After hearing about the new house, the eager Gosselin kids get to see what their soon-to-be new home looks like before moving day, but will they share the same enthusiasm for the new house as Jon and Kate?
The house is too big. The pool is dangerous. In this economy, blah, blah, blah.
You know they will all be watching, however. Oh yes, some will come up with the "excuse" that they can't find the remote or their kids made them watch it, but the truth is this is an episode they are truly looking forward to. The show is entertainment for them whether they want to admit it or not. It's not my idea of entertainment to watch a show I can't stand with people I can't stand and then blog about it for the next six days, but to each his own, right?
As for me, I am happy for the whole family and you better believe I can't wait to see the house and the kids reactions.
Some are even admitting they will be watching. I guess so they can really break down every minute detail and complain about it. As for me I can't wait to get a glimpse.
I imagine if Kate stands in her new house using her iPhone, pouring water into her filtered water pitcher that heads will explode (even though they didn't watch it and just read the recaps).
I have almost stopped going over there. The insanity is just getting too much for me, considering I love the Gosselins.
The economy argument is ridiculous. I work in the building industry and what we need to get things back on track is people buying houses! The media has scared people off of purchasing, but that is what gets the economy moving. If they were approved for the loan, so be it!!
Heather, thats a good point! People really are gun shy about the housing market but it is definitely a buyers market. I'm looking to buy my first house this year and really excited at all the incentives and help available-- if your credit is good and, as you mention, you can get the loan approved then why not get a house for tens of thousands (or hundreds of thousands, in the case of J & K) less than it would otherwise be?
I'm excited for the episode-- the kids will adore having a bigger yard and I am sure it will be nice (esp for Mady and Cara) to have more space and peace and quiet.
I am excited to see this episode!! I am thrilled for the Gosselins!
I rarely can bring myself to go to the other site. When I do, I always end up feeling like I need to go and take a nice long shower to clean off all the garbage that I just witnessed!
Don't forget she'll also be wearing free clothes to cover her free flattened tummy and she may be having an organic meal prepared by..... craft services!
I honestly do feel for people who are going through tough economic times right now. I am very blessed to have a job and to be able to afford my middle-class indulgences. (Pedicures anyone?).
Even though the economy is in the tank, there are plenty of people who are doing well or even improved their economic situation recently. For some it could be a promotion or maybe an inheritance. For the Gosselins it's having a best selling book and a hit t.v. show. They are in the right place at the right time and they have been lucky.
There is nothing to be angry about, in my opinion. If you are able to blog about a t.v. show that tells me you are doing better than 99% of your fellow brothers and sisters. You might want to check out this link:
Thanks for the link, Anya! I have always told my kids that we won the lottery being born in the country. I'll have them guess and see where they end up compared to the other 6 billion or so people on earth.
Lizabeth...you're doing pretty good too. I bet you'll be in the top 1% when you finish your thesis and earn your Masters! ;)
I am really looking forward to the new house. I don't watch much on TLC, so I've missed the commercials where Kate says, "This is all mine," or something that's driving another blog crazy (read it at the Princess board.) I am glad to hear that Kate is happy, happy, happy with her new success and home. What a treat for the kids to spread out and roam! Land, dogs, bigger rooms, a sledding hill...how will those poor kids ever cope?
Something I can say I'm jealous of is that sledding hill..lol. I actually said what Kate said "this is all mine" when my fam moved into our house. I went from a tiny kitchen in California to a bigger kitchen and I could actually move around when other people are in it. Cali apartments are small so my kitchen felt like heaven. I can see why Kate would love her kitchen. The children will have so much fun with all that space.
Just this weekend I was wrapping change to take to the bank, which ended up being a few hundred dollars. At one point I turned to my boyfriend and said "we have more money in loose change than some people have seen in their lives".
As for the other board, I think their focus is more on the cost of the house than anything. Although, I do think there would be complaints regardless of the price of the G's new home.
The comments that irritate me were when people said the G's should give their former home to a family in need. I do think that is over the top.
I really liked this episode-- first, I love that Jon and Kate mention how they reiterate to the kids how blessed they are to have such a great new house-- thats a good thing to instill.
Aww and I love how Kate mentions that they pulled up and Leah gasped and said "Thank you, Mommy!" and how that made everything worth it. Kate looked really happy- she was loving watching her kids run through the hosue and see their new rooms.
I didn't know Hannah got migraines-- thats not good... at least that poor 'disturber' Alexis won't be left with on her own with no one else in her room anymore lol!
I really like that Kate wants to try to have privacy with Jon. It is important for parents and couples to have that, especially with so many kids running around. My parents have that kind of rule so we just never went in unless it was day time and someone else was using the other bathroom. While some people may consider this one more thing Kate does wrong, it seems to me like she and Jon are attempting to keep their marriage strong even though they are both busy and out of town sometimes.
I love when the kids were going through the barn, and Aaden was talking about having his cows there!! Then Alexis saying "I like him, Daddy!!" about the dead, flat mouse was hilarious :).
I also liked how Kate was excited to clean the new house-- its typically a huge job to get a new place cleaned up and she was game for the work. Something like mold in a fridge could be a huge allergy trigger (if the kids have allergies) so the thought of any of her kids getting sick at the new house probably was part of her motivation.... I can totally see why she would be taking so much time on the cleaning-- its important to start fresh with a new place.
Loved the whole pooping discussion and how Collin ran and said "I'm gonna go tell my mommy!"
I think it was a good episode-- realistic as to what its really like to move into a new house, both with the excitement and the reality. Last time my family moved was about 8 years ago. It was summer, I was home from college, and my mom dropped me off at the new house (no air conditioning and 90 degree weather for once) to clean the kitchen and start unpacking and organizing the dishes. It was hellish hard work, but in the end I was glad to learn what its really like. Same thing when I got my own place over a year ago-- my parents helped me move in and my mom helped me start the cleaning in the kitchen but then they left and I had an apartment full of boxes and sink full of grimy fridge shelves to deal with. I wanted to cry, but rolled up my sleeves and got it done :).
I'm sorry but Kate is a nut-job!!! She is already complaining that she can't find the kids in the bathrooms because the house is too big. Then it looks as if she left Joel on the toilet because cleaning the fridge was more important. Why would you pay $1.3 million for a house and then not have it cleaned. She reminded me of Granny in the Beverly Hillbillies tonight. It also looks like she didn't leave her house in such pristine condition either. I did think it was cute when the kids were carrying the box out of the house, fighting with each other and the little guy said I thought we were buddies. That was priceless.
Great episode and GREAT house! What a wonderful place for a large family. I'm happy for them!
You know, everyone complained that Alexis was going to be in a room by herself. Now they will complain because Alexis had to give up her room to Hannah! I think Alexis and Leah will be a good team!
Ok so I just got done watching this episode and I have NOT been to the other site yet but I would just like to take a jab at some of the comments that will be popping up there shortly. Tell me what you think...
"No shots of the front of the house? Interesting, just trying to keep some privacy? THink they will get looky loos? Sheeple!"
(Thank God we all have so much free time that we were already able to scour every real estate website and posted pics of the house months ago.)
"Kids not allowed in the parents room? Abomination! What a great Mom Kate is! She will probably just hide in there away from the kids and only venture out for her monthy spa appointments!"
"Outbuilding? Really Jon, can't we call it a barn...what an idiot. Showing the kids a dead mouse? Ridiculous!"
"Kate and the fridge! Good God have you ever seen anyone make such a big deal over a fridge. Cant she just be grateful for the fact that she has such a nice fridge? No not KON! She has to ramble on and on about 4 hours worth of cleaning! Grossest thing she's ever seen!"
I have so many more that I could come up with if I sat and though about it...now I'm going to "gird my loins" and visit the garbage dump to see how many of my comments were accurate :)
I'm not sure the big house is going to accomplish the peace and less stress she is seeking. She has 8 kids, even in a big house there is going to be chaos. When they're teenagers, they'll all appreciate the size of the house more.
I love how the kids are so inquisitive about everything; the flat mouse talk was cute.
Well, you all know how my daughter thinks Kate is her new best friend now that she has met her :) BUT about midway through the show she looked up from her book, and said "We know how big your house is, stop talking about it!" Hahahaha.
I thought the episode was cute. Definitely a great idea for Jon and Kate to have a privacy rule about their room. However, they will probably still have a few visitors in the middle of the night!
It's big and beautiful. The yard looks great. Did anyone notice/hear of a pool? Kate looked very happy to have a nice big kitchen.
The boys were so cute going through the barn, hoping to find animals, and so disappointed not to find any. Jon seemed pleased and proud. Good for him.
They certainly entertained themselves with those stairs and empty rooms. It's nice that they could explore without having to be all together. Those sextuplets are cute. They were a happy bunch tonight.
I did NOT like the poop discussion. Couldn't Kate remember where all the bathrooms were...too much yelling?! I also didn't like the lecture about going in Mom and Dad's room. It's like the kids were in trouble for something they'd done wrong...too grumpy Kate!
Uh-oh. Hannie gets her own room? Well, it went over just fine among the Gosselins, but there's one group of people who may have a hard time adjusting to it. So, is Kate trying to force a bond between Leah and Alexis and exclude poor Hannie now? What are the talking points on that one?
How about the two kids fighting over the box that had to go to the front door: "Don't you remember we're buddies?" Cute.
Did anyone else find it odd that the kids are not allowed in the parents room under the promise of "severe punishment" They are 4 & 8 for goodness sakes. Can they come in if they are vomitous or if the house is on fire? Last time I checked, part of being a parent is giving up some of your privacy to love your kids. Some of my most precious memories are cuddeling in bed with my kids. Kate, you have plenty of time for privacy - it's called the empty nest and it will be here quicker than you can possibly imagine.
Mrs. Ref, That was the asking price, not necessarily what they paid for it (Almost surely it was not. Sales of existing homes are steady, but prices are low.)
I would have had it cleaned, too. I wonder if she knew how much it would take? Or she doesn't trust anyone else, as a germophobe?
I am not so sure those kids were paying attention to Kate when she was scolding about them not being allowed in her room. That may be the rule, but it will take a few infractions for that rule to sink in.
The rule is fine, IMO. Yelling about it/threatening? Not so much. They looked inattentive, and I didn't blame them.
That's good advice, Mrs. Ref, about "empty nest." They grow up too fast, don't they?
I haven't gotten to see all of the episode yet, I just turned it on to hear Kate say that it took her four hours to clean her fridge. I did see some other people's comments about how it would never take that long to clean a fridge.
I just would like to go on the record as saying that two years ago, I had no power for 9 days (it was pure torture, by the way). It took me at LEAST four hours to clean what I affectionately call my "Bacteriorator" so I don't think it's unreasonable to think that it took her a long time to clean the fridge. That house may have sat empty for some time.
I'm excited to see some of the cute kid comments. This is something I have wondered about (not being a parent) - is it normal for parents to still be assisting their children with #2 in the restroom? I have a friend with a son who is 5 and he still calls her every time he needs "assistance." I'm not sure if that is normal or not, and it kind of grosses me out to ask!
FIONA said... I predict 400+ posts on the other site regarding this abomination.
I just have to say this is what bothers me most about this site. I don't visit the other site very often mostly because it is so negative and so I come here only to have to read post after post like this one. I just wish we could leave the negativity to the negative board....
Theresa - I liked Aaden's quote too! I hope they can get to the bottom of Hannah's headaches. Is it normal for such a young child to already have migraines? Poor kid.
scarfoot asked: " is it normal for parents to still be assisting their children with #2 in the restroom? I have a friend with a son who is 5 and he still calls her every time he needs "assistance." I'm not sure if that is normal or not, and it kind of grosses me out to ask!"
I am a nanny for twins who just recently turned 5 and I have to say while it is not one of the highlights of my job the kids do still need some assistance after going "number 2" mostly because they don't always do it correctly which can lead to infections. I may not always actually wipe for them but I almost 99% of the time have to instruct them on how to do it properly (a little gross i know lol).
Well..... I love the house and dont blame them for not showing the front! I usually like Kate for the most part but I have to say this time she got on my nerves..... a lot.
Jon cant say "nose poke around", but she can say "de-vile-ifying"?
The she handled the you can never come in our room thing, she told them, then she commanded Jon to tell them lol, then she told them again! It seemed like they were being scolded for something they hadn't done. I understand the concept but it wouldn't be practical for me and we only have one child. I can assure you if she wakes up with a nightmare/sick she's coming in- and I want her to.
She was looking for Joel but then when one of the kids told her where he was she wouldnt go up there and made him wait for Jon?
Anyway enough giping- the house is gorgeous I can't wait to see them all settled in/decorated. I was suprised that it will Be Hannah in he rown room instead of Leah, I don't remember hearing that she got migraines before.
P.S. If I owned the house previously I would be mortifIed by how dirty the fridge apparently was LOL!
I've tried to be open minded, but I am done. How can they really be that wacko. The master bedroom rule, the hiney wiping (asking Cara?) and going on and on about the fridge? It had been off and closed, move on. The house is gorgeous as it should be for the price, but little houses can grow big love. I wish them the best, but I won't be watching and neither will my kids.
Yes it's normal. You try to teach them but sometimes they need extra help, eh, hm, (trying to be delicate) depending on..... consistency. Oy vey. Eventually they get it.
Overall, I liked the episode. The kids looked happy to have a new house. I did notice that they did not show any exterior shots of the house. I think they learned a lesson w/ that. Too bad other sites didn't allow them some privacy w/ that. I did not like how Kate spoke to the kids and Jon about them not being allowed in their bedroom. I understand the rule but I didn't think she needed to be so harsh about it.
Favorite moment: *Leah saying thank you, mommy when she saw the house (so precious)
I enjoyed this episode, it's consistant with how they usually are. Kate being sort of OCD about cleaning (which I don't mind ie. filthy fridge), Jon playing with the kids. I am glad they have space and room to move about comfortably. The other house probably felt like packed sardines. Atleast it would for me it I had that many kids in there! The house fits them and I think the kids will have alot of great memories there.
I'm a commenter on "the other site" frequently but have been visiting here from time to time to get a balanced view.
Must have worked because I went into this episode with a very open mind. In fact, I was actually a little excited for the kids before the show started.
But wow, and I'm glad the balanced side of this discussion is also talking about it...what is UP with the lecture about the master bedroom? Seriously, that was strange. I'm glad it's not just the other site that is talking about that because while there may not be much common ground between the extreme factions of each site, I think the moderate members of each can agree that the scene about the bedroom was bizarre.
I really felt that this episode would be a turning point if the attitudes about things changed due to the new house...more space, more fun...but geez, it was more of the same and then some.
Kinda disappointing because even I was a little intrigued at whether there would be a marked difference in things with this big move.
Nice house though...can't deny that it's spacious.
How many people to you predict will say.."this is NOW the very last show I will watch" ;) Why were the comments already starting 2 minutes into the show? Do you thin that they keep the computer RIGHT next to the TV to dissect each and everything thing? Yeah you KNOW they do.....
For the record, I know people were upset about the speech about not going into Mommy & Daddy's room. But I'm always fighting about this myself in my small house. I WISH I could tell my kids to not step foot in mine!
I liked Aaden's quote too! I hope they can get to the bottom of Hannah's headaches. Is it normal for such a young child to already have migraines? Poor kid.
January 26, 2009 7:16 PM _____________________
I hope Hannah's headaches disappear.
If I'm woken up before my time, whether it be with my own alarm clock or someone wakes me up, I get headaches, too. The shrill noise of something I don't want to hear when I know I should be sleeping, just goes through me and I'm left with a headache that lasts all day.
I love that Kate was cleaning the fridge. One thing people can't gripe about is that Kate is willing and does get her hands dirty and is a cleaning machine.
Have never once used that word on this site or any other. And by mentioning that I come here to get the other side and was somewhat influenced to have an open mind, that was actually a compliment. No need to single me out and label me unfairly.
Not everyone on the other site is a loon, and not everyone here is necessarily the voice of reason either. Just differing opinions from time to time especially among reasonable people.
i haven't watched it yet so i can't comment on kate's speech BUT we have the same rule at our house. children are not allowed in our room, unless there is an emergency or you are sick. of course, we get the occasional midnight visitor telling us they had a nightmare or threw up in their bed:) the reason we have that rule is that we have six people in a 1400 sq ft three bedroom house. things are TIGHT in here, LOL. i need just one little space in this house that is mine. that has no toys, sticky fingerprints, gogurt wrappers, disney channel,etc. also, with four under 9, quality time is hard to come by for me and the mr. so the rule is: once you are in bed you are not to come in our room unless one of the exceptions occurs. it is our time. although they have now figured out they can go into the baby's room and talk to us through the monitor:)
I came over here and learned something tonight. I'm rich! I don't feel rich, but I'm in the top 1/2 of 1% worldwide. I wonder how accurate their calculator is?
I haven't seen the episode yet (eight minutes...can't wait!), but I thought everyone might be interested in this: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jU7_eE7AMih8zQgSCHVXb0efSLUAD95V8GV00
A set of octuplets were born in Southern California! I hope they're all healthy. I'm no expert, but nine weeks premature seems very good for such a large number of babies.
I bet, however, that we'll soon be hearing about how Kate has nothing to complain about since she ONLY has sextuplets!
did anyone else see the woman in the red shirt walking away from the camera while the boys ran around downstairs? maybe 5 minutes in or so. at first glance, it looked like beth. it's hard to tell, but i know it's not kate. i just think it would be really funny to find out that beth & jk are still friends, that she just didn't want to be filmed anymore. anyone else see her?
themrs said...although they have now figured out they can go into the baby's room and talk to us through the monitor:)
LOL. Smart kiddos!
Betty said... I came over here and learned something tonight. I'm rich! I don't feel rich, but I'm in the top 1/2 of 1% worldwide. I wonder how accurate their calculator is?
I cannot speak to its absolute accuracy, but I think there is a larger point. The fact is even most lower middle class and even poor folks in the US and other developed countries are vastly better off than those who come from the third world.
I don't feel rich either. I think it's all about perspective.
Leah said...A set of octuplets were born in Southern California! I hope they're all healthy. I'm no expert, but nine weeks premature seems very good for such a large number of babies.
Thanks for the link. I wish them the very best. I hope we will hear good news in the coming days.
jdmac said... did anyone else see the woman in the red shirt walking away from the camera while the boys ran around downstairs? maybe 5 minutes in or so. at first glance, it looked like beth. it's hard to tell, but i know it's not kate. i just think it would be really funny to find out that beth & jk are still friends, that she just didn't want to be filmed anymore. anyone else see her?
I TOTALLY noticed that and also thought it might have been Beth!
I am still chuckling at Kate's fridge freakout. And her sound effects. The stresses that come with moving into a new house must intensify her 'sensitivities'. What did she tell Joel she was doing? Something like 'devilifying' the fridge. So funny seeing him try to figure out what the frilly heck she was saying.
I just cringed and got so sad watching this episode. I love seeing homes, their layouts and decorations (I used to visit the model homes in my old neighborhood for kicks), so I watched the show after not watching it for a few months now.
My mom, who was in the background could hear and see the show. She kinda looked confused and asked: "Do they know they're being filmed?"
I of course laughed and said "of course Mama!"
Her question was: "Well then why is she acting like that?"
There is too much yelling, impatience, and really, down-right rudeness in the show.
Kate: "poke-about?! (Can't remember if that was the actual word used?)Pick another word, pls." And Jon relenting.
I used to correct my husband too. But that is because English is his fifth language and he asked me to. Even so, I always did it in the way that would not embarrass my husband. Why can't Kate give her husband the same courtesy?
Now, I have looked at this from the other side too. I mean, who am I to complain if Jon isn't right? It is just that as a human being who cares for another, it really made me cringe.
I was also alarmed by Maddy kicking Alexis. She is 8 yrs. old, too old to be allowed to be physically abusive to someone smaller than her! And Kate's answer to Alexis' crying is that if she leaves her sister alone, then Maddy won't hit her. Completely ignoring the bigger picture of making sure her kids are KIND to each other.
There should be a basic rule in anyone's home: You keep your hands to yourself and you use your soft voice inside the house.
There is many glaring things missing in the links. (Gosh, Alexis getting kicked and Kate ignoring it is really upsetting me). I understand others' point here, that J&K aren't evil incarnate. I agree. But I saw their actions and it bothered me, just like it would bother me if it came from any other household.
I wish J&K would read up on parenting books. If they have and this is the result, well, I don't know what else to say.
I cannot speak to its absolute accuracy, but I think there is a larger point. The fact is even most lower middle class and even poor folks in the US and other developed countries are vastly better off than those who come from the third world.
Yes, I was able to grasp that concept from their website along with their suggested donations. I was kind of making a joke out of it though, too. I guess that didn't work very well.
I have spent many hours cleaning fridges, stoves and all the nooks and crannies when I have moved into a new a place in the past. No one does it as good as me. I'm sure it made Kate very happy to clean it so thoroughly while talking about what a tough job it was. They might have some professional help with the rest of the cleaning, (I would) but I would want to do the kitchen and bathrooms myself. She prob couldn't enjoy anything else until it was done. She also took time to go around with the color charts and have Cara and Mady pick out their color. I do wonder if those people they bought the house from are embarrassed because she went on about the dirt so much.
I also am expecting some sort of comment from Julie on this episode.
I get so tired of her wet blanket moments, it's nice when you see her let lose and be happy like when Hannah was thanking her. That was so sweet.
Scarfoot said... ... it normal for parents to still be assisting their children with #2 in the restroom?...
I'm no expert, but if you're with them, I think it's better to be safe than sorry. It can lead to such problems if not properly cleaned and their bottoms are so tiny. Sometimes the shape of the toilet is an issue with my five year old. I also don't know if there's a gender difference. My boys seemed to have no trouble and it has taken my little girl longer.
With Kate's comments of how they need this in ref to the new home, I was wondering if Kate is looking for her happiness in the wrong places. Society in general teaches consumerism instead of contentment. Anya, I loved your global richness link up thread.
I would have saved the extensive lecture on the bedroom and more just mentioned it then. I would have told them they could see it after we move in and that's it. I never had that rule, but my drawers were off limits. Growing up, I went into my parent's room all the time, but we never ventured into my bf's parent's room (4th - 6th grade). I still remember the one time her mom sent us in there for something. I just hovered my my bf went in.
Wow, the house is fabulous. The rooms looked so big when you can actually see the kids running around in them!! I would want some sort of video monitor to watch the kids in some of the rooms Surely, there's an intercom they'll use later on. I liked the episode overall. I liked the part where the kids wanted to see the flat dead mouse. Alexis' “I like him daddy” was adorable and Aaden's little speech about no cows, no nothing being in the barn was cute, Oh yes, and Joel's little spaz/seizure moment when they first got there. My niece use to sometimes do that when she was overcome with excitement. It's so funny when they're overwhelmed like that.
I have been an avid fan of the show as well as of this site for quite some time now. I am a recipient of two liver transplants, am VERY ill and spend LOTS of time in the hospital watching J&K+8 to help pass the time. Most of all, I am so blessed to be married to my high school sweetheart(for nearly 20 years)and am a very proud Mommy of two precious kids, 14 and 11.
I am so happy for the Gosselins and for their beautiful new home. I know that our situation is vastly different from the Gosselins, but until someone has experienced a medical crisis that turns your world upside down, it is impossible to predict how they will react to ANY situation. Our family has truly survived because of our strong faith, God's grace and the extreme generosity of others.
My husband, who never before tonight watched a moment of J&K+8, surprised me greatly when after seeing their new home (and me filling him in on their humble beginnings and where the GWOPers stand)said, "Well, good for them, it looks like they figured out a way to make a difficult situation work." I must say that I have to agree with him. Of course, if I posted this on the "other site," they'd probably look up my IP address and come after me!!haha :) But seriously, we never know what tomorrow will hold and even though I don't absolutely agree with each and everything the Gosselins do, I can see it from a different perspective.
Thank you for your time in reading this and THANK YOU for keeping this website in action. It truly continues to be a blessing to me and to many others in search of truth and decency.
Leah, re: the octuplets. I just saw that on CNN. There is a pic of the doc giving a statement. I thought it was the new dad because it seemed he had such a stunned look on his face. :)
They thought it was seven babies and then at delivery there was one more. The information on the use of fertility drugs is being kept private, but eight is a very high number for natural phenomenon. Does anyone else think they need to lower the odds for this type of occurrence? It seems to be happening more often, but I'd have to go look at the data and it's late.
Then Alexis saying "I like him, Daddy!!" about the dead, flat mouse was hilarious :).
That and Leah's power trip over the box moving were my favorite parts. All in all, a good episode, not a great one. I was excited to see the new place and happy that they all seemed to be excited about it.
You know, everyone complained that Alexis was going to be in a room by herself. Now they will complain because Alexis had to give up her room to Hannah! I think Alexis and Leah will be a good team!
Yeah - if I didn't know better, I'd think some people just want to have something to complain about! :-)
I did not take Kate's dire warnings about the kids not being allowed in her and Jon's room too seriously. I think it's great for them to set boundaries and try to have a space that's just for them, and I hope it works out. It sounds like it's partly just her attempt to keep the detritus of 8 kids out of her sanctuary. I can't blame her for that.
I haven't gotten to see all of the episode yet, I just turned it on to hear Kate say that it took her four hours to clean her fridge. I did see some other people's comments about how it would never take that long to clean a fridge.
It's taken me nearly that long and I never let my fridge get actually moldy. Of course, part of that time is taken up by taking all the food out of it, which Kate didn't have to do. But it does sound like the fridge was pretty gross. I am sure there are complaints floating around about how rude it was of Kate to complain about the dirtiness of the fridge, but if it was so embarrassing to the previous owners, they could have done a better job of cleaning before they left.
Jon cant say "nose poke around", but she can say "de-vile-ifying"?
Yeah, it's irritating. Both of them are creative in their vocabulary, so I don't know where she gets off being so critical of him. OTOH, if it doesn't bother him, I guess it's not my business. If it does bother him, I wish he would say something!
How many people to you predict will say.."this is NOW the very last show I will watch" ;)
Hah! If only...but not watching doesn't seem to keep people from griping about it.
My mom, who was in the background could hear and see the show. She kinda looked confused and asked: "Do they know they're being filmed?"
Did you explain to her that the Gosselins believe in having their lives filmed as it really is, rather than some sanitized phony version? I wouldn't be interested in the show if they were just acting for the camera.
Maybe your mom should stick to "Ozzie and Harriet" reruns if she is so easily shocked.
I was also alarmed by Maddy kicking Alexis. She is 8 yrs. old, too old to be allowed to be physically abusive to someone smaller than her! And Kate's answer to Alexis' crying is that if she leaves her sister alone, then Maddy won't hit her. Completely ignoring the bigger picture of making sure her kids are KIND to each other.
I don't think Kate completely misses that point, at all. I've seen her express it before. I think in that case she was hampered by not having seen the incident (which in descriptions I read before hand sounded like a much bigger deal than it was - it didn't look like Mady kicked her hard, to me. Not that that makes it okay, but in the real world siblings do sometimes hit and kick each other).
I really think part of the point of the bigger house is to allow those that need private spaces - J&K and Cara and Mady, chiefly - to be given them. So boundaries need to be set. I love Alexis to pieces, and don't condone Mady kicking her, but Alexis and all of the younger kids do need to learn that Cara and Mady's room is their private space, and they need to respect that.
There should be a basic rule in anyone's home: You keep your hands to yourself and you use your soft voice inside the house.
I don't know if you haven't watched the show much, but they definitely have a rule about hitting - it's been shown many times. The kids are still going to hit. I'm pretty sure that if Kate had seen the kicking she would have reprimanded Mady as well (she may have anyway - I don't know), but I also think it's okay to teach your kids that they can avoid conflicts even starting by respecting each others' boundaries.
I wish J&K would read up on parenting books. If they have and this is the result, well, I don't know what else to say.
I think they are doing an okay job. It may not be the way you'd do it, but luckily, there is not one perfect way to parent - people can do things differently and that's okay.
Texasmommy-you're in my prayers for a healthy recovery.
I was thinking about the whole bedroom boundaries thing, and I believe it's no different than when Kate established rules for the helpers in the beginning. There needs to be boundaries. Boundaries=order. She needs to set that up now. Sure, it's a little militant, but I think she wanted to make sure the kids knew that mommy and daddy need their space.
Tintin--as Kate said, we see it all, the good and the bad. I bet her OCD nerves were acting up knowing she wanted to scrub the kitchen down (or at least the refrigerator). I will say it again, we don't see all that went on that day...just the edits. I know it sounds redundant all the time, but really, when I watch the show, I realize that we're seeing bits and pieces. Kate also seemed to be cranky. She's allowed. I bet there are moms across the nation who have acted the same way.
I have a just-turned-6 and a 7 and I don't wipe anymore, but I have been called in by them to handle some miswipe incidents. Soooooo gross!
I'm just thrilled my son still sits for No. 1. Hopefully he won't become a target at school, cause I love the lack of pee everywhere.
What a lovely conversation! Ha, ha.
I loved the kids fighting over who would bring the box to the front door. I also thought Jon laughing at "outbuildings" was funny. I would be the same way.
We bought a house three years ago without selling first, but we lucked into a 70-day close, which gave us time to sell. The houses were 8 miles apart and we joked about our "southern" home and "northern" property.
We knew what we were doing and didn't take much of a risk, but seeing how the banks are doing today, it was foolish loans like they gave us that is part of the problem.
Guinevere said: "....it didn't look like Mady kicked her hard, to me. Not that that makes it okay, but in the real world siblings do sometimes hit and kick each other...."
I grew up in an old-fashioned Christian home and although I WANTED to kick my younger sister OFTEN, LOL, none of us kids ever EVER kicked a sibling. My own kids occasionally slapped each other but I can honestly say I never knew of them to kick. Didn't Mady kick Collin at Jodi's house... and get in trouble for it? What I am wondering is why Mady would kick a sibling with the cameras rolling. What was that all about? Why was this scene shown? I noticed Mady not being included in a lot of this show's filming, so why would they want to show her in a bad light in one of her few scenes? I don't get it.
I think the people on the other site are very self-focused and think that ALL parents MUST parent how they themselves parent. That has gotten old very fast. I despise when close-minded people fail to acknowledge that every family is different and then judge quite harshly when someone doesn't do something exactly how they do it. So a kid needs help in the bathroom? Someone please call the authorities.
