Jon and Kate Plus 8 Official Thread - Part 5

[mrsksomeday]

Advice ---
Don't feed kids ice cream in the hot afternoon sun - it will just "ruin them".

Oh I learned that lesson, I made a list:

1) Check temperatures at Magic Kingdom before letting them anywhere near ice cream

2) Carry extra clothing so if they get "ruined" I can fix them

 

[blissventure]

Oh I learned that lesson, I made a list:

1) Check temperatures at Magic Kingdom before letting them anywhere near ice cream

2) Carry extra clothing so if they get "ruined" I can fix them

And above all else, don't forget the bibs!!!

 

[mrsksomeday]

And above all else, don't forget the bibs!!!

Oh my goodness thank you, I need to find Disney bibs for a 4 year old and an 11 year old .

 

[talulabelle]

So the set up as far as we know at this point is Kate has them Mon-Thur and Jon Fri-Sun? That isn't going to work for long. What happens when school starts? Surely this will be adjusted to include weekends for each parent.

So will the nannies be with the kids when kate is traveling for her "work" M-F? or will Jon get them those days too? Something tells me that Not much will change with Jons schedule even after being divorced. Kate will rule him still. This "sharing the house thing" they are going to do does not work. I had a friend try this and it was a disaster. They didn't want the kids to get shuttled back and forth so they both moved in and out of the house each week for the sake of the kids. It was nastier for the kids than when they were married. Just think how Kate will act when she comes home on Mon. and Jon has moved something. When Jon doesn't clean something up to her liking. When Jon wants to have friends over. How much will Jon enjoy his time in the house when there are notes posted from Kate telling hom not to do something or another?

What happens is the kids never get to see their parents in their real lives. It's like they are on stage wit hthe kids for thier few days, then go to their "real" home where they are most comfortable because they don't have to worry about the ex. They associate with their gf's and bf's and other friends at thier "solo" homes and the kids are never really a part of their "real" lives. If Kate never like the way Jon did anything when they were married, just think how she is going to feel about how he does things in her home when they are not married. It will be so messy.

America is not going to want to watch her contantly sniping about Jon on future shows. Thsi was supposed to be a show about raising 8 kids, not about disfuntion in the American family.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi, I pop in from time to time too.
We all know that Jon and Kate are now divorcing,
but does anyone wonder why Jon isn't willing to try
counseling or go to therapy? Heck, maybe he does
and we don't know it. I know someone that up and left his wife,
because his therapist told him it would be for the best.
It just seems wierd that Jon has such anger, that he won't speak to Kate, or she said he hasn't for the last couple of months without each incident being a huge blow-up. I don't see how he can turn around now and agree on an divorce with that much hatred. There are going to be so many decisions that Jon and Kate will need to determine with those kids. It will be sad, when Jon figures out his new life he is excited for, won't be any greener on the other side. He is going to end up looking in to his old life, and not be able to do anything because he is throwing it away. Sure they say they will have joint custody, but I have a feeling this divorce is not going to be very nice.

Great point OhMari,

I think Jon is in for a big shock when he realises what he has thrown away. I think 'friends' and possibly his girlfriend have been whispering in his ear and he has this rosy vision of his future. He will fall to earth with a big bump, the gress is always greener from the other side. When you get to it it really isn't any better. After the initial 'rush', any new job/relationship settles down into the same old rut - he'll find out he is still a dad of 8 children, and still has to parent them.

So will the nannies be with the kids when kate is traveling for her "work" M-F? or will Jon get them those days too? Something tells me that Not much will change with Jons schedule even after being divorced. Kate will rule him still. This "sharing the house thing" they are going to do does not work. I had a friend try this and it was a disaster. They didn't want the kids to get shuttled back and forth so they both moved in and out of the house each week for the sake of the kids. It was nastier for the kids than when they were married. Just think how Kate will act when she comes home on Mon. and Jon has moved something. When Jon doesn't clean something up to her liking. When Jon wants to have friends over. How much will Jon enjoy his time in the house when there are notes posted from Kate telling hom not to do something or another?

What happens is the kids never get to see their parents in their real lives. It's like they are on stage wit hthe kids for thier few days, then go to their "real" home where they are most comfortable because they don't have to worry about the ex. They associate with their gf's and bf's and other friends at thier "solo" homes and the kids are never really a part of their "real" lives. If Kate never like the way Jon did anything when they were married, just think how she is going to feel about how he does things in her home when they are not married. It will be so messy.

America is not going to want to watch her contantly sniping about Jon on future shows. Thsi was supposed to be a show about raising 8 kids, not about disfuntion in the American family.

