JON and KATE plus EIGHT

[1Prince3Princesses]

I too did not want to cause waves and turn this into an insurance debate. I just thought I'd add my opinion on how and why this (HOM) happens in PA. I am also a firm believer IN MY LIFE for ME: If you can't afford them, then don't have them. Other people feel differently and I'm fine with that, they have to raise them and deal with it. I watch the show and am so glad I didn't have more than I did. I can also say that I am happy with 4 and could not even imagine using fertility meds again in hopes of just 1 more like she did. I also believe without the control of IVF and not knowing how many eggs are released and fertilized you take a HUGE gamble and like the OP posted multiples are always a big possibilty. Kate and her husband knew that and went with it anyway. You are right with the knowledge of this the state should not have sent a nurse in to deal with it @ the taxpayers expense. Our taxes here in PA are high enough. My babies were much smaller than hers and more premature (27 weeks) and my smallest came home on O2 and I was never even offered a Home Health Aide. I'm not trying to starting any kind of debate or trouble, just opinions. We all have them.

 

[LisaNJ25]

she admitted that none of the children were disabled but argued it's too hard for 2 parents to care for 8 young children at once-and harder still when one of the parents has a 3 hour commute to work, and that society owes it to parents of multiples to subsidize and support their needs.

QUOTE]

Where is he working that he has a 3 hour commute? and she has balls if she made that last comment.

 

[abcboys]

I found a pic of them at disney
http://www.laughingplace.com/Showpi...ah,+Hannah+and+Joel,+were+born+May+10,+2004.+

 

[tink_lover]

I love the show and am going to keep my comments away from insurance issues or adoption issues. As a mom to 3 (adopted) small kids, I can't imagine what it must be like to care for 8 at one time. I know that Dh and I have bickered, and I can be bossy and controlling. I think Kate maintains quite a sense of humor about things. Some of the comments she makes I don't interpret as obnoxious, just dry humor. What I see when I watch is a family that really loves and cares about each other.

 

[mindyd]

I can not wait till the Disney episode I wonder if the network will set special things up for them.

 

[PA Princess]

I really enjoy the show. It is a good reminder to me to be mindful of what and how I say things in the heat of every day life...just what would a camera crew catch on tape if they set up shop in my home???hhhhmmmm.

We live in the same area the family resided in when the babies were born (they moved when they were almost 2 about 45 minutes away). It is so funny to watch the show for us because there are SO many similarities to our life...
We have a 2 year old and a 6 year old (both girls) and we marvel at the thought of having multiples of each of those (we also have 2 boys 12 and 13, so 4 kids and some sense of what it is like to have a larger family).

So many places they go are places we go...we use the same kid hair cut place, visit the same pumpkin patch and apple orchard, and use the same kid dentist as they showed in the show! We shop at the same grocery store, and Dutch Wonderland and Hershey are places we take our kids every year. Now add in Disney trips and that is really us!

There are just so many things just like our life, it is funny! Gives us a small feel of what our life would look like in a TV show

 

[Waseller77]

I absolutely LOVE the show! It is one of the only shows I can't miss during the week. I love watching Kate and Jon interact as my husband and I are their same ages and I can only imagine their life with 8 kids. I also truly admire Kate's organizational skills and try to take away tips for me and my family (only 2 kids!). I think they are fantastic parents and I can't wait to see them at Disney!

 

[may_baby06]

I love the show! I think for having that many kids she is doing pretty good. All the kids seem to be pretty well behaved also. I am really excited about their trip to Disney World. I can't wait to see it!!

 

[peyjax]

I really enjoy watching this reality show! My husband laughs at me, but I enjoy seeing how they interact. I can tell she is a little controlling, but thinks she has to be to keep sanity. I think it is obvious that Kate and John really do love each other. I had never thought of the complaints that others have mentioned about the show and her. Obviously she does have some interesting view points on society's responsability???? Like others I am very curious about a lot of things in thier life, that they never mention. Kate wants to make her family portray a certain image, which i think is obvious. Break the mold of the large family mentality that you often see like the Dilly's. I think she does do that because they are like a regular family you would see with 2 or 3, yet they have 8! However in doing so they omit some of the realities that they have to face with having such a large family. Like those little trips to the amusement parks. They charge for those three year olds and that has to add up. How do they do it? I can't even imagine how much it would cost to go to Disney with 10 and stay at the Wilderness lodge. How many rooms is that? They always seem to do it alone, maybe with the help of 1 other person. They don't mention thier extended family much. They have mentioned them once. How can you have that many grandkids and not see them? or do they and they don't want to be on television? Hmm, Probably personal I know, but still curious. Also how do they get sitters, I have a hard enough time with my two, let alone 8. I am always curious about the financial end of it. She mentions that the bill is $150 a week for groceries. How does she do that? Sometimes I wonder how much they really tell you.

