Jon & Kate Plus 8

 Last night's show was just painful to watch. Seriously. You could tell from their body language and the things that they didn't say that they are in a really tough spot. It sounds as though Jon has made up his mind and their marriage is in shambles. What a bummer for them to go through. And to go through it on national TV. Ask for it or not, nobody deserves what they are going through. They need to seriously consider cancelling the show asap and working on pulling their family back together (or moving on, whichever it may be). They really need to get out of the spot light.

As far as the dogs go, I have a different out look on that now, seeing all of the photogs following them. I do not think that the trainer they purchased from was non-reputable. We don't know the facts around that. Also, I think that it was a good idea for them to get 2 german shepherds. They have a lot of attention and crazy people abound following them. For the safety of their kids and house, having 2 guard dogs is not a bad thing. Also, from what I have seen of the dogs on the show, they are pretty calm and well behaved. If I were in their place, with all of my dogs - nobody would be getting on my property without me knowing about it...and that would be how I would want it.

Jewlieee

 Last night's show was just painful to watch.

And the fact that they let YOU, a complete stranger, and millions of others watch that...speaks volumes to me about how predictable this was. All for the camera...all for the public...it says so much about what is truly important to them as people.

Thier children are the only one's IMO worthy of any lament or pity here...they did not ask for it...any of it. I heard a quote from that woman about her friends being "dragged into the tabloids...they didn't ask for that, we did...but they didn't"...that "we" includes your kids eh? Yeah...I am sure they were all perfectly aware and on board with the ramifications at what...a few years old. :eyeroll:

They both turn my stomach as a woman, a Wife, and a Mom.

 See, I don't cast judgement on them for their decision to go on TV. With 8 kids, you need money. They were offered an opportunity to make money and change their lives (for better or worse). Money that will pay for them to go to college, afford them a house that they can fit in to, clothes, medical expenses, etc. Plus they have given their kids opportunities that they never would have gotten otherwise, hands on experience and learning what the tv industry is about. They will have a foot in the door if they want to do anything creative and artsy (design, production, etc). If I were in their shoes, I probably would have made the show too. However, you need to know when to quit. I think season 3 would have been my cut off point. When the 2 older girls started to get in to grade school. That is not a time that kids need cameras focused on them. Sure, babies 4 and under don't have a clue. It's all a game. But once kids start to get in to that peer pressure age it's a whole new ball game.

 A better plan would have been to end the show 2 years ago, then just make update shows on a yearly basis. That would keep money coming in but they would not be in the spotlight 24/7.

 It's obvious Kate loves her new career and Jon hates it. Plus they got married when they were like 20 and had that many kids right away. People grow and change....and add photogs and such to the mix. Divorce is imminent.

Jewlieee

With 8 kids, you need money.

with ONE kid...you need money...common sense...don't have more than YOU...yourselves, can raise.

Just a shame that these kids will need years of therapy to get over being used like they were. Imagine getting to see your parent's dirty laundry, and stupid decisions...lived over and over again on TV reruns, and in your college dorm roomates DVD player...aces!

daisyprincess

 I see everywhere kate does this and that but whenever I've watch the show I see how Jon is so mean to his kids maybe it's the episodes I watch, I only watch the show if there is nothing else on, so I only caught a few and the way Jon has put his kids in their seats and talked to them the way he does, I think kate is a much better parent.

I disagree. I feel like Kate is much more controlling, and with 8 kids I assume you have to be to an extent. Jon however, when he spends time with the kids he dose so on thier level. There was an episode where he was playing playdough with the little ones and they were all making snakes and worms and then one of the boys made "boogers" so Jon did to, and Kate told him "Your not a child you need to act like a parent" and Jon said somthing like "I was just playing with them, I was relating to them" and she got all mad and told him it was wrong! Shes always belitting him, maybe this seperation will teach her that she needs to remember to take a chill pill, and a little fun isn't going to hurt anyone.

As for getting the dogs, in general I think it was fine. They (the dogs) seem to be getting along happily and the kids are very good with them. I was also upset when I heard Jon say "They're outside dogs" untill I saw them allowed in the house and thats where they eat, and thier crates are set up for night time. then I felt better =)

a lot of "the media's" sentiments in this, had me nodding... ARTICLE

Hair transplants? Tummy tucks? Lordy...the woman probably spends enough on hair appts in a month to feed a family of 6.

