Jon and Kate Plus 8. Official Thread!!

[OhMari]

Welcome back to the good vibes!

I don't mind hearing different opinions; but I want no part of listening to people being judged for their lifestyle or the choices they have made.

So I don't care what others say either - my DDs and I will continue to watch and will be sad when the show eventually ends.

I saw the other thread too last nite-and it was pure exhaustion reading it. The troll person would not let up.

I love the show and this is why I started this thead awhile ago. I've actually posted a few things that puzzled me-about Kate's behavior and others saw it too and agreed. But than again, we all have our bad moments. Example:

My youngest is graduating from h.s. and we were looking at some old video's. My youngest was singing a song and she had to be about 4. My other dd 6 years older started to sing a long. I asked my older dd to stop singing so I could hear her. Watching that tape, I just wanted to dig myself in a hole. I actually taped my oldest dd walking away and looking really sad. I was actually crying last nite, I couldn't believe I was so mean and said that. It still makes me cry just writing about this.

So can you imagine when Kate has to look back on these episodes. She will have some really great moments that have been captured, but she will also have some, that I am certain, will make her cry too.

 

[Camster0307]

You mean we don't get to see them grow up forever? We'll miss their proms, weddings and everything? We'll be sad too. My DDs love this show and think all the kids are just SO adorable. I think we will forever wonder what their lives are like!

Wouldn't you love to see how they grow over the years and how their personalities develop?

i don't ever recall this-i also don't ever remember either of the nana's ever doing childcare. if memory serves me right they help with the laundry and household stuff. until jody started taking the kids it seemed like it was the sitters or beth

Yes, as pp mentioned, one of the nanas was babysitting when Kate went to the spa as part of her Mother's Day gift. I think on that show it was Hannah that got really upset. First she had to call Jon at work to help her calm down; then the crying continued into the basement where she got sick. Don't want to get too visual here, but we're not talking a huge mess. Seems like a pp mentioned - crying so hard to the point of gagging and then spitting up some saliva.

I saw the other thread too last nite-and it was pure exhaustion reading it. The troll person would not let up.

I love the show and this is why I started this thead awhile ago. I've actually posted a few things that puzzled me-about Kate's behavior and others saw it too and agreed. But than again, we all have our bad moments. Example:

My youngest is graduating from h.s. and we were looking at some old video's. My youngest was singing a song and she had to be about 4. My other dd 6 years older started to sing a long. I asked my older dd to stop singing so I could hear her. Watching that tape, I just wanted to dig myself in a hole. I actually taped my oldest dd walking away and looking really sad. I was actually crying last nite, I couldn't believe I was so mean and said that. It still makes me cry just writing about this.

So can you imagine when Kate has to look back on these episodes. She will have some really great moments that have been captured, but she will also have some, that I am certain, will make her cry too.

Don't beat yourself up over it. Us moms can't seem to make everyone happy all the time. You do the best that you can when a problem arises. Look at it this way, IF you had let your older DD continue to sing, your younger DD probably would have been upset.

 

[barkley]

A lof of times the vomiting comes from a gag reflex from the crying...
I know my DD did this quite often when she cried for whatever reason and the Dr. told us this would get better as she grew, and it did, but she still has a sensitive gag reflex. I taught preschool and I was aware this was true for some other children as well.
From the show, it's hard to tell if she is vomiting from crying hard or ill from the stomach because she is so upset.
Just something to think about...

It will be interesting to see that when they do go to preschool if they will be all kept together or partly separated....

that will be interesting. there seems to be so much of a differing opinion on this issue. some feel it's essential to keep multiples together-some feel it's essential to separate and facilitate separate identities.

i don't know if there was 'something in the water' or what, but i happened to attend school (elementary-local college) with multiple sets of multiples (not six or more, twins and triplets), and i found it facinating to hear them talk, as young adults, of how their parents chose to raise them (academicly), and what decisions they made-and how the kids felt it impacted them.

one set was strictly raised together (girls)-their parent's insisted they be in the same classroom k-12 (dad had prominance in the school district so it happened). as adults they complained that when things came up re. class plays and teams they never felt like they were independantly judged-but based on 'both', so they wondered those times when neither was selected/cast-was it because they were both lacking or that the adult did'nt want to select one but not the other (and they wondered if when they were cast, selected if it was for the uniqueness such to garner a crowd). one family had the kids separated from day one-they said in the younger grades they longed for their sibs, but it forced them to establish friendships based on themselves. as adults they ended up in the same activities, but while they had tons of mutual friends-they also had some very strong bonds individualy. one group (twins) were kept together through elementary/jr. high but when they hit high school their parents decided since they had identical interests they would send them to 2 different schools. both loved the fact that they were not competing against their sib for roles/places on sports teams-and realy appreciated that their parents gave them an opportunity to experience a setting where they were themselves-alone.

