OT - John & Kate Plus 8 lastnight....

[Mom2Rae]

I love this show and I've seen every episode more than once!!!

But, lastnight when the kiddos were sick I was taken aback when she put one of the little boys in the Utility Room on a folded comforter with a barf bucket since the floor was vinyl and puke wouldn't mess it up. Plus, they shut the door on the little guy. All sorts of stuff whent running through my head..like, why didn't she just cover his bed with old linens in case he couldn't make it in the bucket???

I would be worried leaving him in the back since 1) there is a back door in that room leading to the backyard (God forbid someone would come in on him and take him), 2) they had the door shut and the washing machine/dryer going...how could she hear him if he threw up again??? He could have aspirated.

I know I'm over reacting...I'm a total "Helicopter Mom", but I just found it weird. Did y'all???

 

[**eeyore**]

I see what you're saying, but I do think maybe you are overreacting a little. I think she was trying to create a quiet place for him to rest, while also trying to keep messes to a minimum (she mentioned that she was running out of clean linens/comforters). Also, I'm guessing she locks her doors, so the thought of someone coming in their back door and stealing their little one never crossed my mind.

BTW, I tend to be an "over-worrier" too!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

1) I don't know if that pic is your child...but she is gorgeous!

2) Back to Jon and Kate...The whole keeping him in the laundry room freaked me out too. I'm also neurotic about certain things so that's just part of my personality. When DD is sick (we actually just ALL got over the flu last week so this is fresh in my mind), I actually stay WITH her all night in case she throws up so I can hear her. I don't know if this was "creative editing" on Jon and Kate so I don't know how long he was alone in there (if they said this last night..I missed it...I was emailing while I was watching the episode). I don't really fault her for putting him on a vinyl floor...my god, I was exhausted after cleaning up after my one child last week...I can't imagine having to do laundry for 10 (although, I know that she doesn't technically "finish" the process).

What I found odd about this particular episode is this is the same woman who blacked out the names on their backpacks so that nobody could say "hey alexis, joel, etc, etc" at the airport. I wished I could have jumped through the TV and said "kate, if anyone is going to kidnap your kids...it's going to be some nut who has seen the show...and in that case, they know your kids' names." My daughter's 4 and she knows which kid is which on that show.

 

[Mom2Rae]

1) I don't know if that pic is your child...but she is gorgeous!

2) Back to Jon and Kate...The whole keeping him in the laundry room freaked me out too. I'm also neurotic about certain things so that's just part of my personality. When DD is sick (we actually just ALL got over the flu last week so this is fresh in my mind), I actually stay WITH her all night in case she throws up so I can hear her. I don't know if this was "creative editing" on Jon and Kate so I don't know how long he was alone in there (if they said this last night..I missed it...I was emailing while I was watching the episode). I don't really fault her for putting him on a vinyl floor...my god, I was exhausted after cleaning up after my one child last week...I can't imagine having to do laundry for 10 (although, I know that she doesn't technically "finish" the process).

What I found odd about this particular episode is this is the same woman who blacked out the names on their backpacks so that nobody could say "hey alexis, joel, etc, etc" at the airport. I wished I could have jumped through the TV and said "kate, if anyone is going to kidnap your kids...it's going to be some nut who has seen the show...and in that case, they know your kids' names." My daughter's 4 and she knows which kid is which on that show.

Yes - that's my little Princess! Thank you so much for the compliment!!

You know...I never thought of it until now..you're right. That is weird that she blacked out their names, but yet they are on TV and everyone knows who they are!

I guess I am overreacting! It just struck me as strange. I only have the one daughter and I have no idea how hard it would be if I were doing linens for a bunch of sick little ones.

 

[lucigo]

I agree, weird...but this is the same woman who got on to her DH for breathing too loud LOL

At first I thought she was just letting him lay there while she did laundry, but when she left him there I thought that was quite strange. My first husband aspirated (and died) at age 36....when my kids are sick I'm beyond helicopter mom.

 

[jacksmomma]

I love John and Kate, I think Kate is a super Mom. However I found her putting him on the floor a little weird too. Not only was it dark and he was alone, but the floor had to have been hard and cold; even with the blanket. Yes, that was a little weird.

 

[Desnik]

I agree it was weird and I really try not to judge her because I couldn't handle that many kids. I was so glad to see Jon let him go in their room to lay on the rug and comforter and watch some TV. It was bad enough he was in the laundry room on the floor, but when they closed the door on him! I was thinking they were crazy. He was sick and throwing up and alone in a room with the door closed at 3 years old! Not OK with me.

BTW, there is a great thread on the Community Board dedicated to this show.

 

[daisyduck123]

1)
What I found odd about this particular episode is this is the same woman who blacked out the names on their backpacks so that nobody could say "hey alexis, joel, etc, etc" at the airport. I wished I could have jumped through the TV and said "kate, if anyone is going to kidnap your kids...it's going to be some nut who has seen the show...and in that case, they know your kids' names." My daughter's 4 and she knows which kid is which on that show.

She covered their names on their backpacks...but then had their names put on their Mouse ears in Disney....made no sense whatsoever.

 

[Disney Fool]

You are kidding, right? There's an entire camera crew in that house! Those kids are never alone.

 

[suzct]

Just had to add that we were in NYC at FAO Schwartz this weekend and saw the whole clan. DD6 actually was standing next to Maddie and said "that girl looks like Maddie from J&K+8". I said "Yes she does" then realized the whole clan was around. I might add that there was a FAO escort, The "babysitter" from a couple of episodes ago and an English gentleman with white hair. They had plenty of help with all the kids and a large shopping cart full of stuff.
DH wanted to take their pic and I said "no, that's rude taking a pic of the kids" DSIL said "who are you kidding they exploit their kids on TV every week."

