Jon and Kate Plus 8 Official Thread - Part 8

[DMRick]

I have to repeat my question gently -- How do you KNOW they have friends of their own ages? .

I'm not sure why you are asking it 'gently' LOL. I'm not even sure the difference if it wasn't gently, when typing it. I know you have said you have watched the show. possibly you have missed it the few times it was mentioned. They have talked about their friends and playing with them. They aren't supposed to name their names on the show. I personally haven't been invited over to play, but they have mentioned friends. Mady mentioned she went to her friends house, instead of filming. Friends were mentioned coming to the birthday party. The kids have been in after school sports, and usually that means they are playing with friends. Here and there it's been sprinkled in.

 

[DMRick]

Wow!

Perhaps you should give your kids time -- they may still write the book! JOKE!

They have their own teens now..now they understand parenting. We may write a book together. We talk about it.

 

[DMRick]

hey, if you don't want people to tear your kids apart, Don't put their lives out there as entertainment. I know I won't. (I have one just like Mady)

Even if Kate and Jon did put the kids lives out there, I don't have to join that 'human nature' (which I don't believe..I don't know of anyone in real life that tear the kids apart) and say bad things about them. I think their behavior can be talked about, but once there is name calling, I'm not a part of that conversation.

 

[walden]

I'm not sure why you are asking it 'gently' LOL. I'm not even sure the difference if it wasn't gently, when typing it. I know you have said you have watched the show. possibly you have missed it the few times it was mentioned. They have talked about their friends and playing with them. They aren't supposed to name their names on the show. I personally haven't been invited over to play, but they have mentioned friends. Mady mentioned she went to her friends house, instead of filming. Friends were mentioned coming to the birthday party. The kids have been in after school sports, and usually that means they are playing with friends. Here and there it's been sprinkled in.

Perhaps I should have said "politely" as you did not understand "gently."

So, politely, as you yourself have said many times -- unless we are there we cannot know. Unless we see with our own eyes, in person, how can we judge? The footage is edited, and some lines are probably (certainly) scripted. Christmas was apparently faked -- oh, but we knew that.

Sadly, the Gosselin kids ability to make friendships is probably limited by the fact that many parents do not wish to have their children on TV and possibly restrict visits to the Gosselin compound for fear of cameras and papparazi. I know that I would in their places!

The fact that those friends are not seen, and their names cannot even be mentioned by the children -- who have to censor themselves from mentioning a friend's name (poor dears) -- is not normal. I do not say that I do not think, believe or hope the Gosselin kids have friends of their own ages. I just say that I do not know they have friends with whom they can be at ease. And neither do you, unless you visit the compound regularly.

Bedtime for me. Sleep well, y'all.

 

[DMRick]

Deleted, because I just don't want to play that game.

 

[talulabelle]

I'm not sure why you are asking it 'gently' LOL. I'm not even sure the difference if it wasn't gently, when typing it. I know you have said you have watched the show. possibly you have missed it the few times it was mentioned. They have talked about their friends and playing with them. They aren't supposed to name their names on the show. I personally haven't been invited over to play, but they have mentioned friends. Mady mentioned she went to her friends house, instead of filming. Friends were mentioned coming to the birthday party. The kids have been in after school sports, and usually that means they are playing with friends. Here and there it's been sprinkled in.

I can say this. My family could never have a show on TLC, not even for one episode without seeing any friends. Without seeing at least 6 sports teams in a week. Without kids running through my house and my yard. WIthout kids spending the night, friends at my dinner table. Geez, some of my kids pick up kids for friends we don't even know. Just yesterday, I was walking inthe park and my son took his bike to ride. Within 5 minutes he has found another kid to hook up with and they were off riding together and being buddies. Played together for 2 hours.

Kate is right in that book when she says their family is not "normal" so many times, but it is not because of having 8 kids.

 

[DMRick]

There are lots of reasons our family couldn't/wouldn't have a show on TLC. I guess people adapt. I'm sure it has been hard for the 'real' celebritites who are kids too. For these guys I'm sure it was the hardest on days they film, to keep a low profile with friends, and I'm sure they would have found that more difficult as they got older, if they had still been running the series. I am glad the school ssems to have some sort of agreement to keep the paps away from the school as well as the school yard when the twins have participated in sports.

I can say this. My family could never have a show on TLC, not even for one episode without seeing any friends. Without seeing at least 6 sports teams in a week. Without kids running through my house and my yard. WIthout kids spending the night, friends at my dinner table. Geez, some of my kids pick up kids for friends we don't even know. Just yesterday, I was walking inthe park and my son took his bike to ride. Within 5 minutes he has found another kid to hook up with and they were off riding together and being buddies. Played together for 2 hours.

