Jon and Kate Plus 8, Official Thread--Part 7

[DMRick]

At least Jon was smart enough to act like a parent when the cameras were ON as opposed to Kate who could give a crap!

You are right there. Kate didn't 'act' like a parent just for the cameras. But then, I didn't think Jon did either. He helped with the kids. Kate didn't just sit by all day, I'm sure. She seemed to have everything worked out to help make the house run smoothly. Even having help doesn't mean it's a cake walk with that many in a family. I'm not sure that makes one of them better than the other.
Have you never seen Kate play with the kids back in the old house? I have, many times.

 

[brittsmum1998]

I have no idea if they went to the playground with Kate or Jon in the past. Someone posted here that they used to go to the playground. I thought it was hot when they showed the filmed playground, not cold.

My kids were outfront playing on all the nice days when I could watch them (in the fenced yard when I didn't). I'd either bring out a book, or visit with the other neighbors, or take turns with the neighbors while each of us did housework, while the other neighbor watched them. My kids played with their friends once they were the age K & J's were when out front, not me. K & J's had plenty of their siblings for playmates. Different strokes for different folks as far as playing with the kids. I just didn't have several hours a day to play with three kids. Not that I never played with them (board games, tea parties, school etc, inside) but when they were on their big wheels and bikes and playing imagination-made up games, and digging in teh sand pile, it was their friends they wanted to play with.

You're right it was hot. I think they are both idiots and neither of them are good parents right now but the thing is up until the break up I really thought Jon LOOKED at least on the show like the better parent. Certainly (IMHO) better than her.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It just dawned on me how RECENTLY Kate now takes the kids to the playground and plays w/ them in between complaining about the cold of course.

I still never saw Kate give anyone a bath. The only thing I can remember is her doing the girls hair lol.

When my daughter was their age you bet your bippy I was out there playing, getting dirty, laughing etc. and I didn't need the cameras there. At least Jon was smart enough to act like a parent when the cameras were ON as opposed to Kate who could give a crap!

I must suck as a parent--b/c I'm not all fond getting in the mix all the time. I like my kids to play independently and I've often been aghast at how ladies seem to point out how much of a better mom they are by comparing what they do against what Kate does.

I say "better mom"--b/c there really is no point in illustrating how you parent in an effort to remark on Kate's parenting except to say how you are doing it better.

Small pet peeve of mine. I just don't get the holier than thou "I don't need cameras to love my kids" crap.

I watched 2 old episodes just yesterday. Kate had to give Hannah a bath when "Hannah pooped in Hannah's undewears" and I can't believe they showed the poop on tv. So she has given at least one bath that was partially documented (no helper except the cleaning lady she had hired and Jon was working at the time.)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Speaking of old episodes---

I know they preached the Organic lifestyle but now I'm wondering how much--ballooning they were doing to us. (haha--balloon boy, hoax...get it? okay--you don't have to keep it )


Anyway--mother's day episode--Jon comments that he wasn't sure if the breakfast was healthy--aside from its all organic component.

I couldn't tell if the butter was organic--but I do know the sticks are marked as such on the paper--and I couldn't tell.

But the kicker was--the syrup!

I was wondering where they got lucky and found bulk organic maple syrup.

i mean--we do partial organic here and pretty much only use 100% pure maple syrup (don't care if it is organic or not). We use it in lower quantities, b/c of the cost Hubby thinks it tastes like water and will only do the blends with HFCS.

But anyway--I'm just enamored with this syrup bottle.

It gets flipped around in one of the shots--and it is Hungry Jack syrup and I'm like--wait a minute.


I'm just a little too obsessed with the syrup--but I gotta just wonder sometimes, you know?

I really don't think they're faking anyone or anything---we try for more organic, but we have a lot of crap in our cabinets. (esp now that I'm sick--my hubby snuck in Frankin' Berry cereal ).

