exactly! on all points.
There's no way for me to say what I want to say without someone twisting it, but I don't mean it to sound bad if it does. But here goes, anyway
The Sesame Place trip was what I thought it would be - in that I assume they got in free, had private visits with characters, no waits, lots of help, etc. It was also an adorable episode with the children. I also assume that it was largely done for production value - not a trip where they decided to go, and the Figure8 folks tagged along. That may be an incorrect assumption ... but I think we all agree that the trip was done for the show. I haven't seen otherwise. And that's fine. That's what I expect of the show in the coming episodes. More outings/trips and less days at home.
The real reality is we only see a snippet of what happens. An edited version of the Gosselins reality. No one on this board (that I'm aware of) has any idea really and truly what happens on the show or in their private life. We are all forming our own conclusions based on what we see and how we live our own lives. It's easy to sit in front of a computer and question & criticize people we don't know ... to people we don't know. It's easy for it to get out of control.
Absolutely agree! I think both sides of the debate need to realize that. I think it was you who mentioned some of the supporters are just as bad a the bashers. I certainly don't put Jon and Kate on a pedestal, but I don't think they're the horrid, money-grubbing parents some of the (anti) fanatics make them out to be.
Personally for me I don't care one way or the other about the family trips to theme parks and activities that they are getting for free. What bugs me and was a huge turning point in how I felt about Kate and Jon were the hair plugs, teeth whitening, and parental shopping sprees. To me that is selling out your children for your own gain.
As far as the Banana Republic Outlet (which I totally called the minute I saw the fixtures...haha!! Shopaholic here!) spree that was on the other night, they mentioned saving up for that and it was a huge deal for them to actually go out and buy clothes. BRO is also quite a bit cheaper than BR, which isn't
that expensive to begin with. That was initiated by Jon as a gift to Kate (and I believe they said just early Christmas presents to each other in general). Now, I'm just going off of their comments/the show, but I don't think anyone else can go off anything different.
My biggest hope is that someone listens & respects the wishes of those children. If a time comes where they ask not to be involved, I hope Jon & Kate respect that.
I have a DS3 at home, and if he is dead set against something, it's just not gonna happen (at least not without a fight). For example, his gramma on the other side of the family calls almost nightly to talk with him (another thread completely on this craziness!!), and refuses to hang up if he doesn't say he loves her, talks to her, kisses the phone, etc. We've had to hang up on her several times because, well, we have lives!! When he was younger, it wasn't an issue, but now he's usually playing, resting, watching a movie, etc., etc., etc. and doesn't want to talk. Can't make him do it. I can hold the phone out to him, but I can't make him "perform."
If the kids suddenly wanted to not be involved, there's not a lot anyone can do to make them. Sure, they can film them, but they can't make them
do anything. Would make for a boring show.
P.S. I hate when that happens! Years and years ago when I had a Livejournal (whoa!! Olden days!
), I started typing entries in Word because I would write loooong entries or answer those ridiculously loooong surveys and it would be erased.
The Dilleys and the McCaugheys each do yearly TV show/print media updates. The Dilley parents have MySpace pages and the mom blogs a little bit - the kids are teenagers now. Other than what's in Good Housekeeping and the NBC specials, I don't think there's much known about the McCaughey family. They live in rural Iowa, I think. 