Kate is right in that book when she says their family is not "normal" so many times, but it is not because of having 8 kids.

 

[whitneyNC]

I am glad the school ssems to have some sort of agreement to keep the paps away from the school as well as the school yard when the twins have participated in sports.

Like Maddy's sport of choice, according to Kate..."spa."

I watched the Joy Behar thing online and figured out (part) of the reason Kate looks so weird. She use to have very expressive eyebrows but now can't move them (due to too much botox I guess).

 

[whitneyNC]

an interesting book review from amazon.com:

As the children struggle through the aftermath of their parent's public and painful divorce, this new book by Kate Gosselin, rather than insulating them, exposes their fears and vulnerabilities. This book is certainly different, but not in a good way. She must earn a living, but why not write a cookbook or a book of helpful hints for other mothers and permit her children to heal in privacy? Gosselin has spent so much time in the limelight showcasing her children, that normal boundaries most parents establish do not appear to exist in her universe.

Balance is sadly lacking and discretion is non-existent. Each child is dissected - identifying who is naughty, who is acting out the most, who is in the most pain from the divorce, who doesn't speak up for themselves, who is missing their father the most, etc. All is revealed in a dispassionate tone, largely devoid of a mother's usual pride in her children's accomplishments and gifts. Positives are noted in the context of how the behaviors help the mother. Which children are artistic or musical or athletic is nowhere to be found.

The book is composed of tedious background material which reads like self-absorbed filler and is interspersed with outspoken letters to each child, bible verses and photographs of the children. The letters contain material too sensitive and too personal for strangers to be rummaging about, picking through various revealing, hurtful or embarrassing pronouncements by their mother.

Contradicting the purpose of the book, throughout the pages, Gosselin's focus is on herself, not the children. Rather than preserving memories for her adorable brood, the book is about all she has done and all she has sacrificed for them. In the book she states that the children are her most precious belongings. I think those words may explain everything. Children are not belongings. Well, most children are not belongings.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

And this is why there is so much animosity towards Kate I think. She is talking trash about her ex husband (the father of her children) and claiming that she HAS to do what she's doing to put food on the table. Is everyone forgetting that she and Jon had a show that made them millions of dollars and books tht brought in boatloads of money too? Not to mention all the appearances she made that she was paid for as well. AND the fact that she's making money on DWTS?? This is what bugs me, the whole 'I'm just a single mother working to put food on the table.' I would have so much more understanding for her is she just came out and said 'I want to stay in show biz, I love it and it's good money.' Instead she's using her kids as the reason.

QUOTE:

Kate Gosselin says she's not sure how ex Jon Gosselin makes money and is not aware if he currently has a job.

Kate stopped by "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Thursday, where Jay took a few jabs at her ex.

"Nobody else in that family is making money to support the kids," Jay said to Kate, referring to Jon - who has asked a judge to lower his $20,000 a month child support payments.

"You said it," Kate murmured.

"What does Jon do for a living?" Jay asked.

"Umm," Kate said, pausing while the audience laughed. "I don't know."

"Does he have a job?" Jay pressed.

"Not that I'm aware of," she said.

Jay asked the "Dancing with the Stars" contestant about life as a single mom and the flack she's taken for being away from her eight kids while competing on the ABC series.

"With eight kids, I should work 64 hours a day," Kate joked. "When work comes my way, I do it so I can literally put food on the table and send my kids to school."

Kate escaped elimination yet again this week on "DWTS," something she said she owes to her fans.

"I have to thank all of my voters, because my dancing isn't really keeping me there," she explained.

Kate also said she's still hoping to walk away with the trophy.

"I thought I could [win it] at the beginning," Kate said. "There's still some hope there."

 

[DMRick]

Wow..is this a review from Amazon, or someone who bought the book?

Can you post the url to this? I'd like to see it.

an interesting book review from amazon.com:

As the children struggle through the aftermath of their parent's public and painful divorce, this new book by Kate Gosselin, rather than insulating them, exposes their fears and vulnerabilities. This book is certainly different, but not in a good way. She must earn a living, but why not write a cookbook or a book of helpful hints for other mothers and permit her children to heal in privacy? Gosselin has spent so much time in the limelight showcasing her children, that normal boundaries most parents establish do not appear to exist in her universe.

Balance is sadly lacking and discretion is non-existent. Each child is dissected - identifying who is naughty, who is acting out the most, who is in the most pain from the divorce, who doesn't speak up for themselves, who is missing their father the most, etc. All is revealed in a dispassionate tone, largely devoid of a mother's usual pride in her children's accomplishments and gifts. Positives are noted in the context of how the behaviors help the mother. Which children are artistic or musical or athletic is nowhere to be found.

