or vice versa, kids playing in the front yard with a nanny, Kate all dolled up, out pumping gas, going to the spa or Starbucks and making dumb choices to tarnish her image. It's the same every day. Her "people" have to be pulling their hair out. If you spank your kids knowing people are watching, you look pretty bad. And for her to do it after all the other stuff, that's just plain asking for it.

 

[blissventure]

I'm offering alternatives to what was presented to me, based on 19 years as a parent. There is no way to know what Kate specifically did in this event, although Kate's statement confirms she spanked her child.

Doris, your posts suggest Kate was better off spanking her outside for all the world to see. I disagree.

There is nothing that Kate did in this situation that will be in Leah's best long term interest. Hopefully it will blow over, (without a repeat) but the pictures? They'll be around.

It's been of some interest to me that Kate has a "body guard". She's obviously aware an concerned about her own privacy.