Jon and Kate Plus 8, Official Thread-Part 4

[madge]

Yup!

My husband can be passive-aggressive at times. Sometimes I brush it off, other times I deal with it head on. I knew this before we got married. We still have mutual respect for each other though. But we do have our moments.

I think that's the sign of a normal and healthy relationship.

watching Jon and Kate Gosselin over the last two years, I've seen their body language and respect towards each other deteriorate pretty rapidly. they're both at fault, IMO.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I wanted to comment on Aunt Jodi too.

Admittedly this is just a personal issue of mine but mothers like Aunt Jodi drive me crazy! She always has to be so perfect - perfect hair, perfect makeup, perfect kids. Always acting so nice. The key word there is "acting" - behind your back she's totally judging you, undermining you and ratting you out to the tabloids.

But seriously, at least Kate is real - what you see is what you get. Don't act like you care and then cash in bigtime by selling out family members to the tabloids. Talk about bad form.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

I wanted to comment on Aunt Jodi too.

Admittedly this is just a personal issue of mine but mothers like Aunt Jodi drive me crazy! She always has to be so perfect - perfect hair, perfect makeup, perfect kids. Always acting so nice. The key word there is "acting" - behind your back she's totally judging you, undermining you and ratting you out to the tabloids.

But seriously, at least Kate is real - what you see is what you get. Don't act like you care and the cash in bigtime by selling out family members to the tabloids. Talk about bad form.

That's my feeling on it as well - if they really cared they would'nt sell their story to the tabloids. They could make their feelings clear to J&K in person - it's what I would do.

 

[FergieTCat]

That's my feeling on it as well - if they really cared they would'nt sell their story to the tabloids. They could make their feelings clear to J&K in person - it's what I would do.

Completely agree. I've noticed that Jodi's sister, Julie, has been "giving interviews" as well.

 

[sandramaac]

NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is soooooooo unfair. I wake up so excited this morning to see no new post on the thread. Only to find I have been dupped, and there is a NEW ONE!!!!!!!!!!! Why tease a person like that? It's so cruel.

 

[Epcot luvr]

I chose to not watch the show, I really believe it is completely a situation of exploitation.
While reading the post and reports I started to think. When I was 24 ( same as as Kate I believe when she chose to get pregnant), I was two years out of college, working at least 50 hours a week, was married , I had student loans to pay, a car payment, trying to save to buying our first home, property taxes, home owners insurance, no furniture to speak of. The last thing we would have chosen to do at that time was to get pregnant with one child never mind 2. And then to choose to try for "just another" so soon after. All of this sounds to me like someone was very selfish and unrealistic to start with. They made all 10 of those bed and now have to lie in them. Just my opinion .

 

[ekball]

Glass says Jon strikes her as a "broken man." "He's so sad," she observes.

I'm no psychologist, but I totally agree. To me, he looked broken....not guilty, on drugs or alcohol (as someone on here suggested), not 'checked out'. He looked broken, distraught, emotionally exhausted.

I get the whole theory of Jon wanting direction, wanting guidance, or maybe even a little control by Kate. My guess is it would be easy to feel lost and overwhelmed as the father or mother of sextuplets and twins (I would be a constant wreck!). But not for a moment do I think he wanted the belittling and disrespect that he ended up with. If my DH ever talked to me the way Kate continuously talked to Jon, I'm sure I'd eventually start wanting to my space from the marriage. No doubt about it. Jon is no saint in the disaster they have created, he is a partner in the marriage and therefore bears some responsibility. But I honestly have no idea how things could have turned out any differently when you have a wife who treats you that way in front of millions of people, not to mention their 8 children. What a terrible example they are setting for their kids. Talk about irreparable damage.

 

[alexandria674]

I wanted to comment on Aunt Jodi too.

Admittedly this is just a personal issue of mine but mothers like Aunt Jodi drive me crazy! She always has to be so perfect - perfect hair, perfect makeup, perfect kids. Always acting so nice. The key word there is "acting" - behind your back she's totally judging you, undermining you and ratting you out to the tabloids.

But seriously, at least Kate is real - what you see is what you get. Don't act like you care and then cash in bigtime by selling out family members to the tabloids. Talk about bad form.

ITA.
BTW, selling out to the tabloids is NO excuse.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Have finally managed to read through all of those pages and caught up!

We're a couple of seasons behind over here so I can't comment about the episode - but i did watch the youtube clip of 'gumgate'.

I must be a really bad mum, becuase I probably would've reacted just like Kate - I would have been really p****d if my kids had been given gum at age 3! And I've also said once or twice I may need to bin toys/comforters if they have messed them/broken them and I can't clean them or fix them, but to me it's more of a 'if you really love this you have to be extra careful with it' way.

As for Jodi, it really just confirmed for me what I thought of her - what on earth was she thinking giving a bunch of 3yr olds gum and then walking away?
As for the new interview.........I just wish this jealous vindictive couple would stop trying to 'help' the children. If they were still on the show and getting the $$$ they wanted, I'm sure they'd find it all fine for the kids.

I just hope Jon and Kate are able to work this out, whether they stay together or not, in a way that has a minimal impact on the kids.

