Jon and Kate Plus 8. Official Thread!!

[AprilShowers]

I do laundry for 4 people and there is ALWAYS a pile of dirty clothes and I swear I do laundry every day. I can't imagine doing laundry for 10 people especially if 6 of them were 4!! I would love if I had someone to do my laundry!!

ITA! You described my situation exactly. We even bought the new front loading HE washer & dryer. Supposed to make laundry go quicker. It's still NEVER all done!
While I'm not Kate's biggest fan, what's wrong with getting household help if you can afford it? I know I would!

 

[Camster0307]

But you wouldn't find Kate in the laundry room...and she won't want the laundry lady to get paid by the show....so nah, don't think it will happen.

Ummm....excuse me but we've seen Kate in the laundry room PLENTY of times! She has been shown doing laundry and has stated that she has help with the folding and putting away.

If you want to criticize her, that's fine. But please stick to the facts as they have been presented on the show.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Ummm....excuse me but we've seen Kate in the laundry room PLENTY of times! She has been shown doing laundry and has stated that she has help with the folding and putting away.

If you want to criticize her, that's fine. But please stick to the facts as they have been presented on the show.

Tell 'em, sister!

 

[brittsmum1998]

Ummm....excuse me but we've seen Kate in the laundry room PLENTY of times! She has been shown doing laundry and has stated that she has help with the folding and putting away.

If you want to criticize her, that's fine. But please stick to the facts as they have been presented on the show.

I can have my video/ picture taken w/ a mop that doesn't mean I do it.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

Ummm....excuse me but we've seen Kate in the laundry room PLENTY of times! She has been shown doing laundry and has stated that she has help with the folding and putting away.

If you want to criticize her, that's fine. But please stick to the facts as they have been presented on the show.

Thank you.

 

[AprilShowers]

I can have my video/ picture taken w/ a mop that doesn't mean I do it.

 

[barkley]

What is so out of the ordinary about their outings? They may get some special treatment because of the size of the group, but to go somewhere like an amusement park or a train museuem a couple of times a month seems pretty normal to me. Before my kids were so involved with sports we did something every weekend so to me the things they do are fairly typical.

i think for most people though, this is out of the norm. i don't know how much it costs to go to amusement parks in all areas, but the one's we've lived near run over $30 per entry ticket, $5-$7 for parking and don't permit you to take any food or drinks (even water) inside. so even for a smaller family of say 4-you're looking at $130 before any drinks or meals (and that can easily add another $75 just for water and a light meal). so it's not the norm for us nor most of the peole we know to do those kinds of trips on a monthly basis. the train museums we've had around us don't charge a great deal for admission but when they have special events like the thomas the train type things you're looking at $18 per person-so again it's close to $100 just for that event and parking, not the kind of activities we budget for once a month. i suspect if a family the gosselins size were paying for these things out of pocket they would be doing them once at year at best (i can't fathom budgeting out over $300 for entry tickets to an amusement park or $180 for a two hour train town event on any kind of a regular basis ).

i understand it's all for the benefit of the show but i understand how people get tired of hearing over and over when they go out to do something that it's a special or rare treat. realisticly-how special or rare is this kind of thing when they are constantly doing it? we see the youngest doing the private tumbling sessions at the gymboree type place, the special bus drives to their house to let them do activities there, the twins do cooking classes, they go to amusement parks, special events at the train place, have taken more 'big' family trips in the last couple of years than many smaller families could imangine over a decade. it just (imho) seems that the show has altered from it's original focus on the dynamics of how a large family interacts, co-exists and 'gets-by' (because let's be honest, in those early episodes there was allot of foucs on finances, budgeting and general life situations/child rearing/time managment that realy interested the average viewer).

i'm honestly enjoying much more the re-runs of the large family shows dhc/tlc are running. they seem to be able to put together full hour episodes that provide a great deal of insight on how those families exist absent much of the space (home wise) and advantages that j&K either complain about or take for granted.

 

[whitneyNC]

have taken more 'big' family trips in the last couple of years than many smaller families could imangine over a decade. it just (imho) seems that the show has altered from it's original focus on the dynamics of how a large family interacts, co-exists and 'gets-by' (because let's be honest, in those early episodes there was allot of foucs on finances, budgeting and general life situations/child rearing/time managment that realy interested the average viewer).
i'm honestly enjoying much more the re-runs of the large family shows dhc/tlc are running. they seem to be able to put together full hour episodes that provide a great deal of insight on how those families exist absent much of the space (home wise) and advantages that j&K either complain about or take for granted.

