Jon and Kate Plus 8. Official Thread!!

[WaltD4Me]

I'm not a Kate-Hater and I'm not a sheeple, I just mostly enjoy the show...except the gum episode, but even I have to admit, I'm really beginning to wonder about all the alienation of friends and family.

First you have Kate's parents, I always thought this was odd, but things happen and I thought maybe there was a serious issue with one or both of her parents that made it better for the children if they weren't involved in their lives. I don't know, alcoholism or something. (this was very early on, when all I really knew of the show was watching the show itself)

Kate's siblings....doesn't she have a sister too? Where are they? I really thought they just didn't want to be on TV. Then they started to show her brother and I was like "Oh, okay, here is her brother, she does have family contact." So much for that.

Jon's family...I understood his father had passed away, but how is mother not even at birthday parties? Again, I assumed she didn't want to be on TV or she didn't want to be part of the show. I was niave enough (again, very early on) to think, I bet she is there, just not when the cameras are rolling.

Then I read Jon has two brothers. I am still not sure if this is true, I only remember it being briefly mentioned somewhere, but if it is, where are they?

These people are all family and yet they are not part of the kid's lives?
How is it possible that three grandparents aren't a part of their lives? I just can't fathom that this is the grandparent's decision.

Then there is Beth. I don't know what happened there, but Beth really seemed to adore those kids and "Poof!" now she seems to be gone from their lives too?

And Nana Janet and the other lady (I can't think of her name) are seemingly both gone also. Again, I don't know what happened, maybe things happened in their lives that required them to leave the Gosselins, but it is just two more people that aren't around.

This is a long list of people who you would normally think would be a loving part of a family with eight children ... and yet ... they are not. So you have to wonder why. It can't all be them and the common denominator is Jon and Kate.

 

[MichelleVW]

Interesting. As much as I love the show there's obviously a lot of drama going on behind the scenes. However, I don't think Jodi's a saint or at all in the right here. Since when is it mature and classy to air your family's dirty laundry to millions of people online? If Kate's nasty and a horrible person behind the scenes, then that sucks. It really does and I feel bad for all involved. But I said it about the blog originally and now I'll say it about the video... running online to complain to complete strangers about your own family is childish, tacky and inappropriate. Like I said, it's horrible that there's so much behind-the-scenes drama, but this is only adding to it and will hurt no one but the kids and create a bigger rift within the family. Like the PP said, it seems as if the entire family's seeking attention for themselves rather than worrying about the well-being of their family and children. If Jodi and her sister weren't seeking attention they would have never drawn it to themselves. No one cares about Jodi or even knows who her sister is... they don't have a show or any reason to be in the spotlight, so why are they running online to draw attention to themselves? To unleash the truth? It's nothing but airing their family's dirty laundry and creating more trouble for themselves and all the kids involved. Deal with your issues on your own time if you really want to make them better... whining to strangers about how your sister-in-law's mean to you is pathetic, as were Jodi's tears halfway through the video. It's sad all around.

I totally agree......I would have been livid if my sister did a blog like that if I was having issues with my husband's sister. No good will come of that blog and video, if anything it will just alieanate them further.

 

[troobabiee7]

This is a long list of people who you would normally think would be a loving part of a family with eight children ... and yet ... they are not. So you have to wonder why. It can't all be them the common denominator is Jon and Kate.

I agree with that; there's definitely something going on. But running online to whine about it isn't the way to deal with it. If Jodi truly wanted to make things better she'd turn to her family and talk to Jon and Kate themselves. If she truly cared about the kids she wouldn't air their dirty laundry for millions of strangers on the internet. As hard as it may be for her and as much as she may dislike Jon and Kate, they're still the kid's parents and being so blatantly vicious out in the public eye is only going to hurt the kids. In my opinion, by doing what they did Jodi and her sister proved to be the immature and tacky ones, and Jodi pretty much kissed any chance of a reconciliation goodbye while hurting the kids in the process.

 

[Camster0307]

I agree with that; there's definitely something going on. But running online to whine about it isn't the way to deal with it. If Jodi truly wanted to make things better she'd turn to her family and talk to Jon and Kate themselves. If she truly cared about the kids she wouldn't air their dirty laundry for millions of strangers on the internet. As hard as it may be for her and as much as she may dislike Jon and Kate, they're still the kid's parents and being so blatantly vicious out in the public eye is only going to hurt the kids. In my opinion, by doing what they did Jodi and her sister proved to be the immature and tacky ones, and Jodi pretty much kissed any chance of a reconciliation goodbye while hurting the kids in the process.