That being said, I do have to say that I think the show has lost its touch. I'm not sure I'm interested in it anymore. I'm glad Jon and Kate have made good out of their situation, but it's just not a good show anymore. I hate to say it, but I don't think many people can relate to Jon and Kate anymore. And I think that's what their appeal was in the first place. I don't know, just my opinion. I think the show will go off the air in the next year or so, but it'll be because people aren't interested, not because of the "blatant child exploitation and abuse."
I'm totally with Kate on this one...a moldy fridge is not only disgusting, it's a huge pain to clean. I'd be griping the whole time too. With a new house to clean top-to-bottom, who wants to spend half a day on the fridge??
I don't know how long that house was on the market or if the previous owners "had" to sell because of financial reasons with the current foreclosure boom, but I can't imagine the fridge getting that moldy unless the power was turned off and the doors were left closed for a while, or the darned thing is broken (which should have come out in an inspection). Not an old-owners-are-nasty situation, but they certainly didn't take the time to make sure the appliances were cared for after they left.
I'm more anal about a "new" bathroom. Those bathrooms did not look very clean, i.e., Collin saying there was "poop" on the floor (just dirt, I think). Maybe Kate went around the house with some Clorox wipes first and wiped down the potty seats before the kids used them, but I don't "christen" a new throne in a new house until it has a brand new toilet seat...but that's just the diva in me. :)
Except for the de-germing that any *new* house needs, I thought the new place was great. I'm interested to see how Kate furnishes and decorates the place. Their current furniture will be dwarfed in that house. I hope she does some cute stuff in the kids' rooms. She's said in the past that she's not a decorator, but maybe she'll be in a nesting mode at the new house and be more adventurous.
As for more privacy, I think it will only help for everybody to have a little more space.
And as far as the hitting, I don't like it, but I know from personal experience (as the oldest of three girls) it's going to happen. My parents were quite adamant about us not hitting, but it still happened...and often out of our parents' sight. My son has never hit anyone, at school or otherwise, but he's an "only", so I think having a sibling around all the time brings out a kid's frustrations and they act out.
And it's very hard for a parent to *fix* something they didn't see when the child complaining about being kicked (Alexis) isn't even crying anymore and is quickly distracted from the subject onto something else (in the kitchen when Kate tells her to stay out of Cara and Mady's space, Alexis asked Kate about the cleaning while drinking out of her cup...subject dropped).
OH MY word, Cincy mom! those drive me crazy!! they are everywhere in this house. this weekend we did a whole house cleaning. when i pulled the couch out there were tons of them back there. what makes these kids think they can throw their trash behind the couch? if gogurt weren't so convenient i may have to ban them :)
I don't see the problem with the bedroom lecture. I imagine they had similar rules at the old house but they gave in a couple of times and eventually the rules went out the window. Now they are starting out fresh with their new house and I think they want to "nip it in the bud". I don't think a child with an emergency would be turned away, but they don't need all those kids wandering in whenever they want, especially at night. It's one thing to let one or two kids in your bed, but you can't really do that with eight.
And to the people at various places who are horrified that she asked Cara to wipe her brother, I say "Hellooo!! Welcome to the world of a Duggar girl!".
There is a difference between normal and acceptable behavior. It is certainly not acceptable for a child of any age to kick anyone. I do think that it is within the range of normal behavior for a child that age.
Yes, she should receive a consequence for it, but IMHO I do not think that it is indicative of deep-seated problems.
I tend to think that Mady deliberately kicked her sis in front of the cameras as a kind of misdirected way of asserting her power.
The house sold for 1.12 million. Just look it up, its easy to find, heck after a couple of minutes you can also have the address and directions from where ever you are.
Do people honestly not realize that child exploitation funded this mansion? I don't care if its nice, or if they deserve it. Its just wrong. Currently that house is worth the 1.12 they paid PLUS nearly 5 years of exploitation (and counting). Kate could be the nicest woman in the world (which she is not) and people would still feel the same. She berates her husband, she yells at her children, she makes fun of them, she clearly has a favorite child and better yet she SOUGHT out a TV show. She wrote to networks, and magazines before the tups were born to tell her story. She gave away the privacy and childhood of 8 innocent children and then she has the balls to say that she has no privacy?!?!?!?
What bothered me was, any refridgerator that has been shut off and closed up will get moldy and mildewy, but Kate made it appear the former owners were slobs. She waaaaay overreacted.
I do not get the whole theory that they aren't "real" Christians since the kids hit each other. I must truly be a heathen because my kids have been known to have a few knock down drag outs. I know some people who like to tout themselves as super duper Christians and they openly admit that they smack their kids with wooden spoons etc... They excuse the behavior by claiming the bible tells them to do it (spare the rod blah blah blah) Look at the Duggars and their HORRIBLE blanket training. So the idea that real Christians can hit their kids but the kids know never to hit each other is absolutely nonsensical.
Ive never felt a connection to the Gosselins as if they were like me, thats never been the why reason for watching. I watch because I think the kids are funny and cute. Nothing has changed on that front, so I won't stop watching now that live in a house that Im jealous of.
I haven't watched this show in months and can safely say I do not miss it. What turned me off way back was the way Kate continuously berated and belittled Jon, then turned around and talked about going to church and being Christian...evidently she skipped over this verse in the bible: "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. —Colossians 3:18-19"
I must say that the way she has treated, and continues to treat, Jon has served as inspiration for me to NOT treat my husband with that amount of disrespect...but of course, my husband works very hard to support us (I am a SAHM with three kids, 16, 11 and 3), which I will say makes it easier.
As far as the new house goes, everyone is missing the point. Yes, the kids have more room and are happy, yadda yadda! We live in an 850 square foot apartment with only two bedrooms but my kids would rather bring their friends here (and their friends would rather come here) than to go to other's houses that are usually much bigger/nicer. It is LOVE and FAMILY that make a home, not size and money! Again, our Christian Gosselins missed this verse, too, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. —Hebrews 13:5"
Oh and I forgot to mention - I just had to clean my fridge this morning after watching the show last night. Mine is not even a side by side but it still took me a good 2 hrs to take everything out and scrub it. If it had been moldy and mildewy I can only imagine how long it would take. It looked like Kate was even using a Q-tip to get in there.
I seriously can't imagine buying a new home and not doing some serious deep cleaning before moving in. It would totally skeeve me out. I imagine certain people who are complaining about Kate cleaning the fridge rarely get up from their computers (or their incessant J&K watching/rewinding watching again) to clean anything much less do serious deep cleaning.
Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying. That is the only way to describe Kate's behavior in this episode.
It's fine to tell your children that they can't barge into your bedroom, but the way she did it--threatening severe consequences--was just awful. And then she yelled at Jon--in front of the kids--because he was not being as mean as she was, and told him what to say as if he were five years old. How humiliating, and what a horrible example she's setting for her kids.
Then Kate can't figure out where her sons are when they need her help in the bathroom. That was just sad. If you can't find your kids in your own house, your house is too big. And then, when she finally finds out the boys need to be wiped, she calls Jon in from outside to do it! Nice hands-on parenting.
Mady kicking Alexis repeatedly was disturbing and sad. And then Kate blamed Alexis. So wrong. Yes, kids hit each other--I have four, so I know!--but Mady's actions were beyond a simple slap or whack.
What is the point of having such a big, beautiful house when there is so much ugliness inside?
icegirlncsu - There is another Bible verse that you missed. It never seems to get posted by the anti-Gosselin crew when they toss around Bible verses but I think its a good one to share with you today.
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite first take the plank out of your own eye,and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" -Matthew 7:2-5
For me its not that the rule that the children can't come in their bedrrom- it was the harshness of the delivery. I like Kate and it is none of my proverbial business, I just found the way it was done uneccessary.
As far AS Mady kicking Alexis she shouldnt have and I'm not condoning it. However, the fact that Mady is the big sister does not change the fact that Mady is still a child herself and will behave like one. Apparently it didnt really hurt Alexis bc she just sat there too stubborn to leave the room until Mady got several licks in.
Being an older sibling I suppose I sympathize- my little sister and brother used to refuse to leave my sanctuary as well. Again I do not think any of the children should go around hitting/kicking each other, but in most houses it does happen from time to time.
It's just sad that with so many blessings, nothing seems to make Kate happy. I feel really sorry for the family because I think it's official: If a huge estate can't make Kate happy, nothing will.
By the way, my son woke up in the middle of the night and my husband brought him into our room. I calmed him down and he fell asleep and I though, "Geez Kate, you have no idea what you are missing".
Well, I will say Kate looked more awake during the interview chair sessions than in some other recent episodes. I loved how happy the kids seemed to be running around. It was upsetting to see Mady kick her sister, however I agree with a PP, and think part of it was a power trip, maybe to even get a reaction from the camera crew. The house is very spacious. I hope Kate finally found a house keeper that worked well for them. I'm excited to see the next episode and how the house will be decorated.
As a parent of 2 girls I honestly cannot blame Kate for instilling in the kids the fact that Mommy & Daddy's room is off limits. Parents have to have a sanctuary to reconnect with each other, or even just to know if they put their hairbrushes down - they'll still be there when they need them again! These kids have been in a much smaller house and are used to having full run simply because there was no where else to go - they need to learn to respect privacy and personal space.
I was extremely bothered by Mady's reaction to Alexis. And I was very bothered by the fact that Kate made it appear to be Alexis's fault for being on the landing to Cara and Mady's room. There's an inconsistency to Kate's discipline that may just come from having 8 kids under foot, or may be from her own neurosis - who knows? To me Mady's behavior and Kate's response were unacceptable.
I thought the 4 hours spent on the refrigerator (including a toothpick!) was hysterical. I can undertand that the fridge was moldy but really - get a spray bottle with a bleach/water solution - spray the entire interior, close the door and let it sit for 2 hours. All will be right with the world.
I can also understand still assisting the little kids with their potty needs - but I'm not sure about the extent that Jon & kate do it - do the kids try at all? What happens when they're in pre-school?
All in all, it was an interesting episode - the kids look happy, Jon looks happy, Kate is bothering me more and more though.
How long before they install an intercom system? LOL
I just couldn't like last night's episode. Every thing about it was simply wrong. I could never talk to my husband the way Kate does, and I could never call myself a good Christian and behave the way she does. I feel very bad about this, as I do know Kate loves all of them very much. Finally, I agree, Kate does need help with her mental problems.
I finally got to see the episode, and man alive, it seems like that house is big - as far as location of the parents to the kids.
I'm still on Kate's side about the fridge issue. She complained about it too much, but she has a habit of that. I think that people don't realize how quickly mold and mildew can form in a fridge without power, and how many little crevices there are. Perhaps that house sat empty for some time, and maybe the refrigerator was not plugged in. I would want to personally clean it myself so I know it's been cleaned properly.
Really, I want to talk about the recent Duggar wedding more! I just saw it and holy cow - my jaw dropped on more than one occasion.
I have a snow day today, so I've got plenty of online reading to do, I see!
Well lets start off that Fiona's post was 100% accurate. They are way over 400 now. I decided to go over there out of curiosity and I was beyond offended when a person said:
Moons in Leo said...
"FYI: The comments on the anti-GWOP site are a little bit negative. I was surprised. Maybe they are starting to see the cloud wrapped around their silver lining? BTW - why are the sheeple over there barely literate?"
I was beyond offended and went off! I mean you will never know this because you wont see it. But I cant get over 400 comments that are beyond hateful, beyond jealous, beyond slandering. It blows my mind that that horrible Serena would just egg people on the way she does in order re-group a sinking blog. Its like the worst lynch mob you can think of. Its just horrible.
I agree with alot of people that say you get caught up in the atmosphere your in. You want to throw stones because you feel for some reason that this person has so much now. And shes not being grateful enough. Its so sad that nobody can just be grateful for a family that needed the space and now can afford to have it. Kate is not the best at properly wording things of course, but shes a good mom who in NO way deserves this. I in no way deserve to be called illiterate. I can "speaketh" fine thank you! 1/27/2009 6:36 AM
jdmac said... did anyone else see the woman in the red shirt walking away from the camera while the boys ran around downstairs? maybe 5 minutes in or so. at first glance, it looked like beth. it's hard to tell, but i know it's not kate. i just think it would be really funny to find out that beth & jk are still friends, that she just didn't want to be filmed anymore. anyone else see her?
That is so funny! On the way to work this morning, I was thinking that it would be a hoot if Beth showed up on the last episode of the season to help Kate decorate the house! I will have to replay last night's episode when I get home tonight.
It's sad when people lose their marbles, and Jon and Kate sure have. They are so over the top it is a freak show. The kids are going to be grown up very soon and want nothing to do with their parents or one another I am afraid. What is the point of having a big family without unconditional love, support and acceptance. They chastice, make fun of and physically assault one another. Very sad indeed.
While I agree that Kate's tone was a little harsh about the no-bedroom thing, I think it's a great rule for them to implement. I was interested in when they said that kids used to commonly play and even sleep in the old master bedroom - something we'd never seen before. I think it's great to have that sort of space available to babies and toddlers, but now that the kids are almost 5, the Gosselins are right to encourage sleeping and playing in their own spaces.
The fridge - yuck! I'm glad Kate spent so much time cleaning. If I spent $1.1 mil on a home, I'd want it to look spotless, too. Also, could mold in the fridge transfer to food?
I work in a preschool, and, unfortunately for me, many kids that age do need help wiping their hineys.
All in all, I enjoyed the episode. While no kid NEEDS a 5,000+ square foot home, I think the extra space will be good for the kids in the long run. These kids always have to be close to each other - they vacation and play with each other, they'll be in each others elementary school classrooms, have many of the same friends, and (most) will always have to share rooms. Getting a bit of space to spread out will only improve their relationships.
The house did seem a bit big for four year olds, but I can easily imagine eight teenagers in it!
Its A Good Thing said... The house sold for 1.12 million. Just look it up, its easy to find, heck after a couple of minutes you can also have the address and directions from where ever you are.
Do people honestly not realize that child exploitation funded this mansion? I don't care if its nice, or if they deserve it. Its just wrong. Currently that house is worth the 1.12 they paid PLUS nearly 5 years of exploitation (and counting). Kate could be the nicest woman in the world (which she is not) and people would still feel the same. She berates her husband, she yells at her children, she makes fun of them, she clearly has a favorite child and better yet she SOUGHT out a TV show. She wrote to networks, and magazines before the tups were born to tell her story. She gave away the privacy and childhood of 8 innocent children and then she has the balls to say that she has no privacy?!?!?!?
January 27, 2009 7:43 AM ______________________ Who cares how much the house sold for? Get over that. Or, was there a real point in having to mention the price of the house? The house that has a lot of land. It's not a mansion. It is a big house. I guess anything bigger than your house, you'd deem a mansion.
Why do you have to point out the fact people can find the address, why publicize that? Just because the Gosselins are on TV, doesn't mean they don't deserve their privacy, too. Stop exploiting these kids by pointing out those facts. That's the true exploitation of these kids.
As we've discussed before, would you rather see this family struggling or thriving? Or, do you not know we've discussed this because you drifted over from the underside of the slimy bridge upon where you normally live?
We all can believe different things, and you believe in the gwop cry of exploitation bought this house. I believe that opportunities were presented to the Gosselins. I believe they are following the path of the Lord and are doing what is best to raise these kids in a loving home with two parents involved in their daily lives.
Yes, we wouldn't have known about the Gosselins without them having sextuplets. Would I put my kids on tv? If there were an opportunity, who knows? I would do what was for the best interest of my family. Each family has a different strength, dynamic, and circumstance. Keep that in mind when you're crying exploitation.
Do you think the house pictures were circulated online by the show? I haven't watched in weeks, but, tuned in last night just to see if the house was the same one that was "leaked online". I'm sure other people did too. I also commented on GWOP this morning..in RE:473 comments?!...I asked if they really want the show to be gone..shouldn't they stop talking about it? It has yet to be posted.
I was not that disturbed by the fight between Mady/Alexis, or the way Kate handled it. Partly because we have no way of knowing what, if anything, Kate may have told Mady. Just because a resolution wasn't shown doesn't mean it didn't happen.
The reason I didn't see a problem with it is the way I was raised. The person that hit/kicked was not the only way to be lectured or punished. To me, Kate was explaining why Mady acted out that way and Alexis could avoid it by staying out of her sister's room. It's not as if Mady was kicking her out of a family area. Yes, that type of behavior shouldn't happen, but it happens.
Wow it has been busy here today!! I can honestly say that, as a moderator, there are a ton of people looking to voice their opinions and we are trying our best to let all but the very disrespectful comments through.
I can see why people would be upset about Mady and how she treated Alexis, as well as Kate's response. At the same time, we did not see the entire situation from start to finish. Mady acted out which is wrong, and which we know from previous interviews is something J & K are dealing with in private. I respect that they don't want to be seen having that kind of discussion with Mady on camera even though it would give viewers some closure to what is happening.
welovetoski said: The kids are going to be grown up very soon and want nothing to do with their parents or one another I am afraid. I agree that the kids will be grown soon- that is part of why Jon and Kate probably wanted to get a new house. It would be better to move now so all 8 children can put down roots in a new neighborhood and new area. At the same time, how are we supposed to predict how any of the kids will respond to what happened in their childhood? From what I can see, the negative posts and comments snarking on the kids are far more hurtful than their parents can be.
I am really at a loss as to why so many believe all of the Gosselin kids will hate their parents and never speak to them when they get older. I honestly feel that these kids will be far more devastated by the rude, condescending, and hateful comments made by total strangers on blogs than by what their parents did in one part of one situation that was shown on a 22 minute TV show.
I'm located in the midwest. There's not much traveling going on right now because of the ice we received. We did get some snow, and that helped, but it's like an ice skating rink as far as the eye can see!
Yes, the Duggar wedding was actually on TV Sunday night. It was something else, for sure!! Next time there is an Open Discussion, I talk about it so I don't get this thread off topic.
Lizabeth: And Theresea's comment very disrespectful? Saying somebody lives under a bridge isn't rude? Isn't also disrespectful and uncalled for to imply that I live in a house smaller than the Gosselin's? I understand you are all working very hard to make this blog good but I think some of the comments here are a little beyond acceptable. I don't say this because she disagreed with my opinion, thats fine, I say this because a couple of her statements were disrespectful and rude.
Oops I meant to say I WILL talk about it on Open Discussion! I guess I am really one of those intellectually inferior people that they are calling us on one of those other sites!
I grew up in an old-fashioned Christian home and although I WANTED to kick my younger sister OFTEN, LOL, none of us kids ever EVER kicked a sibling. My own kids occasionally slapped each other but I can honestly say I never knew of them to kick.
I'm not sure I see a big distinction between slapping and kicking. Mady wasn't wearing steel-toed boots. A hard slap on bare skin would probably hurt more.
I'm not trying to minimize the kicking; it's not okay for siblings to do that to each other. But they do, and I don't see the point in making it sound like Mady is an ax-murderer for doing so. I'd have to watch it again, but I think she was kicking to get Alexis to move; Alexis was sitting down in Mady's room.
I think the people on the other site are very self-focused and think that ALL parents MUST parent how they themselves parent. That has gotten old very fast. I despise when close-minded people fail to acknowledge that every family is different and then judge quite harshly when someone doesn't do something exactly how they do it. So a kid needs help in the bathroom? Someone please call the authorities.
I agree that people can be VERY judgmental about parenting. What gets to me is the women who are so superior about how THEIR kid never did x, y or z. Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back there. It may be due to good parenting, or it may be that you lucked out and got easier kids. Unless they are in their 30s, your obvious pride in what a wonderful job you did may still come back and bite you in the butt - the precious and wonderful 10-year-old may be a hellion teenager.
Good parenting is better than bad parenting, but I agree that there is no one right way to do it, and each family has its own dynamic - what works for your kid may not work for another.
That being said, I do have to say that I think the show has lost its touch. I'm not sure I'm interested in it anymore. I'm glad Jon and Kate have made good out of their situation, but it's just not a good show anymore. I hate to say it, but I don't think many people can relate to Jon and Kate anymore. And I think that's what their appeal was in the first place. I don't know, just my opinion. I think the show will go off the air in the next year or so, but it'll be because people aren't interested, not because of the "blatant child exploitation and abuse."
Well, their appeal for me was never relatability. That said, I haven't loved most of the recent episodes. I could see the producers petering out on ideas perhaps in the near future.
But I don't think the show will end until the ratings go down - as far as I know (which is not very far), J&K+8 still does very well in the ratings for TLC, so I don't think it's lost a significant portion of its audience at this point.
And it's very hard for a parent to *fix* something they didn't see when the child complaining about being kicked (Alexis) isn't even crying anymore and is quickly distracted from the subject onto something else (in the kitchen when Kate tells her to stay out of Cara and Mady's space, Alexis asked Kate about the cleaning while drinking out of her cup...subject dropped).
Yeah, exactly. From what we saw, it wasn't just that Kate didn't care about the kicking, it was that Alexis seemed to drop the issue pretty quickly. Again, if Kate had seen it, I think Mady would've at least gotten a time-out.
What bothered me was, any refridgerator that has been shut off and closed up will get moldy and mildewy, but Kate made it appear the former owners were slobs. She waaaaay overreacted.
I must have missed this - what did Kate say about the former owners?
I don't understand how it could get moldy, even unplugged, if it wasn't at least somewhat dirty to begin with. What would the mold form from?
I haven't watched this show in months and can safely say I do not miss it.
Just a question, out of curiousity - why do you post about it, then? I mean, getting online and reading and replying to posts about a show that you aren't even watching seems to indicate some level of interest.
We live in an 850 square foot apartment with only two bedrooms but my kids would rather bring their friends here (and their friends would rather come here) than to go to other's houses that are usually much bigger/nicer. It is LOVE and FAMILY that make a home, not size and money!
I don't think the Gosselins have ever said or indicated that a bigger house is or should be replacing love and family in their lives. I don't understand why people see it as an either/or proposition.
For me its not that the rule that the children can't come in their bedrrom- it was the harshness of the delivery. I like Kate and it is none of my proverbial business, I just found the way it was done uneccessary.
I can see your point. I just don't think I took Kate's emphaticness that seriously. I didn't even see it as "harsh". The kids didn't seem to take it seriously. That may be a problem, actually - I think maybe Kate making such a big deal of things will just lead to her kids tuning her out in the future.
Since the cameras aren't there when the Gosselins sleep, there may be issues we aren't aware of. With 8 kids, J&K may get a LOT of nighttime interruptions. I don't know for sure, obviously, but if so maybe that's what Kate was so over the top about it.
It's just sad that with so many blessings, nothing seems to make Kate happy. I feel really sorry for the family because I think it's official: If a huge estate can't make Kate happy, nothing will.
You know, we saw Kate happy in this episode. There was plenty of her being happy. No one is happy all of the time. Most people aren't happy while cleaning out moldy refrigerators.
Sorry for the length of this post - lots of stuff to respond to!
Theresa said... Who cares how much the house sold for? Get over that. Or, was there a real point in having to mention the price of the house? The house that has a lot of land. It's not a mansion. It is a big house. I guess anything bigger than your house, you'd deem a mansion. Why do you have to point out the fact people can find the address, why publicize that? Just because the Gosselins are on TV, doesn't mean they don't deserve their privacy, too. Stop exploiting these kids by pointing out those facts. That's the true exploitation of these kids. As we've discussed before, would you rather see this family struggling or thriving? Or, do you not know we've discussed this because you drifted over from the underside of the slimy bridge upon where you normally live? We all can believe different things, and you believe in the gwop cry of exploitation bought this house. I believe that opportunities were presented to the Gosselins. I believe they are following the path of the Lord and are doing what is best to raise these kids in a loving home with two parents involved in their daily lives. Yes, we wouldn't have known about the Gosselins without them having sextuplets. Would I put my kids on tv? If there were an opportunity, who knows? I would do what was for the best interest of my family. Each family has a different strength, dynamic, and circumstance. Keep that in mind when you're crying exploitation.
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Actually somebody farther up asked how much the house was purchased for. And nope its not bigger than my house, sorry to burst your bubble BUT thats just the way it is. And I only used the term mansion because that is what a lot of people refer to the new KONPOUND as. The Gosselin kids have no privacy, and really do you think child predators need me to point out the fact that they can find the address? Nope don't think so. I didn't exploit the kids, I never gave a link or the actual address. The kids are not thriving! They are constantly yelled at, have no privacy, and are beat on by their siblings, so no they are not thriving. Just because they have money now doesn't mean anything. You honestly believe the Lord is leading them? I think its Kate's love of money leading them. Do you also believe that child predators are being lead to do what they do? Two parents are not home with those kids. Kate is constantly gone on speaking engagements and Jon is off at his new condo in Utah. Have you ever looked up the definition of exploitation? Because if you do you would realize that the Gosselin kids are being exploited. Would you also let them film your children potty training? Or how about rolling around on the floor for all of America to see their underwear?, or even better yet would you allow them to be filmed while having impacted feces removed?
And it's very hard for a parent to *fix* something they didn't see when the child complaining about being kicked (Alexis) isn't even crying anymore and is quickly distracted from the subject onto something else (in the kitchen when Kate tells her to stay out of Cara and Mady's space, Alexis asked Kate about the cleaning while drinking out of her cup...subject dropped).
Yeah, exactly. From what we saw, it wasn't just that Kate didn't care about the kicking, it was that Alexis seemed to drop the issue pretty quickly. Again, if Kate had seen it, I think Mady would've at least gotten a time-out.
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Actually Alexis told Kate and all Kate said was stay out of her room then. So nope Mady didn't get in trouble and Kate didn't really seem to care.
I wasn't bothered by the cleaning of the fridge, the Mady/Alexis argument, or even Kate wanting the kids to stay out of the bedroom.
What did get me was Kate asking Cara to wipe Joel. She spent time looking for him, then finds out where he is and says tough, he can wait. I understand the need and importance thoroughly cleaning the fridge, but she couldn't break to help her son?
Since you haven't posted here before under that name I am not quite sure how to take your comments. Theresa is a pretty regular poster here so naturally it stands to reason that the moderators post her comments more freely than a lot of the other posters today who have either never been here before or have just never used that screenname.
That being said, Theresa's actual quote was " As we've discussed before, would you rather see this family struggling or thriving? Or, do you not know we've discussed this because you drifted over from the underside of the slimy bridge upon where you normally live? "
Not to speak for Theresa of course, but it seems to me she was being both sarcastic and using irony to show that a lot of the random people coming out of the wood work after this episode seem shocked that some of us here are at all happy that a family is succeeding in this day and age. She states clearly the question of "Would you rather see this family struggling or thriving?" I'd rather see them thrive, just as I would rather see anyone else thrive.
I am not sure why you are so passionately against this family, but your comments to Theresa were crossing the line in my book. We still published them, though, because it is important for people to get both sides of an issue when there are posters bringing both sides to this blog.
For the record, yes, there are a few blatantly offensive posts that have been pulled but we try to post everything but those comments from random posters which are trying to just make people angry or attack people personally.
I don't believe a lot of people who cry exploitation. If it's exploitation, then why have a blog with so much nasty talk about the parents and children? If they truly believed it was exploitation, wouldn't they respect those children and their privacy? Surely they could create a blog that promotes ending all child exploitation. I suggest they start with the mommy blogs with ads, the Duggars, the celebrities selling pics of their kids, LPBW, Tiara shows, etc. as well as the Gosselins. There could be some intelligent discussion defining child exploitation. They could work to educate legislators to make the exploitation illegal (or at least regulated). Instead most seem prefer to gossip, trash, sleuth out private information, compare the Gosselins to killers and insult people who do not believe as they do. And, no, I don't believe that the Gosselins putting their children in the public (i.e. exploiting to some people), gives anyone else the right to do so as well. If it is wrong for the Gosselins, then surely it is wrong for anyone else.
Okay, I’m off my soap box.
Mady kicking Alexis was wrong. Viewers seem to forget that Kate did not see Mady kicking Alexis. Kate only heard Alexis tattling on Mady. Kate’s question of what were you doing seemed perfectly reasonable and, in fact, one I heard more than a few times growing up. Parents with large families cannot referee every fight.
The all mine quote – I thought I saw Kate laugh at herself when she said that and then I thought she was going to cry. I don’t think she quite believes that they are in such a wonderful house.
I also support the parent’s bedroom being off-limits to the kids. The kids are free to knock and state their problem, but parents need their own space. A strong marriage is good for the kids. Also, my family had to live temporarily in a small living space and the master bedroom was right off the main living space. I hated it – my kids were always in there watching TV, doing school projects or just goofing around. There was no place to retreat and regroup.
Kate and Jon's parenting techniques are not always the same as mine, but I respect their ability to make their own choices.
I told my husband that I want to try grasping the toilet paper roll in the middle, holding it over the toilet and watching the swirling toilet paper unwind the roll. Sounds like the boys had a neat idea!
Did you explain to her that the Gosselins believe in having their lives filmed as it really is, rather than some sanitized phony version? I wouldn't be interested in the show if they were just acting for the camera.
Maybe your mom should stick to "Ozzie and Harriet" reruns if she is so easily shocked.
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That's great that they have made the choice to act "real". The way they "act" though like I said, to me is very rude and disrespectful. There's a lot of yelling, a lot belittling, little patience.
And what's with the snipe at my mom? Haha. She doesn't watch TV. She was in the kitchen eating and couldn't help but see their interactions. It was an honest reaction.
I don't think Kate completely misses that point, at all. I've seen her express it before.
...I love Alexis to pieces, and don't condone Mady kicking her, but Alexis and all of the younger kids do need to learn that Cara and Mady's room is their private space, and they need to respect that.
Expressing it and enforcing it are two different things. Yes, they have 8 kids. Yes, there will be conflicts. I think that the younger kids still understandably need to work on their control. But if the two oldest ones are still being physical with the younger ones, the parents need to try harder.
As for the the kids respecting their space. My impression is that you are saying the ends justify the means. Can you clarify this? Because I don't think that any kids, of any age, should be allowed to resort to physical measures to get respect. That wouldn't be respect then, it would be fear.
If Mady felt the only way that she could get what she needs is finally getting her "Licks in" she needs to be gently corrected.
I don't know if you haven't watched the show much, but they definitely have a rule about hitting - it's been shown many times. The kids are still going to hit.
I think that's possible esp. outside of the parent's view.
