Raising Sextuplets

[DMRick]

Oh good Lord. What do you expect her to do? Split herself into 3? I think they do a fine job.

I've yet to meet a perfect parent. But I guess because they're being filmed they should be? Mmk.

Sorry, I didn't plan on arguing with anyone. I was stating my thoughts. I guess I thought when out near the road, they would have them in strollers or at least holding adults hands. The dad caught the one just before it went down (in the dad's words) an embankment. One head dived into the road. The dad thought it was a bad idea on Halloween to have them out and running all over. He wished they had not done it, but she really wanted to. They had lollipops in their mouths while running and they are only 1 1/2, they kept losing one or two, and for me, it was frightening.

Some of the kids (cousins) got into the pool enclousure and threw all the toys in..the mom was upset because the litle ones could have gone in.

I never said they had to be perfect..but several times, I was fearful of injury (when one fell out of the tub onto the tile, when one was climbing out of the stroller when in the street when she was out around the neighborhood, when one reached up onto the hot stove, etc). I can't imagine doing the job they are doing, raising 6 kids, both working full time and him going to school as well. Definately too chaotic for me, and the parents have said they are exhausted. And this was just one show.

Anyway, if you want this to remain only a positive board about how good they are doing, I don't need to post my thoughts on this thread.

I'm backing out of the thread..watch out behind me!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

As a mother of a toddler I totally agree with DMRick. When my DS was 18 months old it was so scary for me because he would run away from me and didn't know yet not to run into the street, etc. If I would have had 6 of him there is NO WAY I would have taken them out of the house without help.

There has been more than one scene where these kids were in serious danger. The scene where she was loading all 6 of them in the van for a playdate was the scariest for me because more than one of the kids escaped and took off - I'm sorry but that is scary and very dangerous.

I feel if she wanted to have a playdate she could have had it at her house and avoided the un-necessary danger.

Now that my son is 2.5 he is much easier and does not run away beacuse he understands, but for a while I really limited our going out with his safety in mind.

 

[happygirl]

I missed the show last night. Can someone please give me a recap?

 

[HerdOHuds]

I watched about 5 minutes of this show and decided that I didn't want to see another family implode on television. Not my idea of entertainment. I get enough of whining and fussiness in my own home!

As a mother of a toddler I totally agree with DMRick. When my DS was 18 months old it was so scary for me because he would run away from me and didn't know yet not to run into the street, etc. If I would have had 6 of him there is NO WAY I would have taken them out of the house without help.

I understand what you are saying. I know I limited my outings when the kids were this age, but at the same time, for my sanity I HAD to get out of the house. We had a ton of help up until about 18 mos. but even then, I couldn't always call someone if I needed to run an errand. I just tried to pick the times I was risking a runner to the safest time and without witnesses. Of course these folks did it for the filming crew, but maybe they didn't anticipate the amount of running that would happen. And I am betting that the producer had some input in the activities that were filmed.

Our family missed a lot of opportunities at that age because I was very hesitant to enter a new space if I didn't know where the boundaries were or where the bathrooms were or how close we could park. I didn't attend a cookout for a mother's group because I couldn't be sure we could keep track of the kids, there were no fences and a pond and with many other children milling about I didn't want to be the on hollering for my runners to GET BACK HERE!

It was a pretty regular battle in my head whether I would attempt something every other parent on the block could do alone without even thinking about it or whether I should put it off till there was help. I made a few mistakes that looking back were bad choices. I am glad there wasn't a filming crew there to record them for all the world to see and criticize.

Hopefully what this family will learn is that filming your family for profit never works out like you think it will.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I hope I'm not coming across as too critical of this mother. I honestly was just surprised by how casual her attitude was towards the safety of her kids. I really hate "competitive mommying" and I usually try to make an effort to not judge other parents. Overall she seems to be doing a great job with more kids than I think I could handle and stay sane.

Watching her runners brought back so many memories of my DS at that age. I am so glad he outgrew the running away - it is so scary for a mommy!

Having a show like this really opens you up to so many bad things. It's a double edged sword for a family - it provides much needed income but it can damage relationships and open you up to criticism.