Making quite a few assumptions there aren't you? You obviously don't like Kate, and that's fair enough, we all have different opinions. Jon made the decision to divorce, they've obviously made the decision to keep the kids in the house - they will both have to deal with the consequences of that decision. Do you honestly think Jon doesn't know what Kate is like? He made the decision, if he thinks he can cope with it, so be it.

And if nobody wants to watch it, they won't watch it. I'm sure Kate will try and work her commitments around her 'custody days' - IMO she travelled before to promote the book (as do all authors when a book comes out), because her husband was there to look after the kids. Same as any mother would do.

You obviously view it in a different way because of your opinion on Kate - I don't.

 

[ChrisAlli]

So if Kate has the kids m-th, will all her "work" be done f-sun?? If not, when will she see the kids, they will all be in school come sept right? Will she not travel during the week at all?

 

[joviroxx]

Great point OhMari,

I think Jon is in for a big shock when he realises what he has thrown away. I think 'friends' and possibly his girlfriend have been whispering in his ear and he has this rosy vision of his future. He will fall to earth with a big bump, the gress is always greener from the other side. When you get to it it really isn't any better. After the initial 'rush', any new job/relationship settles down into the same old rut - he'll find out he is still a dad of 8 children, and still has to parent them.

Making quite a few assumptions there aren't you?

.

This entire thread is assumptions and speculation just like your post above, isnt it? And everyone's opinion, of course, is based on who they sympathize with.

Reality is know noone on this thread is privy to all the facts. Ive always gone by the theory that there are 3 sides to every story, hers, his and the truth. But even though all we can do is speculate and I don't even watch this show anymore on a regular basis, I've been strangely "addicted" to this thread..go figure!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

This entire thread is assumptions and speculation just like your post above, isnt it? And everyone's opinion, of course, is based on who they sympathize with.

Reality is know noone on this thread is privy to all the facts. Ive always gone by the theory that there are 3 sides to every story, hers, his and the truth. But even though all we can do is speculate and I don't even watch this show anymore on a regular basis, I've been strangely "addicted" to this thread..go figure!

Absolutely true, which is why I tend to preface my opinions with 'I think' or IMO - but you're right, this thread is very addictive!!! We're way back in the series over here, so all I can comment on re the newest developments has been through this thread or the magazines, which I take with a pinch of salt.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

So if Kate has the kids m-th, will all her "work" be done f-sun?? If not, when will she see the kids, they will all be in school come sept right? Will she not travel during the week at all?

Maybe she will try and travel at the weekends or only during school hours. We'll just have to wait and see how it works out.

 

[talulabelle]

Great point OhMari,

I think Jon is in for a big shock when he realises what he has thrown away. I think 'friends' and possibly his girlfriend have been whispering in his ear and he has this rosy vision of his future. He will fall to earth with a big bump, the gress is always greener from the other side. When you get to it it really isn't any better. After the initial 'rush', any new job/relationship settles down into the same old rut - he'll find out he is still a dad of 8 children, and still has to parent them.



Making quite a few assumptions there aren't you? You obviously don't like Kate, and that's fair enough, we all have different opinions. Jon made the decision to divorce, they've obviously made the decision to keep the kids in the house - they will both have to deal with the consequences of that decision. Do you honestly think Jon doesn't know what Kate is like? He made the decision, if he thinks he can cope with it, so be it.

And if nobody wants to watch it, they won't watch it. I'm sure Kate will try and work her commitments around her 'custody days' - IMO she travelled before to promote the book (as do all authors when a book comes out), because her husband was there to look after the kids. Same as any mother would do.

You obviously view it in a different way because of your opinion on Kate - I don't.

Do your realize what your post to me about assumptions sounded like right after and in the SAME post as your HUGE assumptions above it?

Yes I make assumptions. Guess what? I don't know Kate nor Jon so I have to assume alot of things. We all do. Including you obviously. Yes, our assumptions are all biased based on who we like or dislike, or how we view the show and what we like and dislike about it.

The thing is...I make my assumptions, comments and observations and don't try and smack down anyone who disagrees with me. I read what others say, and may add to it, or say I see it a different way, or ususally I ignore the rosy Kate posts all together. (because I think they must be made by people just like her who are trying to defend the way they act to their own families)

But there are a few on this thread who feel they need to post their own assumptions, and single handedly try to rebut every post they disagree with to defend Kate. It is really tiring.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Do your realize what your post to me about assumptions sounded like right after and in the SAME post as your HUGE assumptions above it?