I think they are doing an okay job. It may not be the way you'd do it, but luckily, there is not one perfect way to parent - people can do things differently and that's okay.
I cannot say myself that they are doing an ok job. But I do hope the kids grow up happy, productive, and well-adjusted.
I do think though that everyone would benefit from any type of parenting class, and if you are a parent of a big family, and even a multiples, the parent would learn a lot. For example, how do you make sure the kids follow the rules (such as not hitting) when your eyes and ears can't be everywhere? There's got to be a tactic a parent can use out there right?
Thankfully, I only have 1 daughter I need to keep an eye on. :)
Im LMAO reading here today. It is so funny when all the "intellectually sophisticated" GWOPers descend on this blog. I don't know why but it really tickles me.
Nothing better than reading comedy on a old, snowy day : )
"I don't understand how it could get moldy, even unplugged, if it wasn't at least somewhat dirty to begin with. What would the mold form from?"
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microscopic bacteria. there's nothing the old owners can do about that unless they disinfected it with vesphene and made sure that air couldn't get to the fridge.
I dont' begrudge Kate doing everything to get that fridge clean. I mean, does anyone want mold on their food? the family will be keeping their food there.
"FYI: The comments on the anti-GWOP site are a little bit negative. I was surprised. Maybe they are starting to see the cloud wrapped around their silver lining? BTW - why are the sheeple over there barely literate?"
Okay, I'm tempted to joke, but really, I've seen this sort of comment before. I feel like on certain sites people just say whatever they want whether it's true or not. I think we have a fairly articulate group here. I don't know about other sites as a whole, because I don't spend much time on them (the negativity is too depressing), but I know I have seen plenty of posts that are well-nigh incomprehensible. I think it's a sign of the poster's insecurity that she feels the need to frame it as "we're intelligent and they aren't".
As to her first point, we have been seeing more negative posts on this episode, though by and large not by regular posters, I don't think. I'm not sure that any of us sheeple have really changed our minds. But I also don't think any of us worship the Gosselins the way we are accused of doing.
It's sad when people lose their marbles, and Jon and Kate sure have. They are so over the top it is a freak show. The kids are going to be grown up very soon and want nothing to do with their parents or one another I am afraid. What is the point of having a big family without unconditional love, support and acceptance. They chastice, make fun of and physically assault one another. Very sad indeed.
Okay, not to pick apart your post (something I'm often accused of doing), but this is the sort of post one finds on other sites plenty, but which we don't usually get. I put this one through because it doesn't at least insult other posters. But I have issues aplenty with it:
1) What do you mean by "lost their marbles" and "freak show"? It would help if you have some examples of what you're talking about. Just saying it doesn't make it so. I think J&K are sane, I don't think they are freaks, and I don't think anything we saw last night was that different from what we've seen from them in the past. I need more substance in order to understand what you are talking about.
2) Somehow I doubt that you're "afraid" the kids won't want to have anything to do with their parents when they grow up. People say this all the time, and I think it's said with glee and anticipation rather than sorrow or fear. We have no idea what will happen with the Gosselin kids in the future, so I don't see the point in speculating so wildly.
3) I think families should love, support and accept one another - ideally unconditionally, but most people aren't that perfect. I don't think J&K's love of their kids is conditional, but the way they treat them may be based on their expectations in a given situation. I don't think that makes them so unusual.
4) Sometimes kids need to be chastised, depending on their behavior. Regarding "making fun of" - I don't see familial teasing as that big of a deal. It seems to be something that occurs in some families but not others. I would agree that as the kids get older, if there is something they are sensitive about, they shouldn't be teased about it. But the teasing that people complain about is often so benign that I think people must be totally humorless to complain.
As for "physically assault" - that is quite a stretch.
I think her comments were rude and un called for. And also I didn't cross that line first. I understand that she is a regular poster but aren't new people welcomed here? I am not against the Gosselin's I am however against exploiting 8 innocent children. They are filmed in various states of undress and doing things that the public should never see. I don't care if privates are blurred because that still leaves a whole camera crew and editing team seeing them. Its wrong. I am not trying to make people angry, or attack anybody BUT when somebody clearly implies that I live under a bridge what do you expect?
"I do think though that everyone would benefit from any type of parenting class, and if you are a parent of a big family, and even a multiples, the parent would learn a lot. For example, how do you make sure the kids follow the rules (such as not hitting) when your eyes and ears can't be everywhere? There's got to be a tactic a parent can use out there right? "
As a nanny and also holding an Early Childhood degree I don't disagree that probably any parent could benefit from paranting classes. But I also don't really think there is a solution to the problem of not being able to see and hear everything that goes on at evey moment (nor do I think any parent would want to be privy to that). I also don't think there is any child out there who follows every rule in their household at all times. IMO it's more a matter of knowing how to dealwith situations as the arise than it is trying to ensure all your children are "perfect" and nothing "bad" ever happens.
I also think it is important to remember that what works for one child or for one family will not always work for EVERY child or EVERY family.
Isn't also disrespectful and uncalled for to imply that I live in a house smaller than the Gosselin's?
Why would you think that? It has now been pointed out numerous times that the size of a house is no reflection on the happiness or well-being of the people inside it.
The problem that alot of us have with posts like yours is that you state these things like you're there, like you are the omnisicent, all seeing eye into the Gosselin world when you aren't.
The kids are not thriving! They are constantly yelled at, have no privacy, and are beat on by their siblings, so no they are not thriving
Do you really think the siblings abuse each other? That's what "beat on" implies, and thats extreme to put it lightly- they fight like 99% of child siblings.
They are constantly yelled at? Co I don't think so. Often when there is "yelling" its to get over the noise level that goes along with 8 children.
We've beat the privacy thing to death, I'm not even going to go there.
You honestly believe the Lord is leading them? I think its Kate's love of money leading them. Do you also believe that child predators are being lead to do what they do?
Again this is why we don't take you "advocates" seriously. You are comparing Jon and Kate who clearly (to anyone with any rationale whatsoever) love their chldren, to child predators??? That is a complete and total/VILE accusation.
Kate is constantly gone on speaking engagements and Jon is off at his new condo in Utah.
So many were complaining that Jon and Kate didnt "work" but now that Kate is working in a way that cant be denied thats not good enough either? I would guess that shes home with them more than parents who work a 9-5. And as far as Jon always being at his condo in Utah- where did you get this insider information? Your imagination doesn't count as a reliable source.
Actually Alexis told Kate and all Kate said was stay out of her room then. So nope Mady didn't get in trouble and Kate didn't really seem to care.
Now weren't you just complaining that they don't have any privacy? How exactly do you know that Kate didn't speak with Mady further- off camera? Maybe she did and maybe she didn't, but the fact is that you don't know.
So many were complaining that Jon and Kate didnt "work" but now that Kate is working in a way that cant be denied thats not good enough either? I would guess that shes home with them more than parents who work a 9-5. And as far as Jon always being at his condo in Utah- where did you get this insider information? Your imagination doesn't count as a reliable source.
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Actually Jon had an interview while in Utah and he said that he is purchasing a condo for him and Cara. So no I didn't make it up, Im sorry I can't remember what group did the interview but its on the web some where. Also its actually a video so no its not just somebody making it up.
The problem that alot of us have with posts like yours is that you state these things like you're there, like you are the omnisicent, all seeing eye into the Gosselin world when you aren't.
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Actually Im not commenting as if I were there. Im commenting on what is actually seen. Kate is not a nice woman and what they are doing to their children is wrong. She left Collin to sit on the toilet waiting for Jon to come in and wipe him simply because she is lazy. She even tried to get Cara to do it.
The kids are not thriving! They are constantly yelled at, have no privacy, and are beat on by their siblings, so no they are not thriving. Just because they have money now doesn't mean anything.
The kids by and large seem happy. Why can't you accept that?
Two parents are not home with those kids. Kate is constantly gone on speaking engagements and Jon is off at his new condo in Utah.
You're just throwing out rumors wildly at this point. People complain when the Gosselins "don't have jobs", but when they do work, people complain that they aren't home with the kids. It's ridiculous.
Have you ever looked up the definition of exploitation? Because if you do you would realize that the Gosselin kids are being exploited.
Okay, this wasn't directed at me, but I actually knew the meaning of exploitation without having to look it up - I would imagine that is true of many people here. It's not that obscure a word.
Or how about rolling around on the floor for all of America to see their underwear?, or even better yet would you allow them to be filmed while having impacted feces removed?
Ugh. I take it you are one of those people who said unspeakable things about Mady in the episode where she and Cara played mommy? I was absolutely disgusted by the comments of those perverts, and I'm afraid you've revealed exactly where your mind is - in the gutter - by repeating them. Anyone who sees something unwholesome in an 8-year-old girl rolling around on a floor seriously needs help.
As for the "impacted feces" bit, you apparently saw something that was never shown, which is quite a feat.
tintin said... If Mady felt the only way that she could get what she needs is finally getting her "Licks in" she needs to be gently corrected.
Tintin, I agree with you, but I think we need to acknowledge that we only saw an edited version of what happened. That said, even if we witnessed everything that happened, i.e.:
-Alexis was in Mady's room when she was told not to be -Alexis refuses to leave -Mady kicks Alexis in an attempt to get her to move on out -Alexis comes downstairs to report Mady's behavior, but doesn't seem *that* upset by it -Kate is in the middle of cleaning the fridge. She no doubt has kids tattle taling on each other every day.
In light of this, her response does not seem that off the mark to me.
Also, I appreciate the information you shared about the microscopic bacteria, but even acknowledging that Kate is a germophobe and can be dramatic, that house did seem dirty to me. Mouse droppings in the cabinets and horse manure left behind in the barn? It was just kind of bizarre that a rather nice piece of property would be left in that condition for the new owners.
As for the "impacted feces" bit, you apparently saw something that was never shown, which is quite a feat.
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Actually watch the episode when Kate picks out the tups bed. Its right there, and then during the interview Jon talks about it.
You're just throwing out rumors wildly at this point. People complain when the Gosselins "don't have jobs", but when they do work, people complain that they aren't home with the kids. It's ridiculous
-- No Im not, if you looked up her schedual and read interviews you would realize its very rare for both of them to be home. Also Jon mentions that in one of his interviews.
The kids by and large seem happy. Why can't you accept that?
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The kids do not seem happy. Its not normal for 4 year olds to have migraines. Its not normal for boys to be treated lesser than the girls. Its not normal for Mady to kick Alexis.
SamanthaNC said... Your imagination doesn't count as a reliable source.
Samantha, LOL! That's exactly where 95% of these unsubstantiated rumors come from.
Kikibee said...And to the people at various places who are horrified that she asked Cara to wipe her brother, I say "Hellooo!! Welcome to the world of a Duggar girl!".
Good point.
Also, I love it if posters would stop referencing how big or small their own homes are in comparison to the Gosselin digs. It just seems to be a tactic to show that said poster is either a) more virtuous than the Gosselins because they live in smaller digs or b) a means to flaunt that they couldn’t possibly be jealous because, guess what, their house is just as nice as Kate Gosselin’s!
Actually Im not commenting as if I were there. Im commenting on what is actually seen.
I guess sanity makes us view these things we "See" differently.
You have not seen Jon abandon in family to be in a condo in Utah for excessive periods, you have not seen the kids abuse each other, you have not seen the parents act as child predators,nor have you seen that Kate IS ALWAYS gone on speaking engagements.
hello everyone im new to this so please be kind , i love the show jon&kate plus 8 and i love their new house and the i loved the eppy last night except i didn't like when mady was kicking alexis
I don't see unhappy kids in that video. Not at all. They seem happy, sweet, developmentally where they should be (especially considering the fact that they are sextuplets born 10 weeks early).
While I can appreciate the concern people have for the Gosselin kids, from all I see it appears unfounded to make accusations of abuse and neglect. Money does not buy happiness of course, but its been clear so many times on the show (which again is a very small slice of their lives) that Jon and Kate both make strict rules which they then bend for the kids if the situation permits. "No stuffed animals ever" (which I find to be a good rule seeing as how dirty and germ filled they can be) was bent for Alexis and her Dusty, just like I am sure the "No kids in mom and dad's room" will at some point be bent if there is a sick one who just wants to be near mommy. Thats how things go-- you make strict, strong statements of how things should be so that the kids are clear on expectations, then if something happens out of the ordinary you're able to bend slightly.
Now weren't you just complaining that they don't have any privacy? How exactly do you know that Kate didn't speak with Mady further- off camera? Maybe she did and maybe she didn't, but the fact is that you don't know.
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I think this is the thing that confuses me the most. The folks that are the most anti-Gosslin (not picking on any particular group) seem to think that if it wasn't filmed, it didn't happen. They seem to think that the cameras are going 24/7. Just last night we were privy to the fact that the kids hung out in their parents' room. They would even sleep in there. Have we seen that? I'll admit that I don't watch ever single show, but I don't recall seeing that before. Does that mean it didn't happen because it wasn't filmed?
I honestly think that they are a family, no better, no worse than anyone else's. There are good times and bad times. They are human, and being so, sometimes things will come out of their mouths that probably shouldn't.
Above all, those children are loved. You can see that in any episode. They are happy and thriving. The tup's vocabulary amazes me with every show.
I just do not understand the mentality of "We don't see it so it can't have happened!"
Actually Jon had an interview while in Utah and he said that he is purchasing a condo for him and Cara. So no I didn't make it up, Im sorry I can't remember what group did the interview but its on the web some where. Also its actually a video so no its not just somebody making it up.
I believe he talked in passing about wanting to get a place in Utah. There was then speculation that one had already been purchased. I don't think that was ever confirmed. How you then get to "Jon is off at his new condo in Utah" puzzles me. The fact is, you don't know where Jon is and pretending that you do does nothing for your creditibility.
She left Collin to sit on the toilet waiting for Jon to come in and wipe him simply because she is lazy.
Yeah, there she was, lazily cleaning the refrigerator.
BTW, it was Joel, not Collin. Why is there such a correlation between being so concerned about the children and not being able to tell them apart?
Actually watch the episode when Kate picks out the tups bed. Its right there, and then during the interview Jon talks about it.
You are either imagining a scene that never happened, or are simply failing to mention that the scene was "filmed" from 20 feet away; I think all you saw was the van and Jon. When you make it seem like viewers were shown Jon "helping" a constipated Collin to poop, you are either lying or, again, constructing a scene out of your imagination that was never in fact shown.
That's great that they have made the choice to act "real". The way they "act" though like I said, to me is very rude and disrespectful. There's a lot of yelling, a lot belittling, little patience.
And what's with the snipe at my mom? Haha. She doesn't watch TV. She was in the kitchen eating and couldn't help but see their interactions. It was an honest reaction.
Well, you could have explained to her that the Gosselins believe in showing the good and the bad. You could have shown her any one of many, many moments of Kate being loving with her kids.
I must confess that before I got involved in blogging about the Gosselins, I never realized that there were so many PERFECT parents and families in the world. Families where the kids never misbehaved and the parents never yelled. Now, if only some of these paragons would learn modesty, they would be perfect in every way.
As for the the kids respecting their space. My impression is that you are saying the ends justify the means. Can you clarify this? Because I don't think that any kids, of any age, should be allowed to resort to physical measures to get respect. That wouldn't be respect then, it would be fear.
I thought that I stated several times that it was not acceptable; perhaps I was unclear. My point was about Kate's reaction, not having seen the conflict - that Alexis had already been told about respecting the rules about Mady and Cara's room, and that was what started the conflict.
As someone pointed out, it would have been different if Mady had kicked Alexis for no reason, or for being in a shared space.
No Im not, if you looked up her schedual and read interviews you would realize its very rare for both of them to be home. Also Jon mentions that in one of his interviews.
I don't keep a chart of where Kate Gosselin is at all times, so I'll have to take your word for it, since you seem to follow her comings and goings quite closely. Jon and Kate have also both said that their jobs allow them to be with the kids more than they would at conventional jobs. Perhaps Kate is gone a day or two here or there, but with the children much more when she's home. The fact remains that people complain when she stays at home with the kids ("she doesn't have a job; she's lazy") and complain when she is working outside the home ("she's never there"). It's perfectly fair and accurate to say that there is no pleasing you.
The kids do not seem happy. Its not normal for 4 year olds to have migraines. Its not normal for boys to be treated lesser than the girls. Its not normal for Mady to kick Alexis.
You don't know what you're talking about. I googled "children migraines" and found info about pre-school aged children having migraines in 30 seconds. I don't think that the Gosselin boys are treated as lesser than the girls. And yes, it is normal for siblings to hit and kick each other.
What I'm noticing here today as someone who frequents the other site as well is that there are many people here who are no less cruel than some of the extreme people on the other site.
It's the two extremes, the wackos on the other site and the purposely contrary on this one that are mudding the issues.
Too bad there isn't a third site for the normal people. :)
Good Heavens! I never said the parents act as child predators! Bottom line, whether you like Kate or not, they are EXPLOITING their children for greedy Kate's wants. Do you really think the kids care if Jon got hair plugs, Kate got a tummy tuck, teeth bleaching, or a fake tan? Nope they don't. I think the Gimme Gimme Gosselins would have been far better off to simply say NO THANK YOU to all the free things. Kept their jobs and actually supported their children instead of their children supporting them. I honestly don't know how people can turn a blind eye to exploitation, what Jon and Kate are doing is no different than what pageant mothers do. They are trying to make their kids marketable and will stoop to any low to do so. I fear for the kids, they are going to have a terrible future. Things are not always going to be handed to them and having to learn late in life that you actually have to work for things is a hard lesson.
marci said...When you go through the "exploitation" indoctrination are you required to leave your sense of humor at the door?
Marci, LOL!
Lizabeth said... Thats how things go-- you make strict, strong statements of how things should be so that the kids are clear on expectations, then if something happens out of the ordinary you're able to bend slightly.
That's how I see it too, Lizabeth. Additionally, I see Kate as much more of a "softie" that she wants the kids (or us) to believe.
That was illustrated well in the "Dusty" link. Thanks for providing that...!
Jon cant say "nose poke around", but she can say "de-vile-ifying"? ----
Man, she was on one last night!
Do you think she could have at least faked happy and nice? And her barking orders in their bedroom and once again belittling Jon, who takes it shamelessly....if you ask me, Kate was just a bitch.
Interesting how her moods change from the interview chair to the actual episode.
Jen K: This blog seems to be the Anti-GWOP site. There are actually commenters that have said they were at GWOP and have brought over their arguments. Why do people here care what GWOPers have to say about you? Why can't you just like the show and have that be the end of it? If others want to stop the exploitation why not let them try? If there is no exploitation or anything wrong going on then their attempts will get them no where, but if there is...........
My comments to you were not rude. It was truthful, but not rude. Yes, it was sarcasm, and I alluded to the fact that you are a troll that wondered over from Gwop. (trolls live under bridges). EVERY point you wrote was straight out of their pages. In fact, I went over to their blog and saw a few posts of yours It's A Good Thing! Sure, the blogosphere is a free place and you can hang out wherever you want, but don't mudsling over here.
Great, glad you have a big house. So, why use the term mansion? I don't care if you didn't put a url link on, just the mention and reminder of how people can be tracked down is bad enough.
You know, I haven't see the word KONPOUND on this blog when we discuss their house. I do know that Gwop uses it a lot, as well as all of your other arguments/questions you threw out at me. They are straight from the pages of Gwop. That is why I replied to you in the first place. One can read a post and know where they stand by the terms that poster uses, and you used typical Gwop terms with the typical Gwop mindset. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who noticed it.
I was going to reply back to each of your Gwoppy questions, but seriously, that would be such a waste of my time, as well as the readers of this blog. We have intelligent, rational discussions, not lies, innuendos, and trash being thrown. Your original post reaked of that trash. This blog is more evolved/mature and we have people who may not like Kate or Jon or how their raising their family, but we do not proganda sling regarding this family.
Btw, the kids have a parent with them each day. I didn't say they were both at home with them each day I said "two parents involved with their daily lives".
Bottom line, these kids are well loved and well cared for, and that's all that counts.
Now, read this as sarcastm...
In the words of the Beatles, go "back to where you once belonged".
Jen K said...What I'm noticing here today as someone who frequents the other site as well is that there are many people here who are no less cruel than some of the extreme people on the other site.
It's the two extremes, the wackos on the other site and the purposely contrary on this one that are mudding the issues.
Too bad there isn't a third site for the normal people. :)
Gee, Jen, I *thought* I was relatively normal. Guess not.
What's up with the happy face after you insult everyone who has posted before you?
BTW, there are other topics I would like to get to re: this episode, but we have had to spend the majority of the day refuting claims from people whose "imagination" is their "source" (thanks to Samantha for that one).
What I'm noticing here today as someone who frequents the other site as well is that there are many people here who are no less cruel than some of the extreme people on the other site.
I haven't seen anyone be cruel. Bitchy (speaking for myself, certainly), but not cruel. All I can say is that there is only so much unreasonableness that one can put up with before one starts to get sarcastic. At least that's true for me.
It's really difficult to communicate clearly and civilly with people who either don't understand or refuse to acknowledge the difference between opinion and fact.
I don't particularly like this blog getting nasty, but I don't like allowing only one POV, either. Unfortunately, with opposing POVs, you get more back and forth, and things can get heated. And as I said, I think the irrationality of some posters makes things worse (JMO, obviously).
It's the two extremes, the wackos on the other site and the purposely contrary on this one that are mudding the issues.
I completely disagree that people here are "purposely contrary" or "mudding the issues". I know for myself, I say what I think - not to be contrary, but because I think it. As for "mudding the issues" I see that as almost the sole province of the haters. If claiming that things happened when they didn't isn't muddying issues, I don't know what is.
Too bad there isn't a third site for the normal people. :)
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness. There's nothing to stop you from starting your own blog.
Well, you could have explained to her that the Gosselins believe in showing the good and the bad. You could have shown her any one of many, many moments of Kate being loving with her kids.
I couldn't, because I didn't know that the Gosselins believe in showing the good and the bad till you pointed it out.
My contention though, if it's rude, does it matter that it's "real"? If I were to view behavior that's displayed in the show in public, I would find it disagreeable. Before you say I shouldn't watch if I find the show appalling, I already made the decision not to. I excepted this one time because I was excited about seeing their house. Like I said in my first post, I love houses.
I must confess that before I got involved in blogging about the Gosselins, I never realized that there were so many PERFECT parents and families in the world. Families where the kids never misbehaved and the parents never yelled. Now, if only some of these paragons would learn modesty, they would be perfect in every way.
Nowhere did I say I was perfect. Let me reiterate my point. Kicking for an 8 yr. old should not be acceptable, no matter the reason. If they are still doing that at this age, that NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
From http://childparenting.about.com/od/childdevelopment/a/eightyearoldhom_3.htm
"Discipline
Parents of an eight-year old must have a good repertoire of discipline strategies because they definitely will be needed. If authoritarian parenting strategies have been used with the child, the negative results of that style will begin to be apparent in the aggression and hostility of the eight-year old. Now is the time to learn and practice authoritative discipline that provides firm and consistent expectations and consequences , and teaches children why their actions result in good or bad consequences."
Highlights are mine. If Maddy is still hitting, they need to work on their consistency in their discipline and consequences. That is my point. Therefore, Kate saying To Alexis "then you shouldn't be in her room", is NOT consistent with their rule of no hitting. It says to the kids; it's okay to hit if Mom/Dad doesn't see it, and it's ok to hit for a reason like when we're frustrated.
It's not perfect parenting, it's just consistent parenting.
Wow, perhaps if you all read the operative word, "SOME" in my comment you would see that I wasn't insulting EVERYONE here.
Perhaps if we all slowed down to read the comments in their entirety before commenting back, it would alleviate some of the "I meant this", "you said that" stuff.
It's A Good Thing said- Actually Im not commenting as if I were there. Im commenting on what is actually seen. Kate is not a nice woman and what they are doing to their children is wrong. She left Collin to sit on the toilet waiting for Jon to come in and wipe him simply because she is lazy. She even tried to get Cara to do it. -------------------------------- You aren't watching very well, because it was Joel that was left to sit. I don't agree in asking an 8 year old to wipe her brother, and I don't agree with how much the Duggars rely on their daughters either. ------------------------------- It's A Good Thing Said -
The kids do not seem happy. Its not normal for 4 year olds to have migraines. -------------------------------- I have had migraines since I was a young girl, and it is not at all tied to my happiness. My doctor has found in my case that it is both genetic and based on the chemistry within my body. -------------------------------- Guinevere - I don't scientifically understand the mold/mildew, but it does occur even in a clean refrigerator. In high school I worked at an ice cream stand and all of us spent days cleaning before both closing and re-opening each year. We dealt with the mold much more because of the constant opening of the refrigerators. The equipment looked clean (as it did in the episode) but it grows in the tracks and seals, then spreads. When closing the store for winter we'd unplug the equipment, spend hours scrubbing it all down (even though they were cleaned on a regular basis), and then left the doors open. Perhaps the fridge was unplugged and with the doors shut mold grew in all the crevices.
As for "mudding the issues" I see that as almost the sole province of the haters. If claiming that things happened when they didn't isn't muddying issues, I don't know what is.
To be fair, so is denying something that was actually seen or said and is fact and not open to interpretation.
I find that many times, some of the disagreements have come from the fact that some people aren't reading or watching the extra stuff...like the interview with Jon in Utah. There was a great deal of information in that interview that came straight from his mouth that people are commenting on and that are people are calling fictional or imaginary.
But whatever...those on each side (extreme, is a better word) will never change their minds and it's not my intention or goal to do so. I'm more in the middle but leaning toward Jon and Kate being pretty crappy to each other and their kids. That's my opinion and no one needs to agree with it.
Theresa: There are actually a few comments by your name on GWOP. Maybe they are you maybe not but what Im trying to get across is: The Gosselins are exploiting their children for their own personal gain. Yes I do frequent GWOP, its a great site, some of the comments are a little off but the majority of it is true. I see nothing wrong with coming to both sites, Im not creating a different name and Im not changing my opinions.
What the Gosselin's are choosing to do to their children is WRONG. It needs to STOP.
You honestly believe the Lord is leading them? I think its Kate's love of money leading them. Do you also believe that child predators are being lead to do what they do?
You then wrote: I never said the parents act as child predators!
You're right you didnt say they are child predators- you merely eluded to it. A thousand pardons. You need to know how your posts come across to readers- although I strongly suspect that you do.
I think you're right. The IDEAL thing would have been for Kate to call Mady downstairs with Alexis, hash out what happened, reinforced with Mady not to kick her sister, perhaps give a punishment of some sort, and also explain, again, to Alexis that she may not go into her sister's "area" uninvited. (In this case, I think a "line" should actually be drawn that the tups may not cross without permission, like she did with the parents' bedroom door being that line for the parents.)
What I have a problem with is criticizing or over-critiqueing any *one* instance we see on tv.
Not every situation is an "ideal" one in which to practice consistent parenting. What may seem clear cut to someone watching the event unfold on the television screen may have been very different in real time.
And, frankly, Kate and Jon get what a lot of other parents don't....filmed evidence of what actually happened, even if they see it days, weeks later, or hear about it from the crew. I would *think* they take those opportunities, later on, in private, to talk to and discipline the offenders.
To be fair, so is denying something that was actually seen or said and is fact and not open to interpretation.
That is something we talked about a lot in the post Guin just did on Gosselin Propaganda. I agree that things are completely open to interpretation. Because of that, as I have said many times, I choose to give people the benefit of the doubt. At least for me I think all I have read and seen shows a young family with parents still figuring out who they are and kids who are adorable and loved.
This is a TV show where we see short clips and pieces of a family's life. So, then, based on your statement its up to the viewer/blog reader to determine whether they choose to see Kate and Jon as parents who love their kids and are just doing their thing, or monsters who neglect and exploit their children.
Personally, I don't really find it positive to spend time dwelling on what people I will probably never meet choose to do. There are too many other things in life to be concerned with. So I have made the choice to go by what I actually see and what is actually said as well as trying to see a more positive side of situations.
You honestly believe the Lord is leading them? I think its Kate's love of money leading them. Do you also believe that child predators are being lead to do what they do?
You then wrote: I never said the parents act as child predators!
You're right you didnt say they are child predators- you merely eluded to it. A thousand pardons. You need to know how your posts come across to readers- although I strongly suspect that you do.
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I don't I eluded to the Gosselins as child predators. Im sorry if people took it that way but that is not what is meant. It merely means that if you believe Jon and Kate were lead to behave the way they do and make the choices they make then do you believe every single person is lead to make the choices they make?
If you looked a little farther over here, you'd see that Jon's Utah interview was posted here, discussed at length, and that most, if not all, of us are QUITE familiar with everything he said.
It may be hard to believe, but we're not basking in ignorance here, we just may not see things how you do.
And I don't think Jon in the interview said anything more than he'd "like" to get a place in Utah. There was a follow up article published online that also said he was considering it.
If (and when) GWOP posts the pics of the Gosseins' Utah ski chalet, along with sale price, tax value and square footage, you can go for it. Until then, save the speculation for those who care to hear it....i.e., Jon's off galavanting in UT.
I'm not disputing the fact that ALL children need consistent discipline, boundaries, and rules no matter their age. BUT I also have never met a parent who is consistent with their discipline 100% of the time. I think that all parents have times that they "give in" to their children, or bend rules as needed. I absolutely think being consistent is a huge key to good discipline but I also am realistic in knowing that it is not something which always happens no matter how hard you try.
And just because you have the rule in your household of no hitting doesn't mean that it will NEVER happen.
I also don't believe (IMO) a child's behavior should be labeled as "normal" or not normal because honestly what is normal?? Normal for one child is not always considered normal for another child.
Why do people here care what GWOPers have to say about you? Why can't you just like the show and have that be the end of it? If others want to stop the exploitation why not let them try? If there is no exploitation or anything wrong going on then their attempts will get them no where, but if there is...........
I don't care what GWOPpers say about me, and I rarely visit there. Whether you like it or not, the haters are part of the discussion here, whether they are at GWoP or elsewhere.