The book is composed of tedious background material which reads like self-absorbed filler and is interspersed with outspoken letters to each child, bible verses and photographs of the children. The letters contain material too sensitive and too personal for strangers to be rummaging about, picking through various revealing, hurtful or embarrassing pronouncements by their mother.

Contradicting the purpose of the book, throughout the pages, Gosselin's focus is on herself, not the children. Rather than preserving memories for her adorable brood, the book is about all she has done and all she has sacrificed for them. In the book she states that the children are her most precious belongings. I think those words may explain everything. Children are not belongings. Well, most children are not belongings.

 

[daughtersrus]

I think that the problem that most of us are having is that what Kate defines as a need, most people would define as a want.

Clearly, $20,000 a month is more than enough money to put food on table for 8 children.

 

[DMRick]

I hate myself for even asking, but which part is the trash part of Jon?

It is silly that she is insinuating that she has to do this work to put food on the table, if at this time she is getting the support money, (I doubt there is much coming in from any of her books..and I would think we would know if the support was being held back) and even though I understand the legal fees for both of them has prob come out of their joint money (and Jon's lawyer to defend him against TLC and the divorce and his lawsuit and her having to defend it wouldn't be small potatoes), and prob has been very very high, maybe even in the multiple 6 figure area, surely there must be money that they haven't set aside for the kids that they can use. She keeps talking about needing to work..could it be possible that the legal fees has taken a good chunk of their savings? Or that the cars and apartment, etc, has eaten it up? I know lawyers in this area are well over $200 an hour or part there of. I wonder just what the cost for all this legal stuff has been.

And this is why there is so much animosity towards Kate I think. She is talking trash about her ex husband (the father of her children) and claiming that she HAS to do what she's doing to put food on the table. Is everyone forgetting that she and Jon had a show that made them millions of dollars and books tht brought in boatloads of money too? Not to mention all the appearances she made that she was paid for as well. AND the fact that she's making money on DWTS?? This is what bugs me, the whole 'I'm just a single mother working to put food on the table.' I would have so much more understanding for her is she just came out and said 'I want to stay in show biz, I love it and it's good money.' Instead she's using her kids as the reason.

QUOTE:

Kate Gosselin says she's not sure how ex Jon Gosselin makes money and is not aware if he currently has a job.

Kate stopped by "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Thursday, where Jay took a few jabs at her ex.

"Nobody else in that family is making money to support the kids," Jay said to Kate, referring to Jon - who has asked a judge to lower his $20,000 a month child support payments.

"You said it," Kate murmured.

"What does Jon do for a living?" Jay asked.

"Umm," Kate said, pausing while the audience laughed. "I don't know."

"Does he have a job?" Jay pressed.

"Not that I'm aware of," she said.

Jay asked the "Dancing with the Stars" contestant about life as a single mom and the flack she's taken for being away from her eight kids while competing on the ABC series.

"With eight kids, I should work 64 hours a day," Kate joked. "When work comes my way, I do it so I can literally put food on the table and send my kids to school."

Kate escaped elimination yet again this week on "DWTS," something she said she owes to her fans.

"I have to thank all of my voters, because my dancing isn't really keeping me there," she explained.

Kate also said she's still hoping to walk away with the trophy.

"I thought I could [win it] at the beginning," Kate said. "There's still some hope there."

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I think that the problem that most of us are having is that what Kate defines as a need, most people would define as a want.

Clearly, $20,000 a month is more than enough money to put food on table for 8 children.

Of course it sounds absurd to us regular folk! She wants to maintain a certain lifestyle that she's grown accustomed to. I get that part. What I don't get is how she talks like all this money is the ONLY reason she's doing what she is (or has done) to put food on the table? Good grief woman, start shopping at Wal-Mart for the kids clothes and food. What group of 8 children needs $20,000 a month to live on? It's crazy. And that is just Jon's portion. Kate is earning money too, where is all that going? I think she is trying to yet again pull the wool over the public's eyes and convince them that Jon is a loser dad and she is the only one capable of providing for their kids. Perpetuating that image will keep Kate in the spotlight and lengthen out her 15 minutes of fame.

Again, if Kate would just come clean and say that this lifestyle is what she wants for her and the kids and she'll do whatever she can to maintain, I'd understand her better. But to say that basically she's working to put food on the table is misleading. That kind of phrase gives the impression that Kate is struggling to provide even the most basic of needs for her kids. I don't believe that's true.

 

[whitneyNC]

Wow..is this a review from Amazon, or someone who bought the book?

Can you post the url to this? I'd like to see it.

Obviously it's from a consumer. You, as a reader can post reviews at amazon.