ITA!!!

As far as I'm concerned, Jodi's actions are the COMPLETE opposite of classy!

 

[MM27]

It's hard to say what's really going on because we are not hearing the full story but the one person that should not have gotten involved was Jodi's sister. I'm all for defending your sister, I'd defend mine too, but to do it in a public forum is wrong. From reading her posts on her blog and GWoP, I wonder if she really cares about the kids or is just excited that she has "insider information" to share. I don't doubt that she is sharing the truth, but you don't do that to family, no matter how much you may dislike them or the things they do.

Kate's siblings....doesn't she have a sister too? Where are they? I really thought they just didn't want to be on TV. Then they started to show her brother and I was like "Oh, okay, here is her brother, she does have family contact." So much for that.

And Nana Janet and the other lady (I can't think of her name) are seemingly both gone also. Again, I don't know what happened, maybe things happened in their lives that required them to leave the Gosselins, but it is just two more people that aren't around.

I believe Kate has 3 sisters and one brother (Kevin). I've read on different sites that Kate made the sisters decide between the parents and her. Although we did see the husband of one of Kate's sisters helping Jon paint Cara and Mady's bedroom.

I remember them saying on the show when they went caroling that Nana Janet doesn't live close by. She may still see them and they just don't show it. Someone on GWoP that apparently lives by the Gosselins said that the lady that folds the laundry has since moved out of the area.

 

[nuke]

Why shouldn't Jodi make what Kate did public? Jon and Kate have decided to make every aspect of their lives public and have exploited their children to get everything they can. Kate has insulted and been condescending to Jodi in a very public way. (gum show anyone?) Jodi has every right to go public with this and I think she is holding back. I'm sure there is much more that she isn't saying that's much much worse.

I used to love this show but in the past 6 months I've lost all respect for first Kate and now Jon as well and I feel very sad for their children.

 

[MM27]

Why shouldn't Jodi make what Kate did public? Jon and Kate have decided to make every aspect of their lives public and have exploited their children to get everything they can. Kate has insulted and been condescending to Jodi in a very public way. (gum show anyone?) Jodi has every right to go public with this and I think she is holding back. I'm sure there is much more that she isn't saying that's much much worse.

I used to love this show but in the past 6 months I've lost all respect for first Kate and now Jon as well and I feel very sad for their children.

Because Jodi didn't make it public, her sister did.

 

[emer95]

While to some extent I agree that the blog and the video aren't the greatest idea, I have to wonder what I would do in the same situation. I have a younger sister. I love her very much and I am protective of her. If Kate did to my sister what she did to Jodi, in a very public way, I might feel inclined to let people know the truth. Then Jodi's sister was vilified by the "sheeple" which is probably why Jodi did the video, to let people know her sister was real and wasn't making it up. I wonder how Kevin feels about the whole thing.

A PP said that Jon & Kate must be the common denominator in the fact that they are almost completely isolated from every single family member they have. That's not normal. Even their friends are slipping away. Who do they have left? The production crew?

All in all, I am SO happy I'm not famous! They can keep all of that money, and all of the Perks and crap that comes with it. I'd never survive all of the drama. No thank you!

 

[nuke]

Because Jodi didn't make it public, her sister did.

And from the video it was done with Jodi's permission.

 

[troobabiee7]

Why shouldn't Jodi make what Kate did public?

Because it doesn't help. She claims to want the best for the kids but whining to strangers online obviously doesn't help. Not only will it farther the rift between Jon and Kate and Jodi, but it'll lead to the kids resenting Jodi too. There's no need for Jodi or her sister to be in the spotlight. The show isn't about them and it has nothing to do with them. Jodi thanking her "fans" for the support and clearing up rumors about herself is one thing, but being blatantly vicious in a public forum and continuing to air "behind-the-scenes" info (and essentially the family's dirty laundry) is going too far. It's pathetic actually... that's not to say that Kate's actions aren't, but it seems like the entire family has issues and are all immature and just out for the attention. They're all sad.

 

[Camster0307]

Why shouldn't Jodi make what Kate did public? Jon and Kate have decided to make every aspect of their lives public and have exploited their children to get everything they can. Kate has insulted and been condescending to Jodi in a very public way. (gum show anyone?) Jodi has every right to go public with this and I think she is holding back. I'm sure there is much more that she isn't saying that's much much worse.