About 99.9999% of the posts there and elsewhere have nothing to do with stopping exploitation. If people want to hurt the Gosselins, I can't stop them, but I can condemn their actions. It is not harmless to lie about the Gosselins as you have here today. It's not harmless for people to call CPS on them and harass them. It's a witchhunt, and as in the witchhunts of old, the offenders don't care who they hurt in their "righteous" cause. I'm reminded of the old practice of trial by ordeal, which Wikipedia defines thusly:
"In a trial by ordeal, supposed witches were immersed into a vat of water or pond, and taken out after some time, and given the ability to confess. If he or she confessed, they were killed. If he/she did not confess, he/she was submerged again. This process usually was repeated until the victim drowned or gave up and let themselves be executed in another way (hanging or, rarely, burning). Also, if they had their hands/feet tied, they would be left under water. If they floated they were guilty of witchcraft, if they sank they were innocent but had usually drowned anyway."
The problem I have with the haters can be encapsulated by some of the posts in this thread: 1) lying or exaggerating events to make their point and 2) concerning themselves way more than they need to with the behavior of utter strangers while patting themselves on the back for how awesome they themselves are.
Not every situation is an "ideal" one in which to practice consistent parenting. What may seem clear cut to someone watching the event unfold on the television screen may have been very different in real time.
So true! In real life parents make mistakes, I know I'm guilty- I'm thankful there is no video evidence though lol!
Actually, I said, "NOT open to interpretation" meaning facts...things that are straight out of the mouths of Jon and Kate.
Like the "rumor" about a condo in Utah. Fact...Jon said it himself. Whether they actually bought one yet is another story, but that "rumor" was started by Jon himself.
This is sort of what I'm trying to get at. There are facts that are out there to be discussed, and that's fine, but some people who are choosing to label (SOME people, not all) things that are actual FACTS as rumors and then criticize people for talking about them.
I think part of the problem is that fact wise, not everyone is always on the same page. So you have SOME looneys who take facts and create stories about it (like the people who were talking about Jon *maybe* *someday* *possibly* running off with a ski bunny in Utah) and you have fact "denials" from people who just don't have the info to really discuss something.
But whatever...I mean only time will tell how this all shakes out.
All children misbehave. What parents should strive for is progress not perfection.
As your child grows, there are some behaviors that you will be dealing with for years and years and years. Sometimes effective parenting will eliminate one behavior only to have another unpleasant behavior display itself.
Do I think that K effectively handled this? No and I don't know. No, if the only thing that she did was talk to Alexis. But also, I don't know if because we don't know what happened off-camera.
Guinevere said... About 99.9999% of the posts there and elsewhere have nothing to do with stopping exploitation. If people want to hurt the Gosselins, I can't stop them, but I can condemn their actions. It is not harmless to lie about the Gosselins as you have here today. It's not harmless for people to call CPS on them and harass them. It's a witchhunt, and as in the witchhunts of old, the offenders don't care who they hurt in their "righteous" cause. I'm reminded of the old practice of trial by ordeal, which Wikipedia defines thusly:
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I haven't lied here and not once have I called CPS, nor said that I have. Im not trying to hurt the Gosselins. I don't harass them either, not once have I ever contacted them or anybody involved with them.
Honestly Im confused what exactly did I say that was a lie?
If (and when) GWOP posts the pics of the Gosseins' Utah ski chalet, along with sale price, tax value and square footage, you can go for it. Until then, save the speculation for those who care to hear it....i.e., Jon's off galavanting in UT.
We were posting at the same time so I didn't see this comment until after my previous one was (or will be) posted.
This is what I mean...I AGREE that there are wackos at GWOP. I AGREE that there are people taking it too far. I'm not one of them.
I swear, it seems like this site hates people on that site and likes to twist words just for the sake of it without considering that some of us actually have common ground with some of you.
Its a Good Thing said: It merely means that if you believe Jon and Kate were lead to behave the way they do and make the choices they make then do you believe every single person is lead to make the choices they make?
Uhhmmm yeah... actually I do...
That being said, this is not the place or time for a religious discussion, but at least for my part with my beliefs this is a part of them.
I believe people are led to the choices they make both by who they are created to be and by the situations that are brought their way.
Samantha and Marci, I totally agree about how consistent discipline may be the goal but is not always reality. You set up parameters then you allow some freedom and a chance to break the rules (go to bed late, have ice cream for breakfast, etc) on occasion to show that life isn't just about a strict schedule, but about enjoying opportunities and fun that comes along.
Rest assured, that would not be me who posted at GWOP. I am very much against them and nothing I would (or tried to) say would never actually make it to post.
Hmmmm....I realize the name "Theresa" is not "Mary", a very common name, but I would venture that there are other people in this world who have that name. Sorry, but that is not me.
As I've stated vehemently on this site, I would LOVE to see GWOP closed down. They are a terrible site that spits forth nothing but lies and extrapolations as truth. It's a hate blog. They are the anti-advocates of the children.
Thank you for the entertainment for today, but I have a busy afternoon and cannot respond to your silliness anymore, so you have a nice night, okay?
Lizabeth said... Its a Good Thing said: It merely means that if you believe Jon and Kate were lead to behave the way they do and make the choices they make then do you believe every single person is lead to make the choices they make?
Uhhmmm yeah... actually I do...
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Oh so you do believe child predators are lead to do what they do? You really think people have no responsibility for their actions?
Can someone help me out with something? Apparently, the anti-Gs are huge child advocates and that is the main reason why they get up in the mornings. Here's where I have an issue -- they watch the show, Tivo it, write about it down to the minute, and pick up on things that require magnifying glasses and extensive database research. Besides the fact that it's creepy and somewhat predatory (is that a word?; I'm not sure), aren't they actively participating in the so-called child exploitation if they scrutinize the show to that level? I personally watch the show mindlessly and then turn it off when it's over and don't think about it often (well, until I found all these blogs). According to them, liking the show means you're participating in the child exploitation. But they're watching the show, too; and they take notes and write recaps and can probably tell you the brand of shoes Cara has on. In regards to child exploitation, isn't it even worse that they monitor these kids to the level that they do compared to the people who just watch the show for fun? How are they *better* people than the fans? Aren't they worse? It disturbs me to picture a bunch of women sitting at home with their pads and pencils taking notes on a tv show.
Sorry, Jen K- I forgot a word and messed up that part of my post! I agree about something being NOT open for interpretation. That was my point-- some things are fact and many things are not. I choose, in the things that are not yet facts and which we have no idea about, to see a more positive bend. Others choose differently. I also agree that a lot of people are not at all on the same page fact wise which makes for a lot of frustration to those of us who read articles then call shenanigans when we hear something misquoted or taken out of context.
Honestly, the more you post, Jen K, the more I think you have a lot in common with quite a few of us here. I have definitely found this blog to be more of a middle ground than I originally thought after noticing people disagree respectfully and move on. Just sayin' we may not all be as different as our posts make us seem :).
Sorry if this has been touched on...I don't have time to read through all of the comments. Does anyone else think Kate's behaviour regarding the no kids in the bedroom issue was too harsh? I can understand their need for privacy, but I've always thought the rule for young kids should be, if the bedroom door is closed, knock and wait for someone to open up. It just seems mean and unsafe to say that you will never set foot in this room again or else you will suffer severe punishment. I wonder what the severe punishment was that Kate had in mind? The kids are all so young, and sometimes kids need their parents at night, like after a bad dream, or bedwetting incident, or feeling sick etc. They should not feel afraid to go to their parents, wherever the parents may be in the house. With eight kids, you will never have complete privacy (heck, I only have two, and barely have any). It's just one of those things you accept when your kids are little, and something they will soon outgrow. Thoughts?
Honestly, the more you post, Jen K, the more I think you have a lot in common with quite a few of us here.
Thanks for the nice comment...
I'm not sure I agree with you there if recent comments by some are the judge of that! :) But I will say this: Just because someone posts over there that doesn't mean they can't see both sides and talk about something rationally.
My stance, so that I'm perfectly clear and there is no confusion is that I disagree with what Jon and Kate are doing (living off the kids). I would like the show to end for the kids' sake and I know that's not a popular opinion here. As a former fan of the show, I've drawn my own conclusions about the differences in what the show used to be and how they all used to be and the way things are now.
Do I agree with everything over at GWOP? No...but I do appreciate their concern, however misguided and extreme SOME of the people are. I also think that SOME of the people at GWOP have it spot on.
I also think that there are people here who are able to see things objectively and I appreciate that. But, conversely, I think there are SOME people who are purposely contrary and choose not to get some facts before calling foul on other posters.
Just as it's a little creepy to be all in the G's business and hate them so feverishly and not know them, I happen to also think it's a little creepy to be so defending of them (and not know them either) no matter what without considering that there might be some weirdness there.
So I'm no J&K fan and would like nothing more than for the kids to have a normal off-camera life, but I'm not a wacko making up stories either. And I'm glad that there seems to be common ground here and sometimes over there too. It's just tough to find it sometimes. :)
Rest assured, that would not be me who posted at GWOP. I am very much against them and nothing I would (or tried to) say would never actually make it to post.
Hmmmm....I realize the name "Theresa" is not "Mary", a very common name, but I would venture that there are other people in this world who have that name. Sorry, but that is not me.
As I've stated vehemently on this site, I would LOVE to see GWOP closed down. They are a terrible site that spits forth nothing but lies and extrapolations as truth. It's a hate blog. They are the anti-advocates of the children.
Thank you for the entertainment for today, but I have a busy afternoon and cannot respond to your silliness anymore, so you have a nice night, okay?
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Well then I guess its good for the Gosselin children that you have no control over the GWOP site. They are advocating for the children. People here however, wear their rose colored glasses and refuse to acknowledge the truth.
TRUTH: Jon and Kate ARE exploiting their children for their own personal gain. TRUTH: Exploitation is wrong. Its wrong to sell your childrens privacy so you can go to the spa and on numerous vacations. TRUTH: Jon and Kate Plus 8 NEEDS to be off the air.
Oh so you do believe child predators are lead to do what they do? You really think people have no responsibility for their actions?
Wow. That was uncalled for. I'm pretty shocked that after you talk about trying to have a reasonable and unoffensive discussion you would choose to make this kind of personal and uncalled for statement.
My exact quote was, to be clear, "I believe people are led to the choices they make both by who they are created to be and by the situations that are brought their way." I stated that my faith and my beliefs are that we are guided AND have situations brought our way. I believe that we all have personal responsibility and free will which work along with who we are created to be and what situations cross our paths. I am responsible for my words and thoughts just like everyone else is... but the things in my life are different from yours because of who we are and what we are involved with.
Like I said before I do not want to turn this into a religious discussion, hence my decision earlier to make a quick statement instead of a long description. Unfortunately since you chose to demean my faith I had to expound.
I lost the post I wanted to respond to but I just want to say that I think it takes a really sick mind to sexualize a child who is merely dancing around.
Mady's underwear didn't show to anyone who wasn't purposely looking for the outlines of her underpants.
I seriously hope the film crew for the show files suit against any and all people who infer or outright claim they have done anything improper. It wouldn't be hard for their attorneys to find the people who make those comments.
It's a Good Thing -- right now, the main topics on GWOP are a moldy fridge, the swimming pool, Kate's clothes, and poop. Yes, I can see how they are squashing all the obvious child exploitation on the show as we speak.
Summer said... It's a Good Thing -- right now, the main topics on GWOP are a moldy fridge, the swimming pool, Kate's clothes, and poop. Yes, I can see how they are squashing all the obvious child exploitation on the show as we speak.
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Actually if you read all the posts and comments you would realize that they are writing to various people concerning their support of Jon and Kate. They are making a difference. They are not sitting around talking about another blog.
It's a Good Thing -- right now, the main topics on GWOP are a moldy fridge, the swimming pool, Kate's clothes, and poop. Yes, I can see how they are squashing all the obvious child exploitation on the show as we speak.
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What? No talk about Kates hair? I thought that was the Job # 1 in saving the children.
As a former social worker in child welfare, I can say that in no way is GWOP advocating for the Gosselin children. Griping and being petty about water pitchers, stoves, who gets their own room, etc. is not advocating. Calling Kate derogatory names is not helping anyone. Writing to senators, contacting child welfare departments, trying to change law regarding reality TV "actors" work hours- that is advocating! It's absurd how grown people treat each other about this show.
its A Good Thing said ..No Im not, if you looked up her schedual and read interviews you would realize its very rare for both of them to be home. Also Jon mentions that in one of his interviews. ...
and
..Nope they don't. I think the Gimme Gimme Gosselins would have been far better off to simply say NO THANK YOU to all the free things. Kept their jobs and actually supported their children instead of their children supporting them....
You're complaining that they're gone and then saying they don't work. Which is it? I guess it doesn't count because it's all because of the kids. Well you can't have the mom without the kids, as they wouldn't be here either without her. Is Kate to work in her closet sealing envelopes because then nobody would know she was a mom of eight kids?
Here's Kate's quote.
“We are really blessed, because the show allows us to both work from home and at least one parent is here with our kids all the time.”
JerseyGirl said... I lost the post I wanted to respond to but I just want to say that I think it takes a really sick mind to sexualize a child who is merely dancing around.
Mady's underwear didn't show to anyone who wasn't purposely looking for the outlines of her underpants.
I seriously hope the film crew for the show files suit against any and all people who infer or outright claim they have done anything improper. It wouldn't be hard for their attorneys to find the people who make those comments.
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Never said the film crew did anything improper. Its the parents fault.
I think the show may lose ratings now that they have moved to their new home. The shows appeal was based on the fact that the Gosselin's behaved a lot like the regular American family except with more kids. They dressed similar, had similar jobs and lived in a similar house. Now that they have a house that rivals most of our homes, viewers probably won't feel the same connection. Especially if they continue to go on fancy all expense paid trips.
Do I think they need and deserve this house? Probably. I think they went through a lot more in their lives than what we know or comprehend from the show.
Right, all 500-plus posters are writing all the sponsors. I would love to read some of those letters. "Dear KMart, Kate likes mold more than poop. She doesn't care about anyone but Hannah. She wears nice clothes, and she has weird hair. The show is bad, very bad, but I watch it every week and write about it to all my friends on a blog. I am a very special person because of that, and I expect my letter to be passed on to someone who will make a difference. I know everything I write is a fact because everything we see on the show needs to be taken literally. We see every aspect of their life. Please pull your sponsorship. Oh, and the kids have MAJOR MAJOR psychological issues. I took a health class in high school, so I should know. Thank you."
I love Alexis to pieces, and don't condone Mady kicking her, but Alexis and all of the younger kids do need to learn that Cara and Mady's room is their private space, and they need to respect that.
-----
How in the world can they learn a concept of privacy when none is ever given to them. The hypocrisy in your comment made me LOL!
Right, all 500-plus posters are writing all the sponsors. I would love to read some of those letters. "Dear KMart, Kate likes mold more than poop. She doesn't care about anyone but Hannah. She wears nice clothes, and she has weird hair. The show is bad, very bad, but I watch it every week and write about it to all my friends on a blog. I am a very special person because of that, and I expect my letter to be passed on to someone who will make a difference. I know everything I write is a fact because everything we see on the show needs to be taken literally. We see every aspect of their life. Please pull your sponsorship. Oh, and the kids have MAJOR MAJOR psychological issues. I took a health class in high school, so I should know. Thank you."
I wrote the sponsors a few months ago when I first started to feel something was not right. I simply stated my opinion that I didn't feel that their brand(s) were in line with what I've seen on the show and that I was surprised that they were aligned with them. The one I contacted first was Juicy Juice and surprisingly, their ads and placement on the show is now missing as evidenced in last night's episode when another brand of juice was there.
So I think that contacting sponsors in a thought out way that is respectful and reasoned does work.
I was saying what Jon said about "wanting" to buy a place in Utah was the only "fact" that came out of the tv interview or the article (which I mentioned). We're well aware of what Jon said.
It seemed you were trying to back up It's a Good Thing's general statement that the parents aren't home enough (Kate's off speaking, Jon's off in UT) with the above interview.
I'm saying, the ONLY thing we can get from the interview is that Jon WAS in Utah for 5 days or so and mentioned to a few members of the press that he'd like to get a place, or was looking into it.
This is what I didn't care for...the intimation by one poster that the Gosselin parents should be home more (further depending on the kids for income and invading their privacy by filming at home, which you seem not to like), and another poster (you) further trying to equate Jon shopping for a condo in Utah (the "fact" you brought up) as a "fact" that Jon's never home.
I get you think the kids are being exploited. Not too many here agree with that. You're welcome to discuss it, but don't expect to be agreed with on every point....that only happens at GWOP.
You've also made some rather blanket nasty statements yourself...wishing there was a third site for "normal" people, is one example....or did you mean that as a compliment to this site?
I've made plenty of nasty statements about extreme posters myself...I don't go to their house to say them.
Believe it or not, this isn't a Worship the Gosselins site. We also try to not let it spiral into a cesspool of speculation and nastiness either.
I couldn't, because I didn't know that the Gosselins believe in showing the good and the bad till you pointed it out.
You didn't see Kate reiterating what Leah had said ("thank you, Mommy") and saying it made it all worth it? You didn't see her hugging Hannah?
My contention though, if it's rude, does it matter that it's "real"? If I were to view behavior that's displayed in the show in public, I would find it disagreeable. Before you say I shouldn't watch if I find the show appalling, I already made the decision not to. I excepted this one time because I was excited about seeing their house. Like I said in my first post, I love houses.
Fair enough. But my point still stands. I don't think the Gosselins want an edited reality show that only has the good moments. And I don't think I'd want to see it.
tintin, regarding consistency, I agree that it should be a primary goal in parenting. I think it's something that can be easy to fall down on, so I'm not going to knock Kate if she's not perfect in that regard. I also just think this is one of those scenes where we don't have enough information to make judgments - we don't know if Mady got scolded. I believe that Alexis presented it as "Mady spanked me". As I've said several times, I think Kate's reaction would have been different if she'd seen the incident. As it was, I think this was another one of those instances (J&K touch on it on one of the episodes) of behavior that maybe looked like tattletelling, and Kate didn't take it that seriously.
I think consistency is even more important when you have so many kids, but it's probably also harder. I believe Jon and Kate do the best they can.
Wow, perhaps if you all read the operative word, "SOME" in my comment you would see that I wasn't insulting EVERYONE here.
Well, I guess insulting some of the posters here IS better than insulting all of us. It seems hypocritical to call people cruel and then turn around and insult people. At least I know when I'm being rude.
To be fair, so is denying something that was actually seen or said and is fact and not open to interpretation.
Can you give me an example of what you're talking about?
Like the "rumor" about a condo in Utah. Fact...Jon said it himself. Whether they actually bought one yet is another story, but that "rumor" was started by Jon himself.
My understanding is the same as Marci's - it is not a fact that Jon has bought a condo in Utah, and it's not a fact that he's been spending time at said condo recently. If you have evidence to that effect, please direct us to it.
Honestly Im confused what exactly did I say that was a lie?
For one, you stated that the scene with Jon helping a constipated Collin to poop was shown. It was not. The camera was quite far away and you couldn't see anything. Your statements seem to be deliberately misleading.
I swear, it seems like this site hates people on that site and likes to twist words just for the sake of it without considering that some of us actually have common ground with some of you.
I don't hate people I don't even know. They sometimes annoy and aggravate me; other times they are entertainingly crazy. But I don't hate them.
I think that some of the things you've said in this thread have twisted the truth, but it's possible your interpretation of events is simply different. I do feel that there is at least a possibility of having a rational discussion with you, which is more than I can say for some people.
You really think people have no responsibility for their actions?
I think you are responsible for seeing something unwholesome in a child rolling around on a carpet. I think it's pretty sick. I'm starting to picture Piper Laurie in "Carrie".
Sorry if this has been touched on...I don't have time to read through all of the comments.
Sorry, I don't have time to read the rest of your post, then.
Did you ever see the response from the woman who creates the tshirts the kids wear to one of their letters? It was seriously the funniest response ever and it had GWOP in a frenzy. Ive been meaning to order from her ever since. I will have to order some cute for Valentines Day.
It seemed you were trying to back up It's a Good Thing's general statement that the parents aren't home enough (Kate's off speaking, Jon's off in UT) with the above interview.
Never on this site or any other have I ever made a comment about either parent being home or not being home. You're attributing things to me that I never said.
I happen to agree with those of you who say, "one minute you complain she's not working then you complain she's at work."
Don't put words in my mouth.
Secondly, I could care less where Kate is at any given moment. I would rather she was not on TV, but that will all get worked out in the end somehow.
I get you think the kids are being exploited. Not too many here agree with that. You're welcome to discuss it, but don't expect to be agreed with on every point....that only happens at GWOP.
I also said that I had an opinion and I didn't expect anyone to agree with me.
Are you actually READING my comments or just making up your own interpretations of them?
As for the "nasty" comments...I had a smiley face which is the commonly accepted symbol of laughter or "JOKE" which I and some other posters were reminded not to leave our sense of humors at the door if I remember correctly. You know...levity?
We also try to not let it spiral into a cesspool of speculation and nastiness either.
Excellent advice that I would think EVERYONE would heed here. You're twisting what I've said because you don't agree with me. Agree with me or disagree with me...fine. But don't start inventing things that I didn't say.
I found the response from one of the "sponsors" after she received an email from one of the child advocates. You can just imagine what was said if the response was "we admire your rigidity" ROFLMAO
"We appreciate your concern, and admire your rigidity. Values are a very important, if not the most important aspect of our lives, and you seem to believe in yours very passionately. While an admirable trait- if a person thinks their values ought not only to run their lives, but everyone else's lives- this can cause a breech in integrity of those values. Not to say that we at Em Tanner Designs don't value certain things (like privacy, health, etc), but we believe that every person is capable of choosing their own values and making the best of them, while they have them. Thank you for your time, hope your holidays were enjoyable."
How in the world can they learn a concept of privacy when none is ever given to them. The hypocrisy in your comment made me LOL!
Much as I live to amuse you, people in glasses houses shouldn't throw stones. Anyone who continues to watch a show that they decry as child exploitation should be worrying more about their own hypocrisy than about accusing others.
It took me a few minutes but I found the infamous episode with Mady dancing around on the floor. Its minute mark 7:48. You have to be really perverse IMO to read anything sexual into this and to claim you can see her underwear is proof enough of that!
Guinevere, I guess I should have made myself a bit more clear - Typically, I do read through all of the comments. Tonight, I am helping my son study for an exam. I just thought I would throw something out there that had bothered me about the episode and see what others thought, so I could join the conversation later tonight, when I have more time. I don't think the rudeness was called for - you could have easily just ignored my posting.
Okay, now, if you read this post as brimming with sarcasm...it is.
So because letters were written to Juicy Juice and we no longer see Juicy Juice on the show, the letter writing worked?
I'm sorry, but that's a leap of logic I'm not willing to take.
Do you think sponsorships or ad campaigns are unlimited? Are you aware that larger companies with more money to buy air time can easily boot out smaller ones?
We still see Gap and Gymboree clothes on the kids. I guess the letters to those companies *didn't* work?
I thought the letter writing was to get the show off the air by making it hard for the show to get sponsors....no advertising money, no show, no exploitation.
Er, I don't know if you've noticed, but this show has more sponsors than ever. And, except for the answer from Em Tanner's rep, I haven't seen any replies posted from any of these companies except a canned response. And Em Tanner's rep was happy to smoke the complaining letter writer even though we haven't seen an Em Tanner product on the show in quite a while.
Frankly, I know some people may honestly think they're doing *something* by writing these letters to save the Gosselin children from some awful fate, but I really think it's misguided. And I've read some of the letters that people wrote and then posted to show the others...and they're just sad.
And where's the concern for all the other children on tv? Hmmmm? You're going to have to start typing faster, ladies.
Honestly Im confused what exactly did I say that was a lie?
For one, you stated that the scene with Jon helping a constipated Collin to poop was shown. It was not. The camera was quite far away and you couldn't see anything. Your statements seem to be deliberately misleading. *************************************
I guess I should have made myself a bit more clear - Typically, I do read through all of the comments. Tonight, I am helping my son study for an exam. I just thought I would throw something out there that had bothered me about the episode and see what others thought, so I could join the conversation later tonight, when I have more time. I don't think the rudeness was called for - you could have easily just ignored my posting.
I think it's rude to expect people to read what you have to say when you're telling them you can't be bothered to read what they have to say. But I shouldn't have matched your rudeness with my own; I apologize. This thread is making me touchy.
I wish we could have differing opinions without this turning into a war zone.
Its A Good Thing is trolling because they have posted numerous posts on GWOP..which I check sometimes for a laugh. THEY are the ones who said Mansion, Konpound, etc. etc. on the other board. They are just trying to get everyone worked up over here. I like this blog so much and check it everyday. I check GWOP for a laugh.
...Believe it or not, this isn't a Worship the Gosselins site. We also try to not let it spiral into a cesspool of speculation and nastiness either. ...
I don't care for Kate's personality at all. Blech, I do not care for them as a couple. They wouldn't care for me either. I don't feel the need to write about it constantly or declare it in every post, why would I? That would make me obsessive on that point. My opinion doesn't get to change the way she parents. Kate certainly is not deserving of all that unbridled crazy hatred.
Actually Miranda go farther back and you will realize I only started talking at GWOP a week ago. And sadly I can't take credit for KONPOUND. I didn't come up with it. Or mansion for that matter.
So because letters were written to Juicy Juice and we no longer see Juicy Juice on the show, the letter writing worked?
I'm sorry, but that's a leap of logic I'm not willing to take.
You are absolutely free to disagree, but a company with a sponsorship contract with a show would not pull it's sponsorship except for two reasons:
1. The show is no longer popular and not worth the money.
2. They got complaints.
Clearly the show is still popular and probably a cash cow for a demographically significant brand such as Juicy Juice. So I'm inferring that they received a great deal of complaints and pulled their sponsorship. Their contract could have simply run out and was not renewed, but that is unlikely since Juicy Juice is a huge brand and juice is figured prominently in almost every episode. I would think the production company would want to cash Juicy Juice checks for as long as they were willing to write them.
I don't know that for a fact, and rather than be snarky, I'll just say that is my opinion.
And yes, as someone who has worked in marketing and public relations, companies DO listen to criticism especially if it comes from their key demographic. In this case, moms in general. Again, not a fact, just my opinion. I'm guessing that is what may have happened here.
You seem to have the misfortune of posting here for the first time on the same day as some other GWOP regulars.
You did mention in your 12:15 post that you thought posters here weren't reading enough extra stuff before saying something was inaccurate or stretching the truth.
I was pointing out that we are very aware of the "extra stuff" here (Jon's interview) and we're not disagreeing to be contrary (Mary, Mary, quite...).
And, not knowing you or these other newbies, you did seem to be backing up their points.
Things are coming fast and furious today, so if I attributed anything to you that wasn't entirely yours, I'm sorry.
I wish we could have differing opinions without this turning into a war zone.
Couldn't agree more! My first comment here in this thread was saying how I came here for a balanced view of things. My opinion on that has slightly changed because some people are ratcheting this up to levels which are unnecessary.
We can all have different opinions. It's not all or nothing and I agree wholeheartedly with what you've said about that.
I come from a big loving CHRISTIAN home. My mom called us "house devils and street saints." We were good students, well-behaved, and polite outside of our home. But at home we fought with each other (and played with each other) a lot like the Gosselin kids do. I've been kicked and I did my share of kicking...not to hurt, but to "express frustration" with one of my siblings, just like Mady did. It wasn't right but it wasn't the end of the world. I NEVER did it in front of Mom or Dad, (and either did Mady) because, you know, I'd have been in big trouble. Mom and Dad disciplined us all, but we got away with plenty when they weren't around. They were very sensible (and they didn't even have about.com parenting tips!) You know how they finally solved all the fighting and bickering between their children? They plodded through until we finally grew up!
Guess what? I am now a happy, productive member of society, as are all my siblings. My biggest sibling rival? He's a kind and funny priest today.
Did anyone notice Mady gather two of her little sisters close and put her arms around them in Kate's room?
After hearing about the new house, the eager Gosselin kids get to see what their soon-to-be new home looks like before moving day, but will they share the same enthusiasm for the new house as Jon and Kate?
449 comments:
1 – 200 of 449 Newer› Newest»I predict 400+ posts on the other site regarding this abomination.
Fiona, it's already started.
The house is too big. The pool is dangerous. In this economy, blah, blah, blah.
You know they will all be watching, however. Oh yes, some will come up with the "excuse" that they can't find the remote or their kids made them watch it, but the truth is this is an episode they are truly looking forward to. The show is entertainment for them whether they want to admit it or not. It's not my idea of entertainment to watch a show I can't stand with people I can't stand and then blog about it for the next six days, but to each his own, right?
As for me, I am happy for the whole family and you better believe I can't wait to see the house and the kids reactions.
Some are even admitting they will be watching. I guess so they can really break down every minute detail and complain about it. As for me I can't wait to get a glimpse.
I imagine if Kate stands in her new house using her iPhone, pouring water into her filtered water pitcher that heads will explode (even though they didn't watch it and just read the recaps).
Sad little people.
I have almost stopped going over there. The insanity is just getting too much for me, considering I love the Gosselins.
The economy argument is ridiculous. I work in the building industry and what we need to get things back on track is people buying houses! The media has scared people off of purchasing, but that is what gets the economy moving. If they were approved for the loan, so be it!!
Heather, thats a good point! People really are gun shy about the housing market but it is definitely a buyers market. I'm looking to buy my first house this year and really excited at all the incentives and help available-- if your credit is good and, as you mention, you can get the loan approved then why not get a house for tens of thousands (or hundreds of thousands, in the case of J & K) less than it would otherwise be?
I'm excited for the episode-- the kids will adore having a bigger yard and I am sure it will be nice (esp for Mady and Cara) to have more space and peace and quiet.
I am excited to see this episode!! I am thrilled for the Gosselins!
I rarely can bring myself to go to the other site. When I do, I always end up feeling like I need to go and take a nice long shower to clean off all the garbage that I just witnessed!
Marci-
Don't forget she'll also be wearing free clothes to cover her free flattened tummy and she may be having an organic meal prepared by..... craft services!
I honestly do feel for people who are going through tough economic times right now. I am very blessed to have a job and to be able to afford my middle-class indulgences. (Pedicures anyone?).
Even though the economy is in the tank, there are plenty of people who are doing well or even improved their economic situation recently. For some it could be a promotion or maybe an inheritance. For the Gosselins it's having a best selling book and a hit t.v. show. They are in the right place at the right time and they have been lucky.