What 3 year old knows enough to be super careful with it's favorite/comfort toy? Most 3 year olds I've seen play with their stuff hard.

I must be a bad Aunt then because (GASP!) I have given my 3 year old nephew gum and didn't sit right with him the entire time he chewed it and demanded he spit it out in front of me! Silly me, I let him chew and continue playing.

Kevin & Jodi said they want to shed light on the fact that people are uninformed about kids and reality TV, that there aren't regulations for that genre of entertainment. Case in point, some of us here thought that the kids must be getting at least 20% but then others thought they might not be getting any.

How can Kevin and Jodi say anything about Jon and Kate when they say they haven't seen them in over a year?

They said they have talked to both J&K within the last year. It's only the kids they haven't seen in a year apparently. Remember too that Jon came to them over 6 months ago because he thought Kate was having an affair with the bodyguard and she told him their marriage was over.

Don't forget Jodi flat out lied about giving the kids gum

Didn't she say they got into the gum, as in found the gum? That's how I interpreted it. I don't think it was a big deal...if my sister in law was watching 7 of my kids, I don't think I'd be quite so irritated about gum. Heck, my DH rarely are able to go out alone so when we do, all we care about is if the kids are safe, had dinner and are in bed!

 

[Aristomommy]

That's my feeling on it as well - if they really cared they would'nt sell their story to the tabloids. They could make their feelings clear to J&K in person - it's what I would do.

When a person is in the public eye, talking to them in person isn't always going to do it. Every conversation you have with that person, they have 10 people from production telling them they are great and offering more money and trips. A friend of mine had a family member live very destructive life in the public eye and the way to get attention to the issue was to make it public. It sounds like Jodi and her husband have done this privately as well but Jon and Kate ignore it. They have a huge house and like the money this show brings and they can't go back to being a SAHM and a computer guy. Unless you have experienced something like this, it is hard to say how you would react. And btw, the CBS interviews aren't usually paid interviews.

I am saddened to see that TLC has made more and more demands, cameras in the kids bedrooms etc. I have only watched clips of this season online, because I just get so sad seeing the kids taken on "outings" just to make the show interesting. How much of that is for the cameras and how much would they do with their kids without the show?

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

I would have been livid if someone gave my kids gum at 3.


Ok...I got a request for a puppy pic....and I must oblige!!!

We went to a state park and had a picnic yesterday...

 

[OK!]

How can Kevin and Jodi say anything about Jon and Kate when they say they haven't seen them in over a year?

I was wondering the same thing myself this morning.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

That's my feeling on it as well - if they really cared they would'nt sell their story to the tabloids. They could make their feelings clear to J&K in person - it's what I would do.

They have, during the interview they said they have expressed their concerns to J&K numerous times but that J&K said it's their life, their choices.

I chose to not watch the show, I really believe it is completely a situation of exploitation.
While reading the post and reports I started to think. When I was 24 ( same as as Kate I believe when she chose to get pregnant), I was two years out of college, working at least 50 hours a week, was married , I had student loans to pay, a car payment, trying to save to buying our first home, property taxes, home owners insurance, no furniture to speak of. The last thing we would have chosen to do at that time was to get pregnant with one child never mind 2. And then to choose to try for "just another" so soon after. All of this sounds to me like someone was very selfish and unrealistic to start with. They made all 10 of those bed and now have to lie in them. Just my opinion .

I've said that before too...after the twins, Jon was content but Kate got the baby itch for more and convince Jon to try again. The fact that he had a sketchy employment history would have made me think twice before trying for more. Plus Kate knew that she would most likely end up with twins again since she was using fertility drugs too. That's why I laugh when they say on the show "we decided to try for 1 more and got 6".

Honestly, it seems to me that Kate wanted babies no matter what. Not that I fault her for feeling that way, I personally love babies! But, they already had twins and Jon was employed/unemployed/employed/unemployed so that would make me wait until I felt financially stable.

I'm no psychologist, but I totally agree. To me, he looked broken....not guilty, on drugs or alcohol (as someone on here suggested), not 'checked out'. He looked broken, distraught, emotionally exhausted.

I get the whole theory of Jon wanting direction, wanting guidance, or maybe even a little control by Kate. My guess is it would be easy to feel lost and overwhelmed as the father or mother of sextuplets and twins (I would be a constant wreck!). But not for a moment do I think he wanted the belittling and disrespect that he ended up with. If my DH ever talked to me the way Kate continuously talked to Jon, I'm sure I'd eventually start wanting to my space from the marriage. No doubt about it. Jon is no saint in the disaster they have created, he is a partner in the marriage and therefore bears some responsibility. But I honestly have no idea how things could have turned out any differently when you have a wife who treats you that way in front of millions of people, not to mention their 8 children. What a terrible example they are setting for their kids. Talk about irreparable damage.

That's what I thought about Jon's appearance too. I think it did start out where he was needing guidance and Kate was more than eager to provide it. Fast forward to 10 years later, add 8 kids and more demands and that's where it probably got unbearable for him to take (Kate's controlling of him). Kate has said many times that Jon is the kind of person to hold everything in and when he can't take it anymore he explodes. She's even said Cara is just like him. So I'm guessing that he hit the boiling point, blew up and decided he wasn't going to be controlled anymore. Of course I'm speculating but it seems possible...