True...

 

[_queenie_]

1)What I found odd about this particular episode is this is the same woman who blacked out the names on their backpacks so that nobody could say "hey alexis, joel, etc, etc" at the airport. I wished I could have jumped through the TV and said "kate, if anyone is going to kidnap your kids...it's going to be some nut who has seen the show...and in that case, they know your kids' names." My daughter's 4 and she knows which kid is which on that show.

I was thinking the exact same thing about the backpacks! Leah and Alexis are the only two I have trouble tellling apart sometimes, but even my DD3.5 can beat me on that. I find it so funny that when she watches the show, she calls the sextuplets "the babies", when in reality they're actually a few months older than her (now she calls them "the toddlers, but in no way can anyone call her a toddler). I always have to explain that they were premature so they need time to catch up (of course this is coming from a 42 inch tall reader). She gets that, but still insists on it.

Getting back on track, not that it was that big of a deal, but I wouldn't let my kid sleep in a laundry room when they have the flu. What I worry the most is that they could bump their head on the washer and dryer. Even if he was older, I still wouldn't put him in there. Just two weeks ago in WDW when my DD13 got food poisoning, she was so out of it I had to catch her while she was on the toilet because her head was about ready to crash against the sink! Like a PP said, with a loud washing machine going and having to take care of more sick kids, there's a great chance that you wouldn't be able to hear him, never mind throwing up but getting hurt in there. When I've been in this stuation I've just had my kids wear ear protection (ear muff style, I have a special kind made for sleep, or just plugs) as young as they could tolerate it, if it helped them rest.

 

[momamy]

Here honey your obviously sick why not lay on this noisy floor and heck lets leave ya there all alone while your sick.....


i didnt like it and i would never do that to any child! so they make a mess when they puke ya suck it up clean it up and move on! i could not imagine pulling my sick child out of bed and making her lay on the floor!

Jmo and i know that each person has to do what works for them! i just know when im sick all i want to do is lay in my own bed......

 

[disney[xo]sweetie]

I know this sounds funny, but my kids are the kids who when they are sick or tired, I just find them laying places. I set them on the couch, next minute theyre on the floor with a blanket. Maybe this is what the sextuplets are like too. Ive noticed whenever thekids don't want to be somewhere, they dont stay there very long, so if it was that bad, he would probably get up and move himself. And also, maybe he was just too tired to care about the noise and wanted to sleep. And kate wouldn't put her kids somewhere dangerous or uncomfortable for them. But it is weird, but not so much when you think it through.

 

[wilderness01]

When my kids are actively vomiting they are placed in the bathroom on the rug with a pillow and blanket. They like to lay their hand on the cold tile and be close to the toilet. They are much older than 3 though so they do stay in there alone, although I am within earshot.

When they were younger I would put them in the bathroom sometimes if they wanted and I would be in there also. When the vomiting is not constant they go lay in their beds if they want with a bucket close by. I then sleep on the floor so I can hear them.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Turth is...we do not know the whole truth. When Ds was little and was sick with a fever, he would love to lie on my kitchen floor. Now i would never have just put him there, but I can so see him going into the laundry room to be near me and refusing to come out when I lleft and even insisting that i close the door. Now I would worry about all the products in the laundry room but my guess is that whole house has been totaly and professionaly childproofed.
It took three of us to care for DGB yesterday when he was sick and we were all well. i can not image taking care of 8 plus being sick myself.

 

[eh24fan]

I don't see the big deal. He clearly didn't mind being there. It was probably better in there anyway...with the "white noise" of the washer/dryer going, he wasn't hearing all the other noise created by 9 other people in the house. I'm sure the child went to sleep and closing the door helped keep the others from bothring him. I also doubt they left him there without checking on him occasionally.

 

[breezy1077]

With editing you don't know how often they checked on him.

Anyway, walk a mile in her shoes....

Off topic (show topic that is), but was anyone else disappointed that they didn't show more "disney" on their trip to disney? I could have cared less about the car ride there - I wanted to see more on how they navigated WDW with all the kids. Do you think Disney had editing rights to prevent anything that could possibly be construed(sp?) as negative from being shown?

 

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

I agree. I really thought the Disney episode would be an hour, or even continued until another show. I know they seemed to only be there for a day or two - did they ever mention (I don't remember).

I loved then they got into the van & they had the rope w/rings on it & every kid had a ring to hold onto. I wonder if they made that ???? I really thought that was clever - if you kids will hold it!

I would also have to guess - would they have to get releases for so many people that were in the video to air it???? I don't know???

More Disney please

 

[mindyd]

I was going to post this on Tuesday but decided not to I was very upset with her laying him on the floor in the laundry room. I felt she treated him as if he was a animal. I am sorry if he goes and lays there that would have been one thing but to do it just so you dont have to clean a mess to me really bothers me. I can't believe with 8 kids you wouldn't have extra sheets and blankets when my kids are sick they either stay in their bed or my bed I have a puke bowl and I dont care how many times I have to change sheets or covers that is part of being a Mom. I would never ever make them lay in my laundry room because they can't keep their puke in a bowl. The more I watch the show the more I dislike Kate I also didn't like the part with her asking them to rub her feet and back.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

I can see the vinyl floor and comforter to try to avoid a mess. But, the laundry room? While the washer and dryer were running? ... just seems loud for a poor, sick kid trying to rest.