i get confused by what the gosselins say vs. what they do on their show. kate said in a recent episode that they purposely choose and appreciate surrounding themselves with people who can love and appreciate the kids for 'who they are not what they are', yet, when you watch the show there seems to be such an emphasis on exactly WHAT they are. kate seems to be obsessive about their clothing when they are in the public-all of the boys matching, all of the girls matching (and the twins in separate but matching apparal), their issues with needing private access to activities because of the attention they garner (yet they have their show's camera crew there to film every moment).

i felt saddened on the 'memorial day' episode when the twins fled from the picnic tables after kate decided to use these vs. the picnic blanket for the little ones to eat (the twins originaly chose the tables over the blankets specifical BECAUSE the little ones were there); kate excused it away as something to do with-there are lots of people here. they are begining to notice us, and the twins don't want the attention. yet a heartbeat before she said they were habitualy opting to sit separatly because they were growing up (um...my dd is older and feels much more mature than her younger db-does'nt mean i let her sit alone or with a friend dining with us at a separate table at a restaurant ). if the twins are starting to separate themselves due to personal discomfort, in situations where the very limited public localy reccognizes them-how the 'h' must they feel when every potty, bathing, personal moment of their lives are being recorded for international airing??? and lord help me, when kate said that maddie is now using the tv cameras as her personal conscious such that when she's being filmed hurting a sibling she realizes she has to hug following it because she does'nt like the way she sees herself-i got sick to my stomach

i have to wonder what the deal is.

 

[mickeyboat]

barkley -

My SIL's were twins - they were separated in classrooms all the way through by their mother's request. One twin actually longed to be with her sister, the other was glad she wasn't.

My kids sometimes tell me they wish they were together, but I think it is really important that they aren't. They see enough of one another at lunch/recess/gym/bus/after school care/home. I can't imagine living that close to the same person for that amount of time every day of my life.

I tended to dress my little kids in the same color clothes when we are in a crowded place in public. It makes it easier to spot which ones are mine. Now that they are older they are a lot more particular about what they wear, and I don't have as much say in the matter.

I was also saddened that the twins did not want to be with the rest of their family. I know my kids think it is a treat when they might get to sit at a table by themselves at a restaurant, but I don't think they would flee to another picnic area specifically to get away from DH and I.

And Mady definitely has some behavioral problems. I had missed the episode the first time it aired where she was being so physically aggressive toward her siblings. I hope the family is working on those issues behind the scenes.

Denae

 

[lucas]

I love the show but had this thought while watching it on Monday night.

Kate said someone had told her how they had created family memories of doing something special like letting their kids eat ice cream for dinner. Kate mentioned she wanted her own kids to have the same kind of memories. I can't help but wonder... These kids will probably not remember the ice cream but maybe how the camera crew was there and possibly being yelled at about grass stains.

 

[Camster0307]

I love the show but had this thought while watching it on Monday night.

Kate said someone had told her how they had created family memories of doing something special like letting their kids eat ice cream for dinner. Kate mentioned she wanted her own kids to have the same kind of memories. I can't help but wonder... These kids will probably not remember the ice cream but maybe how the camera crew was there and possibly being yelled at about grass stains.

I just shook my head at that grass stain comment! Did you hear Mady in the background say, "Why can't you just let them have fun?"

 

[barkley]

I just shook my head at that grass stain comment! Did you hear Mady in the background say, "Why can't you just let them have fun?"

did'nt mady or kara also recently say something to kate in an episode about 'mom, just let us be'?

it just seems so stressful in that household-i realize the producers probably push to have them doing stuff for filming sake, but it was sad when they did the dress up episode and kate kept yelling to jon that they needed to stop and he was like 'we're playing, we're having fun-it's only 6 o'clock, just let us have fun'

yes, routines are important with little ones esp., but have any of us with kids every found the world coming to a crashing end because someone missed a bath, played a half hour longer that delayed bedtime a bit, spilled ice cream/got grass stains on an outfit (show of hands, how many of you have never sent your kids out in public in clean but slightly stained clothing?)? some of the happiest memories of my kids at that age are of them with ice cream dribbling down their chins (and ice cream kisses ), nights bedtime was delayed due to games of make believe....yeah, my kids remember the trips to wdw and such-but moreso, the memories that more often come up with them are 'remember when we stayed in our jammies all day and ate ice cream out of the carton?, remember when we were so tired we all fell into bed in our school clothes?...'. it's in the unplanned, imperfect moments that so many of the greatest experiences of child and parenthood are lived.