I used to love this show but in the past 6 months I've lost all respect for first Kate and now Jon as well and I feel very sad for their children.

Alot of what Jodi's sister has written on the blog has happened behind the scenes - not before the cameras. Posting private conversations (or arguments) between the family members on the internet is pretty pathetic, if you ask me. Remember people, these are adults we're talking about here. Bad behavior is no justification for more bad behavior.

 

[Camster0307]

Because it doesn't help. She claims to want the best for the kids but whining to strangers online obviously doesn't help. Not only will it farther the rift between Jon and Kate and Jodi, but it'll lead to the kids resenting Jodi too. There's no need for Jodi or her sister to be in the spotlight. The show isn't about them and it has nothing to do with them. Jodi thanking her "fans" for the support and clearing up rumors about herself is one thing, but being blatantly vicious in a public forum and continuing to air "behind-the-scenes" info (and essentially the family's dirty laundry) is going too far. It's pathetic actually... that's not to say that Kate's actions aren't, but it seems like the entire family has issues and are all immature and just out for the attention. They're all sad.

Once again, troobabiee7, I feel like you've taken the words right out of my mouth! (see my above post)

 

[WaltD4Me]

I agree with that; there's definitely something going on. But running online to whine about it isn't the way to deal with it. If Jodi truly wanted to make things better she'd turn to her family and talk to Jon and Kate themselves. If she truly cared about the kids she wouldn't air their dirty laundry for millions of strangers on the internet. As hard as it may be for her and as much as she may dislike Jon and Kate, they're still the kid's parents and being so blatantly vicious out in the public eye is only going to hurt the kids. In my opinion, by doing what they did Jodi and her sister proved to be the immature and tacky ones, and Jodi pretty much kissed any chance of a reconciliation goodbye while hurting the kids in the process.

I don't know that what Jodi did was so horrible. I think it was probably done out of fustration, hurt and anger, not from out and out maliciousness. I don't really agree with it, but I also think before Jodi did any of this she probably did try and talk to Jon and Kate themselves, but more and more I am getting the impression that once Kate decides she wants you out of their lives, there is no more discussion. (making her sisters choose between their parents and her? )

I don't know what I would do if Jodi were my sister, but I can understand wanting to defend her. I also think there is ALOT more they could have said but didn't.

In the end though, I agree that the kids should be the # 1 priority and now they have lost contact with even more family members and it's a sad thing, no matter whose fault it is. Both Jodie and Kate should find a way to put their differences aside for the sake of those kids.

 

[lisaviolet]

I think both sides are strange. What did Jodi have to defend? You could see that she loved those kids by her times on the show. So I would think that most people would think, when she disappeared, that something was up with Jon and Kate because of their background of alienation from other relatives.

This choice by Jodi and her sister just makes me think less of her - certainly not sorry for her. I think the public is smarter than Jodi thinks. Actions speak volumes. I doubt there were many, if any, who thought that she had abandoned those children in any way. It was clear she was a loving aunt.

I understand feeling very sad and frustrated by feeling cut off from nieces and nephews that you love. An absolute given. But the blog and everything else is wrong.

Strange all around.

 

[CottonCandyLvr]

just wanted to add I am a pediatric Occupational Therapist for the past 12 year and have 3 preemies of my own born at 31 weeks, and non of them were developmentally delayed. That is an extremely broad statement

They had breathing problems and Alexis and Collin both had physical therapy as babies through Easter Seals. Plus, at the moment their fine motor skills are behind other 4 yr olds due to Kate not letting them do crafts and learn to use scissors and they all aren't speaking as clearly as their sisters were at age 4.

 

[CottonCandyLvr]

Interesting. As much as I love the show there's obviously a lot of drama going on behind the scenes. However, I don't think Jodi's a saint or at all in the right here. Since when is it mature and classy to air your family's dirty laundry to millions of people online?.

When is it mature and classy to air your family's dirty laundry to millions of people online?

When your SIL and BIL are involved in a million dollar Tv show that is allowing the exploitation of 8 children!
When you have been painted a ditz and bad child caretaker on national Tv after you have babysat 8 kids several days a week for FREE for years!
When you used to drive 35 miles to babysit your new twin nieces for FREE out of the kindness of your heart!