That's why I'm bored. I want to see this large family being normal, not choreographed outings. It really bugs me (not that's it's wrong) how some of these places are cleared out or closed to the public. I don't think it's a legal issue if signs are posted that filming is taking place. I think they don't want to deal with the attention. The attention is what makes their show highly rated and allows for the special outings.

 

[Muffy]

Ummm....excuse me but we've seen Kate in the laundry room PLENTY of times! She has been shown doing laundry and has stated that she has help with the folding and putting away.

If you want to criticize her, that's fine. But please stick to the facts as they have been presented on the show.

Yes, what she said...

 

[whitneyNC]

There's a new statement on "A Minor Consideration" in response to all of the people visiting the site for the first time because of the Jon and Kate article. Was someone out there really comparing this show to Meerkat Manor?

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

I like the episodes of their outings. That being said, I also like the episodes where they are just hanging out at home (get to hear the kids comments more). I am ready to see a home episode again, course this next one is the backyard camp out...so it should be good.

 

[Camster0307]

That's why I'm bored. I want to see this large family being normal, not choreographed outings. It really bugs me (not that's it's wrong) how some of these places are cleared out or closed to the public. I don't think it's a legal issue if signs are posted that filming is taking place. I think they don't want to deal with the attention. The attention is what makes their show highly rated and allows for the special outings.

I kind of agree with you here - I, too, miss the show focusing on their home life. But it's kind of like "been there; done that"; don't think the public would find it all that interesting anymore.

And besides, as many here have complained - alot of you have a problem with them filming the personal stuff that goes on at home: the fighting, the bathing, illnesses, etc. You can't have it both ways.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

That's why I'm bored. I want to see this large family being normal, not choreographed outings. It really bugs me (not that's it's wrong) how some of these places are cleared out or closed to the public. I don't think it's a legal issue if signs are posted that filming is taking place. I think they don't want to deal with the attention. The attention is what makes their show highly rated and allows for the special outings.

See, I'm the opposite. I'd be bored if there was another season of laundry, organic cooking and potty training.

I like the destination episodes because it gives us new vacation ideas. I thought Sesame Place looked a little dull (of course, compared to Disney ). We've been to NC but only to the base and the beach. It would be fun to see the horses and do the beach tour thing. We rented a time share at a country club in Ruidoso, NM when DS 13 months, and it was ok, but I'd love to check out the fun beach houses!! We went to Day Out With Thomas last year, and we'll be doing it again next month (if you go on Friday instead of Saturday or Sunday, at least in OK, you get a $3 discount per ride). I wouldn't make a trip just to visit the Crayola Factory, but it would be fun to visit if we were near the area.

And, of course, love the Disney episode!! DS and DNiece's first trip was in May, and I was so exhausted the night before we left. I finally settled down for bed around midnight or so, and turned the tv on. Lo and behold, the Gosselins were getting ready to go to Disney!! Loved it!! I'd seen the episode before, but it was extra fun because we were in the same situation. Well, except, thank God, we were flying. Don't know if I could do the drive from OK then...maybe next year.

 

[whitneyNC]

See, I'm the opposite. I'd be bored if there was another season of laundry, organic cooking and potty training.

I like the destination episodes because it gives us new vacation ideas. I thought Sesame Place looked a little dull (of course, compared to Disney ). We've been to NC but only to the base and the beach. It would be fun to see the horses and do the beach tour thing. We rented a time share at a country club in Ruidoso, NM when DS 13 months, and it was ok, but I'd love to check out the fun beach houses!! We went to Day Out With Thomas last year, and we'll be doing it again next month (if you go on Friday instead of Saturday or Sunday, at least in OK, you get a $3 discount per ride). I wouldn't make a trip just to visit the Crayola Factory, but it would be fun to visit if we were near the area.

And, of course, love the Disney episode!! DS and DNiece's first trip was in May, and I was so exhausted the night before we left. I finally settled down for bed around midnight or so, and turned the tv on. Lo and behold, the Gosselins were getting ready to go to Disney!! Loved it!! I'd seen the episode before, but it was extra fun because we were in the same situation. Well, except, thank God, we were flying. Don't know if I could do the drive from OK then...maybe next year.