 

[newtodis]

Oh good Lord. What do you expect her to do? Split herself into 3? I think they do a fine job.

I've yet to meet a perfect parent. But I guess because they're being filmed they should be? Mmk.

No I don't expect herself to split but there's got to be a better plan honestly for everyone's safety - even if it's throwing them all (not literally of course!) into the van then going back to buckle them or something. I'm not there doing it so I don't know what's easiest. Once they get a little bit older, they will be able to stand at the van and wait their turn and eventually climb in on their own which I'm sure will be a huge help to Mom and Dad!

I guess I thought when out near the road, they would have them in strollers or at least holding adults hands. The dad caught the one just before it went down (in the dad's words) an embankment. One head dived into the road. The dad thought it was a bad idea on Halloween to have them out and running all over. He wished they had not done it, but she really wanted to. They had lollipops in their mouths while running and they are only 1 1/2, they kept losing one or two, and for me, it was frightening.

Some of the kids (cousins) got into the pool enclousure and threw all the toys in..the mom was upset because the litle ones could have gone in.

Anyway, if you want this to remain only a positive board about how good they are doing, I don't need to post my thoughts on this thread.

I'm backing out of the thread..watch out behind me!

I agree with the examples you posted about not being the "safest" spots for kids to be in. Yes they're going to fall from time to time, run with a sucker in their mouth and go out without a stroller. I've made some of the same "mistakes" as a mommy (I'm sure many have!) but we haven't had to endure hearing what everyone in the country (or around the world) think about our parenting job (thankfully I might add!). To me, pool safety is so incredibly important as it's so dangerous. We had a pool at our previous house and I wouldn't even let the kids play on the stairs leading up to the deck to get into the pool (with a gate at the top). No way - not at all. I think a lot (from my experience with my two) is getting the rules together for what you think is best for your family/environment/ect from the get go and enforcing them once the kids are able to understand a bit. Once they're 2 and 3 IMO, you're late in the game to teach them the "right" and "wrong" for different things. Sorry that was kind of a tangent! LOL Long story short, I see them as more laid back parents when it comes to the safety thing which surprises me based on her profession. You'd think she would see way too many injuries (especially kiddos) coming through the ER and would want to keep that from happening at home.

I hope this isn't an all "love" thread...if it is, I'm thinking I'm going to have to go with you DMRick and exit as I do like my share of discussion (not bashing but discussing).

I feel if she wanted to have a playdate she could have had it at her house and avoided the un-necessary danger.

Now that my son is 2.5 he is much easier and does not run away beacuse he understands, but for a while I really limited our going out with his safety in mind.

I think the idea of the play date was to get her (and the kids) out of the house for a little bit - which I can totally understand. One of my favorite things to do is load the kids into the van and hit the $100 Store (aka Target) and just walk around (of course you never leave with an empty cart there!). I can't see her being able to do that....

Heck my 2.5 year old thinks it's funny to run away now and LOVES being chased! Neither of my boys (2.5 and almost 5) fully understand the "safety" aspect - especially relating to the outdoors. I think it's easier inside sometimes. I can turn the stove on and open the door after a few minutes to show them it's hot. When I tell DS4 to stay where I can see him when he's outside, he doesn't understand why he can't go to the neighbor's house and play without asking first (now I feel like I need to say I don't care if he's playing there - it's more about knowing where he is due to his MANY allergies and in case something were to ever happen to him). You can't really show him those dangers without scaring the crap out of him....if someone's found a way to though, I'd love if they'd share!

I hope I'm not coming across as too critical of this mother. I honestly was just surprised by how casual her attitude was towards the safety of her kids. I really hate "competitive mommying" and I usually try to make an effort to not judge other parents.

Having a show like this really opens you up to so many bad things. It's a double edged sword for a family - it provides much needed income but it can damage relationships and open you up to criticism.

I was too especially with her job. Working in the ER, she's seeing the worst of the worst when they come in. She has to know the "dangers". Maybe working with it every day (or whenever she works) made her less sensitive to it?? I'm not sure....

