Jon & Kate Confusion

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

So insomnia is alive & well in the Northeast so I am watching Jon & Kate + 8.

Here is my confusion....they showed the Christmas show and Kate stated that it is always a financial concern with 8 little kids for Christmas financially & they are amazed that so many people email them & send gifts to the kids.

Then during the commercial they show a teaser from an upcoming show, Jon & Kate went to get their teeth whitened. Well ok but if you are concerned about Christmas gifts how are you spending the cash for whitening your teeth? I have gone to have it done & it was almost $500~

I would love to know how much this family is making from their show.

 

[luvmy2sams]

From everything I've seen and read it seems that they're doing very well. That's the nicest thing I have to say about them.

 

[Macca1111]

From everything I've seen and read it seems that they're doing very well. That's the nicest thing I have to say about them.

 

[barkley]

i betcha see the name of the dental clinic prominantly displayed just like all the other places they take the kids to free for advertising.

on the other hand, i seem to remember it being mentioned that jon's late father was a dentist (seems this was said when the little ones went to the dentist ) so maybe a family friend is doing it at cost.

i suspect despite what they put forward on the show they are doing pretty well BUT i suspect their compensation is structured VERY CAREFULLY. the reason i think this is because given kate's public statements that she believes society owes those who have multiple births medical care (one of her arguments when their state sponsored medical care was discontinuing one of the services to the kids when they were infants), and the fact that jon left a previous job (when kate was pregnant) because his employer was unwilling or financialy unable to provide medical insurance for the entire (anticipated) family, i can't imagine that he would have gone into buisness for himself (he said on a show earlier this season he was now self employed-guess he no longer works for beth's husband?) without some source of medical coverage for the family. the costs for this type of private coverage would be astronomical for even a very wealthy person so i just have a gut feeling that they, like some of the state medical assisted families i supervised have their assetts and income very carefully structured such to retain their eligibility to coverage (there's nothing illegal about it).

they could be receiving compensation from endorsements by way of food products, clothing products, and hygene products (i noticed they made a point of mentioning how much hair care stuff they go through on a recent show then there was a commercial for kid's hair care stuff ). i also have to imagine that they could take some tremendous advantages of tax laws by virtue of jon working out of the home AND the home being used for the purpose of filming.

put together with the regular stuff they admit they don't pay for (much of the children's activities, family vacations, free haircuts for the kids from the place that gifted them for their entire childhood) and even with a very large family you're looking at allot of your basic expenses (and luxuries) not having to budgeted for from your earnings.

 

[EMom]

That Kate is a piece of work. And THAT is the nicest thing I can say about her.

 

[wishspirit]

See we don't have this programme i the UK, but it sounds SO interesting!

Will have to you tube it!

 

[MushyMushy]

The first episode I ever saw had Kate and Jon going clothes shopping together, which I thought was a pretty expensive undertaking -- they certainly weren't in Target. Also, Kate had rented a bus (called the tumble bus or something) that came by for the kids and she said that the bus charged per kid.

What line of work is he in anyway?

 

[powellrj]

The time the took the kids to the dentist, I think they said she had been a partner with Jons father.

The clothes one was because Kate never bought clothes for herself. They showed older pictures of her, and she really did need some newer things.

I agree Kate is a piece of work, but for some reason I am drawn to this show. I guess its because the kids are really cute and act just like normal kids. The Duggar kids are just like little stepford kids, but Jon and Kates kids are pretty normal.

 

[Disney Ella]

They also make money giving speeches.

 

[ElleBelle]

That Kate is a piece of work. And THAT is the nicest thing I can say about her.

I have to say that from the get-go, I have been in love with this show (DH has always loathed it, and Kate...). I always chalked Kate's personality traits up to the editors of the show... I was convinced that she couldn't possibly be as bad as they portrayed.

DH and I live quite close to Jon and Kate... same area of PA. The daughter of a co-worker works at "Bounce-U"... which I'm sure some of you will rember Jon and Kate took their daughter Leah to on one of the shows (big open room with many different types of "bouncy" equiptment... a slide, boxing ring, bouncy room, etc).