There is nothing to be angry about, in my opinion. If you are able to blog about a t.v. show that tells me you are doing better than 99% of your fellow brothers and sisters. You might want to check out this link:
http://www.globalrichlist.com/
Wow Anya Sometimes I complain that there isn't enough but that site was a real eye opener and really puts things in perspective. Thanks.
Anya, good points and kind of said what I wanted to say but couldn't find the words.
Not everyone is struggling in this economy. The Gosselin's are lucky and wish them the best. They are doing well for themselves.
Fiona, you are right. There will be 400+ posts and most of them from the same people with 25 different names.
Then, they'll make fun of the kids. Rip Kate apart, rip Jon apart, talk about how there are more deserving people, blah blah blah....
I'm happy for the Gosselins.
Anya, went to the weblink you posted and it's an eye opener. Thanks!!
Anya, that link is amazing. Here I am getting anxious about paying my bills and my salary is in the top 4.33% of the world.... wow.
Thank you so much for the eye opener. This really helps put things into perspective.
Thanks for the link, Anya! I have always told my kids that we won the lottery being born in the country. I'll have them guess and see where they end up compared to the other 6 billion or so people on earth.
Lizabeth...you're doing pretty good too. I bet you'll be in the top 1% when you finish your thesis and earn your Masters! ;)
I am really looking forward to the new house. I don't watch much on TLC, so I've missed the commercials where Kate says, "This is all mine," or something that's driving another blog crazy (read it at the Princess board.) I am glad to hear that Kate is happy, happy, happy with her new success and home. What a treat for the kids to spread out and roam! Land, dogs, bigger rooms, a sledding hill...how will those poor kids ever cope?
Something I can say I'm jealous of is that sledding hill..lol. I actually said what Kate said "this is all mine" when my fam moved into our house. I went from a tiny kitchen in California to a bigger kitchen and I could actually move around when other people are in it. Cali apartments are small so my kitchen felt like heaven. I can see why Kate would love her kitchen. The children will have so much fun with all that space.
Hey all! I just saw the previews for the new house and I am really happy for them. Kate seems so excited to have so much more space to keep clean!
Did you miss me Nina?:-)
Thank you for the link Anya.
Just this weekend I was wrapping change to take to the bank, which ended up being a few hundred dollars. At one point I turned to my boyfriend and said "we have more money in loose change than some people have seen in their lives".
As for the other board, I think their focus is more on the cost of the house than anything. Although, I do think there would be complaints regardless of the price of the G's new home.
The comments that irritate me were when people said the G's should give their former home to a family in need. I do think that is over the top.
Yes Fanny,
I missed you. Where have you been? :)
Can't wait to see this episode. I'm so happy for them, it'll be nice seeing the kids running and playing in all that space. Good for them!
Kate was in full germophobe mode cleaning that fridge. I almost felt bad for her.
The house is beautiful and I'm really happy for them.
Prediction:
The house situation will bring on a few posts by none other than Julie.
I really liked this episode-- first, I love that Jon and Kate mention how they reiterate to the kids how blessed they are to have such a great new house-- thats a good thing to instill.
Aww and I love how Kate mentions that they pulled up and Leah gasped and said "Thank you, Mommy!" and how that made everything worth it. Kate looked really happy- she was loving watching her kids run through the hosue and see their new rooms.
I didn't know Hannah got migraines-- thats not good... at least that poor 'disturber' Alexis won't be left with on her own with no one else in her room anymore lol!
I really like that Kate wants to try to have privacy with Jon. It is important for parents and couples to have that, especially with so many kids running around. My parents have that kind of rule so we just never went in unless it was day time and someone else was using the other bathroom. While some people may consider this one more thing Kate does wrong, it seems to me like she and Jon are attempting to keep their marriage strong even though they are both busy and out of town sometimes.
I love when the kids were going through the barn, and Aaden was talking about having his cows there!! Then Alexis saying "I like him, Daddy!!" about the dead, flat mouse was hilarious :).
I also liked how Kate was excited to clean the new house-- its typically a huge job to get a new place cleaned up and she was game for the work. Something like mold in a fridge could be a huge allergy trigger (if the kids have allergies) so the thought of any of her kids getting sick at the new house probably was part of her motivation.... I can totally see why she would be taking so much time on the cleaning-- its important to start fresh with a new place.
Loved the whole pooping discussion and how Collin ran and said "I'm gonna go tell my mommy!"
I think it was a good episode-- realistic as to what its really like to move into a new house, both with the excitement and the reality. Last time my family moved was about 8 years ago. It was summer, I was home from college, and my mom dropped me off at the new house (no air conditioning and 90 degree weather for once) to clean the kitchen and start unpacking and organizing the dishes. It was hellish hard work, but in the end I was glad to learn what its really like. Same thing when I got my own place over a year ago-- my parents helped me move in and my mom helped me start the cleaning in the kitchen but then they left and I had an apartment full of boxes and sink full of grimy fridge shelves to deal with. I wanted to cry, but rolled up my sleeves and got it done :).
I'm sorry but Kate is a nut-job!!! She is already complaining that she can't find the kids in the bathrooms because the house is too big. Then it looks as if she left Joel on the toilet because cleaning the fridge was more important. Why would you pay $1.3 million for a house and then not have it cleaned. She reminded me of Granny in the Beverly Hillbillies tonight. It also looks like she didn't leave her house in such pristine condition either. I did think it was cute when the kids were carrying the box out of the house, fighting with each other and the little guy said I thought we were buddies. That was priceless.
Great episode and GREAT house! What a wonderful place for a large family. I'm happy for them!
You know, everyone complained that Alexis was going to be in a room by herself. Now they will complain because Alexis had to give up her room to Hannah! I think Alexis and Leah will be a good team!
Ok so I just got done watching this episode and I have NOT been to the other site yet but I would just like to take a jab at some of the comments that will be popping up there shortly. Tell me what you think...
"No shots of the front of the house? Interesting, just trying to keep some privacy? THink they will get looky loos? Sheeple!"
(Thank God we all have so much free time that we were already able to scour every real estate website and posted pics of the house months ago.)
"Kids not allowed in the parents room? Abomination! What a great Mom Kate is! She will probably just hide in there away from the kids and only venture out for her monthy spa appointments!"
"Outbuilding? Really Jon, can't we call it a barn...what an idiot. Showing the kids a dead mouse? Ridiculous!"
"Kate and the fridge! Good God have you ever seen anyone make such a big deal over a fridge. Cant she just be grateful for the fact that she has such a nice fridge? No not KON! She has to ramble on and on about 4 hours worth of cleaning! Grossest thing she's ever seen!"
I have so many more that I could come up with if I sat and though about it...now I'm going to "gird my loins" and visit the garbage dump to see how many of my comments were accurate :)
I'm not sure the big house is going to accomplish the peace and less stress she is seeking. She has 8 kids, even in a big house there is going to be chaos. When they're teenagers, they'll all appreciate the size of the house more.
I love how the kids are so inquisitive about everything; the flat mouse talk was cute.
Well, you all know how my daughter thinks Kate is her new best friend now that she has met her :) BUT about midway through the show she looked up from her book, and said "We know how big your house is, stop talking about it!" Hahahaha.
I thought the episode was cute. Definitely a great idea for Jon and Kate to have a privacy rule about their room. However, they will probably still have a few visitors in the middle of the night!
Oh, they'll complain Hannah is the favorite. :)
I liked this episode too. Love the house. It was funny when Aaeden said, "no, chickens, no horses, no nothing!".
I'm really happy for them.
It's big and beautiful. The yard looks great. Did anyone notice/hear of a pool? Kate looked very happy to have a nice big kitchen.
The boys were so cute going through the barn, hoping to find animals, and so disappointed not to find any. Jon seemed pleased and proud. Good for him.
They certainly entertained themselves with those stairs and empty rooms. It's nice that they could explore without having to be all together. Those sextuplets are cute. They were a happy bunch tonight.
I did NOT like the poop discussion. Couldn't Kate remember where all the bathrooms were...too much yelling?! I also didn't like the lecture about going in Mom and Dad's room. It's like the kids were in trouble for something they'd done wrong...too grumpy Kate!
Uh-oh. Hannie gets her own room? Well, it went over just fine among the Gosselins, but there's one group of people who may have a hard time adjusting to it. So, is Kate trying to force a bond between Leah and Alexis and exclude poor Hannie now? What are the talking points on that one?
How about the two kids fighting over the box that had to go to the front door: "Don't you remember we're buddies?" Cute.
Can't wait to see it furnished.
Did anyone else find it odd that the kids are not allowed in the parents room under the promise of "severe punishment" They are 4 & 8 for goodness sakes. Can they come in if they are vomitous or if the house is on fire? Last time I checked, part of being a parent is giving up some of your privacy to love your kids. Some of my most precious memories are cuddeling in bed with my kids. Kate, you have plenty of time for privacy - it's called the empty nest and it will be here quicker than you can possibly imagine.
Mrs. Ref,
That was the asking price, not necessarily what they paid for it (Almost surely it was not. Sales of existing homes are steady, but prices are low.)
I would have had it cleaned, too. I wonder if she knew how much it would take? Or she doesn't trust anyone else, as a germophobe?
I am not so sure those kids were paying attention to Kate when she was scolding about them not being allowed in her room. That may be the rule, but it will take a few infractions for that rule to sink in.
The rule is fine, IMO. Yelling about it/threatening? Not so much. They looked inattentive, and I didn't blame them.
That's good advice, Mrs. Ref, about "empty nest." They grow up too fast, don't they?
I haven't gotten to see all of the episode yet, I just turned it on to hear Kate say that it took her four hours to clean her fridge. I did see some other people's comments about how it would never take that long to clean a fridge.
I just would like to go on the record as saying that two years ago, I had no power for 9 days (it was pure torture, by the way). It took me at LEAST four hours to clean what I affectionately call my "Bacteriorator" so I don't think it's unreasonable to think that it took her a long time to clean the fridge. That house may have sat empty for some time.
I'm excited to see some of the cute kid comments. This is something I have wondered about (not being a parent) - is it normal for parents to still be assisting their children with #2 in the restroom? I have a friend with a son who is 5 and he still calls her every time he needs "assistance." I'm not sure if that is normal or not, and it kind of grosses me out to ask!
FIONA said...
I predict 400+ posts on the other site regarding this abomination.
I just have to say this is what bothers me most about this site. I don't visit the other site very often mostly because it is so negative and so I come here only to have to read post after post like this one. I just wish we could leave the negativity to the negative board....
Theresa - I liked Aaden's quote too! I hope they can get to the bottom of Hannah's headaches. Is it normal for such a young child to already have migraines? Poor kid.
scarfoot asked: " is it normal for parents to still be assisting their children with #2 in the restroom? I have a friend with a son who is 5 and he still calls her every time he needs "assistance." I'm not sure if that is normal or not, and it kind of grosses me out to ask!"
I am a nanny for twins who just recently turned 5 and I have to say while it is not one of the highlights of my job the kids do still need some assistance after going "number 2" mostly because they don't always do it correctly which can lead to infections. I may not always actually wipe for them but I almost 99% of the time have to instruct them on how to do it properly (a little gross i know lol).
Well..... I love the house and dont blame them for not showing the front! I usually like Kate for the most part but I have to say this time she got on my nerves..... a lot.
Jon cant say "nose poke around", but she can say "de-vile-ifying"?
The she handled the you can never come in our room thing, she told them, then she commanded Jon to tell them lol, then she told them again! It seemed like they were being scolded for something they hadn't done. I understand the concept but it wouldn't be practical for me and we only have one child. I can assure you if she wakes up with a nightmare/sick she's coming in- and I want her to.
She was looking for Joel but then when one of the kids told her where he was she wouldnt go up there and made him wait for Jon?
Anyway enough giping- the house is gorgeous I can't wait to see them all settled in/decorated. I was suprised that it will Be Hannah in he rown room instead of Leah, I don't remember hearing that she got migraines before.
P.S. If I owned the house previously I would be mortifIed by how dirty the fridge apparently was LOL!
I've tried to be open minded, but I am done. How can they really be that wacko. The master bedroom rule, the hiney wiping (asking Cara?) and going on and on about the fridge? It had been off and closed, move on. The house is gorgeous as it should be for the price, but little houses can grow big love. I wish them the best, but I won't be watching and neither will my kids.
Scarfoot-
Yes it's normal. You try to teach them but sometimes they need extra help, eh, hm, (trying to be delicate) depending on..... consistency. Oy vey. Eventually they get it.
Overall, I liked the episode. The kids looked happy to have a new house. I did notice that they did not show any exterior shots of the house. I think they learned a lesson w/ that. Too bad other sites didn't allow them some privacy w/ that. I did not like how Kate spoke to the kids and Jon about them not being allowed in their bedroom. I understand the rule but I didn't think she needed to be so harsh about it.
Jenn:
Your image is hysterical!!! I think I have that....
Favorite moment:
*Leah saying thank you, mommy when she saw the house (so precious)
I enjoyed this episode, it's consistant with how they usually are. Kate being sort of OCD about cleaning (which I don't mind ie. filthy fridge), Jon playing with the kids. I am glad they have space and room to move about comfortably. The other house probably felt like packed sardines. Atleast it would for me it I had that many kids in there!
The house fits them and I think the kids will have alot of great memories there.
I'm a commenter on "the other site" frequently but have been visiting here from time to time to get a balanced view.
Must have worked because I went into this episode with a very open mind. In fact, I was actually a little excited for the kids before the show started.
But wow, and I'm glad the balanced side of this discussion is also talking about it...what is UP with the lecture about the master bedroom? Seriously, that was strange. I'm glad it's not just the other site that is talking about that because while there may not be much common ground between the extreme factions of each site, I think the moderate members of each can agree that the scene about the bedroom was bizarre.
I really felt that this episode would be a turning point if the attitudes about things changed due to the new house...more space, more fun...but geez, it was more of the same and then some.
Kinda disappointing because even I was a little intrigued at whether there would be a marked difference in things with this big move.
Nice house though...can't deny that it's spacious.
Jenn K
No faction here. Only sheeple.
How many people to you predict will say.."this is NOW the very last show I will watch" ;) Why were the comments already starting 2 minutes into the show? Do you thin that they keep the computer RIGHT next to the TV to dissect each and everything thing? Yeah you KNOW they do.....
For the record, I know people were upset about the speech about not going into Mommy & Daddy's room. But I'm always fighting about this myself in my small house. I WISH I could tell my kids to not step foot in mine!
Bethann said..
I liked Aaden's quote too! I hope they can get to the bottom of Hannah's headaches. Is it normal for such a young child to already have migraines? Poor kid.
January 26, 2009 7:16 PM
_____________________
I hope Hannah's headaches disappear.
If I'm woken up before my time, whether it be with my own alarm clock or someone wakes me up, I get headaches, too. The shrill noise of something I don't want to hear when I know I should be sleeping, just goes through me and I'm left with a headache that lasts all day.
I love that Kate was cleaning the fridge. One thing people can't gripe about is that Kate is willing and does get her hands dirty and is a cleaning machine.
Nina Bell, thanks for the laugh!
Jenn K
No faction here. Only sheeple.
Have never once used that word on this site or any other. And by mentioning that I come here to get the other side and was somewhat influenced to have an open mind, that was actually a compliment. No need to single me out and label me unfairly.
Not everyone on the other site is a loon, and not everyone here is necessarily the voice of reason either. Just differing opinions from time to time especially among reasonable people.
Jenn K
It was truly just a joke.
i haven't watched it yet so i can't comment on kate's speech BUT we have the same rule at our house. children are not allowed in our room, unless there is an emergency or you are sick. of course, we get the occasional midnight visitor telling us they had a nightmare or threw up in their bed:) the reason we have that rule is that we have six people in a 1400 sq ft three bedroom house. things are TIGHT in here, LOL. i need just one little space in this house that is mine. that has no toys, sticky fingerprints, gogurt wrappers, disney channel,etc. also, with four under 9, quality time is hard to come by for me and the mr. so the rule is: once you are in bed you are not to come in our room unless one of the exceptions occurs. it is our time. although they have now figured out they can go into the baby's room and talk to us through the monitor:)
I came over here and learned something tonight. I'm rich! I don't feel rich, but I'm in the top 1/2 of 1% worldwide. I wonder how accurate their calculator is?
I haven't seen the episode yet (eight minutes...can't wait!), but I thought everyone might be interested in this:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jU7_eE7AMih8zQgSCHVXb0efSLUAD95V8GV00
A set of octuplets were born in Southern California! I hope they're all healthy. I'm no expert, but nine weeks premature seems very good for such a large number of babies.
I bet, however, that we'll soon be hearing about how Kate has nothing to complain about since she ONLY has sextuplets!
did anyone else see the woman in the red shirt walking away from the camera while the boys ran around downstairs? maybe 5 minutes in or so. at first glance, it looked like beth. it's hard to tell, but i know it's not kate. i just think it would be really funny to find out that beth & jk are still friends, that she just didn't want to be filmed anymore. anyone else see her?
themrs said...although they have now figured out they can go into the baby's room and talk to us through the monitor:)
LOL. Smart kiddos!
Betty said...
I came over here and learned something tonight. I'm rich! I don't feel rich, but I'm in the top 1/2 of 1% worldwide. I wonder how accurate their calculator is?
I cannot speak to its absolute accuracy, but I think there is a larger point. The fact is even most lower middle class and even poor folks in the US and other developed countries are vastly better off than those who come from the third world.
I don't feel rich either. I think it's all about perspective.
Leah said...A set of octuplets were born in Southern California! I hope they're all healthy. I'm no expert, but nine weeks premature seems very good for such a large number of babies.
Thanks for the link. I wish them the very best. I hope we will hear good news in the coming days.
jdmac said...
did anyone else see the woman in the red shirt walking away from the camera while the boys ran around downstairs? maybe 5 minutes in or so. at first glance, it looked like beth. it's hard to tell, but i know it's not kate. i just think it would be really funny to find out that beth & jk are still friends, that she just didn't want to be filmed anymore. anyone else see her?
I TOTALLY noticed that and also thought it might have been Beth!
I am still chuckling at Kate's fridge freakout. And her sound effects. The stresses that come with moving into a new house must intensify her 'sensitivities'. What did she tell Joel she was doing? Something like 'devilifying' the fridge. So funny seeing him try to figure out what the frilly heck she was saying.
I just cringed and got so sad watching this episode. I love seeing homes, their layouts and decorations (I used to visit the model homes in my old neighborhood for kicks), so I watched the show after not watching it for a few months now.
My mom, who was in the background could hear and see the show. She kinda looked confused and asked: "Do they know they're being filmed?"
I of course laughed and said "of course Mama!"
Her question was: "Well then why is she acting like that?"
There is too much yelling, impatience, and really, down-right rudeness in the show.
Kate: "poke-about?! (Can't remember if that was the actual word used?)Pick another word, pls." And Jon relenting.
I used to correct my husband too. But that is because English is his fifth language and he asked me to. Even so, I always did it in the way that would not embarrass my husband. Why can't Kate give her husband the same courtesy?
Now, I have looked at this from the other side too. I mean, who am I to complain if Jon isn't right? It is just that as a human being who cares for another, it really made me cringe.
I was also alarmed by Maddy kicking Alexis. She is 8 yrs. old, too old to be allowed to be physically abusive to someone smaller than her! And Kate's answer to Alexis' crying is that if she leaves her sister alone, then Maddy won't hit her. Completely ignoring the bigger picture of making sure her kids are KIND to each other.
There should be a basic rule in anyone's home: You keep your hands to yourself and you use your soft voice inside the house.
There is many glaring things missing in the links. (Gosh, Alexis getting kicked and Kate ignoring it is really upsetting me). I understand others' point here, that J&K aren't evil incarnate. I agree. But I saw their actions and it bothered me, just like it would bother me if it came from any other household.
I wish J&K would read up on parenting books. If they have and this is the result, well, I don't know what else to say.
I cannot speak to its absolute accuracy, but I think there is a larger point. The fact is even most lower middle class and even poor folks in the US and other developed countries are vastly better off than those who come from the third world.
Yes, I was able to grasp that concept from their website along with their suggested donations. I was kind of making a joke out of it though, too. I guess that didn't work very well.
Fiona hasn't won yet. Only 324 posts.
I have spent many hours cleaning fridges, stoves and all the nooks and crannies when I have moved into a new a place in the past. No one does it as good as me. I'm sure it made Kate very happy to clean it so thoroughly while talking about what a tough job it was. They might have some professional help with the rest of the cleaning, (I would) but I would want to do the kitchen and bathrooms myself. She prob couldn't enjoy anything else until it was done. She also took time to go around with the color charts and have Cara and Mady pick out their color. I do wonder if those people they bought the house from are embarrassed because she went on about the dirt so much.
I also am expecting some sort of comment from Julie on this episode.
I get so tired of her wet blanket moments, it's nice when you see her let lose and be happy like when Hannah was thanking her. That was so sweet.
Scarfoot said...
... it normal for parents to still be assisting their children with #2 in the restroom?...
I'm no expert, but if you're with them, I think it's better to be safe than sorry. It can lead to such problems if not properly cleaned and their bottoms are so tiny. Sometimes the shape of the toilet is an issue with my five year old. I also don't know if there's a gender difference. My boys seemed to have no trouble and it has taken my little girl longer.
With Kate's comments of how they need this in ref to the new home, I was wondering if Kate is looking for her happiness in the wrong places. Society in general teaches consumerism instead of contentment. Anya, I loved your global richness link up thread.
I would have saved the extensive lecture on the bedroom and more just mentioned it then. I would have told them they could see it after we move in and that's it. I never had that rule, but my drawers were off limits. Growing up, I went into my parent's room all the time, but we never ventured into my bf's parent's room (4th - 6th grade). I still remember the one time her mom sent us in there for something. I just hovered my my bf went in.
Wow, the house is fabulous. The rooms looked so big when you can actually see the kids running around in them!! I would want some sort of video monitor to watch the kids in some of the rooms Surely, there's an intercom they'll use later on. I liked the episode overall. I liked the part where the kids wanted to see the flat dead mouse. Alexis' “I like him daddy” was adorable and Aaden's little speech about no cows, no nothing being in the barn was cute, Oh yes, and Joel's little spaz/seizure moment when they first got there. My niece use to sometimes do that when she was overcome with excitement. It's so funny when they're overwhelmed like that.
What a great place to grow up, it's so beautiful.
I have been an avid fan of the show as well as of this site for quite some time now. I am a recipient of two liver transplants, am VERY ill and spend LOTS of time in the hospital watching J&K+8 to help pass the time. Most of all, I am so blessed to be married to my high school sweetheart(for nearly 20 years)and am a very proud Mommy of two precious kids, 14 and 11.
I am so happy for the Gosselins and for their beautiful new home. I know that our situation is vastly different from the Gosselins, but until someone has experienced a medical crisis that turns your world upside down, it is impossible to predict how they will react to ANY situation. Our family has truly survived because of our strong faith, God's grace and the extreme generosity of others.
My husband, who never before tonight watched a moment of J&K+8, surprised me greatly when after seeing their new home (and me filling him in on their humble beginnings and where the GWOPers stand)said, "Well, good for them, it looks like they figured out a way to make a difficult situation work." I must say that I have to agree with him. Of course, if I posted this on the "other site," they'd probably look up my IP address and come after me!!haha :) But seriously, we never know what tomorrow will hold and even though I don't absolutely agree with each and everything the Gosselins do, I can see it from a different perspective.
Thank you for your time in reading this and THANK YOU for keeping this website in action. It truly continues to be a blessing to me and to many others in search of truth and decency.
Leah, re: the octuplets. I just saw that on CNN. There is a pic of the doc giving a statement. I thought it was the new dad because it seemed he had such a stunned look on his face. :)
They thought it was seven babies and then at delivery there was one more. The information on the use of fertility drugs is being kept private, but eight is a very high number for natural phenomenon. Does anyone else think they need to lower the odds for this type of occurrence? It seems to be happening more often, but I'd have to go look at the data and it's late.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/26/california.octuplets/index.html
Then Alexis saying "I like him, Daddy!!" about the dead, flat mouse was hilarious :).
That and Leah's power trip over the box moving were my favorite parts. All in all, a good episode, not a great one. I was excited to see the new place and happy that they all seemed to be excited about it.
You know, everyone complained that Alexis was going to be in a room by herself. Now they will complain because Alexis had to give up her room to Hannah! I think Alexis and Leah will be a good team!
Yeah - if I didn't know better, I'd think some people just want to have something to complain about! :-)
I did not take Kate's dire warnings about the kids not being allowed in her and Jon's room too seriously. I think it's great for them to set boundaries and try to have a space that's just for them, and I hope it works out. It sounds like it's partly just her attempt to keep the detritus of 8 kids out of her sanctuary. I can't blame her for that.
I haven't gotten to see all of the episode yet, I just turned it on to hear Kate say that it took her four hours to clean her fridge. I did see some other people's comments about how it would never take that long to clean a fridge.
It's taken me nearly that long and I never let my fridge get actually moldy. Of course, part of that time is taken up by taking all the food out of it, which Kate didn't have to do. But it does sound like the fridge was pretty gross. I am sure there are complaints floating around about how rude it was of Kate to complain about the dirtiness of the fridge, but if it was so embarrassing to the previous owners, they could have done a better job of cleaning before they left.
Jon cant say "nose poke around", but she can say "de-vile-ifying"?
Yeah, it's irritating. Both of them are creative in their vocabulary, so I don't know where she gets off being so critical of him. OTOH, if it doesn't bother him, I guess it's not my business. If it does bother him, I wish he would say something!
How many people to you predict will say.."this is NOW the very last show I will watch" ;)
Hah! If only...but not watching doesn't seem to keep people from griping about it.
My mom, who was in the background could hear and see the show. She kinda looked confused and asked: "Do they know they're being filmed?"
Did you explain to her that the Gosselins believe in having their lives filmed as it really is, rather than some sanitized phony version? I wouldn't be interested in the show if they were just acting for the camera.
Maybe your mom should stick to "Ozzie and Harriet" reruns if she is so easily shocked.
I was also alarmed by Maddy kicking Alexis. She is 8 yrs. old, too old to be allowed to be physically abusive to someone smaller than her! And Kate's answer to Alexis' crying is that if she leaves her sister alone, then Maddy won't hit her. Completely ignoring the bigger picture of making sure her kids are KIND to each other.
I don't think Kate completely misses that point, at all. I've seen her express it before. I think in that case she was hampered by not having seen the incident (which in descriptions I read before hand sounded like a much bigger deal than it was - it didn't look like Mady kicked her hard, to me. Not that that makes it okay, but in the real world siblings do sometimes hit and kick each other).
I really think part of the point of the bigger house is to allow those that need private spaces - J&K and Cara and Mady, chiefly - to be given them. So boundaries need to be set. I love Alexis to pieces, and don't condone Mady kicking her, but Alexis and all of the younger kids do need to learn that Cara and Mady's room is their private space, and they need to respect that.
There should be a basic rule in anyone's home: You keep your hands to yourself and you use your soft voice inside the house.
I don't know if you haven't watched the show much, but they definitely have a rule about hitting - it's been shown many times. The kids are still going to hit. I'm pretty sure that if Kate had seen the kicking she would have reprimanded Mady as well (she may have anyway - I don't know), but I also think it's okay to teach your kids that they can avoid conflicts even starting by respecting each others' boundaries.
I wish J&K would read up on parenting books. If they have and this is the result, well, I don't know what else to say.
I think they are doing an okay job. It may not be the way you'd do it, but luckily, there is not one perfect way to parent - people can do things differently and that's okay.
Texasmommy-you're in my prayers for a healthy recovery.
I was thinking about the whole bedroom boundaries thing, and I believe it's no different than when Kate established rules for the helpers in the beginning. There needs to be boundaries. Boundaries=order. She needs to set that up now. Sure, it's a little militant, but I think she wanted to make sure the kids knew that mommy and daddy need their space.
Tintin--as Kate said, we see it all, the good and the bad. I bet her OCD nerves were acting up knowing she wanted to scrub the kitchen down (or at least the refrigerator). I will say it again, we don't see all that went on that day...just the edits. I know it sounds redundant all the time, but really, when I watch the show, I realize that we're seeing bits and pieces. Kate also seemed to be cranky. She's allowed. I bet there are moms across the nation who have acted the same way.
Scarfoot - I have a son who is 4.5 and yes I still wipe his butt when he poops. Its a rare kid that age who can get it properly clean.
TheMrs.
How bout the cut-off top from the gogurt wrappers laying all around! Aah!
I have a just-turned-6 and a 7 and I don't wipe anymore, but I have been called in by them to handle some miswipe incidents. Soooooo gross!
I'm just thrilled my son still sits for No. 1. Hopefully he won't become a target at school, cause I love the lack of pee everywhere.
What a lovely conversation! Ha, ha.
I loved the kids fighting over who would bring the box to the front door. I also thought Jon laughing at "outbuildings" was funny. I would be the same way.
We bought a house three years ago without selling first, but we lucked into a 70-day close, which gave us time to sell. The houses were 8 miles apart and we joked about our "southern" home and "northern" property.
We knew what we were doing and didn't take much of a risk, but seeing how the banks are doing today, it was foolish loans like they gave us that is part of the problem.
Guinevere said:
"....it didn't look like Mady kicked her hard, to me. Not that that makes it okay, but in the real world siblings do sometimes hit and kick each other...."
I grew up in an old-fashioned Christian home and although I WANTED to kick my younger sister OFTEN, LOL, none of us kids ever EVER kicked a sibling. My own kids occasionally slapped each other but I can honestly say I never knew of them to kick. Didn't Mady kick Collin at Jodi's house... and get in trouble for it? What I am wondering is why Mady would kick a sibling with the cameras rolling. What was that all about? Why was this scene shown? I noticed Mady not being included in a lot of this show's filming, so why would they want to show her in a bad light in one of her few scenes? I don't get it.
I think the people on the other site are very self-focused and think that ALL parents MUST parent how they themselves parent. That has gotten old very fast. I despise when close-minded people fail to acknowledge that every family is different and then judge quite harshly when someone doesn't do something exactly how they do it. So a kid needs help in the bathroom? Someone please call the authorities.
That being said, I do have to say that I think the show has lost its touch. I'm not sure I'm interested in it anymore. I'm glad Jon and Kate have made good out of their situation, but it's just not a good show anymore. I hate to say it, but I don't think many people can relate to Jon and Kate anymore. And I think that's what their appeal was in the first place. I don't know, just my opinion. I think the show will go off the air in the next year or so, but it'll be because people aren't interested, not because of the "blatant child exploitation and abuse."