Here ya go.
http://www.amazon.com/Just-Want-You...=dp_db_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

[DMRick]

Again, if Kate would just come clean and say that this lifestyle is what she wants for her and the kids and she'll do whatever she can to maintain, I'd understand her better. But to say that basically she's working to put food on the table is misleading. That kind of phrase gives the impression that Kate is struggling to provide even the most basic of needs for her kids. I don't believe that's true.

I agree. I am also starting to wonder, while this goes to court, is it possible the $20,000 isn't being paid, but maybe going into escrow? Could that have been kept from us? Why aren't the people interviewing her asking that question. Just a simple, hey Kate, aren't you getting $20,000 from Jon? Why hasn't that been asked? I really don't get why we know he's paying it, but others are ignoring it. I know sometimes when you go to family court, some things the judge tells them to not talk about, but they haven't been to court yet.
Why isn't the $20,000 being discussed? Come on radar, you are usually better than this at digging this stuff up.

 

[DMRick]

OK, thanks. I only asked, because obviously the review would be based on how the reader felt about Kate. I've seen other reviews, on a more 'positive Kate' site and it was a lot different. I agree that a cookbook would have been better, if only Kate cooked.
Thanks.

Edited to show this review, right next to the other one. Just like on this thread, I think it depends on if you like Kate or not:
Surprised by a Mother's Heart
This book surprises you with an inside look at Kate as a real person and tender-hearted mom. It's a perfect gift for Mother's Day or new moms or just other fans of Kate and the kids. Approach it with an open-mind and not tabloid headlines and you'll end up hugging your family and appreciating them more than ever.

Obviously it's from a consumer. You, as a reader can post reviews at amazon.

Here ya go.
http://www.amazon.com/Just-Want-You...=dp_db_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I hate myself for even asking, but which part is the trash part of Jon?

Don't worry Doris, I won't bite!

The trash part (at least in my opinion) is the fact that she said anything at all about Jon's employment. Her agreeing with Jay Leno that she is the only one working to support the kids (the actual words were "You said it."). Or pausing dramatically while saying "Ummmmmm" when Jay asked her what Jon does for a living. She degraded the father of her children on national tv and that is in poor taste. I'd say the same of Jon if he said that. Actually, I think I have said that about Jon! Anyhow, that's what I meant by her trashing Jon on Jay Leno.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Of course it sounds absurd to us regular folk! She wants to maintain a certain lifestyle that she's grown accustomed to. I get that part. What I don't get is how she talks like all this money is the ONLY reason she's doing what she is (or has done) to put food on the table? Good grief woman, start shopping at Wal-Mart for the kids clothes and food. What group of 8 children needs $20,000 a month to live on? It's crazy. And that is just Jon's portion. Kate is earning money too, where is all that going? I think she is trying to yet again pull the wool over the public's eyes and convince them that Jon is a loser dad and she is the only one capable of providing for their kids. Perpetuating that image will keep Kate in the spotlight and lengthen out her 15 minutes of fame.

Again, if Kate would just come clean and say that this lifestyle is what she wants for her and the kids and she'll do whatever she can to maintain, I'd understand her better. But to say that basically she's working to put food on the table is misleading. That kind of phrase gives the impression that Kate is struggling to provide even the most basic of needs for her kids. I don't believe that's true.

First, you can't blame anyone for wanting a better lifestyle for oneself and your children. I know I do. Second, Jon IS a loser and prolly not even paying child support as he doesn't even have a job and can't pay for his lawyers even. Third, I would rather shop at Goodwill personally, before shopping at Walmart. Not everyone HAS to choose that lifestyle just because some of the population does.

There is nothing wrong with being a strong woman.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think that the problem that most of us are having is that what Kate defines as a need, most people would define as a want.

Clearly, $20,000 a month is more than enough money to put food on table for 8 children.

The state of PA set that rate though.

Someone up thread posted that they know of someone with one child that had a very high child support even though their assets and income aren't anywhere near that of the Gosselins.

I do agree with your first statement though.

I think most of us though are too influenced by the dollar amount when we do not have any information on how that number was determined.

I don't know how PA works, but often times--courts will set the support to be consistent with raising the children in the manner they have been raised.

If Kate only got $2000, most of America may have been satisified, but per child that is only $250 per month.

Per comparison, my child support from age 2 until age 18 was $200 per month and it was very lacking.

It's one of those "can't judge a book by its cover kind of things".

As it stands--on the surface, Kate cannot use that support for her personal things. Whatever they may be and whatever she needs. The support isn't intended to cover 100% of the utilities or 100% of the mortgage (as loose examples). No idea what KAte feels she "needs", but I do agree with you that she has many "wants" in her "need" pile. In the end though, she can't use the child support for that--unless it is for the children. Her Jimmy Choo's and hair extensions have to come from her own blood, sweat and tears.