Yes I make assumptions. Guess what? I don't know Kate nor Jon so I have to assume alot of things. We all do. Including you obviously. Yes, our assumptions are all biased based on who we like or dislike, or how we view the show and what we like and dislike about it.

The thing is...I make my assumptions, comments and observations and don't try and smack down anyone who disagrees with me. I read what others say, and may add to it, or say I see it a different way, or ususally I ignore the rosy Kate posts all together. (because I think they must be made by people just like her who are trying to defend the way they act to their own families)

But there are a few on this thread who feel they need to post their own assumptions, and single handedly try to rebut every post they disagree with to defend Kate. It is really tiring.

Yes, I was completely aware of what my post was like - I was just pointing out we all make assumptions, because none of us know this family from Adam.

The whole point of this thread was to discuss this show, and give our own opinions, and I'm perfectly happy to have someone 'rebut' my post because they have a different opinion. Practically every comment we all make is an assumption on the situation we see. I'm perfectly happy to have someone disagree with my opinion and discuss it with them, I know I won't change their mind, they won't change mine, but we can have a good 'heated debate' to quote Mrs Merton.

How we act towards our own families is our business, I've never felt anyone was 'defending' their actions. IMO that's the whole point of these reality TV family shows - we watch because we can all see something that relates to an incident in our own family life - even if taken to an extreme degree. Whether it be - something similar happened to me but I did/didn't react to it that way.

 

[MichelleVW]

The Crayola factory, the time on the beach when she wouldn't let them jump in the waves. It just seems like every time he and the kids disagreed with what Kate had decided, he backed down instead of teaching them how to fight their own battles properly. since joining this thread, I've made an effort to go and look at lots of clips from the show -- realized why I had given up on them after the WDW ice cream incident.

Ok...I don't really remember the wave episode, but I know that if I had 6 toddlers and two other young children I would be a nervous wreck on the beach. I've gotten knocked down by waves before just standing in ankle deep water, the ocean isn't something to mess around with.

 

[Buckalew11]

Co-parenting isn't really any different that way than other forms of custody, but it sure beats the every 2nd weekend deal that a lot of kids have. And being 2 1/2 hours away (just did the google directions) is really not that far -- some people commute almost that far every day.

Many, many families have arrangements like this and they're still together -- with the economy the way it is, you have to take work where you can get it. My DH is 4 hours away right now, and will be there for the rest of the summer. Some families we know have dads in the Coast Guard, or working on oil rigs, and they're away a lot longer than 4 days.

Added: Just wanted to note that I have a friend in IT here and she is away more often than she's home because the jobs are all over the country. If Jon can get a job doing that in NY, it would be a lot less travel because the jobs would likely be right there.

I guess it is what it is.

I was just thinking if Jon did in fact get offered an IT job, TLC must have helped him. IT, is constantly changing and him being out of the workforce for so long I do no think his skills are as sharp as they could be. There are so many very qualifed people in NYC and the surrounding areas looking employment in the IT field I can't believe he would have been a first choice for any corporation.
Has TLC written all over it. He will probably be the IT guy at that wedding dress store, Kleinfelds (sp?).

I just checked out the front of the People magazine. I read somewhere an open letter to Kate by some big wig PR person, in the letter they told her she needed to change the hair for various very valid reasons. They said to do it slowly and subtly so people don't notice. Funny thing this week the hat, now the hair is much calmer on the cover. Could be a coincidence but, seems to me she is going to mellow her hair .

Might be a coincidence. Kate's hair has been tamed for pics before. Of course, I notice.

You do what a lot of families do who have a parent who travels for work, works a night shift, is in the military, traveling overseas, etc. You call and talk to them. Same for the emergency.

I understand that. My DH was a FF/paramendic and away for 24+ hours a shift. I guess it bothers me because I know how hard it was on all 3 of us at times doing that shift. esp. hard for him being away like that--so much so he found another job.
I just think it will be very hard for the gosselin kids to have Jon 2 1/2 hours away after having him home daily with them all this time. A lot happens during the week in your kids lives. If he was closer and they havd a ballgame or something, couldn't he go to the game? If they needed help with homework with something he was super good at, couldn't he come over (clearing it with mom first) and help?
I realize parents do this (being far away) all the time (ie. military) but they have to and you do what you have to do. I just wonder if Jon couldn't have found something closer to home, that's all. It is a loss for everyone but esp. him.

I would think Kate should be able to have some weekends with the kids. They'll be in school all day doing homework all night. M-Th aren't much fun--I'd want some free time in that schedule if I was her.

 

[redrosesix]

Oh my goodness thank you, I need to find Disney bibs for a 4 year old and an 11 year old .