Totally agree about having a show! I'm sure they will truly appreciate the income (and I hope it's used/invested wisely for the family). There will always be the ones who could do it better/faster/whatever regardless of the situation.

 

[DMRick]

I don't think filming the husband going to the doctor because his wife thinks he's too fat is a promising sign.

I feel a pull towards watching this..although IMO it is such a train wreck starting to happen, I'm shocked I can get through it once a week. There are so many safefy issues, I don't know how they cram them all in in each show.

Today the mom put salt on the dad's dessert (it was date night) because she couldn't 'shame' him into not eating dessert, so she ruined it.

His parents are home babysitting. His dad fed the kids ice cream even though he knows the mom doesn't allow it..and one dropped some bombs in the tub (they showed them floating) and one went outside the tub..they actually showed the baby's butt with the poo in the crack. Gross!

Mom took two kids to the market. Not only did she have them in the big part of the basket, as they stood and reached for stuff, but she actually walked aways from them in the basket. Does she not see head injuries from kids falling out of carts in the ER where she works?

I sure hope this is just the editing, and it's not like this all the time These kids have more of a hitting issue then K & J's kids..they never seem to stop. Although why the producers would want to show what they show, I have no idea.

 

[hentob]

I like how her dad had to take her to the hospital for her plastic surgery.

She said that her husband is not a morning person…he would come over to see her when he woke up

 

[happygirl]

I saw that when she did that to the dessert. I thought he was going to get her for sure lol. I like them as well. I put my kids in the cart part as well. When they were younger . I like this show as well. I don't think there kids are as cute as the Gosselin kids.

 

[Buckalew11]

I watched this for the first time this week. I thought this family--this couple---made J&K look tame!!!!

Honestly, I do think that mom is a bad person or anything but she's so much like Kate that it ain't funny. And I think she seems worse! Honestly, I couldn't live like either of these couples. Her DH was something else also.

I'm shocked. I thought it was going to be refreshing to watch from what people have been saying. Uh, no.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I saw an interview with this family as the Gosseline explosion began. It occurred on the Today show as a promotion of their show a mere two days after Matt Lauer raised up exploitation issues in a story about the Gosselines.

Now--I won't address those issues as that isn't why I am watching.

I found the interview to be very Gosseline-ish. A hardworking Christian family trying to make it with their miracle six. I've heard the story before. I also know that these folks get paid and sooner or later--they will quit working and they will slowly migrate into the Gosselines.

I'm not going to be sucked into another family spontaneously combusting.

The genre has jumped the shark for me.

 

[DMRick]

Yes, I see lots of kids in the main part of the cart..however, this mom works in the ER, and most doc's or PA's do not do this, because they are aware of what happens when the kids fall out. She actually walked away from them. You may also, and that is your choice, but that doesn't stop me from thinking that is a dangerous practice.

So many put down Kate and John because they needed so much help (or at least had help, I know many didn't think they actually need it) and yet this family has about one per child and more when they go out. Or, they have hardly anyone, and the kids end up doing stuff I would think is dangerous.

I know some think this couple show a lot more love. I'm just not seeing that. They actually remind me of K & J when they started out. I think once again, the wife says stuff that I would not say to or about my husband, let alone on public TV. I also think it's a lot to give their parents (yes, I know they offer) when they babysit.

And I certainly wouldn't have ruined his dessert by salting it. My husband is a grown up and has to make his own decisions about his weight.

 

[happygirl]

Yes, I see lots of kids in the main part of the cart..however, this mom works in the ER, and most doc's or PA's do not do this, because they are aware of what happens when the kids fall out. She actually walked away from them. You may also, and that is your choice, but that doesn't stop me from thinking that is a dangerous practice.

So many put down Kate and John because they needed so much help (or at least had help, I know many didn't think they actually need it) and yet this family has about one per child and more when they go out. Or, they have hardly anyone, and the kids end up doing stuff I would think is dangerous.

I know some think this couple show a lot more love. I'm just not seeing that. They actually remind me of K & J when they started out. I think once again, the wife says stuff that I would not say to or about my husband, let alone on public TV. I also think it's a lot to give their parents (yes, I know they offer) when they babysit.

