Keep the kids clean or have fun?

[imthatgirl]

I thought she went overboard at the Crayola factory, but I actually kind of felt sorry for her at Disney. YES she totally over-reacted, but she has a litter of 3 year olds, and some CMs come out with trays of ice cream for them. She can't really say no, because it'll make her seem like the bad guy, but she doesn't want them to spend the whole day in dirty, sticky clothes either. I wouldn't want my kid to either. I'd have let her have the ice cream, but I'd have been able to help her and make sure she didn't get much on herself. With 6 though? No way! For them, it's possibly a one time trip. I bet she didn't want all of the pictures of sticky little children. They can have ice cream at home, in just underwear. Mickey rice crispie treats would have been a better treat, and still been a pretty good photo op.

just so you know, she ordered the ice cream.

 

[peach3es]

Hey...this thread sounds familiar!

I'm much more laid back than I was with #1. I fed my oldest son the messy food, kept him pretty clean, etc. #4? Gah. She always looks like a forgotten orphan. She is filthy 95% of the time. Her hair is always flopping around with barrettes and clips hanging on for dear life. Her clothes never match because she chooses them and frankly, the fight is not worth it most days.

So, yeah, I'm in the "let 'em get messy" category. It wasn't always so!

 

[labdogs42]

Hey...this thread sounds familiar!

I'm much more laid back than I was with #1. I fed my oldest son the messy food, kept him pretty clean, etc. #4? Gah. She always looks like a forgotten orphan. She is filthy 95% of the time. Her hair is always flopping around with barrettes and clips hanging on for dear life. Her clothes never match because she chooses them and frankly, the fight is not worth it most days.

So, yeah, I'm in the "let 'em get messy" category. It wasn't always so!

Hee-hee! I've been found out! That's what I get for asking the same question on two boards. Sometimes I like to see what answer I get from a different "crowd". (for those wondering, Peach3es and I frequent the same scrapbooking board, too!)

Add me to the group that thinks poor Mady and Cara deserve a chance to play with markers. Maybe Jon should bring just them to the Crayola factory one day and I could stop by and show them how to use markers!

 

[almburr]

She wouldnt even let them walk around the hotel with out shoes on or they had to set on the bed.


I have five kids, pluse we have neices and nephews over. They get dirty all the time, We then wash the clothes. Its not that hard to do.

 

[newtowdw1]

How dirty can markers be?

Why couldn't the older girls do the activity, and deny the little ones?

I don't watch the show, so I'm just going by experience, but in general, we're messy. I love glitter and fabric paint. Seems like every party involves glitter, fabric paint and tshirts, and cookies, icing, and sprinkles. Heck, I didn't opt for a new house so I didn't have to feel bad when it got knocked around!

My sister won't let my niece have markers.

DD11 just got back from a week at Clay your Way camp (overnight). She showered once, fell in the river while digging clay, had toes so dirty they had to be scrubbed and soaked for two different days, and she was happier than I've ever seen her. Her clothes had to be washed twice. Who cares? When else in her life will she get to do that? Goodness, now she can tell her daughter, "Well, when I was 11 I got so dirty..."

DH actually gets more upset than I do. Why? He won't be cleaning it? Why does he care if the kids slop water through the kitchen to scrub the porch for me? I'll just mop when their done. Sigh.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I think it's part of her control issuses and I think she's got a little bit of OCD! But with 8 children I guess maybe she feels like she has to stay in control all the time or else she'll go insane.

However I dont really care for the way she talks to her hubby. I feel bad for him.

But to answer your question...lol....I think it's good for kids to be kids and that includes being dirty. Yes there are some times when it is needed to be clean but otherwise let them be kids!

 

[MusiqChic99]

She wouldnt even let them walk around the hotel with out shoes on or they had to set on the bed.

I have five kids, pluse we have neices and nephews over. They get dirty all the time, We then wash the clothes. Its not that hard to do.

That was a little much wasn't it!

 

[DawnM]

Kate is the reason I cannot watch this show. Everytime I see it she is uptight, whining, treating her husband like he just can't do anything right, and yelling at someone.

Dawn

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I always say that she should get some white t-shirts to put over the kids so they can just paint, use markers etc... and have fun. Then just throw them in the washer and it won't matter if there are paint stains. Just put them on again and they will be their"paint Shirts". Seems like that would be fun.

I do love the show and get some great ideas for our daughter on places to go and things to do. I love some of the ideas she has. Especially the valentines day ideas. And those kids are JUST the cutest!!!!
OK... and I love that they LOVE Disney.

PS... If someone filmed me and only took about 20 minutes of me from the whole week... I'm sure I could look pretty nasty also. I've also seen her be very sweet and considerate but I think so much is for ratings and for the effect.

 

[HGD24]

I didn't see the crayon episode that was on last night, but I the ice cream video made me sad - the kids were so young, and having such a good time, and there she was screaming and freaking out because they had ice cream dripping on them. It was nothing that a paper towel and some water wouldn't clean up. The kids looked confused and some were crying because she was taking the ice cream away from them. A fun memory, turned into chaos and sadness because of her "issues".