 

[talulabelle]

Was anyone else taken aback by Kate saying to the camera "Jon all the sudden wants the show to go away, and NEWSFLASH! IT'S NOT!" I was thinking, "why not?" Because you love it more than you husband and kids?" Why can't it go away? Are they now indentured servents that are FORCED to reup the contract each year?

I also thought she was so strange at the party (well I guess not strange for her) but she was so rude to the other parents. Ignoring them and announcing things like they were not friends or fellow people, but just people in her way.

I felt so sad for the little boy that was so excited to say the one friend he was allowed to invite was "Luke, who's not here" and then his sister says "I don't think he's coming" and he says to the camera "I don't think he's coming" I wouldn't have allowed my kids to go either. But why was a mother not on top of the fact that he didn't have a special friend there? I would have had him invite another friend. No cousins there, so sad.

It was gross to watch. Why would a woman allow her family in the crisis of their lives to be on display for the nations entertainment? I felt guilty watching it.

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

I am saddened to see that TLC has made more and more demands, cameras in the kids bedrooms etc. I have only watched clips of this season online, because I just get so sad seeing the kids taken on "outings" just to make the show interesting. How much of that is for the cameras and how much would they do with their kids without the show?

I believe that is part of Kate's beliefs is that without the show their 8 children would not have the positive experiences that they have had. I know with a family of 4 it is hard to take trips - I don't think there is enough budget tips to make it possible for a family of their size!

 

[mistydoodles]

They basically say the same things that have already been said. How everyone thought that at first when it was a documentary that it was a good idea and their memories of that time of the kids lives where being preserved but it soon turned into a business and all about ratings. That the vow renewal was all for ratings. That the kids have come up to Jodi and said that they don't like having the cameras around all the time,every time they do anything with there parents that the cameras are there. It was very hard for Kevin, he got emotional.

I felt that during the radar online interview was hard for Kevin to do as well. It just seemed hard for him to say publicly that he didn't agree with what his sister was doing with her life. Jodi I feel has talked this to death with her girlfriends, as we women have a tendency to do so the emotion is out of it for her. That's JMO

Thank you for the recap. I appreciate it!!

 

[Aristomommy]

I believe that is part of Kate's beliefs is that without the show their 8 children would not have the positive experiences that they have had. I know with a family of 4 it is hard to take trips - I don't think there is enough budget tips to make it possible for a family of their size!

So they have to take an expensive ski vacation in Colorado? Many large families (I grew up in one) take local trip to the zoo, which around here is free on Mondays or free days at museums. Kids don't need expensive vacations in Hawaii, they would be just as content going to the playground, swimming pool, play with cousins, drive to the beach, go to the library and ride their bikes. I don't equate expensive vacations as necessary for any family, let alone a family of 10. Especially if the end result is invasion of privacy and possible a split up of a family that at least seemed very loving in the beginning.

 

[madge]

I also thought she was so strange at the party (well I guess not strange for her) but she was so rude to the other parents. Ignoring them and announcing things like they were not friends or fellow people, but just people in her way.

I don't know that I would use the word strange to describe Kate's behavior at the party, but it was clear she didn't know any of those parents very well at all. I'm not sure how she would, since Jon is the parent responsible for taking them to school... in my experience, the preschool parental bonding comes at pick-up/drop off time while waiting for the children.

There are some preschools that do a car line, where you wouldn't have much interaction with the other parents at all. my DD attended a preschool (for one year) at a local church -- we were not members of the church, and I only knew one of the other parents. drop off/pick up was done in the cars, so there really wasn't an opportunity for me to get to know any of the parents. I hated going to events at the school or birthday parties because I didn't know anyone and after a while, gave up trying. My point being it is possible for Jon and Kate to not be familiar with the other parents.

with that said, I do think some of the things Kate said were bordering on rude, or at the very least, indicative of not knowing the parents. One thing in particular was the singing of "Happy Birthday" when Kate announced that they WOULD be singing to each of the kids, and if you watch their show you'd know that. It was what and how she said it that was annoying.

I wonder if the families involved with the party were compensated for their time.

 

[DMRick]

NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is soooooooo unfair. I wake up so excited this morning to see no new post on the thread. Only to find I have been dupped, and there is a NEW ONE!!!!!!!!!!! Why tease a person like that? It's so cruel.

I wanted to tell you, but all the others said no, it was our secret.

​

 

[madge]

I believe that is part of Kate's beliefs is that without the show their 8 children would not have the positive experiences that they have had. I know with a family of 4 it is hard to take trips - I don't think there is enough budget tips to make it possible for a family of their size!

this is going to be a strange comment on a Disney World vacation forum .. but, vacations are not a God-given right.

while they may not be able to take extravagant trips, there are many opportunities for affordable vacations, even for large families.

but you're right, without the show, they wouldn't have been able to visit Walt Disney World, Utah, Legoland/California, NYC, and Hawaii in a little more than a year's time.