I see your point. I think we have just justified the need for once in a while specials instead of so many episodes. Then it could be a blend of both.

I don't dislike all of the outings, but there are just so many and to me they seem so staged. No, I don't think that's normal for the majority of families of 10.

 

[talulabelle]

Ummm....excuse me but we've seen Kate in the laundry room PLENTY of times! She has been shown doing laundry and has stated that she has help with the folding and putting away.

If you want to criticize her, that's fine. But please stick to the facts as they have been presented on the show.

Yeah, in an earlier show I saw her throwing it in and turning it on....that is the EASIEST part. She set the poor lady coming into to fold in the family room trying to fold on a coffee table. That hurt my back just looking at it. She didn't even have a proper folding table or counter space for her. She let the kids craw all around and over the woman while she was working. Actually throwing it in the washer takes as much time as throwing it on the floor. It isn't work. However , since then a laundry service has been hired, so she isn't even doing that anymore. During the gum episode she commented how no one knows how many hours she spends on stain removal and that is why she freaked out. Hmmm???? Lets' see, why doesn't anyone know? Its not as if there aren't cameras rolling all the time to record this. ?????? How could this be? If it was truly hours, wouldn't the camera crew catch this once in a while?

She freaked out because she is OCD controling, cares too much about material things, and wants the maximum resale value at the consignment shop off her free gap clothes.

 

[troobabiee7]

Yeah, in an earlier show I saw her throwing it in and turning it on....that is the EASIEST part. She set the poor lady coming into to fold in the family room trying to fold on a coffee table. That hurt my back just looking at it. She didn't even have a proper folding table or counter space for her. She let the kids craw all around and over the woman while she was working. Actually throwing it in the washer takes as much time as throwing it on the floor. It isn't work. However , since then a laundry service has been hired, so she isn't even doing that anymore. During the gum episode she commented how no one knows how many hours she spends on stain removal and that is why she freaked out. Hmmm???? Lets' see, why doesn't anyone know? Its not as if there aren't cameras rolling all the time to record this. ?????? How could this be? If it was truly hours, wouldn't the camera crew catch this once in a while?

Wow, you sure have a lot of hate for someone's laundry habits

 

[Camster0307]

Wow, you sure have a lot of hate for someone's laundry habits

 

[FergieTCat]

If it was truly hours, wouldn't the camera crew catch this once in a while?

An entire episode of Kate doing the laundry -- yes, that would be fascinating.

 

[MichelleVW]

Wow, you sure have a lot of hate for someone's laundry habits

Agreed!!

An entire episode of Kate doing the laundry -- yes, that would be fascinating.

I'm doing laundry today...wanna come watch? I don't have 8 kids, but if you add the 2 cats, 2 dogs, and 2 horses to the 2 kids I have, it might be interesting!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Yeah, in an earlier show I saw her throwing it in and turning it on....that is the EASIEST part. She set the poor lady coming into to fold in the family room trying to fold on a coffee table. That hurt my back just looking at it. She didn't even have a proper folding table or counter space for her. She let the kids craw all around and over the woman while she was working. Actually throwing it in the washer takes as much time as throwing it on the floor. It isn't work. However , since then a laundry service has been hired, so she isn't even doing that anymore. During the gum episode she commented how no one knows how many hours she spends on stain removal and that is why she freaked out. Hmmm???? Lets' see, why doesn't anyone know? Its not as if there aren't cameras rolling all the time to record this. ?????? How could this be? If it was truly hours, wouldn't the camera crew catch this once in a while?

She freaked out because she is OCD controling, cares too much about material things, and wants the maximum resale value at the consignment shop off her free gap clothes.

OK, I realize average people use OCD as an adjective, but I wish you (the general you of this thread) would stop correlating with being controlling and/or mean. I am diagnosed obsessive-compulsive, and I am not controlling or mean. Granted the disorder has improved greatly since I was first diagnose, but I wasn't controlling or mean then, either.

Agreed!!



I'm doing laundry today...wanna come watch? I don't have 8 kids, but if you add the 2 cats, 2 dogs, and 2 horses to the 2 kids I have, it might be interesting!

Me, too!! Let me set up a webcam!