 

[pweyl36]

I am always curious about the financial end of it. She mentions that the bill is $150 a week for groceries. How does she do that? Sometimes I wonder how much they really tell you.[/QUOTE]

Well you must realize that 6 are toddlers and 2 are 6, it can be done. Also,on last night show the bought a whole cow that lasted a yr.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I love this show!!! I admire them and am amazed each week when I watch.
I loved when she surprised her husband with a trip to the Keys. That was great. Controlling? yes... but so understandable. Also you can see the love. We also only see events in their lives . We don't see the every day stuff.
Can't wait to see the WDW world episode.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I know on one show -- I think it was the babies birthday -- she mentioned that they don't see the kid's grandparents. Jon's own grandma was there though. They had some friends there who were honerary grandparents to the kids and they made reference to "the family you choose as your own" kind of thing.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I believe Kate's mother was on one of the shows and so was her grandmother.
You also see siblings from time to time.

 

[Princessbaby]

I love the show ! I can't wait to see the WDW episode! Last night was a great show- it was nice to have Sara Snow come in and teach her and the kids how to cook and clean with organic materials! Kids got a good lesson!

 

[Nanisashi]

We love the show too, but for sure the Disney trip was free, plus I would think that they are being paid a decent amount now that they have their own show.

 

[eeyore3847]

I LOVE LVOE LOVE THIS SHOW.
here is my Two cents on her controling nature. I once said to my hubby, you know with 8 kids and a husband you have to have control. if you are not in control of one thing can you imagine the caos that would go on. the control of meals, clothes, snacks, time schedule etv hasto be there!
I know with 3 kids under 6 and a fourth kid 32 yrs old(HEHE) I always feel that things are to be planned out and organization has to be there. there has to be some fine line between control and organization but in there case it is understandable!
I love this family they are real and bicker and argue like any other couple out there. no marrriage is perfect and the stress of 8 kids I am surprised they do not fight more!
Lori
ps.s the 4th of july episode where she made them walk. I have made plenty of wrong choices before w/ the kids hers is just "multiplied" by 8!
Lori

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I love this show as well (although i admit I love it because it makes me feel better about myself...man I think I yell a lot ) I had the pleasure of watching a marathon of sorts this weekend while on a JetBlue flight. Does anyone know when the Disney episode airs? That I don't want to miss!!!

 

[disneymom3]

I saw the episode where they went to the amusement park! i gasped too!!
She does seem to bicker a lot with him, it's kind of annoying. and also i noticed the kids cry a LOT.......and there was a lot of arm grabbing and forceful movements to me. There seems to be control issues with the mom.
but hey I don't have 8 kids and can't even imagine what their day to day life is like. I would probably need medication......

My DH hates this show because Kate treats her DH like such an idiot. I also think the kids are cute but yeah...the crying. I used to be a toddler teacher so I know what it's like to have a group of two year olds and go out somewhere. That trip to the amusement park--what was the point??? I think that is the same episode they mentioned WDW and yet even at the local amusement park, they pushed the kids beyond their limits. They were all tired and cranky and mom was like "Okay, we have to go on three more rides.
Can't imagine her at WDW. I would not like to be standing in line with them just because of that. Their kids overall are cute though. I think she also adds more stress to her life than necessary. Did you see that episode with the bday party? Was it really necessary to do that big of a production??

And what was up with that trip to the dentist. Who in their right mind would take all 8 kids at the same time and really was it that important that the one little girl who was hysterical have her teeth cleaned that day? Way to make the kid anti-dentist. Our ped. dentist wouldn't have even come near a kid that was that upset!

 

[disney_family_1247]

I saw the end of an episode last night, and she actually hit her husband in the face twice! If I swatted my dh or if he did it to me, that would be a major fight . We don't use physical violence (no matter how mild the sting) on each other or our kids. My 7 year old was watching with me, and she was shocked because she knows that we don't hit .

Plus, one of the older kids seems starved to death for attention .

 

[Jacob'sMom]

I watch the show but rarely get through an entire episode because the wife annoys me so much. My husband cannot stand to watch the show because of the way she talks to her husband.

Obviously, both their lives extremely stressful but it just angers me to no end to hear her talk down to her husband like he is one of the kids. I guess it makes for good tv