A few Saturdays ago, Jon and Kate showed up with the whole family... apparently demanded to come through a side door for privacy. The staff explained to them that it really didn't matter if they came through the side door, the place was PACKED on a Saturday... basically explaining that they may not have alot of privacy. Kate threw a fit- something about how they deserved to have the place to themselves. I believe they did end up staying, but co-worker's daughter said that Kate snubbed everyone... as if she was some really big, great movie star.

Not so sure that I'll continue watching... now that I know that her 'personality' has nothing to do with the editing. UGH. DH was right... and I hate to ever have to admit that...

 

[dogodisney]

The first episode I ever saw had Kate and Jon going clothes shopping together, which I thought was a pretty expensive undertaking -- they certainly weren't in Target. Also, Kate had rented a bus (called the tumble bus or something) that came by for the kids and she said that the bus charged per kid.

What line of work is he in anyway?

He's an IT guy. (computers)


They certainly aren't hurting financially. I'm sure a good chunk of the money is being put away for when the kids are older but they are doing okay right now. They get A LOT of freebies.

When the show first started and Kate showed what her belly looked like from having all the babies, a viewer talked her Cosmetic Surgeon husband into doing a tummy tuck for her. How nice!

I can handle Kate, it is Mady that gets on my nerves.

 

[allison443]

I have only watched a few episodes here and there...last night for some reason I watched like four episodes in a row! Those kids are adorable-I now want 4 year old sextuplets! No, just kidding.

I noticed on the episode where the twins started music lessons, they said a piano company emailed them and wanted to give them a free piano. I wouldn't be surprised if the tooth whitening in the upcoming episode is also free.

I have two comments about the Christmas episode. Did the family attend church services for Christmas? I am only asking because they basically showed them having a relaxing family day on Christmas, and for some reason I thought Jon and Kate were religious (don't they give speeches to churches?)
The other thing was when Kate said viewers emailed them wanting to send Christmas gifts for the kids. For a second I assumed Kate would say "so we told the viewers to donate the gifts to needy children instead" But no, she accepted the gifts. Which is fine I guess.

I have to say their house is so clean and well-kept with all those kids. The toys are always put away! Mine never looked that good when the kids were little and I did not have multiples

 

[barkley]

They also make money giving speeches.

and they've just published a book, and operate 2 websites independant of the tlc site where advertisers can buy space to be listed among the 'family favorites' page-the bounce place was there the last time i looked as well as the gymnastics bus and kate's plastic surgeon (it's hilarious to me that while they are not listed under 'family favorites' there are ads posted on it for the kind of food stuffs kate is always bashing on the show-sugar filled granola bars, little debbie snackcakes, processed foods. i guess kate feels while it's not o.k. to feed it to her own kid it's fine to make money off advertising it to other people to feed to theirs).

 

[rachel3]

i quit watching after the trip to disney episode. i mean come on relax , your'e in disney world!! the part where the kids are eating ice cream and kate is freaking out bc , omg, they're making a mess!! oh no!! they're kids, it's ice cream. that's what they make bathtubs and washing machines for. of course, bathtub for the kids, washing machine for clothes!!! thougth i should clarify !!

 

[USA Here I Come]

See we don't have this programme i the UK, but it sounds SO interesting!

Will have to you tube it!

Actually we do, if you have sky? Its on Discovery Home and Health on Tuesdays at 8.00 pm and 8.30pm, they're showing re-runs at the moment

 

[barkley]

See we don't have this programme i the UK, but it sounds SO interesting!

Will have to you tube it!

now see, i saw a documentary on a family from the u.k with sextuplets that i thought was so much more facinating than jon and kate. this was a family where i believe both mom and dad were law enforcement which they said came in handy for the 'crowd control' in raising their kiddos the documentary i recently saw on them was profiling them now in their teens, learning to drive, and the mom and dad were discussing how dealing with 6 teens was in many ways much more challenging than when they were little ones (esp. when it came to blaring stereos and bathroom wars since the family lived in a pretty small place). they seemed like a genuinly down to earth family.