I'm totally with Kate on this one...a moldy fridge is not only disgusting, it's a huge pain to clean. I'd be griping the whole time too. With a new house to clean top-to-bottom, who wants to spend half a day on the fridge??
I don't know how long that house was on the market or if the previous owners "had" to sell because of financial reasons with the current foreclosure boom, but I can't imagine the fridge getting that moldy unless the power was turned off and the doors were left closed for a while, or the darned thing is broken (which should have come out in an inspection). Not an old-owners-are-nasty situation, but they certainly didn't take the time to make sure the appliances were cared for after they left.
I'm more anal about a "new" bathroom. Those bathrooms did not look very clean, i.e., Collin saying there was "poop" on the floor (just dirt, I think). Maybe Kate went around the house with some Clorox wipes first and wiped down the potty seats before the kids used them, but I don't "christen" a new throne in a new house until it has a brand new toilet seat...but that's just the diva in me. :)
Except for the de-germing that any *new* house needs, I thought the new place was great. I'm interested to see how Kate furnishes and decorates the place. Their current furniture will be dwarfed in that house.
I hope she does some cute stuff in the kids' rooms. She's said in the past that she's not a decorator, but maybe she'll be in a nesting mode at the new house and be more adventurous.
As for more privacy, I think it will only help for everybody to have a little more space.
And as far as the hitting, I don't like it, but I know from personal experience (as the oldest of three girls) it's going to happen. My parents were quite adamant about us not hitting, but it still happened...and often out of our parents' sight. My son has never hit anyone, at school or otherwise, but he's an "only", so I think having a sibling around all the time brings out a kid's frustrations and they act out.
And it's very hard for a parent to *fix* something they didn't see when the child complaining about being kicked (Alexis) isn't even crying anymore and is quickly distracted from the subject onto something else (in the kitchen when Kate tells her to stay out of Cara and Mady's space, Alexis asked Kate about the cleaning while drinking out of her cup...subject dropped).
OH MY word, Cincy mom! those drive me crazy!! they are everywhere in this house. this weekend we did a whole house cleaning. when i pulled the couch out there were tons of them back there. what makes these kids think they can throw their trash behind the couch? if gogurt weren't so convenient i may have to ban them :)
I don't see the problem with the bedroom lecture. I imagine they had similar rules at the old house but they gave in a couple of times and eventually the rules went out the window. Now they are starting out fresh with their new house and I think they want to "nip it in the bud". I don't think a child with an emergency would be turned away, but they don't need all those kids wandering in whenever they want, especially at night.
It's one thing to let one or two kids in your bed, but you can't really do that with eight.
And to the people at various places who are horrified that she asked Cara to wipe her brother,
I say "Hellooo!! Welcome to the world of a Duggar girl!".
Re: Mady's kicking.
There is a difference between normal and acceptable behavior. It is certainly not acceptable for a child of any age to kick anyone. I do think that it is within the range of normal behavior for a child that age.
Yes, she should receive a consequence for it, but IMHO I do not think that it is indicative of deep-seated problems.
I tend to think that Mady deliberately kicked her sis in front of the cameras as a kind of misdirected way of asserting her power.
The house sold for 1.12 million. Just look it up, its easy to find, heck after a couple of minutes you can also have the address and directions from where ever you are.
Do people honestly not realize that child exploitation funded this mansion? I don't care if its nice, or if they deserve it. Its just wrong. Currently that house is worth the 1.12 they paid PLUS nearly 5 years of exploitation (and counting). Kate could be the nicest woman in the world (which she is not) and people would still feel the same. She berates her husband, she yells at her children, she makes fun of them, she clearly has a favorite child and better yet she SOUGHT out a TV show. She wrote to networks, and magazines before the tups were born to tell her story. She gave away the privacy and childhood of 8 innocent children and then she has the balls to say that she has no privacy?!?!?!?
What bothered me was, any refridgerator that has been shut off and closed up will get moldy and mildewy, but Kate made it appear the former owners were slobs. She waaaaay overreacted.
I do not get the whole theory that they aren't "real" Christians since the kids hit each other. I must truly be a heathen because my kids have been known to have a few knock down drag outs. I know some people who like to tout themselves as super duper Christians and they openly admit that they smack their kids with wooden spoons etc... They excuse the behavior by claiming the bible tells them to do it (spare the rod blah blah blah) Look at the Duggars and their HORRIBLE blanket training. So the idea that real Christians can hit their kids but the kids know never to hit each other is absolutely nonsensical.
Ive never felt a connection to the Gosselins as if they were like me, thats never been the why reason for watching. I watch because I think the kids are funny and cute. Nothing has changed on that front, so I won't stop watching now that live in a house that Im jealous of.
I haven't watched this show in months and can safely say I do not miss it. What turned me off way back was the way Kate continuously berated and belittled Jon, then turned around and talked about going to church and being Christian...evidently she skipped over this verse in the bible: "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
—Colossians 3:18-19"
I must say that the way she has treated, and continues to treat, Jon has served as inspiration for me to NOT treat my husband with that amount of disrespect...but of course, my husband works very hard to support us (I am a SAHM with three kids, 16, 11 and 3), which I will say makes it easier.
As far as the new house goes, everyone is missing the point. Yes, the kids have more room and are happy, yadda yadda! We live in an 850 square foot apartment with only two bedrooms but my kids would rather bring their friends here (and their friends would rather come here) than to go to other's houses that are usually much bigger/nicer. It is LOVE and FAMILY that make a home, not size and money! Again, our Christian Gosselins missed this verse, too, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. —Hebrews 13:5"
Oh and I forgot to mention - I just had to clean my fridge this morning after watching the show last night. Mine is not even a side by side but it still took me a good 2 hrs to take everything out and scrub it. If it had been moldy and mildewy I can only imagine how long it would take. It looked like Kate was even using a Q-tip to get in there.
I seriously can't imagine buying a new home and not doing some serious deep cleaning before moving in. It would totally skeeve me out. I imagine certain people who are complaining about Kate cleaning the fridge rarely get up from their computers (or their incessant J&K watching/rewinding watching again) to clean anything much less do serious deep cleaning.
Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying. That is the only way to describe Kate's behavior in this episode.
It's fine to tell your children that they can't barge into your bedroom, but the way she did it--threatening severe consequences--was just awful. And then she yelled at Jon--in front of the kids--because he was not being as mean as she was, and told him what to say as if he were five years old. How humiliating, and what a horrible example she's setting for her kids.
Then Kate can't figure out where her sons are when they need her help in the bathroom. That was just sad. If you can't find your kids in your own house, your house is too big. And then, when she finally finds out the boys need to be wiped, she calls Jon in from outside to do it! Nice hands-on parenting.
Mady kicking Alexis repeatedly was disturbing and sad. And then Kate blamed Alexis. So wrong. Yes, kids hit each other--I have four, so I know!--but Mady's actions were beyond a simple slap or whack.
What is the point of having such a big, beautiful house when there is so much ugliness inside?
icegirlncsu - There is another Bible verse that you missed. It never seems to get posted by the anti-Gosselin crew when they toss around Bible verses but I think its a good one to share with you today.
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite first take the plank out of your own eye,and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye"
-Matthew 7:2-5
For me its not that the rule that the children can't come in their bedrrom- it was the harshness of the delivery. I like Kate and it is none of my proverbial business, I just found the way it was done uneccessary.
As far AS Mady kicking Alexis she shouldnt have and I'm not condoning it. However, the fact that Mady is the big sister does not change the fact that Mady is still a child herself and will behave like one. Apparently it didnt really hurt Alexis bc she just sat there too stubborn to leave the room until Mady got several licks in.
Being an older sibling I suppose I sympathize- my little sister and brother used to refuse to leave my sanctuary as well. Again I do not think any of the children should go around hitting/kicking each other, but in most houses it does happen from time to time.
It's just sad that with so many blessings, nothing seems to make Kate happy. I feel really sorry for the family because I think it's official: If a huge estate can't make Kate happy, nothing will.
By the way, my son woke up in the middle of the night and my husband brought him into our room. I calmed him down and he fell asleep and I though, "Geez Kate, you have no idea what you are missing".
Well,
I will say Kate looked more awake during the interview chair sessions than in some other recent episodes. I loved how happy the kids seemed to be running around. It was upsetting to see Mady kick her sister, however I agree with a PP, and think part of it was a power trip, maybe to even get a reaction from the camera crew. The house is very spacious. I hope Kate finally found a house keeper that worked well for them. I'm excited to see the next episode and how the house will be decorated.
Jersey Girl
Love the Bible verse.
As a parent of 2 girls I honestly cannot blame Kate for instilling in the kids the fact that Mommy & Daddy's room is off limits. Parents have to have a sanctuary to reconnect with each other, or even just to know if they put their hairbrushes down - they'll still be there when they need them again! These kids have been in a much smaller house and are used to having full run simply because there was no where else to go - they need to learn to respect privacy and personal space.
I was extremely bothered by Mady's reaction to Alexis. And I was very bothered by the fact that Kate made it appear to be Alexis's fault for being on the landing to Cara and Mady's room. There's an inconsistency to Kate's discipline that may just come from having 8 kids under foot, or may be from her own neurosis - who knows? To me Mady's behavior and Kate's response were unacceptable.
I thought the 4 hours spent on the refrigerator (including a toothpick!) was hysterical. I can undertand that the fridge was moldy but really - get a spray bottle with a bleach/water solution - spray the entire interior, close the door and let it sit for 2 hours. All will be right with the world.
I can also understand still assisting the little kids with their potty needs - but I'm not sure about the extent that Jon & kate do it - do the kids try at all? What happens when they're in pre-school?
All in all, it was an interesting episode - the kids look happy, Jon looks happy, Kate is bothering me more and more though.
How long before they install an intercom system? LOL
I just couldn't like last night's episode. Every thing about it was simply wrong. I could never talk to my husband the way Kate does, and I could never call myself a good Christian and behave the way she does. I feel very bad about this, as I do know Kate loves all of them very much. Finally, I agree, Kate does need help with her mental problems.
I finally got to see the episode, and man alive, it seems like that house is big - as far as location of the parents to the kids.
I'm still on Kate's side about the fridge issue. She complained about it too much, but she has a habit of that. I think that people don't realize how quickly mold and mildew can form in a fridge without power, and how many little crevices there are. Perhaps that house sat empty for some time, and maybe the refrigerator was not plugged in. I would want to personally clean it myself so I know it's been cleaned properly.
Really, I want to talk about the recent Duggar wedding more! I just saw it and holy cow - my jaw dropped on more than one occasion.
I have a snow day today, so I've got plenty of online reading to do, I see!
Scarfoot,
Do you mean the Duggar preparations for the wedding? Or did the wedding happen and I missed it?
I'm snowed in too, I'm sure you've said it but where are you located regionally?
We've had 5 inches and next will come .25 inches of ice and then after midnight another 5 inches. My kids are going bat-crazy!
Well lets start off that Fiona's post was 100% accurate. They are way over 400 now. I decided to go over there out of curiosity and I was beyond offended when a person said:
Moons in Leo said...
"FYI: The comments on the anti-GWOP site are a little bit negative. I was surprised. Maybe they are starting to see the cloud wrapped around their silver lining?
BTW - why are the sheeple over there barely literate?"
I was beyond offended and went off! I mean you will never know this because you wont see it. But I cant get over 400 comments that are beyond hateful, beyond jealous, beyond slandering. It blows my mind that that horrible Serena would just egg people on the way she does in order re-group a sinking blog. Its like the worst lynch mob you can think of. Its just horrible.
I agree with alot of people that say you get caught up in the atmosphere your in. You want to throw stones because you feel for some reason that this person has so much now. And shes not being grateful enough. Its so sad that nobody can just be grateful for a family that needed the space and now can afford to have it. Kate is not the best at properly wording things of course, but shes a good mom who in NO way deserves this. I in no way deserve to be called illiterate. I can "speaketh" fine thank you!
1/27/2009 6:36 AM
jdmac said...
did anyone else see the woman in the red shirt walking away from the camera while the boys ran around downstairs? maybe 5 minutes in or so. at first glance, it looked like beth. it's hard to tell, but i know it's not kate. i just think it would be really funny to find out that beth & jk are still friends, that she just didn't want to be filmed anymore. anyone else see her?
That is so funny! On the way to work this morning, I was thinking that it would be a hoot if Beth showed up on the last episode of the season to help Kate decorate the house! I will have to replay
last night's episode when I get home tonight.
It's sad when people lose their marbles, and Jon and Kate sure have. They are so over the top it is a freak show. The kids are going to be grown up very soon and want nothing to do with their parents or one another I am afraid. What is the point of having a big family without unconditional love, support and acceptance. They chastice, make fun of and physically assault one another. Very sad indeed.
While I agree that Kate's tone was a little harsh about the no-bedroom thing, I think it's a great rule for them to implement. I was interested in when they said that kids used to commonly play and even sleep in the old master bedroom - something we'd never seen before. I think it's great to have that sort of space available to babies and toddlers, but now that the kids are almost 5, the Gosselins are right to encourage sleeping and playing in their own spaces.
The fridge - yuck! I'm glad Kate spent so much time cleaning. If I spent $1.1 mil on a home, I'd want it to look spotless, too. Also, could mold in the fridge transfer to food?
I work in a preschool, and, unfortunately for me, many kids that age do need help wiping their hineys.
All in all, I enjoyed the episode. While no kid NEEDS a 5,000+ square foot home, I think the extra space will be good for the kids in the long run. These kids always have to be close to each other - they vacation and play with each other, they'll be in each others elementary school classrooms, have many of the same friends, and (most) will always have to share rooms. Getting a bit of space to spread out will only improve their relationships.
The house did seem a bit big for four year olds, but I can easily imagine eight teenagers in it!
Its A Good Thing said...
The house sold for 1.12 million. Just look it up, its easy to find, heck after a couple of minutes you can also have the address and directions from where ever you are.
Do people honestly not realize that child exploitation funded this mansion? I don't care if its nice, or if they deserve it. Its just wrong. Currently that house is worth the 1.12 they paid PLUS nearly 5 years of exploitation (and counting). Kate could be the nicest woman in the world (which she is not) and people would still feel the same. She berates her husband, she yells at her children, she makes fun of them, she clearly has a favorite child and better yet she SOUGHT out a TV show. She wrote to networks, and magazines before the tups were born to tell her story. She gave away the privacy and childhood of 8 innocent children and then she has the balls to say that she has no privacy?!?!?!?
January 27, 2009 7:43 AM
______________________
Who cares how much the house sold for? Get over that. Or, was there a real point in having to mention the price of the house? The house that has a lot of land. It's not a mansion. It is a big house. I guess anything bigger than your house, you'd deem a mansion.
Why do you have to point out the fact people can find the address, why publicize that? Just because the Gosselins are on TV, doesn't mean they don't deserve their privacy, too. Stop exploiting these kids by pointing out those facts. That's the true exploitation of these kids.
As we've discussed before, would you rather see this family struggling or thriving? Or, do you not know we've discussed this because you drifted over from the underside of the slimy bridge upon where you normally live?
We all can believe different things, and you believe in the gwop cry of exploitation bought this house. I believe that opportunities were presented to the Gosselins. I believe they are following the path of the Lord and are doing what is best to raise these kids in a loving home with two parents involved in their daily lives.
Yes, we wouldn't have known about the Gosselins without them having sextuplets. Would I put my kids on tv? If there were an opportunity, who knows? I would do what was for the best interest of my family. Each family has a different strength, dynamic, and circumstance. Keep that in mind when you're crying exploitation.
Do you think the house pictures were circulated online by the show? I haven't watched in weeks, but, tuned in last night just to see if the house was the same one that was "leaked online". I'm sure other people did too.
I also commented on GWOP this morning..in RE:473 comments?!...I asked if they really want the show to be gone..shouldn't they stop talking about it? It has yet to be posted.
I was not that disturbed by the fight between Mady/Alexis, or the way Kate handled it. Partly because we have no way of knowing what, if anything, Kate may have told Mady. Just because a resolution wasn't shown doesn't mean it didn't happen.
The reason I didn't see a problem with it is the way I was raised. The person that hit/kicked was not the only way to be lectured or punished. To me, Kate was explaining why Mady acted out that way and Alexis could avoid it by staying out of her sister's room. It's not as if Mady was kicking her out of a family area. Yes, that type of behavior shouldn't happen, but it happens.
Wow it has been busy here today!! I can honestly say that, as a moderator, there are a ton of people looking to voice their opinions and we are trying our best to let all but the very disrespectful comments through.
I can see why people would be upset about Mady and how she treated Alexis, as well as Kate's response. At the same time, we did not see the entire situation from start to finish. Mady acted out which is wrong, and which we know from previous interviews is something J & K are dealing with in private. I respect that they don't want to be seen having that kind of discussion with Mady on camera even though it would give viewers some closure to what is happening.
welovetoski said: The kids are going to be grown up very soon and want nothing to do with their parents or one another I am afraid.
I agree that the kids will be grown soon- that is part of why Jon and Kate probably wanted to get a new house. It would be better to move now so all 8 children can put down roots in a new neighborhood and new area. At the same time, how are we supposed to predict how any of the kids will respond to what happened in their childhood? From what I can see, the negative posts and comments snarking on the kids are far more hurtful than their parents can be.
I am really at a loss as to why so many believe all of the Gosselin kids will hate their parents and never speak to them when they get older. I honestly feel that these kids will be far more devastated by the rude, condescending, and hateful comments made by total strangers on blogs than by what their parents did in one part of one situation that was shown on a 22 minute TV show.
CincyMom,
I'm located in the midwest. There's not much traveling going on right now because of the ice we received. We did get some snow, and that helped, but it's like an ice skating rink as far as the eye can see!
Yes, the Duggar wedding was actually on TV Sunday night. It was something else, for sure!! Next time there is an Open Discussion, I talk about it so I don't get this thread off topic.
Lizabeth: And Theresea's comment very disrespectful? Saying somebody lives under a bridge isn't rude? Isn't also disrespectful and uncalled for to imply that I live in a house smaller than the Gosselin's? I understand you are all working very hard to make this blog good but I think some of the comments here are a little beyond acceptable. I don't say this because she disagreed with my opinion, thats fine, I say this because a couple of her statements were disrespectful and rude.
Oops I meant to say I WILL talk about it on Open Discussion! I guess I am really one of those intellectually inferior people that they are calling us on one of those other sites!
I grew up in an old-fashioned Christian home and although I WANTED to kick my younger sister OFTEN, LOL, none of us kids ever EVER kicked a sibling. My own kids occasionally slapped each other but I can honestly say I never knew of them to kick.
I'm not sure I see a big distinction between slapping and kicking. Mady wasn't wearing steel-toed boots. A hard slap on bare skin would probably hurt more.
I'm not trying to minimize the kicking; it's not okay for siblings to do that to each other. But they do, and I don't see the point in making it sound like Mady is an ax-murderer for doing so. I'd have to watch it again, but I think she was kicking to get Alexis to move; Alexis was sitting down in Mady's room.
I think the people on the other site are very self-focused and think that ALL parents MUST parent how they themselves parent. That has gotten old very fast. I despise when close-minded people fail to acknowledge that every family is different and then judge quite harshly when someone doesn't do something exactly how they do it. So a kid needs help in the bathroom? Someone please call the authorities.
I agree that people can be VERY judgmental about parenting. What gets to me is the women who are so superior about how THEIR kid never did x, y or z. Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back there. It may be due to good parenting, or it may be that you lucked out and got easier kids. Unless they are in their 30s, your obvious pride in what a wonderful job you did may still come back and bite you in the butt - the precious and wonderful 10-year-old may be a hellion teenager.
Good parenting is better than bad parenting, but I agree that there is no one right way to do it, and each family has its own dynamic - what works for your kid may not work for another.
That being said, I do have to say that I think the show has lost its touch. I'm not sure I'm interested in it anymore. I'm glad Jon and Kate have made good out of their situation, but it's just not a good show anymore. I hate to say it, but I don't think many people can relate to Jon and Kate anymore. And I think that's what their appeal was in the first place. I don't know, just my opinion. I think the show will go off the air in the next year or so, but it'll be because people aren't interested, not because of the "blatant child exploitation and abuse."
Well, their appeal for me was never relatability. That said, I haven't loved most of the recent episodes. I could see the producers petering out on ideas perhaps in the near future.
But I don't think the show will end until the ratings go down - as far as I know (which is not very far), J&K+8 still does very well in the ratings for TLC, so I don't think it's lost a significant portion of its audience at this point.
And it's very hard for a parent to *fix* something they didn't see when the child complaining about being kicked (Alexis) isn't even crying anymore and is quickly distracted from the subject onto something else (in the kitchen when Kate tells her to stay out of Cara and Mady's space, Alexis asked Kate about the cleaning while drinking out of her cup...subject dropped).
Yeah, exactly. From what we saw, it wasn't just that Kate didn't care about the kicking, it was that Alexis seemed to drop the issue pretty quickly. Again, if Kate had seen it, I think Mady would've at least gotten a time-out.
What bothered me was, any refridgerator that has been shut off and closed up will get moldy and mildewy, but Kate made it appear the former owners were slobs. She waaaaay overreacted.
I must have missed this - what did Kate say about the former owners?
I don't understand how it could get moldy, even unplugged, if it wasn't at least somewhat dirty to begin with. What would the mold form from?
I haven't watched this show in months and can safely say I do not miss it.
Just a question, out of curiousity - why do you post about it, then? I mean, getting online and reading and replying to posts about a show that you aren't even watching seems to indicate some level of interest.
We live in an 850 square foot apartment with only two bedrooms but my kids would rather bring their friends here (and their friends would rather come here) than to go to other's houses that are usually much bigger/nicer. It is LOVE and FAMILY that make a home, not size and money!
I don't think the Gosselins have ever said or indicated that a bigger house is or should be replacing love and family in their lives. I don't understand why people see it as an either/or proposition.
For me its not that the rule that the children can't come in their bedrrom- it was the harshness of the delivery. I like Kate and it is none of my proverbial business, I just found the way it was done uneccessary.
I can see your point. I just don't think I took Kate's emphaticness that seriously. I didn't even see it as "harsh". The kids didn't seem to take it seriously. That may be a problem, actually - I think maybe Kate making such a big deal of things will just lead to her kids tuning her out in the future.
Since the cameras aren't there when the Gosselins sleep, there may be issues we aren't aware of. With 8 kids, J&K may get a LOT of nighttime interruptions. I don't know for sure, obviously, but if so maybe that's what Kate was so over the top about it.
It's just sad that with so many blessings, nothing seems to make Kate happy. I feel really sorry for the family because I think it's official: If a huge estate can't make Kate happy, nothing will.
You know, we saw Kate happy in this episode. There was plenty of her being happy. No one is happy all of the time. Most people aren't happy while cleaning out moldy refrigerators.
Sorry for the length of this post - lots of stuff to respond to!
Theresa said...
Who cares how much the house sold for? Get over that. Or, was there a real point in having to mention the price of the house? The house that has a lot of land. It's not a mansion. It is a big house. I guess anything bigger than your house, you'd deem a mansion. Why do you have to point out the fact people can find the address, why publicize that? Just because the Gosselins are on TV, doesn't mean they don't deserve their privacy, too. Stop exploiting these kids by pointing out those facts. That's the true exploitation of these kids. As we've discussed before, would you rather see this family struggling or thriving? Or, do you not know we've discussed this because you drifted over from the underside of the slimy bridge upon where you normally live? We all can believe different things, and you believe in the gwop cry of exploitation bought this house. I believe that opportunities were presented to the Gosselins. I believe they are following the path of the Lord and are doing what is best to raise these kids in a loving home with two parents involved in their daily lives. Yes, we wouldn't have known about the Gosselins without them having sextuplets. Would I put my kids on tv? If there were an opportunity, who knows? I would do what was for the best interest of my family. Each family has a different strength, dynamic, and circumstance. Keep that in mind when you're crying exploitation.
-------
Actually somebody farther up asked how much the house was purchased for. And nope its not bigger than my house, sorry to burst your bubble BUT thats just the way it is. And I only used the term mansion because that is what a lot of people refer to the new KONPOUND as. The Gosselin kids have no privacy, and really do you think child predators need me to point out the fact that they can find the address? Nope don't think so. I didn't exploit the kids, I never gave a link or the actual address. The kids are not thriving! They are constantly yelled at, have no privacy, and are beat on by their siblings, so no they are not thriving. Just because they have money now doesn't mean anything. You honestly believe the Lord is leading them? I think its Kate's love of money leading them. Do you also believe that child predators are being lead to do what they do? Two parents are not home with those kids. Kate is constantly gone on speaking engagements and Jon is off at his new condo in Utah. Have you ever looked up the definition of exploitation? Because if you do you would realize that the Gosselin kids are being exploited. Would you also let them film your children potty training? Or how about rolling around on the floor for all of America to see their underwear?, or even better yet would you allow them to be filmed while having impacted feces removed?
And it's very hard for a parent to *fix* something they didn't see when the child complaining about being kicked (Alexis) isn't even crying anymore and is quickly distracted from the subject onto something else (in the kitchen when Kate tells her to stay out of Cara and Mady's space, Alexis asked Kate about the cleaning while drinking out of her cup...subject dropped).
Yeah, exactly. From what we saw, it wasn't just that Kate didn't care about the kicking, it was that Alexis seemed to drop the issue pretty quickly. Again, if Kate had seen it, I think Mady would've at least gotten a time-out.
---
Actually Alexis told Kate and all Kate said was stay out of her room then. So nope Mady didn't get in trouble and Kate didn't really seem to care.
I wasn't bothered by the cleaning of the fridge, the Mady/Alexis argument, or even Kate wanting the kids to stay out of the bedroom.
What did get me was Kate asking Cara to wipe Joel. She spent time looking for him, then finds out where he is and says tough, he can wait. I understand the need and importance thoroughly cleaning the fridge, but she couldn't break to help her son?
It's A Good Thing:
Since you haven't posted here before under that name I am not quite sure how to take your comments. Theresa is a pretty regular poster here so naturally it stands to reason that the moderators post her comments more freely than a lot of the other posters today who have either never been here before or have just never used that screenname.
That being said, Theresa's actual quote was " As we've discussed before, would you rather see this family struggling or thriving? Or, do you not know we've discussed this because you drifted over from the underside of the slimy bridge upon where you normally live? "
Not to speak for Theresa of course, but it seems to me she was being both sarcastic and using irony to show that a lot of the random people coming out of the wood work after this episode seem shocked that some of us here are at all happy that a family is succeeding in this day and age. She states clearly the question of "Would you rather see this family struggling or thriving?" I'd rather see them thrive, just as I would rather see anyone else thrive.
I am not sure why you are so passionately against this family, but your comments to Theresa were crossing the line in my book. We still published them, though, because it is important for people to get both sides of an issue when there are posters bringing both sides to this blog.
For the record, yes, there are a few blatantly offensive posts that have been pulled but we try to post everything but those comments from random posters which are trying to just make people angry or attack people personally.
Hope that clears everything up for you!
I don't believe a lot of people who cry exploitation. If it's exploitation, then why have a blog with so much nasty talk about the parents and children? If they truly believed it was exploitation, wouldn't they respect those children and their privacy? Surely they could create a blog that promotes ending all child exploitation. I suggest they start with the mommy blogs with ads, the Duggars, the celebrities selling pics of their kids, LPBW, Tiara shows, etc. as well as the Gosselins. There could be some intelligent discussion defining child exploitation. They could work to educate legislators to make the exploitation illegal (or at least regulated). Instead most seem prefer to gossip, trash, sleuth out private information, compare the Gosselins to killers and insult people who do not believe as they do. And, no, I don't believe that the Gosselins putting their children in the public (i.e. exploiting to some people), gives anyone else the right to do so as well. If it is wrong for the Gosselins, then surely it is wrong for anyone else.
Okay, I’m off my soap box.
Mady kicking Alexis was wrong. Viewers seem to forget that Kate did not see Mady kicking Alexis. Kate only heard Alexis tattling on Mady. Kate’s question of what were you doing seemed perfectly reasonable and, in fact, one I heard more than a few times growing up. Parents with large families cannot referee every fight.
The all mine quote – I thought I saw Kate laugh at herself when she said that and then I thought she was going to cry. I don’t think she quite believes that they are in such a wonderful house.
I also support the parent’s bedroom being off-limits to the kids. The kids are free to knock and state their problem, but parents need their own space. A strong marriage is good for the kids. Also, my family had to live temporarily in a small living space and the master bedroom was right off the main living space. I hated it – my kids were always in there watching TV, doing school projects or just goofing around. There was no place to retreat and regroup.
Kate and Jon's parenting techniques are not always the same as mine, but I respect their ability to make their own choices.
I told my husband that I want to try grasping the toilet paper roll in the middle, holding it over the toilet and watching the swirling toilet paper unwind the roll. Sounds like the boys had a neat idea!
Guin:
Did you explain to her that the Gosselins believe in having their lives filmed as it really is, rather than some sanitized phony version? I wouldn't be interested in the show if they were just acting for the camera.
Maybe your mom should stick to "Ozzie and Harriet" reruns if she is so easily shocked.
***
That's great that they have made the choice to act "real". The way they "act" though like I said, to me is very rude and disrespectful. There's a lot of yelling, a lot belittling, little patience.
And what's with the snipe at my mom? Haha. She doesn't watch TV. She was in the kitchen eating and couldn't help but see their interactions. It was an honest reaction.
I don't think Kate completely misses that point, at all. I've seen her express it before.
...I love Alexis to pieces, and don't condone Mady kicking her, but Alexis and all of the younger kids do need to learn that Cara and Mady's room is their private space, and they need to respect that.
Expressing it and enforcing it are two different things. Yes, they have 8 kids. Yes, there will be conflicts. I think that the younger kids still understandably need to work on their control. But if the two oldest ones are still being physical with the younger ones, the parents need to try harder.
As for the the kids respecting their space. My impression is that you are saying the ends justify the means. Can you clarify this? Because I don't think that any kids, of any age, should be allowed to resort to physical measures to get respect. That wouldn't be respect then, it would be fear.