Just thought it was funny--I got all excited to want to know what syrup they were using and then got bamboozled.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You are right there. Kate didn't 'act' like a parent just for the cameras. But then, I didn't think Jon did either. He helped with the kids. Kate didn't just sit by all day, I'm sure. She seemed to have everything worked out to help make the house run smoothly. Even having help doesn't mean it's a cake walk with that many in a family. I'm not sure that makes one of them better than the other.
Have you never seen Kate play with the kids back in the old house? I have, many times.

I'd be so busted if I had cameras.

I've been in bed for a month (off an on as I've improved) and a I had a nanny for the past 2 weeks who just had her last day today.

I've seen on many episodes where Kate has played with the kids and even in 2007 she was very enamored with her children when they were still closer to babies--prior to them turning 3.

For a woman who has been declared a bad actress an infinite number of times, I don't see how she can be a bad actress--but then fact mommyhood so well for the cameras if it wasn't genuine. It just puzzles me how they can come to such an oxymoron of a conclusion.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

Small pet peeve of mine. I just don't get the holier than thou "I don't need cameras to love my kids" crap.

The only thing I can figure is that on some level it makes them feel better about themselves. That and I think the dislike for Kate just blinds people to find flaws in every single thing that she does, same for those that dislike Jon. But a woman seems to be much harder on another woman than a man, so I think the hatred comes out more with Kate.

 

[AlleyKat]

I just don't get the holier than thou "I don't need cameras to love my kids" crap.

Jealousy!

 

[brittsmum1998]

The only thing I can figure is that on some level it makes them feel better about themselves. That and I think the dislike for Kate just blinds people to find flaws in every single thing that she does, same for those that dislike Jon. But a woman seems to be much harder on another woman than a man, so I think the hatred comes out more with Kate.

I am confused...who are you referring to as far as the holier than thou part. Could you please point to me where someone said "I don't need the cameras to love my kids"?

 

[brittsmum1998]

Jealousy!

Oh yeah I forgot, if you disagree w/ anything Kate its jealousy

please

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am confused...who are you referring to as far as the holier than thou part. Could you please point to me where someone said "I don't need the cameras to love my kids"?

My qoutation you have here is the general feel I get from anyone who feels compelledto point out their superior parenting skills and interaction with their children.

So while you did not say that--you felt quite compelled to post what you do with your children and the fact that you don't need a camera to do that.

It is quite holier than thou.

When my daughter was their age you bet your bippy I was out there playing, getting dirty, laughing etc. and I didn't need the cameras there.

Kate has many flaws--but is it really necessary to point out how much of a better mother you are?

It is a crap argument in the J&K debate.

Reflecting on our own parenting choices in no way proves how poor of a parent J&K may be or how fake they are.


I'm not saying you are jealous, either.

I just find how you parent to be absolutely irrelevalent to the discussion and as though you and those like you must some how pat yourself on the back publicly for being a better parent than Kate.

I just don't get it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh yeah I forgot, if you disagree w/ anything Kate its jealousy

please

Ummm---you didn't disagree.

You boosted your ego by commenting on how you didn't need cameras in order to do what you do with your children.

It isn't about jealousy.

I can disagree with what Kate does--but I don't have to go and comment on my own parenting skills as my "proof" that what Kate does may not be in the best interest of her children.

Again--it's about how your parenting skills are irrelevant when it comes to Jon and Kate.

 

[brittsmum1998]

My qoutation you have here is the general feel I get from anyone who feels compelledto point out their superior parenting skills and interaction with their children.

So while you did not say that--you felt quite compelled to post what you do with your children and the fact that you don't need a camera to do that.

It is quite holier than thou.


Kate has many flaws--but is it really necessary to point out how much of a better mother you are?

It is a crap argument in the J&K debate.

Reflecting on our own parenting choices in no way proves how poor of a parent J&K may be or how fake they are.


I'm not saying you are jealous, either.