This discussion reminds me of part of "The Last Lecture" that was given by Randy Pausch, the professor who passed away last week after battling cancer. One of his lessons is - Let them write on the wall. Yes, kids need boundries and they need to know right from wrong, but what I took from that was that there's nothing wrong with letting them enjoy life.

Our DD is 6 months old and these 6 months have passed by so extremely quickly. It's made me realize that we do have to enjoy those silly, funny and sometimes messy moments while we can. Kids will outgrow those moments before we know it.

 

[princesscate]

I always say that she should get some white t-shirts to put over the kids so they can just paint, use markers etc... and have fun. Then just throw them in the washer and it won't matter if there are paint stains. Just put them on again and they will be their"paint Shirts". Seems like that would be fun.

I do love the show and get some great ideas for our daughter on places to go and things to do. I love some of the ideas she has. Especially the valentines day ideas. And those kids are JUST the cutest!!!!
OK... and I love that they LOVE Disney.

PS... If someone filmed me and only took about 20 minutes of me from the whole week... I'm sure I could look pretty nasty also. I've also seen her be very sweet and considerate but I think so much is for ratings and for the effect.

I do really like the show . . . I can't even begin to imagine what their life must be like. It was obvious from the first special, before the show took off, that Kate was OCD . . . but I think you almost have to be with so many . . .

But if she still has them in bibs, why not smocks? I agree?

I do think they show Kate at her worst most of the time . . . She really seems to know each child and each of their personalities! And for ratings, I'm sure the producers pick the "best of the best".

I was also thinking as a preschool teacher myself, I prefer crayons, not because of the clean factor, but because of the way you can shad with them. Also if the children wanted to use markers she could get the Crayola Color Wonder ones . . . no mess, doesn't get on the clothes . . .

And as for Cara and Mady, I did feel bad for them, but they probably use markers at school.

Oh, and as for preschool I thought Kate said that they weren't going b/c of the expense . . . am I wrong?

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I do really like the show . . . I can't even begin to imagine what their life must be like. It was obvious from the first special, before the show took off, that Kate was OCD . . . but I think you almost have to be with so many . . .

But if she still has them in bibs, why not smocks? I agree?

I do think they show Kate at her worst most of the time . . . She really seems to know each child and each of their personalities! And for ratings, I'm sure the producers pick the "best of the best".

I was also thinking as a preschool teacher myself, I prefer crayons, not because of the clean factor, but because of the way you can shad with them. Also if the children wanted to use markers she could get the Crayola Color Wonder ones . . . no mess, doesn't get on the clothes . . .

And as for Cara and Mady, I did feel bad for them, but they probably use markers at school.

Oh, and as for preschool I thought Kate said that they weren't going b/c of the expense . . . am I wrong?

Said on a show recently that they would be starting preschool. I only heard it once so I don't know

 

[karapp75]

Sorry, I just reread your post and you said they were three. sorry, I thought they were all different ages. I can totally understand dressing triplets. I don't know what I would do if I had them!

But really, if one outfit is ruined, can't you still use the other two at least at home? Seems like a waste.

Actually I have twin 3 year olds and a 4 year old. I dress my twin girls alike because they don't mind "yet" and truly it makes my life easier. When they start asking for different clothes, by all means they can have them. I like our family to look presentable when we are out and about. I also like us to all look like we are going to the same event. For instance one child would not wear jeans and the other wear a fancy dress. My kids play in the mud at home and jump in rain puddles, we paint, use play doh and like moon sand, but I spend good money on our "presentable clothes" and I want them to try and take care of them. I don't think I am a freak about it. My kids eat ice cream without bibs, however, I might suggest vanilla and pray that they think it is a good suggestion. If they beg for chocolate they can have it. I just can't imagine what it would be like to have 8 children the ages Kate does and to try and have her kids look presentable. I think how we dress is what we present to the world and I don't want my kids to look like "trash" when we are out. I know I'll get a lot of flack for that and people think that they should look like kids but my kids have a great messy life but when we go out I believe you should be clean. I know there'll be a lot of comments so bring it on!
P.S. We'll be at Disney in Sept and my girls will be the ones with matching bows in their hair!

 

[lilybrooke14]

just so you know, she ordered the ice cream.

In that case, she's nuts. 3 year olds + ice cream = big mess.

I try to keep DD clean, but she's one of the ones that can make herself a mess in a white padded room. I'll spare you the details on how. Let's just say, this phase STINKS, and I hope she PASSES it soon.

 

[bytheblood]

I have never seen the show, but it sounds a bit OCD.

My MIL did not like to let her kids get dirty, ever. When it was their b-day, she made them wear suits and dresses and they were not allowed to play.