If Mady felt the only way that she could get what she needs is finally getting her "Licks in" she needs to be gently corrected.
I don't know if you haven't watched the show much, but they definitely have a rule about hitting - it's been shown many times. The kids are still going to hit.
I think that's possible esp. outside of the parent's view.
I think they are doing an okay job. It may not be the way you'd do it, but luckily, there is not one perfect way to parent - people can do things differently and that's okay.
I cannot say myself that they are doing an ok job. But I do hope the kids grow up happy, productive, and well-adjusted.
I do think though that everyone would benefit from any type of parenting class, and if you are a parent of a big family, and even a multiples, the parent would learn a lot. For example, how do you make sure the kids follow the rules (such as not hitting) when your eyes and ears can't be everywhere? There's got to be a tactic a parent can use out there right?
Thankfully, I only have 1 daughter I need to keep an eye on. :)
Im LMAO reading here today. It is so funny when all the "intellectually sophisticated" GWOPers descend on this blog. I don't know why but it really tickles me.
Nothing better than reading comedy on a old, snowy day : )
Guin
"I don't understand how it could get moldy, even unplugged, if it wasn't at least somewhat dirty to begin with. What would the mold form from?"
***
microscopic bacteria. there's nothing the old owners can do about that unless they disinfected it with vesphene and made sure that air couldn't get to the fridge.
I dont' begrudge Kate doing everything to get that fridge clean. I mean, does anyone want mold on their food? the family will be keeping their food there.
"FYI: The comments on the anti-GWOP site are a little bit negative. I was surprised. Maybe they are starting to see the cloud wrapped around their silver lining?
BTW - why are the sheeple over there barely literate?"
Okay, I'm tempted to joke, but really, I've seen this sort of comment before. I feel like on certain sites people just say whatever they want whether it's true or not. I think we have a fairly articulate group here. I don't know about other sites as a whole, because I don't spend much time on them (the negativity is too depressing), but I know I have seen plenty of posts that are well-nigh incomprehensible. I think it's a sign of the poster's insecurity that she feels the need to frame it as "we're intelligent and they aren't".
As to her first point, we have been seeing more negative posts on this episode, though by and large not by regular posters, I don't think. I'm not sure that any of us sheeple have really changed our minds. But I also don't think any of us worship the Gosselins the way we are accused of doing.
It's sad when people lose their marbles, and Jon and Kate sure have. They are so over the top it is a freak show. The kids are going to be grown up very soon and want nothing to do with their parents or one another I am afraid. What is the point of having a big family without unconditional love, support and acceptance. They chastice, make fun of and physically assault one another. Very sad indeed.
Okay, not to pick apart your post (something I'm often accused of doing), but this is the sort of post one finds on other sites plenty, but which we don't usually get. I put this one through because it doesn't at least insult other posters. But I have issues aplenty with it:
1) What do you mean by "lost their marbles" and "freak show"? It would help if you have some examples of what you're talking about. Just saying it doesn't make it so. I think J&K are sane, I don't think they are freaks, and I don't think anything we saw last night was that different from what we've seen from them in the past. I need more substance in order to understand what you are talking about.
2) Somehow I doubt that you're "afraid" the kids won't want to have anything to do with their parents when they grow up. People say this all the time, and I think it's said with glee and anticipation rather than sorrow or fear. We have no idea what will happen with the Gosselin kids in the future, so I don't see the point in speculating so wildly.
3) I think families should love, support and accept one another - ideally unconditionally, but most people aren't that perfect. I don't think J&K's love of their kids is conditional, but the way they treat them may be based on their expectations in a given situation. I don't think that makes them so unusual.
4) Sometimes kids need to be chastised, depending on their behavior. Regarding "making fun of" - I don't see familial teasing as that big of a deal. It seems to be something that occurs in some families but not others. I would agree that as the kids get older, if there is something they are sensitive about, they shouldn't be teased about it. But the teasing that people complain about is often so benign that I think people must be totally humorless to complain.
As for "physically assault" - that is quite a stretch.
I think her comments were rude and un called for. And also I didn't cross that line first. I understand that she is a regular poster but aren't new people welcomed here? I am not against the Gosselin's I am however against exploiting 8 innocent children. They are filmed in various states of undress and doing things that the public should never see. I don't care if privates are blurred because that still leaves a whole camera crew and editing team seeing them. Its wrong. I am not trying to make people angry, or attack anybody BUT when somebody clearly implies that I live under a bridge what do you expect?
"I do think though that everyone would benefit from any type of parenting class, and if you are a parent of a big family, and even a multiples, the parent would learn a lot. For example, how do you make sure the kids follow the rules (such as not hitting) when your eyes and ears can't be everywhere? There's got to be a tactic a parent can use out there right? "
As a nanny and also holding an Early Childhood degree I don't disagree that probably any parent could benefit from paranting classes. But I also don't really think there is a solution to the problem of not being able to see and hear everything that goes on at evey moment (nor do I think any parent would want to be privy to that). I also don't think there is any child out there who follows every rule in their household at all times. IMO it's more a matter of knowing how to dealwith situations as the arise than it is trying to ensure all your children are "perfect" and nothing "bad" ever happens.
I also think it is important to remember that what works for one child or for one family will not always work for EVERY child or EVERY family.
Isn't also disrespectful and uncalled for to imply that I live in a house smaller than the Gosselin's?
Why would you think that? It has now been pointed out numerous times that the size of a house is no reflection on the happiness or well-being of the people inside it.
ItsAGoodThing-
The problem that alot of us have with posts like yours is that you state these things like you're there, like you are the omnisicent, all seeing eye into the Gosselin world when you aren't.
The kids are not thriving! They are constantly yelled at, have no privacy, and are beat on by their siblings, so no they are not thriving
Do you really think the siblings abuse each other? That's what "beat on" implies, and thats extreme to put it lightly- they fight like 99% of child siblings.
They are constantly yelled at? Co I don't think so. Often when there is "yelling" its to get over the noise level that goes along with 8 children.
We've beat the privacy thing to death, I'm not even going to go there.
You honestly believe the Lord is leading them? I think its Kate's love of money leading them. Do you also believe that child predators are being lead to do what they do?
Again this is why we don't take you "advocates" seriously. You are comparing Jon and Kate who clearly (to anyone with any rationale whatsoever) love their chldren, to child predators??? That is a complete and total/VILE accusation.
Kate is constantly gone on speaking engagements and Jon is off at his new condo in Utah.
So many were complaining that Jon and Kate didnt "work" but now that Kate is working in a way that cant be denied thats not good enough either? I would guess that shes home with them more than parents who work a 9-5. And as far as Jon always being at his condo in Utah- where did you get this insider information? Your imagination doesn't count as a reliable source.
Actually Alexis told Kate and all Kate said was stay out of her room then. So nope Mady didn't get in trouble and Kate didn't really seem to care.
Now weren't you just complaining that they don't have any privacy? How exactly do you know that Kate didn't speak with Mady further- off camera? Maybe she did and maybe she didn't, but the fact is that you don't know.
So many were complaining that Jon and Kate didnt "work" but now that Kate is working in a way that cant be denied thats not good enough either? I would guess that shes home with them more than parents who work a 9-5. And as far as Jon always being at his condo in Utah- where did you get this insider information? Your imagination doesn't count as a reliable source.
-----
Actually Jon had an interview while in Utah and he said that he is purchasing a condo for him and Cara. So no I didn't make it up, Im sorry I can't remember what group did the interview but its on the web some where. Also its actually a video so no its not just somebody making it up.
SamanthaNC said...
ItsAGoodThing-
The problem that alot of us have with posts like yours is that you state these things like you're there, like you are the omnisicent, all seeing eye into the Gosselin world when you aren't.
------
Actually Im not commenting as if I were there. Im commenting on what is actually seen. Kate is not a nice woman and what they are doing to their children is wrong. She left Collin to sit on the toilet waiting for Jon to come in and wipe him simply because she is lazy. She even tried to get Cara to do it.
Its obvious rules are not enforced in the Gosselin home. If they were Mady would not have kicked Alexis numerous times.
The kids are not thriving! They are constantly yelled at, have no privacy, and are beat on by their siblings, so no they are not thriving. Just because they have money now doesn't mean anything.
The kids by and large seem happy. Why can't you accept that?
Two parents are not home with those kids. Kate is constantly gone on speaking engagements and Jon is off at his new condo in Utah.
You're just throwing out rumors wildly at this point. People complain when the Gosselins "don't have jobs", but when they do work, people complain that they aren't home with the kids. It's ridiculous.
Have you ever looked up the definition of exploitation? Because if you do you would realize that the Gosselin kids are being exploited.
Okay, this wasn't directed at me, but I actually knew the meaning of exploitation without having to look it up - I would imagine that is true of many people here. It's not that obscure a word.
Or how about rolling around on the floor for all of America to see their underwear?, or even better yet would you allow them to be filmed while having impacted feces removed?
Ugh. I take it you are one of those people who said unspeakable things about Mady in the episode where she and Cara played mommy? I was absolutely disgusted by the comments of those perverts, and I'm afraid you've revealed exactly where your mind is - in the gutter - by repeating them. Anyone who sees something unwholesome in an 8-year-old girl rolling around on a floor seriously needs help.
As for the "impacted feces" bit, you apparently saw something that was never shown, which is quite a feat.
tintin said... If Mady felt the only way that she could get what she needs is finally getting her "Licks in" she needs to be gently corrected.
Tintin, I agree with you, but I think we need to acknowledge that we only saw an edited version of what happened. That said, even if we witnessed everything that happened, i.e.:
-Alexis was in Mady's room when she was told not to be
-Alexis refuses to leave
-Mady kicks Alexis in an attempt to get her to move on out
-Alexis comes downstairs to report Mady's behavior, but doesn't seem *that* upset by it
-Kate is in the middle of cleaning the fridge. She no doubt has kids tattle taling on each other every day.
In light of this, her response does not seem that off the mark to me.
Also, I appreciate the information you shared about the microscopic bacteria, but even acknowledging that Kate is a germophobe and can be dramatic, that house did seem dirty to me. Mouse droppings in the cabinets and horse manure left behind in the barn? It was just kind of bizarre that a rather nice piece of property would be left in that condition for the new owners.
By the way, your little one is a cutie!
Love this -
"Your imagination doesn't count as a reliable source"
As for the "impacted feces" bit, you apparently saw something that was never shown, which is quite a feat.
-----
Actually watch the episode when Kate picks out the tups bed. Its right there, and then during the interview Jon talks about it.
You're just throwing out rumors wildly at this point. People complain when the Gosselins "don't have jobs", but when they do work, people complain that they aren't home with the kids. It's ridiculous
--
No Im not, if you looked up her schedual and read interviews you would realize its very rare for both of them to be home. Also Jon mentions that in one of his interviews.
The kids by and large seem happy. Why can't you accept that?
--
The kids do not seem happy. Its not normal for 4 year olds to have migraines. Its not normal for boys to be treated lesser than the girls. Its not normal for Mady to kick Alexis.
SamanthaNC said... Your imagination doesn't count as a reliable source.
Samantha, LOL! That's exactly where 95% of these unsubstantiated rumors come from.
Kikibee said...And to the people at various places who are horrified that she asked Cara to wipe her brother,
I say "Hellooo!! Welcome to the world of a Duggar girl!".
Good point.
Also, I love it if posters would stop referencing how big or small their own homes are in comparison to the Gosselin digs. It just seems to be a tactic to show that said poster is either a) more virtuous than the Gosselins because they live in smaller digs or b) a means to flaunt that they couldn’t possibly be jealous because, guess what, their house is just as nice as Kate Gosselin’s!
Actually Im not commenting as if I were there. Im commenting on what is actually seen.
I guess sanity makes us view these things we "See" differently.
You have not seen Jon abandon in family to be in a condo in Utah for excessive periods, you have not seen the kids abuse each other, you have not seen the parents act as child predators,nor have you seen that Kate IS ALWAYS gone on speaking engagements.
hello everyone im new to this so please be kind , i love the show jon&kate plus 8 and i love their new house and the i loved the eppy last night except i didn't like when mady was kicking alexis
http://dsc.disco.com/dd/dd/dd?playerId=1842754387&titleId=7048084001
I don't see unhappy kids in that video. Not at all. They seem happy, sweet, developmentally where they should be (especially considering the fact that they are sextuplets born 10 weeks early).
While I can appreciate the concern people have for the Gosselin kids, from all I see it appears unfounded to make accusations of abuse and neglect. Money does not buy happiness of course, but its been clear so many times on the show (which again is a very small slice of their lives) that Jon and Kate both make strict rules which they then bend for the kids if the situation permits. "No stuffed animals ever" (which I find to be a good rule seeing as how dirty and germ filled they can be) was bent for Alexis and her Dusty, just like I am sure the "No kids in mom and dad's room" will at some point be bent if there is a sick one who just wants to be near mommy. Thats how things go-- you make strict, strong statements of how things should be so that the kids are clear on expectations, then if something happens out of the ordinary you're able to bend slightly.
Of course the link didn't work! lol
http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/jon-and-kate/video.html
Its the first video regarding Dusty that I was referring to (as well as a lot of the other webisodes).
I think that people need to revisit Guin's post below. Saying something enough times does not make it a fact.
SamanthaNC said
Now weren't you just complaining that they don't have any privacy? How exactly do you know that Kate didn't speak with Mady further- off camera? Maybe she did and maybe she didn't, but the fact is that you don't know.
****************
I think this is the thing that confuses me the most. The folks that are the most anti-Gosslin (not picking on any particular group) seem to think that if it wasn't filmed, it didn't happen. They seem to think that the cameras are going 24/7. Just last night we were privy to the fact that the kids hung out in their parents' room. They would even sleep in there. Have we seen that? I'll admit that I don't watch ever single show, but I don't recall seeing that before. Does that mean it didn't happen because it wasn't filmed?
I honestly think that they are a family, no better, no worse than anyone else's. There are good times and bad times. They are human, and being so, sometimes things will come out of their mouths that probably shouldn't.
Above all, those children are loved. You can see that in any episode. They are happy and thriving. The tup's vocabulary amazes me with every show.
I just do not understand the mentality of "We don't see it so it can't have happened!"
Apparently the subtlety was too much for some people.
someone who lives under a bridge = troll
When you go through the "exploitation" indoctrination are you required to leave your sense of humor at the door?
Hi Anya, I agree that the house was left dirty. Maybe the house was a foreclosure? That would explain it sitting uncleaned for a while.
Under normal circumstances, if the old owners were trying to actively sell it, they would have had that place in tip top condition.
Actually Jon had an interview while in Utah and he said that he is purchasing a condo for him and Cara. So no I didn't make it up, Im sorry I can't remember what group did the interview but its on the web some where. Also its actually a video so no its not just somebody making it up.
I believe he talked in passing about wanting to get a place in Utah. There was then speculation that one had already been purchased. I don't think that was ever confirmed. How you then get to "Jon is off at his new condo in Utah" puzzles me. The fact is, you don't know where Jon is and pretending that you do does nothing for your creditibility.
She left Collin to sit on the toilet waiting for Jon to come in and wipe him simply because she is lazy.
Yeah, there she was, lazily cleaning the refrigerator.
BTW, it was Joel, not Collin. Why is there such a correlation between being so concerned about the children and not being able to tell them apart?
Actually watch the episode when Kate picks out the tups bed. Its right there, and then during the interview Jon talks about it.
You are either imagining a scene that never happened, or are simply failing to mention that the scene was "filmed" from 20 feet away; I think all you saw was the van and Jon. When you make it seem like viewers were shown Jon "helping" a constipated Collin to poop, you are either lying or, again, constructing a scene out of your imagination that was never in fact shown.
That's great that they have made the choice to act "real". The way they "act" though like I said, to me is very rude and disrespectful. There's a lot of yelling, a lot belittling, little patience.
And what's with the snipe at my mom? Haha. She doesn't watch TV. She was in the kitchen eating and couldn't help but see their interactions. It was an honest reaction.
Well, you could have explained to her that the Gosselins believe in showing the good and the bad. You could have shown her any one of many, many moments of Kate being loving with her kids.
I must confess that before I got involved in blogging about the Gosselins, I never realized that there were so many PERFECT parents and families in the world. Families where the kids never misbehaved and the parents never yelled. Now, if only some of these paragons would learn modesty, they would be perfect in every way.
As for the the kids respecting their space. My impression is that you are saying the ends justify the means. Can you clarify this? Because I don't think that any kids, of any age, should be allowed to resort to physical measures to get respect. That wouldn't be respect then, it would be fear.
I thought that I stated several times that it was not acceptable; perhaps I was unclear. My point was about Kate's reaction, not having seen the conflict - that Alexis had already been told about respecting the rules about Mady and Cara's room, and that was what started the conflict.
As someone pointed out, it would have been different if Mady had kicked Alexis for no reason, or for being in a shared space.
No Im not, if you looked up her schedual and read interviews you would realize its very rare for both of them to be home. Also Jon mentions that in one of his interviews.
I don't keep a chart of where Kate Gosselin is at all times, so I'll have to take your word for it, since you seem to follow her comings and goings quite closely. Jon and Kate have also both said that their jobs allow them to be with the kids more than they would at conventional jobs. Perhaps Kate is gone a day or two here or there, but with the children much more when she's home. The fact remains that people complain when she stays at home with the kids ("she doesn't have a job; she's lazy") and complain when she is working outside the home ("she's never there"). It's perfectly fair and accurate to say that there is no pleasing you.
The kids do not seem happy. Its not normal for 4 year olds to have migraines. Its not normal for boys to be treated lesser than the girls. Its not normal for Mady to kick Alexis.
You don't know what you're talking about. I googled "children migraines" and found info about pre-school aged children having migraines in 30 seconds. I don't think that the Gosselin boys are treated as lesser than the girls. And yes, it is normal for siblings to hit and kick each other.
What I'm noticing here today as someone who frequents the other site as well is that there are many people here who are no less cruel than some of the extreme people on the other site.
It's the two extremes, the wackos on the other site and the purposely contrary on this one that are mudding the issues.
Too bad there isn't a third site for the normal people. :)
Good Heavens! I never said the parents act as child predators! Bottom line, whether you like Kate or not, they are EXPLOITING their children for greedy Kate's wants. Do you really think the kids care if Jon got hair plugs, Kate got a tummy tuck, teeth bleaching, or a fake tan? Nope they don't. I think the Gimme Gimme Gosselins would have been far better off to simply say NO THANK YOU to all the free things. Kept their jobs and actually supported their children instead of their children supporting them. I honestly don't know how people can turn a blind eye to exploitation, what Jon and Kate are doing is no different than what pageant mothers do. They are trying to make their kids marketable and will stoop to any low to do so. I fear for the kids, they are going to have a terrible future. Things are not always going to be handed to them and having to learn late in life that you actually have to work for things is a hard lesson.
marci said...When you go through the "exploitation" indoctrination are you required to leave your sense of humor at the door?
Marci, LOL!
Lizabeth said... Thats how things go-- you make strict, strong statements of how things should be so that the kids are clear on expectations, then if something happens out of the ordinary you're able to bend slightly.
That's how I see it too, Lizabeth. Additionally, I see Kate as much more of a "softie" that she wants the kids (or us) to believe.
That was illustrated well in the "Dusty" link. Thanks for providing that...!
Jon cant say "nose poke around", but she can say "de-vile-ifying"?
----
Man, she was on one last night!
Do you think she could have at least faked happy and nice? And her barking orders in their bedroom and once again belittling Jon, who takes it shamelessly....if you ask me, Kate was just a bitch.
Interesting how her moods change from the interview chair to the actual episode.
Jen K: This blog seems to be the Anti-GWOP site. There are actually commenters that have said they were at GWOP and have brought over their arguments. Why do people here care what GWOPers have to say about you? Why can't you just like the show and have that be the end of it? If others want to stop the exploitation why not let them try? If there is no exploitation or anything wrong going on then their attempts will get them no where, but if there is...........
Well I'm just going to say to the anti-gosselin fans coming here today then you are blessed not to be a Gosselin :)
Its A Good Thing-
My comments to you were not rude. It was truthful, but not rude. Yes, it was sarcasm, and I alluded to the fact that you are a troll that wondered over from Gwop. (trolls live under bridges). EVERY point you wrote was straight out of their pages. In fact, I went over to their blog and saw a few posts of yours It's A Good Thing! Sure, the blogosphere is a free place and you can hang out wherever you want, but don't mudsling over here.
Great, glad you have a big house. So, why use the term mansion? I don't care if you didn't put a url link on, just the mention and reminder of how people can be tracked down is bad enough.
You know, I haven't see the word KONPOUND on this blog when we discuss their house. I do know that Gwop uses it a lot, as well as
all of your other arguments/questions you threw out at me. They are straight from the pages of Gwop. That is why I replied to you in the first place. One can read a post and know where they stand by the terms that poster uses, and you used typical Gwop terms with the typical Gwop mindset. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who noticed it.
I was going to reply back to each of your Gwoppy questions, but seriously, that would be such a waste of my time, as well as the readers of this blog. We have intelligent, rational discussions, not lies, innuendos, and trash being thrown. Your original post reaked of that trash. This blog is more evolved/mature and we have people who may not like Kate or Jon or how their raising their family, but we do not proganda sling regarding this family.
Btw, the kids have a parent with them each day. I didn't say they were both at home with them each day I said "two parents involved with their daily lives".
Bottom line, these kids are well loved and well cared for, and that's all that counts.
Now, read this as sarcastm...
In the words of the Beatles, go "back to where you once belonged".
Jen K said...What I'm noticing here today as someone who frequents the other site as well is that there are many people here who are no less cruel than some of the extreme people on the other site.
It's the two extremes, the wackos on the other site and the purposely contrary on this one that are mudding the issues.
Too bad there isn't a third site for the normal people. :)
Gee, Jen, I *thought* I was relatively normal. Guess not.
What's up with the happy face after you insult everyone who has posted before you?
BTW, there are other topics I would like to get to re: this episode, but we have had to spend the majority of the day refuting claims from people whose "imagination" is their "source" (thanks to Samantha for that one).
What I'm noticing here today as someone who frequents the other site as well is that there are many people here who are no less cruel than some of the extreme people on the other site.
I haven't seen anyone be cruel. Bitchy (speaking for myself, certainly), but not cruel. All I can say is that there is only so much unreasonableness that one can put up with before one starts to get sarcastic. At least that's true for me.
It's really difficult to communicate clearly and civilly with people who either don't understand or refuse to acknowledge the difference between opinion and fact.
I don't particularly like this blog getting nasty, but I don't like allowing only one POV, either. Unfortunately, with opposing POVs, you get more back and forth, and things can get heated. And as I said, I think the irrationality of some posters makes things worse (JMO, obviously).
It's the two extremes, the wackos on the other site and the purposely contrary on this one that are mudding the issues.
I completely disagree that people here are "purposely contrary" or "mudding the issues". I know for myself, I say what I think - not to be contrary, but because I think it. As for "mudding the issues" I see that as almost the sole province of the haters. If claiming that things happened when they didn't isn't muddying issues, I don't know what is.
Too bad there isn't a third site for the normal people. :)
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness. There's nothing to stop you from starting your own blog.
Guin
Well, you could have explained to her that the Gosselins believe in showing the good and the bad. You could have shown her any one of many, many moments of Kate being loving with her kids.
I couldn't, because I didn't know that the Gosselins believe in showing the good and the bad till you pointed it out.
My contention though, if it's rude, does it matter that it's "real"? If I were to view behavior that's displayed in the show in public, I would find it disagreeable. Before you say I shouldn't watch if I find the show appalling, I already made the decision not to. I excepted this one time because I was excited about seeing their house. Like I said in my first post, I love houses.
I must confess that before I got involved in blogging about the Gosselins, I never realized that there were so many PERFECT parents and families in the world. Families where the kids never misbehaved and the parents never yelled. Now, if only some of these paragons would learn modesty, they would be perfect in every way.
Nowhere did I say I was perfect. Let me reiterate my point. Kicking for an 8 yr. old should not be acceptable, no matter the reason. If they are still doing that at this age, that NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
From http://childparenting.about.com/od/childdevelopment/a/eightyearoldhom_3.htm
"Discipline
Parents of an eight-year old must have a good repertoire of discipline strategies because they definitely will be needed. If authoritarian parenting strategies have been used with the child, the negative results of that style will begin to be apparent in the aggression and hostility of the eight-year old. Now is the time to learn and practice authoritative discipline that provides firm and consistent expectations and consequences , and teaches children why their actions result in good or bad consequences."
Highlights are mine. If Maddy is still hitting, they need to work on their consistency in their discipline and consequences. That is my point. Therefore, Kate saying To Alexis "then you shouldn't be in her room", is NOT consistent with their rule of no hitting. It says to the kids; it's okay to hit if Mom/Dad doesn't see it, and it's ok to hit for a reason like when we're frustrated.
It's not perfect parenting, it's just consistent parenting.
Wow, perhaps if you all read the operative word, "SOME" in my comment you would see that I wasn't insulting EVERYONE here.
Perhaps if we all slowed down to read the comments in their entirety before commenting back, it would alleviate some of the "I meant this", "you said that" stuff.
Sheeshhh....
It's A Good Thing said-
Actually Im not commenting as if I were there. Im commenting on what is actually seen. Kate is not a nice woman and what they are doing to their children is wrong. She left Collin to sit on the toilet waiting for Jon to come in and wipe him simply because she is lazy. She even tried to get Cara to do it.
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You aren't watching very well, because it was Joel that was left to sit. I don't agree in asking an 8 year old to wipe her brother, and I don't agree with how much the Duggars rely on their daughters either.
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It's A Good Thing Said -
The kids do not seem happy. Its not normal for 4 year olds to have migraines.
--------------------------------
I have had migraines since I was a young girl, and it is not at all tied to my happiness. My doctor has found in my case that it is both genetic and based on the chemistry within my body.
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Guinevere - I don't scientifically understand the mold/mildew, but it does occur even in a clean refrigerator. In high school I worked at an ice cream stand and all of us spent days cleaning before both closing and re-opening each year. We dealt with the mold much more because of the constant opening of the refrigerators. The equipment looked clean (as it did in the episode) but it grows in the tracks and seals, then spreads. When closing the store for winter we'd unplug the equipment, spend hours scrubbing it all down (even though they were cleaned on a regular basis), and then left the doors open. Perhaps the fridge was unplugged and with the doors shut mold grew in all the crevices.
As for "mudding the issues" I see that as almost the sole province of the haters. If claiming that things happened when they didn't isn't muddying issues, I don't know what is.
To be fair, so is denying something that was actually seen or said and is fact and not open to interpretation.
I find that many times, some of the disagreements have come from the fact that some people aren't reading or watching the extra stuff...like the interview with Jon in Utah. There was a great deal of information in that interview that came straight from his mouth that people are commenting on and that are people are calling fictional or imaginary.
But whatever...those on each side (extreme, is a better word) will never change their minds and it's not my intention or goal to do so. I'm more in the middle but leaning toward Jon and Kate being pretty crappy to each other and their kids. That's my opinion and no one needs to agree with it.
Theresa: There are actually a few comments by your name on GWOP. Maybe they are you maybe not but what Im trying to get across is: The Gosselins are exploiting their children for their own personal gain. Yes I do frequent GWOP, its a great site, some of the comments are a little off but the majority of it is true. I see nothing wrong with coming to both sites, Im not creating a different name and Im not changing my opinions.
What the Gosselin's are choosing to do to their children is WRONG. It needs to STOP.
ItsaGoodThing:
You honestly believe the Lord is leading them? I think its Kate's love of money leading them. Do you also believe that child predators are being lead to do what they do?
You then wrote:
I never said the parents act as child predators!
You're right you didnt say they are child predators- you merely eluded to it. A thousand pardons. You need to know how your posts come across to readers- although I strongly suspect that you do.
Tintin,
I think you're right. The IDEAL thing would have been for Kate to call Mady downstairs with Alexis, hash out what happened, reinforced with Mady not to kick her sister, perhaps give a punishment of some sort, and also explain, again, to Alexis that she may not go into her sister's "area" uninvited. (In this case, I think a "line" should actually be drawn that the tups may not cross without permission, like she did with the parents' bedroom door being that line for the parents.)
What I have a problem with is criticizing or over-critiqueing any *one* instance we see on tv.
Not every situation is an "ideal" one in which to practice consistent parenting. What may seem clear cut to someone watching the event unfold on the television screen may have been very different in real time.
And, frankly, Kate and Jon get what a lot of other parents don't....filmed evidence of what actually happened, even if they see it days, weeks later, or hear about it from the crew. I would *think* they take those opportunities, later on, in private, to talk to and discipline the offenders.
Jen K, I think you brought up a valid point:
To be fair, so is denying something that was actually seen or said and is fact and not open to interpretation.
That is something we talked about a lot in the post Guin just did on Gosselin Propaganda. I agree that things are completely open to interpretation. Because of that, as I have said many times, I choose to give people the benefit of the doubt. At least for me I think all I have read and seen shows a young family with parents still figuring out who they are and kids who are adorable and loved.
This is a TV show where we see short clips and pieces of a family's life. So, then, based on your statement its up to the viewer/blog reader to determine whether they choose to see Kate and Jon as parents who love their kids and are just doing their thing, or monsters who neglect and exploit their children.
Personally, I don't really find it positive to spend time dwelling on what people I will probably never meet choose to do. There are too many other things in life to be concerned with. So I have made the choice to go by what I actually see and what is actually said as well as trying to see a more positive side of situations.
SamanthaNC said...
ItsaGoodThing:
You honestly believe the Lord is leading them? I think its Kate's love of money leading them. Do you also believe that child predators are being lead to do what they do?
You then wrote:
I never said the parents act as child predators!
You're right you didnt say they are child predators- you merely eluded to it. A thousand pardons. You need to know how your posts come across to readers- although I strongly suspect that you do.
-----
I don't I eluded to the Gosselins as child predators. Im sorry if people took it that way but that is not what is meant. It merely means that if you believe Jon and Kate were lead to behave the way they do and make the choices they make then do you believe every single person is lead to make the choices they make?
Jen K,
If you looked a little farther over here, you'd see that Jon's Utah interview was posted here, discussed at length, and that most, if not all, of us are QUITE familiar with everything he said.
It may be hard to believe, but we're not basking in ignorance here, we just may not see things how you do.
