OT: jon and Kate + 8 new house?

[eyeheartgoofy]

I don't agree...can you imagine if all the thin people of the U.S. were upset because they weren't given the same opportunities as those on Biggest Loser? I think it's a matter of luck and I remember when The Goslings first appeared on Discovery Health, and I know that when they first did that 1 hr. special, I don't think they had any idea that it would end up being as big as it got.

I'm not here to defend "them" but it just sounds ridiculous in my opinion to judge them as "not relatable". Does anyone seriously relate to ANY reality TV show? Like the Real World, the Duggars, or even the Goslings. The reason most people watch any reality TV is b/c it is unrelatable. It's a fantasy and another life other than ours.

Well, I used the term "relatable" so perhaps you are aiming your comment at me.

I started watching Jon and Kate b/c the story sounded extraordinary. I re-watched that introductary special just about every time it aired and eagerly awaited the new series b/c I liked Kate so darned much. I related ... big time! Yes, I don't have six kids, but my youngest is the same age as the sextuplets ... so I could relate to raising a child the same age, but watching her and Jon raise 6 of them was incredible. And, I also related to the grind of Jon working Mon-Fri while Kate worked every Saturday. For years, DH worked Mon-Fri and I worked the weekends ... so I knew the dread of having to leave your family home for the weekend, yet I knew the little thrill of getting to go someplace all by yourself after being cooped up with little ones all week long. I related to Kate.

I don't relate to the Duggars or the Roloffs at all ... I just watch for entertainment value. Also, the Duggars and the Roloffs just seem happier and more fun to watch.

 

[Rylee]

Give me a mom who actually has emotions compared to the stepford feeling of the Duggar females.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

I wonder what those people are thinking everytime I see the commercial where Kate says, "All mine, as far as I can see."

Just saw that commercial...hmmm! Look at the economical side...they bought a house that the previous owners wanted/needed to sell which may have put $$ back into the economy, it empolyed the real estate agent, the survey agent, etc.

 

[DISNEYNV]

I too could relate to the show for those reasons as well and the fact that their kids are the same age as my DD. I love the episode where they took the kids to the dentist for the first time. I could relate when They took the kids to Dutch Wonderland and Hershey Park Chocolate World. Both are local family amusement parks as well as Sesame Place. They bought furniture at Ikea during one episode and we also shop there for items for our family room organization. Past episodes just made the family seem more like an average family trying to cope with raising their kids while still trying to make ends meet with such a large family. I think that once they became more famous from doing the reality show, the talk shows, book signings and speaking engagements the more they started to become less relatable to the average family which they started out from in the begining. Their hectic lives that we as parents can ALL relate to whether you have two kids or eight just isn't on the same level anymore... I think I really took notice after the Wedding Renewal special in Hawaii. The show is a family reality show...not fantasy...they are starting to lose the "reality" in persuit to give their kids everything that money has to offer.

 

[Beaker74]

I totally agree with the OP! I use to be a fan of the show and also defended it to my husband. However, as of late it's become less desirable to me. What are those children learning by having so much just given to them? They received full snow gear and a free ski trip in a chalet, a free trip to Hawaii, free piano, free violin, free bicycle from Ellen, free plastic surgery, free hair transplants (that's where they lost me), free teeth whitening, people to fold all your laundry, people to iron all your laundry, no need to work. This is only to name a few off the top of my head. I agree it was a show you could watch almost in awe of how they could get by in the situation they were in. Now it has changed entirely. I personally have chosen to no longer be a viewer, but to those who enjoy it, more power to you.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

I have 4 and 1 on the way. My mom lives with us. Last year we also had grandma and my dad. We are almost as large as the Gosselins and as much as I'd love their home and land (ooohhh, the land)... we don't NEED a house that large. We fit okay in a 4 bedroom 2000 sq ft home. My kids are 5, 3, 2, 1, and due in August.

 

[mom2princessj]

I caught part of the show and it is on to dvr later tonight.