And stay away from the sharpies in Epcot. You can't let your kids use markers.

So will the nannies be with the kids when kate is traveling for her "work" M-F? or will Jon get them those days too? Something tells me that Not much will change with Jons schedule even after being divorced. Kate will rule him still. This "sharing the house thing" they are going to do does not work. I had a friend try this and it was a disaster. They didn't want the kids to get shuttled back and forth so they both moved in and out of the house each week for the sake of the kids. It was nastier for the kids than when they were married. Just think how Kate will act when she comes home on Mon. and Jon has moved something. When Jon doesn't clean something up to her liking. When Jon wants to have friends over. How much will Jon enjoy his time in the house when there are notes posted from Kate telling hom not to do something or another?

What happens is the kids never get to see their parents in their real lives. It's like they are on stage wit hthe kids for thier few days, then go to their "real" home where they are most comfortable because they don't have to worry about the ex. They associate with their gf's and bf's and other friends at thier "solo" homes and the kids are never really a part of their "real" lives. If Kate never like the way Jon did anything when they were married, just think how she is going to feel about how he does things in her home when they are not married. It will be so messy.

America is not going to want to watch her contantly sniping about Jon on future shows. Thsi was supposed to be a show about raising 8 kids, not about disfuntion in the American family.

OMG -- I never thought about that. Imagine how much she'll complain about the mess he made in "her" kitchen! And I'm sure she would do it on camera -- that would get very old very fast.

Great point OhMari,

I think Jon is in for a big shock when he realises what he has thrown away. I think 'friends' and possibly his girlfriend have been whispering in his ear and he has this rosy vision of his future. He will fall to earth with a big bump, the gress is always greener from the other side. When you get to it it really isn't any better. After the initial 'rush', any new job/relationship settles down into the same old rut - he'll find out he is still a dad of 8 children, and still has to parent them.



Making quite a few assumptions there aren't you? You obviously don't like Kate, and that's fair enough, we all have different opinions. Jon made the decision to divorce, they've obviously made the decision to keep the kids in the house - they will both have to deal with the consequences of that decision. Do you honestly think Jon doesn't know what Kate is like? He made the decision, if he thinks he can cope with it, so be it.

And if nobody wants to watch it, they won't watch it. I'm sure Kate will try and work her commitments around her 'custody days' - IMO she travelled before to promote the book (as do all authors when a book comes out), because her husband was there to look after the kids. Same as any mother would do.

You obviously view it in a different way because of your opinion on Kate - I don't.

I agree that Kate could work her commitments around her custody days. But at the same time, I need to point out that we have only heard her side of the story re who asked for the divorce. And apparently, she made the decision to separate some months ago. JMHO, but we don't really know who was responsible for calling off the marriage.

Ok...I don't really remember the wave episode, but I know that if I had 6 toddlers and two other young children I would be a nervous wreck on the beach. I've gotten knocked down by waves before just standing in ankle deep water, the ocean isn't something to mess around with.

We live right by the ocean, so that scene really got to me (on a calm day, it's much like TL here, and kids enjoy wave-jumping from the time they're a toddler) To me, it was just another example of Kate being OCD and having to have everything her way even though Jon was more experienced in the situation and wanted to let his kids enjoy the moment. The waves at the shore-line were pretty mild, but Kate insisted that he hold onto their hands, can't have more than 2 kids with him at a time, and that they just stand there. That didn't look like much fun at all, especially when there were other kids there who were truly enjoying themselves (maybe that's the more important point -- if you're not going to let your kids do what other kids are doing, maybe you shouldn't take them to places like that)

 

[redrosesix]

I was just thinking if Jon did in fact get offered an IT job, TLC must have helped him. IT, is constantly changing and him being out of the workforce for so long I do no think his skills are as sharp as they could be. There are so many very qualifed people in NYC and the surrounding areas looking employment in the IT field I can't believe he would have been a first choice for any corporation.
Has TLC written all over it. He will probably be the IT guy at that wedding dress store, Kleinfelds (sp?).

This is a good point. Since apparently neither of them has a degree, maybe Jon should go back to school. He's always talking about how he insists the kids go to college and has said he plans to be responsible for them till they're done.

Doing that, or just getting a job -- any job, is probably a good idea. One of these parents needs to be modeling what it's like to live in the real world. Sure, they might not have to work, but their kids aren't going to all get their own reality TV show when they grow up -- they're going to have to work, do their own laundry and raise their own kids. So far, they have no way of knowing what the real world is going to be like.

 

[whitneyNC]

Do your realize what your post to me about assumptions sounded like right after and in the SAME post as your HUGE assumptions above it?