My daughter is VERY VERY clean, by choice. Very much the girly-girl. However, I have no issues with her getting dirty if she wants to. She is 10 now and as long as she is not eating the dirty stuff, I don't care if she gets it all over her hands and such.

Her clothes, I do care about because she has nice clothes that are not cheap from places like Kohls, Justice, etc. If she were wearing Target or Walmart clothes I would not care.

If she wants to play with paint, we simply put on the clothes that can get messy in and leave it at that.

 

[labdogs42]

I just can't imagine what it would be like to have 8 children the ages Kate does and to try and have her kids look presentable. I think how we dress is what we present to the world and I don't want my kids to look like "trash" when we are out. I know I'll get a lot of flack for that and people think that they should look like kids but my kids have a great messy life but when we go out I believe you should be clean. I know there'll be a lot of comments so bring it on

I don't think a little marker on a shirt or a little ice cream drip makes a kid look like "trash" Just sayin'.

The other thing I wonder is, if Kate has such control issues, I can't imagine how she went through the process of fertility treatments (I'm not sure which kind they did IVF or whatever) which is SUCH a great unknown and do it more than once? That just boggles my mind. To give up so much control that you end up pregnant with sextuplets and then try to control the heck out of them just makes no sense to me. No wonder I can't stop watching this show!

 

[Goofy'slady]

Why are we so critical of this woman? I've seen several threads about Jon & Kate and while most love the show alot of moms seem to want to always jump on her for her ways. You know what it works for THEM-HER HUSBAND-HER KIDS. Since for the most part none of us have been in her shoes(and what I mean by that is having 8 kids with 6 of them being the exact same age) dealing with all of what us moms of 2, 3, or 4 kids x's 8 all while letting America watch. While I understand that it was and remains their choice to let cameras into their lives give this woman some praise. She's a wonderful mom, who loves her children and would do anything for them along with doing her part in order to make her marriage work. NOT your marriage but her's.

So what she wants her kids to be clean, it's not killing them, she's not neglecting them she's making sure they're clean. As HUMBAN beings we all have our hangups only we get to keep ours hidden behind close doors.

T.

 

[HGD24]

Why are we so critical of this woman? I've seen several threads about Jon & Kate and while most love the show alot of moms seem to want to always jump on her for her ways. You know what it works for THEM-HER HUSBAND-HER KIDS. Since for the most part none of us have been in her shoes(and what I mean by that is having 8 kids with 6 of them being the exact same age) dealing with all of what us moms of 2, 3, or 4 kids x's 8 all while letting America watch. While I understand that it was and remains their choice to let cameras into their lives give this woman some praise. She's a wonderful mom, who loves her children and would do anything for them along with doing her part in order to make her marriage work. NOT your marriage but her's.

So what she wants her kids to be clean, it's not killing them, she's not neglecting them she's making sure they're clean. As HUMBAN beings we all have our hangups only we get to keep ours hidden behind close doors.

T.

I think most people who are saying something negative about Kate do not agree with the ways she goes about wanting them to stay clean. Many times it involves yelling at them or yelling at her husband in front of the kids or just yelling in general about the mess they are creating. When it happens, you can see the confused, sometimes scared look on the kids faces. It's as if they don't know why mommy's yelling or what they are supposed to do or stop doing.

 

[bookgirl]

My mom was constantly changing our clothes as kids and washing our hands and faces. We played but we had to immediatly clean up when coming in for the day or meals or just to be inside, no hanging out in dirty clothes or with dirty faces/hands/feet. We also were never allowed to go somewhere without putting on clean clothes and cleaning up. She was compulsive but at least she saved it up till a later time LOL.

With the twins I tend to be happy as long as the stains aren't obvious and they have on underwear (they love the commando thing...ick....boys!)

She wants them to wash up constantly and to change clothes, but while she grumbles about it, she doesn't freak out or anything.

My brother, again being a guy, barely makes them brush thier teeth and they tend to rewear clothes..but not underwear...at least when they're wearing undwear.

Their mom lets them wear old ratty clothes but at least they are clean mostly. I think she makes them wear underware as well.

 

[Stephres]

Why are we so critical of this woman? I've seen several threads about Jon & Kate and while most love the show alot of moms seem to want to always jump on her for her ways. You know what it works for THEM-HER HUSBAND-HER KIDS. Since for the most part none of us have been in her shoes(and what I mean by that is having 8 kids with 6 of them being the exact same age) dealing with all of what us moms of 2, 3, or 4 kids x's 8 all while letting America watch. While I understand that it was and remains their choice to let cameras into their lives give this woman some praise. She's a wonderful mom, who loves her children and would do anything for them along with doing her part in order to make her marriage work. NOT your marriage but her's.

So what she wants her kids to be clean, it's not killing them, she's not neglecting them she's making sure they're clean. As HUMBAN beings we all have our hangups only we get to keep ours hidden behind close doors.

T.

I believe when she decided to broadcast her life and family for all of to view, she opened the discussion.