Well I'm all about space and if I had 8 kids I'd definitely want a house that large as well so THAT I can relate to. I mean if it was over the top EACH child would have had their own bedroom. The twins are still sharing...the only child getting their own room is Hannah (LOL Kate's favorite imagine that ). I lived in a 1500 sq ft with a beagle, dh, and a new baby (dd) and once I unexpectedly got pregnant again (dd was 6 mos) we decided to move immediately and doubled our sq ft. Some people may think its over the top but its all about what you want and how you live.

I don't relate to the Gosselins...I don't have any idea what it would be like to have 8 children nor would I want to...TWO is plenty I like watching the show because when I'm having a bad day or feeling overwhelmed with two I watch that show and remember that she handles 8 and think well my two really aren't that bad Kate gets on my nerves and I do think the show will lose some ratings now just because I do think people did identify with them but at the same time if you all had the chance to do something better for your children (free vacations, free clothes, $$ from tv) wouldn't you do it so you can give your kids opportunities they may otherwise not have???

Anyway...big house or not I'll still watch as long as they are on. If nothing else when I'm up working my at home job late at night its something I can watch in between phone calls. I do enjoy seeing the kids

 

[Briar_Rose]

I agree with the original poster. Please note I am not commenting on their family but on the television show. They have every right to take advantage of freebies and buy whatever they want, but their new found wealth and star power leaves me uninterested in watching their show anymore. Especially when they are trying to pitch the "If our family can do these things with 8 kids, anyone can." Well sorry but most families don't have production staff to assist them, let alone the financial means that they do. I highly doubt they would be able to do a lot of the things they do if they were not on the show. I am happy for them that they are so successful but personally it is more entertaining for me to watch a middle class family deal with similar challenges that I face vs. watching the challenges of the rich and famous.

I also lost a lot of my appreciation for Kate when she threw away the kids ice cream at WDW, From the way she is portrayed on the show, she has gotten too controlling for me to root for her to as I once did.

Did they move far away? If so what is she going to do without Nana Janet and the other kind neighbors? Personally I would have kept the smaller house and the free help, but maybe they have enough money to stay home and hire a maid too.

 

[Schmeck]

I knew a family that lived in a huge estate when I was growing up - tons of land, mansion, etc. Of course, they had 12 children, so the kids still had to share rooms, do chores (raking the entire front lawn by hand, no equipment beyond a rake!) and they still wore hand-me-downs. That mansion didn't seem so big with 14 people living in it!

While the house may seem huge, picture it with 5 teenage girls and 3 teenage boys. They may need to put on an addition devoted to bathrooms!

The only part that made me feel sad was how Kate and Jon told the kids that they'd never be allowed into their bedroom again. What about nightmares, getting sick in the middle of the night, etc? Kate also just killed any breakfast in bed attempts, although she's probably way to OCD to allow eating in bed anyways!

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

I agree with the original poster. Please note I am not commenting on their family but on the television show. They have every right to take advantage of freebies and buy whatever they want, but their new found wealth and star power leaves me uninterested in watching their show anymore. Especially when they are trying to pitch the "If our family can do these things with 8 kids, anyone can." Well sorry but most families don't have production staff to assist them, let alone the financial means that they do. I highly doubt they would be able to do a lot of the things they do if they were not on the show. I am happy for them that they are so successful but personally it is more entertaining for me to watch a middle class family deal with similar challenges that I face vs. watching the challenges of the rich and famous.

I also lost a lot of my appreciation for Kate when she threw away the kids ice cream at WDW, From the way she is portrayed on the show, she has gotten too controlling for me to root for her to as I once did.

Did they move far away? If so what is she going to do without Nana Janet and the other kind neighbors? Personally I would have kept the smaller house and the free help, but maybe they have enough money to stay home and hire a maid too.

I think Kate is too much of a control freak to even be okay with a maid LOL. She tried it once - and fired her. She needs to feel in control of the cleaning and no one will ever be good enough for that woman. LOL.