 

[MM27]

There was one episode when Nana Joan stayed with the kids. They were in the playroom and Hannah threw up because she was crying so much. One of the other girls kept saying, "Clean it up" and when someone in the back asked who had done it, she said, "Hannah did, Hannah frew up"

I don't see anything wrong with the twins sitting by themselves at the park. Face it, every time they go out as a family they probably get stared with all the attention on the little ones. It probably gets annoying for a seven year old to constantly have to deal with that.

 

[MichelleVW]

I don't see anything wrong with the twins sitting by themselves at the park. Face it, every time they go out as a family they probably get stared with all the attention on the little ones. It probably gets annoying for a seven year old to constantly have to deal with that.

I agree...it seemed like pretty normal behavior to me.

Sometimes I think Kate goes a little overboard on somethings, but with 8 little kids, I'm sure I would flip out occasionally too!!

 

[Camster0307]

Anyone catch the new episode last night?

Thought it was a good show (as usual). I don't care what people say about Jon & Kate but I think those kids are pretty well behaved - and that's a testament to their parents. And bless Kate for saying, "Just don't give up on Mady". I know they recognize her issues and they seem to have a game plan for helping her work through them.(I'm sure we just don't see it all the time.)

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I really liked last nights episode. I think they do a tremendous job with all of those kids. I have 3 and can be a basket case at times. I don't even want to think about having 8! I wouldn't want to live on that tight of a schedule myself, but I do believe that they really need it to keep some kind of order in that household. Kate can be pretty neurotic at times, but hey, I have been known to lose my cool many a time too. Thank the heavens I don't have a camera to catch it each and every time that I do.

Sometimes I think they are crazy for letting us watch everything, but I LOVE the show and don't want them to ever stop! LOL

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

I love this family!! I just found this thread and haven't had time to read all the way through it so I apologize if this has been discussed - has anyone ever seen Jon and Kate speak? I found on their website where they go to different places (appeared to be mostly churches) and speak - I thought it was interesting that this is never mentioned on the shows. Then during the marathon last week there was actually an episode of them going to CA with the twins and speaking. I was just amazed at their schedule and how often they travel, when it is never mentioned on the shows. They actually came to my area and the tickets were sold out by the time I learned about it!!

Ellen

 

[MichelleVW]

I really liked last nights episode. I think they do a tremendous job with all of those kids. I have 3 and can be a basket case at times. I don't even want to think about having 8! I wouldn't want to live on that tight of a schedule myself, but I do believe that they really need it to keep some kind of order in that household. Kate can be pretty neurotic at times, but hey, I have been known to lose my cool many a time too. Thank the heavens I don't have a camera to catch it each and every time that I do.

Sometimes I think they are crazy for letting us watch everything, but I LOVE the show and don't want them to ever stop! LOL

I still need to watch it, I dvr'd it and will watch it in a bit.

I have a friend who had triplets a few months before her other DD turned 2 and now she has 4 children under the age of 4 and she is on a very tight schedule and it works great. If it weren't for her schedule it would be pure chaos...

 

[Mouse House Mama]

There was one episode when Nana Joan stayed with the kids. They were in the playroom and Hannah threw up because she was crying so much. One of the other girls kept saying, "Clean it up" and when someone in the back asked who had done it, she said, "Hannah did, Hannah frew up"

I don't see anything wrong with the twins sitting by themselves at the park. Face it, every time they go out as a family they probably get stared with all the attention on the little ones. It probably gets annoying for a seven year old to constantly have to deal with that.[/QUOTE]

Yeah but then shouldn't that be a big blaring sign that maybe it is time to shut the cameras off and stop this show? I used to watch this show but I no longer do. I don't agree with how far it goes. If Kate wants to scream about spills and stains all day that is her choice but when the kids do not want to be filmed (like when they are going on the potty) I just think that is horrible.
I may not agree with all of their parenting ideas and that is fine, I think they are doing a great disservice to these kids with this show.