I just find how you parent to be absolutely irrelevalent to the discussion and as though you and those like you must some how pat yourself on the back publicly for being a better parent than Kate.

I just don't get it.

Oh my mistake, I guess I should have quoted ALL of DMRick's posts because that is what I was answering to. She said Jon looked like a good parent while the cameras were ON or something like that and thats what I was responding too.

Not that I need to answer but DMRick asked if we ( a collective we" ) ever played w/ our kids in the driveway or whatever and I said I did.

Does that answer enough questions?

Again sorry I didn't quote all of Rick's posts and sorry Rick didn't mean to get you involved

Maybe not be so judgemental next time either that or I really don't explain myself well.

OMG I have to add...where the heck !!! did I ever say I was a better parent?!?!
god, talk about holier than thou. Its actually laughable! how much some people can read into a post.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh my mistake, I guess I should have quoted ALL of DMRick's posts because that is what I was answering to. She said Jon looked like a good parent while the cameras were ON or something like that and thats what I was responding too.


.......

OMG I have to add...where the heck !!! did I ever say I was a better parent?!?!
god, talk about holier than thou. Its actually laughable! how much some people can read into a post.

The manner of posting implies you believe you are a better parent.

If you read my posts again--you will see that I did not say you actually said that.

IOW--why post about your parenting skills in a discussion of how crappy Jon and Kate are? Except to point out the positive points that make your parenting better?

Perhaps you can explain that?

I did not see DMRick commenting on how they raised their children otherwise and state they didn't need cameras to do that.

In fact, I haven't seen much of that here. It's usually on the hater boards where poster after poster relishes in comparing how normal they are and how wonderful they are with the relentless posting of their comings and goings with their kids "without cameras".

 

[redrosesix]

Speaking of old episodes---

I know they preached the Organic lifestyle but now I'm wondering how much--ballooning they were doing to us. (haha--balloon boy, hoax...get it? okay--you don't have to keep it )


Anyway--mother's day episode--Jon comments that he wasn't sure if the breakfast was healthy--aside from its all organic component.

I couldn't tell if the butter was organic--but I do know the sticks are marked as such on the paper--and I couldn't tell.

But the kicker was--the syrup!

I was wondering where they got lucky and found bulk organic maple syrup.

i mean--we do partial organic here and pretty much only use 100% pure maple syrup (don't care if it is organic or not). We use it in lower quantities, b/c of the cost Hubby thinks it tastes like water and will only do the blends with HFCS.

But anyway--I'm just enamored with this syrup bottle.

It gets flipped around in one of the shots--and it is Hungry Jack syrup and I'm like--wait a minute.


I'm just a little too obsessed with the syrup--but I gotta just wonder sometimes, you know?

I really don't think they're faking anyone or anything---we try for more organic, but we have a lot of crap in our cabinets. (esp now that I'm sick--my hubby snuck in Frankin' Berry cereal ).

Just thought it was funny--I got all excited to want to know what syrup they were using and then got bamboozled.

that's funny

Actually, I don't know anybody who does 100% organic, but then most people don't talk like they do either, so maybe Kate would be better off saying they try to do organic, KWIM?

We do mostly organic and/or local, but then we also eat out so all the good intentions go right out the window. I try to buy organic where it really makes a difference, like with bananas and meats, but right next to the organic granola in the cupboard is DH's Captain Crunch cereal.

We use the real maple syrup too -- the other stuff just isn't the same to me (we call it table syrup) -- but we usually make it go a little further by putting crushed fruit on the pancakes and waffles too.

The only thing I can figure is that on some level it makes them feel better about themselves. That and I think the dislike for Kate just blinds people to find flaws in every single thing that she does, same for those that dislike Jon. But a woman seems to be much harder on another woman than a man, so I think the hatred comes out more with Kate.