 

[5lilfish]

A few Saturdays ago, Jon and Kate showed up with the whole family... apparently demanded to come through a side door for privacy. The staff explained to them that it really didn't matter if they came through the side door, the place was PACKED on a Saturday... basically explaining that they may not have alot of privacy. Kate threw a fit- something about how they deserved to have the place to themselves. I believe they did end up staying, but co-worker's daughter said that Kate snubbed everyone... as if she was some really big, great movie star.

Not so sure that I'll continue watching... now that I know that her 'personality' has nothing to do with the editing. UGH. DH was right... and I hate to ever have to admit that...

Even though the show interests me, I never seem to catch it on TV. I've only watched a few episodes, so I can't say too much about Kate.

BUT...I know that when my first 3 kids were little (3 kids in under 3 yrs) there were times that I was mistaken as being standoff-ish.....and even acused of snubbing a few times. In reality, I was just so hyper focused (tunnel vision) on keeping taking care of the kids and keeping them safe that I just didn't notice that someone was there (much less stop and chat). That was with a 2, 3 and 4 yr old. I cannot imagine how stressful it must be to try and keep 8 kids in sight and feel they are safe. I wonder if sometimes people think she is snotty, when really she is just stressed and focused on her job as a mother of 8.

Jess

 

[luvmy2sams]

He's an IT guy. (computers)


They certainly aren't hurting financially. I'm sure a good chunk of the money is being put away for when the kids are older but they are doing okay right now. They get A LOT of freebies.

Wasn't it announced that the kids' college education is being funded as well?

Even though the show interests me, I never seem to catch it on TV. I've only watched a few episodes, so I can't say too much about Kate.

BUT...I know that when my first 3 kids were little (3 kids in under 3 yrs) there were times that I was mistaken as being standoff-ish.....and even acused of snubbing a few times. In reality, I was just so hyper focused (tunnel vision) on keeping taking care of the kids and keeping them safe that I just didn't notice that someone was there (much less stop and chat). That was with a 2, 3 and 4 yr old. I cannot imagine how stressful it must be to try and keep 8 kids in sight and feel they are safe. I wonder if sometimes people think she is snotty, when really she is just stressed and focused on her job as a mother of 8.Jess

There's a big difference between being perceived as standoffish versus throwing a fit and walking around with a sense of entitlement because you had so many kids at one time.

 

[puffkin]

The time the took the kids to the dentist, I think they said she had been a partner with Jons father.

I take my son to the dentist they used and they are WONDERFUL but Pricey Luckily I have dental insurance, but paying that for 8 kids would be a lot.

I don't watch the show regularly, but I do think that Kate and Jon are funny. We have similar personalities and I know how I get chasing one toddler around, I couldn't imagine 6! Sometimes I think that they are misunderstood.

While I don't believe in the state giving them freebies I do think that if they are willing to go through the hassles of opening their home to the camera's and losing their privacy, they deserve to be compensated. The advertisers and TLC make a fortune off of them, so why shouldn't they benefit too? Face it, with that many kids their work options are pretty limited right now, so they are just taking advantage of the opportunity. That being said, I really hope that the children will see some financial benefit from this (ie college funds) when they are older since they are the true stars of the show.

 

[KAPTink]

DH and I love watching Jon + Kate because it makes us feel so much better about our own home, and the perceived chaos we have! BUT, it does seem that they live quite a nice lifestyle...purchasing a violin? what happened to renting or borrowing an intrument until you are certain? a GIFT of a piano? I don't think they live extravagantly but they must be making money someplace, and definitely look for opportunities to cash in on freebies when they can. I heard a quote from Kate once saying something like she didn't want her kids to be any different just because there were 8 of them in one family. Ok, hello, there ARE 8 kids, it's just going to be different from your typical 2-3 kid family. You really can't change that, or buy something to make that different, imho.