I have to say this one did leave me feeling like I was looking in on something that I shouldn't be watching,"

That is exactly how I felt watching the show last night. Like I shouldn't be watching it. That is some seriously personal stuff. 

rwbeagles

Jewlieee

With 8 kids, you need money.

with ONE kid...you need money...common sense...don't have more than YOU...yourselves, can raise.

Just a shame that these kids will need years of therapy to get over being used like they were. Imagine getting to see your parent's dirty laundry, and stupid decisions...lived over and over again on TV reruns, and in your college dorm roomates DVD player...aces!

 

Also, you don't NEED to have a TV show to raise 8 kids.  DH comes from a family of 8--not two groups of twins/multiples, but pretty close together.  Their mom stayed home with the kids throughout DH's childhood, and his dad supported 10 people on 60k a year.  They did not receive government assistance.

 Now, they did not have brand new cars all the time, they wore hand-me-downs and Wal-mart clothes, but they survived.  My in-laws even gave each of the kids a weekly allowance (something I didn't get as an only child).  Their parents did make sacrifices on behalf of the family, but they knew what they were getting into each time they had a child.  With careful planning and common sense it can be done.

OK, so these kids will likely have benefits like their college paid for, but at what price?  For the world to look in on and comment on their family struggles?  I think I'd take the financial aide......

 Honestly, I doubt that they ever anticipated something like this.  How many people with a new baby, expect divorce.  And when you've got 8 kids and the only other person as responsible for those babies is your husband/wife, you likely don't think about marriage troubles.  That was the impression I got from Kate last night anyway, and Jon too.  That this is tearing them up. 

I don't really see anything wrong with the show.  I don't see it as a slight on her parenting skills.  Gina, I find your need for privacy confusing.  You've mentioned different things in other threads that had me wondering, but I don't think that makes you a bad parent, just different from me.  I've got no problem with my kids friends feeling at home in my house, or my kids going to their friends houses to play.  I throw big parties for Kale's birthdays and will for the girls too once they are in school.  I know you don't do that, but does that make me a bad parent?  My sister was the same way with her kids and they have turned out fantastic!

They didn't plan on 8 kids.  They had twins and tried for 1 more.  They got 6 more.  What is wrong with wanting 3 kids?  I have 3 kids.  So they ended up with sextuplets instead.  Which ones would you have eliminated?  

And then they get offered this deal where a camera crew comes into their house once or twice a week, they get tons of money, a new house as the family grows, all the toys and clothes their kids could ever need, the best private schools as they get older, likely college and university tuitions, piano lessons and a piano, trips, guest appearances on Oprah... it sounds like winning the lottery to me.  How do you say no to that.  I mean, likely they only planned on a year or two, maybe 3.  But the lifestyle gets to you.  Maybe they have a contract for more years?  Maybe they never realized the pressure would likely cause a divorce.  Maybe they didn't realize the ramifacations their mistakes would cause their kids?  I do feel bad for the kids.  They truly are innocent.  But I can't say I don't feel terrible for Kate and even Jon.  They know now, but that won't make anything better.  You can see the looks in both of their eyes when they look at any of the kids, how much this is hurting them that the kids are going to suffer.  But how do you fix that? 

Maybe cancelling the show would be good for them.  Maybe its not in their hands though.  What is the agreement they have with TLC?  

I think when she got pregnant after the twins, they we're trying for #3, not numbers #3 thru #8.  And even though I don't particularly like her, I'm going to cut her a lot of slack because I know without any doubt at all that if I had eight kids, I would have been in a rubber room a long time ago.

Joyce

you and I can agree to disagree, Candace.

Now...I wish the kids well...hopefully they can find some peace.

 There is nothing wrong with trying for a third child, but this was done via fertility treatmets, no?  Isn't pretty well known that there is a high chance for multiples?  You'd think that would be something you'd want to carefully consider and plan for.....

sillysally

 There is nothing wrong with trying for a third child, but this was done via fertility treatmets, no?  Isn't pretty well known that there is a high chance for multiples?  You'd think that would be something you'd want to carefully consider and plan for.....

yeah, like Octo Mom. 

wonder what her favorite TV show was? LOL.

Yes they used fertility treatments, but why on earth would ANY mother eliminate any of thier babies? I'm sure they were only trying for #3, but whats done is done and they are thier babies (all 8) I know for me, abortion would be 100% out of the question!