And I certainly wouldn't have ruined his dessert by salting it. My husband is a grown up and has to make his own decisions about his weight.

I'm a huge Kate and Jon fan. I don't see this couple as evil. I think pretty soon people are going to start nick picking them like they do Jon and Kate. Instead of just turning them off.

 

[DMRick]

I'm a huge Kate and Jon fan. I don't see this couple as evil. I think pretty soon people are going to start nick picking them like they do Jon and Kate. Instead of just turning them off.

I didn't say they were evil.

I have no doubt people will nit pick them..I will. I have no problem with people nit picking J & K, as long as they don't insist that I should feel as they do LOL. This couple did so much talking before the show started about how different they were going to be from Kate and Jon, but I don't see that at all. I think their kids are actually put in dangerous situations..and that bothers me. I think, just like K & J, they show too much of their kids unclothed bodies. I didn't think I would watch it, but to me, it's like a train wreck, and I can't turn it off. I like K & J's show, although I don't like everything they do. I thought I would like this show, but I'm often on the edge of my seat, wanting to pull the kids to safety. This mom actually said she would be kind to her husband in this show. I don't see that all the time either.

Perhaps it's the editing..I have no idea, but I hope so. I think their parents are going to be burned out quickly, spending a lot of time with these kids babysitting. I think the mom will also be burned out, if she continues all the hour she works and takes care of the kids. And what happened to the nanny they hired on the first or second show?

Honestly? Even though I like J & K's show, and thinking they should go on if that's what they wish (with their show- although I think it's impoosible with all that has gone on with the paparazzi), I can't for the life of me see why anyone else would do this again, seeing the grief that J & K have gotten. No matter how nice this new family people may think is..this is another show done for money. For J & K, it's done..they did it and are paying the piper..why would another couple continue, taking any chances that this could happen to them? They saw how J & K's show went, and they addressed it, so it's not a secret to them.

I wish them success, but I wonder if they really understand that people will be watching and commenting.

 

[DVCisME]

I think an important point to the difference between them and j/k is that these parents are older and seem to show more respect for each other. Even though they are slightly older, they are older and more mature.

 

[happygirl]

I think an important point to the difference between them and j/k is that these parents are older and seem to show more respect for each other. Even though they are slightly older, they are older and more mature.

I thought they were about the same age. I think personally they hubby on this shows his immature side a lot.

 

[DVCisME]

They are four years difference in the sextuplets, but J/K already have multiples before that. So this family had more time to establish themselves and their marriage before the kids.
I think that was the main problem with Jon, he couldn't define himself outside of his kids and marriage.
*Not saying a young marriage and kids are bad for everyone. I peronally got married at 20 and had my oldest son at 21 and do not feel at all like I missed out on anything. That being said I don't have multiples.

 

[Buckalew11]

I thought they acted enough like J&K that they might have been trying
to act like them. I agree with happygirl, I thought his immaturity showed often and she was quite bossy and not so nice to him.

 

[ems_mom]

I am a fan of both shows, but probably more of a J&K fan because I've "known" them longer. I always wanted a big family, but with fertility and other health problems we are fortunate parents of an only child.

I am torn because I believe Kate went too fast and furious with her fertility treatments. Any woman who has been through this knows the drs. always preach caution and extreme measures (like a maximum hormone dose and/or multiple embryo implants) are only taken after multiple attempts and failures.

That said, from the 3 episodes shown I do think Kate is a better parent overall. Both couples obviously love their children. But maybe Kate's experience with the twins gave her an advantage in providing a loving yet safe environment for the tups.

I am a little scared for these tups. It almost seems that if not for the camera crew, something bad could have happened. I can't imagine having 6 twenty-months old under my care even with parents and in-laws help. Maybe having some hired caretakers ("al J&K") could relieve some of the parents' stress and provide a safer environment.

 

[HerdOHuds]

I really don't disagree with many opinions here...I just had never ever heard of 'tups' being used before to refer to sextuplets. So do I have 'drups'?

I guess that is better than mangling what I hear 'quads' into 'sexes'!