That is when!

 

[Nancy]

Since there are 3 sides to every story (yours, theirs and the truth) I will take everything I read with a grain of salt.

I don't see the show as expoliting the kids, I just know I like to watch it. I think Kate can be over the top at times, I think Jon can be a pain when he is oblivious to what's going on. I do think it will be running it's course soon. I mean how may trips and special days can they be having once the 6 kids get to be older? Holiday specials or once a year specials would be fine now. I also just kinda figured we weren't seeing all the extra helpers anymore because they don't need all the extra help as much now that they are older. Maybe I'm just naive that way and don't want to think the worst of them all the time.

There are a lot of dysfuntional families in this world (heck just read half the stuff here on the DIS about family issues) it just doesn't get broadcast all over the place. There are families that choose sides and say "if you support so and so then I am no longer speaking with you" It happens all the time in the real world. Read the boards you'll see posters talk about how the kids never see the relatives because of family issues, grandparents not agreeing with choices made, people picking sides, etc. I don't understand it but it happens and not just to Jon and Kate.

I just remember when I watch the show that I am watching an edited reality TV show. And in reading the blog and watching the video on it that I am reading 1 persons viewpoint and the video is very short and who knows what was said before or after. It was made to support the blogger and if Jodi said anything else after it was cut off we'll never know.

 

[CottonCandyLvr]

I'm not a Kate-Hater and I'm not a sheeple, I just mostly enjoy the show...except the gum episode, but even I have to admit, I'm really beginning to wonder about all the alienation of friends and family.

{snip}

This is a long list of people who you would normally think would be a loving part of a family with eight children ... and yet ... they are not. So you have to wonder why. It can't all be them and the common denominator is Jon and Kate.

That is why they had to go all the way to Hawai'i to get Jon's distant cousins.
They need SOME family there.
Once Kate uses them up, they'll get tired of it, just like the rest of the family.

What kind of person expects all these freebies and free babysitting and free laundry folding etc. but never sends cards or gifts on Birthdays or Christmas to anyone?

What kind of mom doesn't allow her kids to play with any other kids? What kid of mom screams at neighborhood kids to get off her property after they knock on the door to play with the tups?

By the way, I've heard it from a birdy that Kate is trying to cozy up to people in her family so she will have suddenly pull family out of a hat on the show!
Desperation on Kates part.

 

[troobabiee7]

When is it mature and classy to air your family's dirty laundry to millions of people online?

When your SIL and BIL are involved in a million dollar Tv show that is allowing the exploitation of 8 children!
When you have been painted a ditz and bad child caretaker on national Tv after you have babysat 8 kids several days a week for FREE for years!
When you used to drive 35 miles to babysit your new twin nieces for FREE out of the kindness of your heart!

That is when!

Nope, still not classy or mature. Like I said, defending yourself is one thing, but continuing to share "behind-the-scenes" info with strangers online is another. Two wrongs don't make a right. If Kate's a nasty person then it's the kids who will suffer in the end. It has nothing to do with money (unless Jodi's jealous of the money the family's making). It has nothing to do with exploitation (I don't feel the kids are being exploited, and if they truly were someone would have stepped in already). Continuing the family battle in public and getting millions of strangers involved will only hurt the kids and all family members involved even more. It's childish and classless, and makes me think Jodi's only in it for the attention rather than the actual good of the kids.

 

[CottonCandyLvr]

I believe Kate has 3 sisters and one brother (Kevin). I've read on different sites that Kate made the sisters decide between the parents and her. Although we did see the husband of one of Kate's sisters helping Jon paint Cara and Mady's bedroom.

I remember them saying on the show when they went caroling that Nana Janet doesn't live close by. She may still see them and they just don't show it. Someone on GWoP that apparently lives by the Gosselins said that the lady that folds the laundry has since moved out of the area.

Kate's one sister Christen asked Kate if Kate would add her Etsy jewelry listing to their website and Kate told her, "Yes, if you pay me $150.00 a month"
They don't speak anymore.
Clairissa was asked to choose between Kate and Mom&Dad.
Kendra and Kate had a blow out over Thanksgiving, they no longer speak either.
The rumors about Kate and church donations and her Dads church are true.

All in all Kates family supports what Jodi did, that oughta tell you something.

And by the way, it is completely Christian to judge people who are doing wrong and to speak out against them.