I agree with a lot of this. My only real problem with Kate in this context, is that it seems like she thinks that she's the best mother that ever existed. Everyone is entitled to screw up once in a while, because being a parent is not an exact science, but it just seems like she never accepts that she did anything wrong re her kids. IMO, you can't grow as a mother, or become a better mother, if you have that attitude.

My grandmother would put Kate to shame, BTW, and she never freaked out at any kids like I've seen Kate do. She had a much harder life than Kate did, lost a child to whooping cough when he was just over 1, and it was obvious she treasured every child who crossed her path.

 

[brittsmum1998]

The manner of posting implies you believe you are a better parent.

If you read my posts again--you will see that I did not say you actually said that.

IOW--why post about your parenting skills in a discussion of how crappy Jon and Kate are? Except to point out the positive points that make your parenting better?

Perhaps you can explain that?

I did not see DMRick commenting on how they raised their children otherwise and state they didn't need cameras to do that.

In fact, I haven't seen much of that here. It's usually on the hater boards where poster after poster relishes in comparing how normal they are and how wonderful they are with the relentless posting of their comings and goings with their kids "without cameras".

Again, I never said I was perfect DM said she was curious if people played w/ their kids and I said I did. My dd was and is an only child I had no choice. I said Jon ON CAMERA looked to be the better parent OF THE TWO . It was a simple thought . It was the only reason I made reference to what I did w/ my dd. THAT WAS ALL. Simple enough at least to me.

I'm done explaining myself to you. Its not as important to me so have at it.

 

[LoraJ]

Thanks to the DIS, I learned what a "horrible" mom I had. She rarely played with us. We had our game nights and stuff, but when I came home from school I eitehr went to my room and played with my barbies and played records or I was outside playing until dinner time or playing with friends. And that's the way I liked it. I dated a guy who had a kid and he needed constant attention from an adult. "watch me do this. watch me do that." I just found that to be very needy and not very independent.

When I see J&K not hovering and just letting the kids do their thing. I find it refreshing.

 

[longstangetrip]

I am surprised that Kate's attempts at playing with her kids seem sincere to some people. I thought it was obvious that it was contrived. You can't fool the kids and the looks on their faces say it all. "Who is this woman and why is she awkwardly playing with me?"
I don't think it makes you a bad parent if you don't play with your kids, but don't pretend you do. I think the poster who said she got down and dirty playing with her daughter was responding to a "do people really play with their kids?" question. Of course they do. Jon seems to sincerely like playing with the kids. Does it make him better? No, just different.
The one thing that seems to always gets Kate off the phone or out of the plastic chair (while being filmed for the show that is the "realest reality show on TV" and is the "good the bad, the ugly" and is "their life") is negative behavior like whining, hitting, biting, kicking, etc. I wonder if attention for negative things is better than no attention at all?
My husband plays soccer, basketball, skis, rides mountain bikes, hikes, camps, coaches, swims, dives, jumps on the trampoline, rollerblades, runs, etc. with our kids. I am so glad he loves it, because they really need it. I don't always love playing littlest pet shop, apples to apples or kickball, but I do of course love my kids and that makes it worthwhile to me.
I have never seen Kate appear to love anything about being a parent of a large family except the attention she gets. She is on the verge of "losing her mind" and is perpetually announcing her level of exhaustion. Kids are intuitive, they know they are the source of the exhaustion and frustration. Do they feel like blessings or burdens? I don't know.
Jealous of the Gosselins? Not a chance. I feel so sorry for them. They seem to be missing the good stuff (while being filmed for the reality show that is a true look at their lives and while being followed by the media while conducting their everyday business).

 

[LoraJ]

Where do you guys get the 24/7 access to what J&K do every waking second with the kids?

 

[OhMari]

Where do you guys get the 24/7 access to what J&K do every waking second with the kids?

Google

 

[LoraJ]

Google

haha!


But I mean, I think it is silly to say "she never" or "she always". We don't really know. You can assume, but it is just speculation.