 

[brandylouwho]

Jon and Kate started to lose their appeal to me last year when they went on the ski holiday in Colorado. Kate must have said 5x's in that episode that if they could do that type of vacation with 8 kids, anyone could do it. I was thinking that airfare, a ski chalet, new ski wear all around and spa treatments would be way out of my budget with 2 kids.

I'm like you, OP. They have just totally gone out of my league. I no longer find the show relatable anymore. And, I don't find Jon and Kate to be sympathetic characters anymore.

In the beginning, I felt so bad for Kate struggling with all those babies by herself during the week and working a double every Saturday at the dialysis center to cover the bills. I was just amazed at how well she handled it all. I thought it was great when the TLC special earned them enough money for her to quit her nursing job and for them to buy the bigger house. I even thought it was cool that she got the tummy tuck.

Now? It just seems like they have gone too far. Jon no longer works. Kate acts bored and condescending. The over the top and uber expensive vacations are getting old. The Proctor and Gamble Sunday insert with Kate teaching me how to stretch my budget? Gag me. Now, the new mansion? I'm over it.

I second that. We started watching becasue it was a non-cartoon that my kids enjoyed. "It was a can't miss" show for awhile in ourhouse, now it is a "I guess we'll watch it since nothign else is on" sort of show. I don't hate them or begrudge them of their success, but they are on their way out in my book--or at least should be.

 

[DISNEYNV]

I am sure they will have a housekeeper of some kind, as well as a landscaper, nanny, and window washer, and personal assistants and window washer! The new house and property is large enough that they couldn't possibly have the time in between the kids and all their public appearances, emails, book signings, etc that they say takes up more than fourth hours a week. I think most of us would love the huge house, vacations, free toys and clothes for the kids, etc but I would still feel (somehow...someway) that there is no real reason for it! I would just want to appreciate the fact that I had eight healthy (and unique) set of twins and sextuplets and stop milking it for all it's (or the kids) are worth. I still like the original first two and a half seasons of the show better when they were more of a down to earth middle class family. Just my opinion

 

[allison443]

Jon and Kate started to lose their appeal to me last year when they went on the ski holiday in Colorado. Kate must have said 5x's in that episode that if they could do that type of vacation with 8 kids, anyone could do it. I was thinking that airfare, a ski chalet, new ski wear all around and spa treatments would be way out of my budget with 2 kids.

I'm like you, OP. They have just totally gone out of my league. I no longer find the show relatable anymore. And, I don't find Jon and Kate to be sympathetic characters anymore.

In the beginning, I felt so bad for Kate struggling with all those babies by herself during the week and working a double every Saturday at the dialysis center to cover the bills. I was just amazed at how well she handled it all. I thought it was great when the TLC special earned them enough money for her to quit her nursing job and for them to buy the bigger house. I even thought it was cool that she got the tummy tuck.

Now? It just seems like they have gone too far. Jon no longer works. Kate acts bored and condescending. The over the top and uber expensive vacations are getting old. The Proctor and Gamble Sunday insert with Kate teaching me how to stretch my budget? Gag me. Now, the new mansion? I'm over it.

Don't forget Kate recommending layaway at KMart!

I think a lot of viewers feel like the kids are the ones earning the money in that family, kwim? There are so many people on the disboards who won't put their kids pictures in their signatures for privacy reasons, yet here is a family who have totally given up any semblance of privacy for their kids-once you've shown the kids in the bath and on the potty, shown them in their bad as well as good moments, etc. there isn't much privacy left. I think some people feel almost like Jon and Kate are living off their kids, rather than supporting their family by working. I guess you could use the analogy of Britney Spears' mom and other similar stage-moms-they become their kid's manager and earn their living through their kids.

Anyway I think the new house is great! I thought Kate was a little overkill on telling them you will never set foot in our room again!

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

.

 

[puffkin]

I live about 15 minutes from where their new house is. While definitely a very nice house, in this area we have TONS and TONS of houses just like it. The mega money went for the property and the security, not just the house. I don't think you can put a price tag on their children's security.