 

[barkley]

i did enjoy the 'parenting tips' episode-i had to just when they talked about the one son who just 'zones' out when they are trying to discipline him-this is SO much my son's chosen method (we refer to it as him going ' vinny barbarino' on us-a vacant stare with an occasional 'who?', what? where?') .

now i have to ask-is it my imagination or does it look like one of the boys might have the same eye condition that anna nicole smith's infant daughter has? it just seemed that with one of them even when he was looking face on and staring directly into the camera one of his eyes was'nt lined up. even when he'd glance off in one direction-one pupil seemed to never entirely track as much as the other. anyone else notice that?

did i hear kate right? did she realy say that the consequence for the one little girl who vomits during tantrums is if she does so she has to wear the clothing she's vomited on for the 'whole day'? i hope i heard that wrong because that just sounds so gross to me if they do that i have to assume that everyone else in their house has realy strong stomachs cuz in our house even the slightest odor of vomit is enough to cause us to vomit as well (but then we also have 'sympathtic gag reflexes' such that hearing or seeing someone vomit can induce it ).

on a lighter note-i don't know if everyone else gets the same show lineup we do, but we get j&k plus 8 (2 episodes) back to back with 2 episodes of little people big world, and i thought it was pretty funny that they chose to run on the same nite, the episode of jon and kate where they talk about disciplining the kids followed up by the episode of little people where amy spends the bulk of it talking about trying to train and discipline their dog

 

[Camster0307]

i did enjoy the 'parenting tips' episode-i had to just when they talked about the one son who just 'zones' out when they are trying to discipline him-this is SO much my son's chosen method (we refer to it as him going ' vinny barbarino' on us-a vacant stare with an occasional 'who?', what? where?') .

now i have to ask-is it my imagination or does it look like one of the boys might have the same eye condition that anna nicole smith's infant daughter has? it just seemed that with one of them even when he was looking face on and staring directly into the camera one of his eyes was'nt lined up. even when he'd glance off in one direction-one pupil seemed to never entirely track as much as the other. anyone else notice that?

did i hear kate right? did she realy say that the consequence for the one little girl who vomits during tantrums is if she does so she has to wear the clothing she's vomited on for the 'whole day'? i hope i heard that wrong because that just sounds so gross to me if they do that i have to assume that everyone else in their house has realy strong stomachs cuz in our house even the slightest odor of vomit is enough to cause us to vomit as well (but then we also have 'sympathtic gag reflexes' such that hearing or seeing someone vomit can induce it ).

Vinnie Barbarino!

Yea it was Joel who dares the blank stare thing - hysterical. And I did notice that it was Colin who's eyes didn't look right. I remember an older episode where Kate had taken him to the doctor about it - they were thinking he was going to need surgery but the doc said it would correct itself over a few years.

With this whole vomitting issue, I really don't think it's a full-blown up-chuck. My daughter would sometimes do the same thing - cry so hard, start dry heaving, then essentially throw up mainly just saliva. She was trying to get sympathy. I'm sure Kate didn't mean she leaves the contents of the kids' stomach all over there clothes. I think if they're going to make themselves gag and spit up, the consequence is that you walk around in it. I see it no different from some parents who try to toilet-train their resistant kids by letting them walk around in wet pants so they don't like the feel of it and want to go on the potty.

 

[MichelleVW]

With this whole vomitting issue, I really don't think it's a full-blown up-chuck. My daughter would sometimes do the same thing - cry so hard, start dry heaving, then essentially throw up mainly just saliva. She was trying to get sympathy. I'm sure Kate didn't mean she leaves the contents of the kids' stomach all over there clothes. I think if they're going to make themselves gag and spit up, the consequence is that you walk around in it. .

I can't see Kate letting her walk around in full blown puke clothes either, so I personally wasn't worried about that punishment. The child does it to get attention and to get her way, and the parents are dealing with it in a way that seems to be working.

I am so amazed at how easily they go to time out....kicking and screaming, but they still go!!

 

[Camster0307]

I am so amazed at how easily they go to time out....kicking and screaming, but they still go!!

Unlike those kids are Supernanny!

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I can't believe how easily they go either! I have pretty well behaved kids for the most part and I don't think even they would just go so willingly.

I can't remember which girl it was, but I loved the look on Jon's face when she asked about "boops". I thought they handled it very well.

 

[disneychrista]

The boops questions was cute. But I have to say it is time to keep the cameras out of the bathroom. They have never shown the older girls in the bath/shower, using the toilet but they never seem to stop showing the little girls/boys.