Yes I make assumptions. Guess what? I don't know Kate nor Jon so I have to assume alot of things. We all do. Including you obviously. Yes, our assumptions are all biased based on who we like or dislike, or how we view the show and what we like and dislike about it.

The thing is...I make my assumptions, comments and observations and don't try and smack down anyone who disagrees with me. I read what others say, and may add to it, or say I see it a different way, or ususally I ignore the rosy Kate posts all together. (because I think they must be made by people just like her who are trying to defend the way they act to their own families)

But there are a few on this thread who feel they need to post their own assumptions, and single handedly try to rebut every post they disagree with to defend Kate. It is really tiring.

ITA. This is why I step away for months at a time. I don't think it is an assumption or coincidence that some of the people who defend Kate's less than average tendancies preface by saying "I see myself in her."

another point- Kate does have a nursing degree

a big assumption based on the days of the week many people work and most kids go to school- Kate will see much less of the kids than Jon. I think he is more hands on, and may continue to be. She will hopefully try to travel Fri-Sun, but this will probably run into Thursdays and Mondays and (hopefully) the same (very cute, kids reported to love her) nanny will be there for them. Jon will (hopefully) have no work commitments Friday evening-Sunday evening. But, none of us knows for sure OF COURSE!

 

[DMRick]

The thing is...I make my assumptions, comments and observations and don't try and smack down anyone who disagrees with me. I read what others say, and may add to it, or say I see it a different way, or ususally I ignore the rosy Kate posts all together. (because I think they must be made by people just like her who are trying to defend the way they act to their own families)

I'm thinking the bolded part was a pretty big smack down, since I know what you think of Kate. You have no idea how I have acted to my wonderful family. Hubby and I have passed the 40 year mark, our children are all loving, productive adults with their own children, and whatever we are each did, it worked! I have posted about both Kate and Jon, but yes, right now my sympathies go to her. Your's seem to go to Jon. I read what everyone posts, because I look at this like a discussion. Some I agree with (on both sides), some I don't.

I have no idea how this will work with Kate and Jon. I think they will both have growing pains. While Kate travelled a lot for the books, and for the speeches, that wasn't a long committment, so I will have to assume she will be home a lot on 'her days' with the kids. Parents do travel for work, even single parents, so this will just have to be something they work out over time. In most custody cases when one parent is away, they give first turn-down to the other parent to be with their kids, and if they can't, the parent who's turn it is to be with them arranges for child care.

 

[Disneynut5]

So the set up as far as we know at this point is Kate has them Mon-Thur and Jon Fri-Sun? That isn't going to work for long. What happens when school starts? Surely this will be adjusted to include weekends for each parent.

I agree. With all of the kdis in school they would not see much of Kate on this scedule. Also, where is she going to go while Jon is there? she can't travel every weekend, not that many people want to book her anymore - or so I thought. Plus, this leaves Kate with most of the work of getting 8 kids to school, lunches, homework, etc. I know she will have help but still! HE should be getting a job in town and a place with room for the kids and taking them some during the week! I personally can not image spending days apart from my kids on a regular basis - sooooooo sad!

 

[LoraJ]

So the set up as far as we know at this point is Kate has them Mon-Thur and Jon Fri-Sun? That isn't going to work for long. What happens when school starts? Surely this will be adjusted to include weekends for each parent.

I don't think it will work either. Who will want to hire Jon for 4 days only unless he works 7am - 7pm? Then what is the point of being in NYC if he misses out on all the party time in the city by being back in PA on the weekends. So he gets to be fun dad all weekend and then mom comes home and makes the kids go to school. I just can't see Kate allowing some girlfriend there to play house with her kids all weekend.

 

[redrosesix]

But Kate will have Mon-Thurs during summer vacations and school holidays too, so I think it will balance out. And if Jon has committed to doing Fri-Sun, maybe the reports of his excess partying have been way overdone.

By the way, when my SIL did the co-parenting arrangement they did one week on- one week off. Easier to ask for overtime at work, easier to plan events with extended family, and both parents were able to attend games, etc. on Saturdays (but birthday parties and other events required some major organizing eg. who was supposed to buy birthday gifts for parties the kids attended, etc.) They both attended school plays, birthday parties and shared Christmas and holidays. No girlfriends or boyfriends were ever at the house -- no need to introduce the kids to a new flame until it gets really serious.

By the way, the deal ended when her ex got remarried, but by that time the kids were pretty grown up. My nephew went to live with his dad in another province, my niece went to live with her mum while she was in college (SIL got a new place to make this work for her). Nobody got the house.