I am not saying that houses their size are the norm in this area, but they are pretty common. With a family of 10, I don't think the house is that oversized, especially once the kids get older.

 

[CastleCreations]

Where is the house? I heard something about them moving out of PA?
All I can say is WOW!! That house is like a mini-mansion!

The house is in Wernersville Pa

 

[BCV513]

I didn't read the whole thread, so forgive me if this has been mentioned.

Did anyone notice they never showed the outside of the new house last night? The always show the outside of the old house. I wonder if they moved partly because they were getting people driving by to catch a glimpse of them. This place looked set back from the road and much more private.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

IHere's my thought. They bought this new house, estimated to be sold for something like $1.3 million dollars. How did they pay for it? In cash? Or did they take out a mortgage?

With this new house purchase, I can see a lot of people not interested in the show anymore because of the "relate-ability" factor. The average family can't afford a $1.3 million dollar home.

So, a lot of people get turned off by the show, their ratings decline...now, the show is cancelled. How are they going to afford those big mortgage payments?

Give it a few years and they'll be foreclosing on the house, I'm sure.

Thanks to this thread I watched last night (haven't in months). I was thinking the same thing. I do not in any way hope they would foreclose on the house at any time, but I hope they are saving what they (or their children) are earning. You never know when that rainy day may come...and it could be a storm!

And why all the land? Do they plan to begin raising/ranching horses or something? Yes, the kids may need a lot of room now, but what happens when they get into MS/HS and are busy with school and extra curricular events...will they still need all that land??? Are the taxes low there to have all that "unused" property? Maybe they would do something like the Roloffs with the western town, farming, etc...Oh wait, that would mean coming back to the house dirty. And what was up with Jon carrying the kids out the door to the van?

It was sad to hear Kate tell the kids they were not allowed in mom & dad's room ever. I understand the whole knocking and waiting to enter, but my favorite part of the day is when my kids come and snuggle in our bed in the morning...granted we have 2 v their 8, but still! However, I completely understand mommy needing her own space...Is Jon allowed in the room or does he have to knock too?

Which twin was it that hit one of the little girls for going in "her" room? Kate made it sound like she deserved it after she had told them that that day was the ONLY day they were allowed in there without knocking/being invited in.

This show did do one thing...that I realted to and learned form...in its early seasons. I learning to appreciate and thank my DH more. My DH is very calm and I am the high-strung one. Seeing the way Kate treated Jon I realized that I often did the same things...OMG, good thing I wasn't being filmed. Now I realize that he does MANY little things (with and without being told) and make sure to thank him (especially for the stuff I don't have to tell.remind him to do) and tell him how much he is appreciated!...Think she watches herself on TV???

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

I live about 15 minutes from where their new house is. While definitely a very nice house, in this area we have TONS and TONS of houses just like it. The mega money went for the property and the security, not just the house. I don't think you can put a price tag on their children's security.
I am not saying that houses their size are the norm in this area, but they are pretty common. With a family of 10, I don't think the house is that oversized, especially once the kids get older.

Ummm ... if the security and privacy of their children was foremost on their minds, they would have quietly ended their participation in the show last season and disappeared to their new estate without the camera crew in tow. Look at the Ozzie Osborn family, they dumped their estate and moved on as soon as their "reality" show ended ... too many tour busses.

 

[mickeylove2]

They make me sick personally. I can't stand to watch the show. My sister and brother-in-law have 6 kids, boy-7, boy-6, boy-4, boy-2, girl-2(adopted-have had since she was 9 months), and boy-4 weeks (fostered-have had since he was 12 days). They actually go to Sesame Place without being chauffered through the park and having 20 people help with their kids. They built their own home, purchased their own vehicles, put their oldest 2 in private school, pay for their own vacations (WDW last year) and don't expose their children to complete strangers with cameras in their faces 24/7. People like my sis I give a lot of credit to, people like Kate- nope!