And I don't think Jon in the interview said anything more than he'd "like" to get a place in Utah. There was a follow up article published online that also said he was considering it.
If (and when) GWOP posts the pics of the Gosseins' Utah ski chalet, along with sale price, tax value and square footage, you can go for it. Until then, save the speculation for those who care to hear it....i.e., Jon's off galavanting in UT.
I'm not disputing the fact that ALL children need consistent discipline, boundaries, and rules no matter their age. BUT I also have never met a parent who is consistent with their discipline 100% of the time. I think that all parents have times that they "give in" to their children, or bend rules as needed. I absolutely think being consistent is a huge key to good discipline but I also am realistic in knowing that it is not something which always happens no matter how hard you try.
And just because you have the rule in your household of no hitting doesn't mean that it will NEVER happen.
I also don't believe (IMO) a child's behavior should be labeled as "normal" or not normal because honestly what is normal?? Normal for one child is not always considered normal for another child.
Why do people here care what GWOPers have to say about you? Why can't you just like the show and have that be the end of it? If others want to stop the exploitation why not let them try? If there is no exploitation or anything wrong going on then their attempts will get them no where, but if there is...........
I don't care what GWOPpers say about me, and I rarely visit there. Whether you like it or not, the haters are part of the discussion here, whether they are at GWoP or elsewhere.
About 99.9999% of the posts there and elsewhere have nothing to do with stopping exploitation. If people want to hurt the Gosselins, I can't stop them, but I can condemn their actions. It is not harmless to lie about the Gosselins as you have here today. It's not harmless for people to call CPS on them and harass them. It's a witchhunt, and as in the witchhunts of old, the offenders don't care who they hurt in their "righteous" cause. I'm reminded of the old practice of trial by ordeal, which Wikipedia defines thusly:
"In a trial by ordeal, supposed witches were immersed into a vat of water or pond, and taken out after some time, and given the ability to confess. If he or she confessed, they were killed. If he/she did not confess, he/she was submerged again. This process usually was repeated until the victim drowned or gave up and let themselves be executed in another way (hanging or, rarely, burning). Also, if they had their hands/feet tied, they would be left under water. If they floated they were guilty of witchcraft, if they sank they were innocent but had usually drowned anyway."
The problem I have with the haters can be encapsulated by some of the posts in this thread: 1) lying or exaggerating events to make their point and 2) concerning themselves way more than they need to with the behavior of utter strangers while patting themselves on the back for how awesome they themselves are.
Marci-
Not every situation is an "ideal" one in which to practice consistent parenting. What may seem clear cut to someone watching the event unfold on the television screen may have been very different in real time.
So true! In real life parents make mistakes, I know I'm guilty- I'm thankful there is no video evidence though lol!
Actually, I said, "NOT open to interpretation" meaning facts...things that are straight out of the mouths of Jon and Kate.
Like the "rumor" about a condo in Utah. Fact...Jon said it himself. Whether they actually bought one yet is another story, but that "rumor" was started by Jon himself.
This is sort of what I'm trying to get at. There are facts that are out there to be discussed, and that's fine, but some people who are choosing to label (SOME people, not all) things that are actual FACTS as rumors and then criticize people for talking about them.
I think part of the problem is that fact wise, not everyone is always on the same page. So you have SOME looneys who take facts and create stories about it (like the people who were talking about Jon *maybe* *someday* *possibly* running off with a ski bunny in Utah) and you have fact "denials" from people who just don't have the info to really discuss something.
But whatever...I mean only time will tell how this all shakes out.
tintin -
All children misbehave. What parents should strive for is progress not perfection.
As your child grows, there are some behaviors that you will be dealing with for years and years and years. Sometimes effective parenting will eliminate one behavior only to have another unpleasant behavior display itself.
Do I think that K effectively handled this? No and I don't know. No, if the only thing that she did was talk to Alexis. But also, I don't know if because we don't know what happened off-camera.
Guinevere said...
About 99.9999% of the posts there and elsewhere have nothing to do with stopping exploitation. If people want to hurt the Gosselins, I can't stop them, but I can condemn their actions. It is not harmless to lie about the Gosselins as you have here today. It's not harmless for people to call CPS on them and harass them. It's a witchhunt, and as in the witchhunts of old, the offenders don't care who they hurt in their "righteous" cause. I'm reminded of the old practice of trial by ordeal, which Wikipedia defines thusly:
-----
I haven't lied here and not once have I called CPS, nor said that I have. Im not trying to hurt the Gosselins. I don't harass them either, not once have I ever contacted them or anybody involved with them.
Honestly Im confused what exactly did I say that was a lie?
If (and when) GWOP posts the pics of the Gosseins' Utah ski chalet, along with sale price, tax value and square footage, you can go for it. Until then, save the speculation for those who care to hear it....i.e., Jon's off galavanting in UT.
We were posting at the same time so I didn't see this comment until after my previous one was (or will be) posted.
This is what I mean...I AGREE that there are wackos at GWOP. I AGREE that there are people taking it too far. I'm not one of them.
I swear, it seems like this site hates people on that site and likes to twist words just for the sake of it without considering that some of us actually have common ground with some of you.
Its a Good Thing said:
It merely means that if you believe Jon and Kate were lead to behave the way they do and make the choices they make then do you believe every single person is lead to make the choices they make?
Uhhmmm yeah... actually I do...
That being said, this is not the place or time for a religious discussion, but at least for my part with my beliefs this is a part of them.
I believe people are led to the choices they make both by who they are created to be and by the situations that are brought their way.
Samantha and Marci, I totally agree about how consistent discipline may be the goal but is not always reality. You set up parameters then you allow some freedom and a chance to break the rules (go to bed late, have ice cream for breakfast, etc) on occasion to show that life isn't just about a strict schedule, but about enjoying opportunities and fun that comes along.
It's a Good Thing-
Rest assured, that would not be me who posted at GWOP. I am very much against them and nothing I would (or tried to) say would never actually make it to post.
Hmmmm....I realize the name "Theresa" is not "Mary", a very common name, but I would venture that there are other people in this world who have that name. Sorry, but that is not me.
As I've stated vehemently on this site, I would LOVE to see GWOP closed down. They are a terrible site that spits forth nothing but lies and extrapolations as truth. It's a hate blog. They are the anti-advocates of the children.
Thank you for the entertainment for today, but I have a busy afternoon and cannot respond to your silliness anymore, so you have a nice night, okay?
Lizabeth said...
Its a Good Thing said:
It merely means that if you believe Jon and Kate were lead to behave the way they do and make the choices they make then do you believe every single person is lead to make the choices they make?
Uhhmmm yeah... actually I do...
-----
Oh so you do believe child predators are lead to do what they do? You really think people have no responsibility for their actions?
Can someone help me out with something? Apparently, the anti-Gs are huge child advocates and that is the main reason why they get up in the mornings. Here's where I have an issue -- they watch the show, Tivo it, write about it down to the minute, and pick up on things that require magnifying glasses and extensive database research. Besides the fact that it's creepy and somewhat predatory (is that a word?; I'm not sure), aren't they actively participating in the so-called child exploitation if they scrutinize the show to that level? I personally watch the show mindlessly and then turn it off when it's over and don't think about it often (well, until I found all these blogs). According to them, liking the show means you're participating in the child exploitation. But they're watching the show, too; and they take notes and write recaps and can probably tell you the brand of shoes Cara has on. In regards to child exploitation, isn't it even worse that they monitor these kids to the level that they do compared to the people who just watch the show for fun? How are they *better* people than the fans? Aren't they worse? It disturbs me to picture a bunch of women sitting at home with their pads and pencils taking notes on a tv show.
Sorry, Jen K- I forgot a word and messed up that part of my post! I agree about something being NOT open for interpretation. That was my point-- some things are fact and many things are not. I choose, in the things that are not yet facts and which we have no idea about, to see a more positive bend. Others choose differently. I also agree that a lot of people are not at all on the same page fact wise which makes for a lot of frustration to those of us who read articles then call shenanigans when we hear something misquoted or taken out of context.
Honestly, the more you post, Jen K, the more I think you have a lot in common with quite a few of us here. I have definitely found this blog to be more of a middle ground than I originally thought after noticing people disagree respectfully and move on. Just sayin' we may not all be as different as our posts make us seem :).
Sorry if this has been touched on...I don't have time to read through all of the comments. Does anyone else think Kate's behaviour regarding the no kids in the bedroom issue was too harsh? I can understand their need for privacy, but I've always thought the rule for young kids should be, if the bedroom door is closed, knock and wait for someone to open up. It just seems mean and unsafe to say that you will never set foot in this room again or else you will suffer severe punishment. I wonder what the severe punishment was that Kate had in mind? The kids are all so young, and sometimes kids need their parents at night, like after a bad dream, or bedwetting incident, or feeling sick etc. They should not feel afraid to go to their parents, wherever the parents may be in the house. With eight kids, you will never have complete privacy (heck, I only have two, and barely have any). It's just one of those things you accept when your kids are little, and something they will soon outgrow. Thoughts?
Honestly, the more you post, Jen K, the more I think you have a lot in common with quite a few of us here.
Thanks for the nice comment...
I'm not sure I agree with you there if recent comments by some are the judge of that! :) But I will say this: Just because someone posts over there that doesn't mean they can't see both sides and talk about something rationally.
My stance, so that I'm perfectly clear and there is no confusion is that I disagree with what Jon and Kate are doing (living off the kids). I would like the show to end for the kids' sake and I know that's not a popular opinion here. As a former fan of the show, I've drawn my own conclusions about the differences in what the show used to be and how they all used to be and the way things are now.
Do I agree with everything over at GWOP? No...but I do appreciate their concern, however misguided and extreme SOME of the people are. I also think that SOME of the people at GWOP have it spot on.
I also think that there are people here who are able to see things objectively and I appreciate that. But, conversely, I think there are SOME people who are purposely contrary and choose not to get some facts before calling foul on other posters.
Just as it's a little creepy to be all in the G's business and hate them so feverishly and not know them, I happen to also think it's a little creepy to be so defending of them (and not know them either) no matter what without considering that there might be some weirdness there.
So I'm no J&K fan and would like nothing more than for the kids to have a normal off-camera life, but I'm not a wacko making up stories either. And I'm glad that there seems to be common ground here and sometimes over there too. It's just tough to find it sometimes. :)
Theresa said...
It's a Good Thing-
Rest assured, that would not be me who posted at GWOP. I am very much against them and nothing I would (or tried to) say would never actually make it to post.
Hmmmm....I realize the name "Theresa" is not "Mary", a very common name, but I would venture that there are other people in this world who have that name. Sorry, but that is not me.
As I've stated vehemently on this site, I would LOVE to see GWOP closed down. They are a terrible site that spits forth nothing but lies and extrapolations as truth. It's a hate blog. They are the anti-advocates of the children.
Thank you for the entertainment for today, but I have a busy afternoon and cannot respond to your silliness anymore, so you have a nice night, okay?
-----
Well then I guess its good for the Gosselin children that you have no control over the GWOP site. They are advocating for the children. People here however, wear their rose colored glasses and refuse to acknowledge the truth.
TRUTH: Jon and Kate ARE exploiting their children for their own personal gain.
TRUTH: Exploitation is wrong. Its wrong to sell your childrens privacy so you can go to the spa and on numerous vacations.
TRUTH: Jon and Kate Plus 8 NEEDS to be off the air.
It's a Good Thing said
Oh so you do believe child predators are lead to do what they do? You really think people have no responsibility for their actions?
Wow. That was uncalled for. I'm pretty shocked that after you talk about trying to have a reasonable and unoffensive discussion you would choose to make this kind of personal and uncalled for statement.
My exact quote was, to be clear, "I believe people are led to the choices they make both by who they are created to be and by the situations that are brought their way." I stated that my faith and my beliefs are that we are guided AND have situations brought our way. I believe that we all have personal responsibility and free will which work along with who we are created to be and what situations cross our paths. I am responsible for my words and thoughts just like everyone else is... but the things in my life are different from yours because of who we are and what we are involved with.
Like I said before I do not want to turn this into a religious discussion, hence my decision earlier to make a quick statement instead of a long description. Unfortunately since you chose to demean my faith I had to expound.
I lost the post I wanted to respond to but I just want to say that I think it takes a really sick mind to sexualize a child who is merely dancing around.
Mady's underwear didn't show to anyone who wasn't purposely looking for the outlines of her underpants.
I seriously hope the film crew for the show files suit against any and all people who infer or outright claim they have done anything improper. It wouldn't be hard for their attorneys to find the people who make those comments.
It's a Good Thing -- right now, the main topics on GWOP are a moldy fridge, the swimming pool, Kate's clothes, and poop. Yes, I can see how they are squashing all the obvious child exploitation on the show as we speak.
Summer said...
It's a Good Thing -- right now, the main topics on GWOP are a moldy fridge, the swimming pool, Kate's clothes, and poop. Yes, I can see how they are squashing all the obvious child exploitation on the show as we speak.
---
Actually if you read all the posts and comments you would realize that they are writing to various people concerning their support of Jon and Kate. They are making a difference. They are not sitting around talking about another blog.
It's a Good Thing -- right now, the main topics on GWOP are a moldy fridge, the swimming pool, Kate's clothes, and poop. Yes, I can see how they are squashing all the obvious child exploitation on the show as we speak.
-------
What? No talk about Kates hair? I thought that was the Job # 1 in saving the children.
As a former social worker in child welfare, I can say that in no way is GWOP advocating for the Gosselin children. Griping and being petty about water pitchers, stoves, who gets their own room, etc. is not advocating. Calling Kate derogatory names is not helping anyone. Writing to senators, contacting child welfare departments, trying to change law regarding reality TV "actors" work hours- that is advocating! It's absurd how grown people treat each other about this show.
its A Good Thing said
..No Im not, if you looked up her schedual and read interviews you would realize its very rare for both of them to be home. Also Jon mentions that in one of his interviews. ...
and
..Nope they don't. I think the Gimme Gimme Gosselins would have been far better off to simply say NO THANK YOU to all the free things. Kept their jobs and actually supported their children instead of their children supporting them....
You're complaining that they're gone and then saying they don't work. Which is it? I guess it doesn't count because it's all because of the kids. Well you can't have the mom without the kids, as they wouldn't be here either without her. Is Kate to work in her closet sealing envelopes because then nobody would know she was a mom of eight kids?
Here's Kate's quote.
“We are really blessed, because the show allows us to both work from home and at least one parent is here with our kids all the time.”
http://growingyourbaby.com/category/jon-and-kate-gosselin/
JerseyGirl said...
I lost the post I wanted to respond to but I just want to say that I think it takes a really sick mind to sexualize a child who is merely dancing around.
Mady's underwear didn't show to anyone who wasn't purposely looking for the outlines of her underpants.
I seriously hope the film crew for the show files suit against any and all people who infer or outright claim they have done anything improper. It wouldn't be hard for their attorneys to find the people who make those comments.
----
Never said the film crew did anything improper. Its the parents fault.
I think the show may lose ratings now that they have moved to their new home. The shows appeal was based on the fact that the Gosselin's behaved a lot like the regular American family except with more kids. They dressed similar, had similar jobs and lived in a similar house. Now that they have a house that rivals most of our homes, viewers probably won't feel the same connection. Especially if they continue to go on fancy all expense paid trips.
Do I think they need and deserve this house? Probably. I think they went through a lot more in their lives than what we know or comprehend from the show.
Right, all 500-plus posters are writing all the sponsors. I would love to read some of those letters. "Dear KMart, Kate likes mold more than poop. She doesn't care about anyone but Hannah. She wears nice clothes, and she has weird hair. The show is bad, very bad, but I watch it every week and write about it to all my friends on a blog. I am a very special person because of that, and I expect my letter to be passed on to someone who will make a difference. I know everything I write is a fact because everything we see on the show needs to be taken literally. We see every aspect of their life. Please pull your sponsorship. Oh, and the kids have MAJOR MAJOR psychological issues. I took a health class in high school, so I should know. Thank you."
I love Alexis to pieces, and don't condone Mady kicking her, but Alexis and all of the younger kids do need to learn that Cara and Mady's room is their private space, and they need to respect that.
-----
How in the world can they learn a concept of privacy when none is ever given to them. The hypocrisy in your comment made me LOL!
Right, all 500-plus posters are writing all the sponsors. I would love to read some of those letters. "Dear KMart, Kate likes mold more than poop. She doesn't care about anyone but Hannah. She wears nice clothes, and she has weird hair. The show is bad, very bad, but I watch it every week and write about it to all my friends on a blog. I am a very special person because of that, and I expect my letter to be passed on to someone who will make a difference. I know everything I write is a fact because everything we see on the show needs to be taken literally. We see every aspect of their life. Please pull your sponsorship. Oh, and the kids have MAJOR MAJOR psychological issues. I took a health class in high school, so I should know. Thank you."
I wrote the sponsors a few months ago when I first started to feel something was not right. I simply stated my opinion that I didn't feel that their brand(s) were in line with what I've seen on the show and that I was surprised that they were aligned with them. The one I contacted first was Juicy Juice and surprisingly, their ads and placement on the show is now missing as evidenced in last night's episode when another brand of juice was there.
So I think that contacting sponsors in a thought out way that is respectful and reasoned does work.
Jen K,
Let me try to be clearer.
I was saying what Jon said about "wanting" to buy a place in Utah was the only "fact" that came out of the tv interview or the article (which I mentioned). We're well aware of what Jon said.
It seemed you were trying to back up It's a Good Thing's general statement that the parents aren't home enough (Kate's off speaking, Jon's off in UT) with the above interview.
I'm saying, the ONLY thing we can get from the interview is that Jon WAS in Utah for 5 days or so and mentioned to a few members of the press that he'd like to get a place, or was looking into it.
This is what I didn't care for...the intimation by one poster that the Gosselin parents should be home more (further depending on the kids for income and invading their privacy by filming at home, which you seem not to like), and another poster (you) further trying to equate Jon shopping for a condo in Utah (the "fact" you brought up) as a "fact" that Jon's never home.
I get you think the kids are being exploited. Not too many here agree with that. You're welcome to discuss it, but don't expect to be agreed with on every point....that only happens at GWOP.
You've also made some rather blanket nasty statements yourself...wishing there was a third site for "normal" people, is one example....or did you mean that as a compliment to this site?
I've made plenty of nasty statements about extreme posters myself...I don't go to their house to say them.
Believe it or not, this isn't a Worship the Gosselins site. We also try to not let it spiral into a cesspool of speculation and nastiness either.
I couldn't, because I didn't know that the Gosselins believe in showing the good and the bad till you pointed it out.
You didn't see Kate reiterating what Leah had said ("thank you, Mommy") and saying it made it all worth it? You didn't see her hugging Hannah?
My contention though, if it's rude, does it matter that it's "real"? If I were to view behavior that's displayed in the show in public, I would find it disagreeable. Before you say I shouldn't watch if I find the show appalling, I already made the decision not to. I excepted this one time because I was excited about seeing their house. Like I said in my first post, I love houses.
Fair enough. But my point still stands. I don't think the Gosselins want an edited reality show that only has the good moments. And I don't think I'd want to see it.
tintin, regarding consistency, I agree that it should be a primary goal in parenting. I think it's something that can be easy to fall down on, so I'm not going to knock Kate if she's not perfect in that regard. I also just think this is one of those scenes where we don't have enough information to make judgments - we don't know if Mady got scolded. I believe that Alexis presented it as "Mady spanked me". As I've said several times, I think Kate's reaction would have been different if she'd seen the incident. As it was, I think this was another one of those instances (J&K touch on it on one of the episodes) of behavior that maybe looked like tattletelling, and Kate didn't take it that seriously.
I think consistency is even more important when you have so many kids, but it's probably also harder. I believe Jon and Kate do the best they can.
Wow, perhaps if you all read the operative word, "SOME" in my comment you would see that I wasn't insulting EVERYONE here.
Well, I guess insulting some of the posters here IS better than insulting all of us. It seems hypocritical to call people cruel and then turn around and insult people. At least I know when I'm being rude.
To be fair, so is denying something that was actually seen or said and is fact and not open to interpretation.
Can you give me an example of what you're talking about?
Like the "rumor" about a condo in Utah. Fact...Jon said it himself. Whether they actually bought one yet is another story, but that "rumor" was started by Jon himself.
My understanding is the same as Marci's - it is not a fact that Jon has bought a condo in Utah, and it's not a fact that he's been spending time at said condo recently. If you have evidence to that effect, please direct us to it.
Honestly Im confused what exactly did I say that was a lie?
For one, you stated that the scene with Jon helping a constipated Collin to poop was shown. It was not. The camera was quite far away and you couldn't see anything. Your statements seem to be deliberately misleading.
I swear, it seems like this site hates people on that site and likes to twist words just for the sake of it without considering that some of us actually have common ground with some of you.
I don't hate people I don't even know. They sometimes annoy and aggravate me; other times they are entertainingly crazy. But I don't hate them.
I think that some of the things you've said in this thread have twisted the truth, but it's possible your interpretation of events is simply different. I do feel that there is at least a possibility of having a rational discussion with you, which is more than I can say for some people.
You really think people have no responsibility for their actions?
I think you are responsible for seeing something unwholesome in a child rolling around on a carpet. I think it's pretty sick. I'm starting to picture Piper Laurie in "Carrie".
Sorry if this has been touched on...I don't have time to read through all of the comments.
Sorry, I don't have time to read the rest of your post, then.
They are advocating for the children.
Oh, really? Which kid have they called fat today?
I would love to read some of those letters.
----
Did you ever see the response from the woman who creates the tshirts the kids wear to one of their letters? It was seriously the funniest response ever and it had GWOP in a frenzy. Ive been meaning to order from her ever since. I will have to order some cute for Valentines Day.
It seemed you were trying to back up It's a Good Thing's general statement that the parents aren't home enough (Kate's off speaking, Jon's off in UT) with the above interview.
Never on this site or any other have I ever made a comment about either parent being home or not being home. You're attributing things to me that I never said.
I happen to agree with those of you who say, "one minute you complain she's not working then you complain she's at work."
Don't put words in my mouth.
Secondly, I could care less where Kate is at any given moment. I would rather she was not on TV, but that will all get worked out in the end somehow.
I get you think the kids are being exploited. Not too many here agree with that. You're welcome to discuss it, but don't expect to be agreed with on every point....that only happens at GWOP.
I also said that I had an opinion and I didn't expect anyone to agree with me.
Are you actually READING my comments or just making up your own interpretations of them?
As for the "nasty" comments...I had a smiley face which is the commonly accepted symbol of laughter or "JOKE" which I and some other posters were reminded not to leave our sense of humors at the door if I remember correctly. You know...levity?
We also try to not let it spiral into a cesspool of speculation and nastiness either.
Excellent advice that I would think EVERYONE would heed here. You're twisting what I've said because you don't agree with me. Agree with me or disagree with me...fine. But don't start inventing things that I didn't say.
I found the response from one of the "sponsors" after she received an email from one of the child advocates. You can just imagine what was said if the response was "we admire your rigidity" ROFLMAO
"We appreciate your concern, and admire your rigidity. Values are a very important, if not the most important aspect of our lives, and you seem to believe in yours very passionately. While an admirable trait- if a person thinks their values ought not only to run their lives, but everyone else's lives- this can cause a breech in integrity of those values. Not to say that we at Em Tanner Designs don't value certain things (like privacy, health, etc), but we believe that every person is capable of choosing their own values and making the best of them, while they have them. Thank you for your time, hope your holidays were enjoyable."
How in the world can they learn a concept of privacy when none is ever given to them. The hypocrisy in your comment made me LOL!
Much as I live to amuse you, people in glasses houses shouldn't throw stones. Anyone who continues to watch a show that they decry as child exploitation should be worrying more about their own hypocrisy than about accusing others.
It took me a few minutes but I found the infamous episode with Mady dancing around on the floor. Its minute mark 7:48. You have to be really perverse IMO to read anything sexual into this and to claim you can see her underwear is proof enough of that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PewTTNsIH7E
Guinevere,
I guess I should have made myself a bit more clear - Typically, I do read through all of the comments. Tonight, I am helping my son study for an exam. I just thought I would throw something out there that had bothered me about the episode and see what others thought, so I could join the conversation later tonight, when I have more time. I don't think the rudeness was called for - you could have easily just ignored my posting.
Okay, now, if you read this post as brimming with sarcasm...it is.
So because letters were written to Juicy Juice and we no longer see Juicy Juice on the show, the letter writing worked?
I'm sorry, but that's a leap of logic I'm not willing to take.
Do you think sponsorships or ad campaigns are unlimited? Are you aware that larger companies with more money to buy air time can easily boot out smaller ones?
We still see Gap and Gymboree clothes on the kids. I guess the letters to those companies *didn't* work?
I thought the letter writing was to get the show off the air by making it hard for the show to get sponsors....no advertising money, no show, no exploitation.
Er, I don't know if you've noticed, but this show has more sponsors than ever. And, except for the answer from Em Tanner's rep, I haven't seen any replies posted from any of these companies except a canned response. And Em Tanner's rep was happy to smoke the complaining letter writer even though we haven't seen an Em Tanner product on the show in quite a while.
Frankly, I know some people may honestly think they're doing *something* by writing these letters to save the Gosselin children from some awful fate, but I really think it's misguided. And I've read some of the letters that people wrote and then posted to show the others...and they're just sad.
And where's the concern for all the other children on tv? Hmmmm? You're going to have to start typing faster, ladies.
Honestly Im confused what exactly did I say that was a lie?
For one, you stated that the scene with Jon helping a constipated Collin to poop was shown. It was not. The camera was quite far away and you couldn't see anything. Your statements seem to be deliberately misleading.
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I believe this is the video in question.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJPKHX-qJgs
I guess I should have made myself a bit more clear - Typically, I do read through all of the comments. Tonight, I am helping my son study for an exam. I just thought I would throw something out there that had bothered me about the episode and see what others thought, so I could join the conversation later tonight, when I have more time. I don't think the rudeness was called for - you could have easily just ignored my posting.
I think it's rude to expect people to read what you have to say when you're telling them you can't be bothered to read what they have to say. But I shouldn't have matched your rudeness with my own; I apologize. This thread is making me touchy.
I wish we could have differing opinions without this turning into a war zone.
Its A Good Thing is trolling because they have posted numerous posts on GWOP..which I check sometimes for a laugh.
THEY are the ones who said Mansion, Konpound, etc. etc. on the other board. They are just trying to get everyone worked up over here.
I like this blog so much and check it everyday. I check GWOP for a laugh.
marci said...
...Believe it or not, this isn't a Worship the Gosselins site. We also try to not let it spiral into a cesspool of speculation and nastiness either. ...
I don't care for Kate's personality at all. Blech, I do not care for them as a couple. They wouldn't care for me either. I don't feel the need to write about it constantly or declare it in every post, why would I? That would make me obsessive on that point. My opinion doesn't get to change the way she parents. Kate certainly is not deserving of all that unbridled crazy hatred.
Actually Miranda go farther back and you will realize I only started talking at GWOP a week ago. And sadly I can't take credit for KONPOUND. I didn't come up with it. Or mansion for that matter.
So because letters were written to Juicy Juice and we no longer see Juicy Juice on the show, the letter writing worked?
I'm sorry, but that's a leap of logic I'm not willing to take.
You are absolutely free to disagree, but a company with a sponsorship contract with a show would not pull it's sponsorship except for two reasons:
1. The show is no longer popular and not worth the money.
2. They got complaints.
Clearly the show is still popular and probably a cash cow for a demographically significant brand such as Juicy Juice. So I'm inferring that they received a great deal of complaints and pulled their sponsorship. Their contract could have simply run out and was not renewed, but that is unlikely since Juicy Juice is a huge brand and juice is figured prominently in almost every episode. I would think the production company would want to cash Juicy Juice checks for as long as they were willing to write them.
I don't know that for a fact, and rather than be snarky, I'll just say that is my opinion.
And yes, as someone who has worked in marketing and public relations, companies DO listen to criticism especially if it comes from their key demographic. In this case, moms in general. Again, not a fact, just my opinion. I'm guessing that is what may have happened here.
Mady acted out which is wrong, and which we know from previous interviews is something J & K are dealing with in private.
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Another comment that just made me LOL! They are not dealing with Mady in private! They tell us all about it!
Jen K,
You seem to have the misfortune of posting here for the first time on the same day as some other GWOP regulars.
You did mention in your 12:15 post that you thought posters here weren't reading enough extra stuff before saying something was inaccurate or stretching the truth.
I was pointing out that we are very aware of the "extra stuff" here (Jon's interview) and we're not disagreeing to be contrary (Mary, Mary, quite...).
And, not knowing you or these other newbies, you did seem to be backing up their points.
Things are coming fast and furious today, so if I attributed anything to you that wasn't entirely yours, I'm sorry.
I wish we could have differing opinions without this turning into a war zone.
Couldn't agree more! My first comment here in this thread was saying how I came here for a balanced view of things. My opinion on that has slightly changed because some people are ratcheting this up to levels which are unnecessary.
We can all have different opinions. It's not all or nothing and I agree wholeheartedly with what you've said about that.
Well then I guess its good for the Gosselin children that you have no control over the GWOP site. They are advocating for the children.
I hope they never decide to "advocate" for me.
SUMMER:
Thanks for the laugh your post was hysterical!
I love avatars. ;)
I come from a big loving CHRISTIAN home. My mom called us "house devils and street saints." We were good students, well-behaved, and polite outside of our home. But at home we fought with each other (and played with each other) a lot like the Gosselin kids do. I've been kicked and I did my share of kicking...not to hurt, but to "express frustration" with one of my siblings, just like Mady did. It wasn't right but it wasn't the end of the world. I NEVER did it in front of Mom or Dad, (and either did Mady) because, you know, I'd have been in big trouble. Mom and Dad disciplined us all, but we got away with plenty when they weren't around. They were very sensible (and they didn't even have about.com parenting tips!) You know how they finally solved all the fighting and bickering between their children? They plodded through until we finally grew up!
Guess what? I am now a happy, productive member of society, as are all my siblings. My biggest sibling rival? He's a kind and funny priest today.
Did anyone notice Mady gather two of her little sisters close and put her arms around them in Kate's room?
Summer,
Your "letter" was spot on. :)
I noticed, Saint. Mady's a sweetie.
I think the Gosselin kids, much like the rest of us, will somehow manage to muddle through.
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