Jon and Kate Plus Eight

[SWTXBelle]

The same way I do my 4 - um, work? Get help from family and friends? (I have always relied on family and friends for childcare help.) Perhaps write books about it, maybe do a special or two, but I would not have my home become a television production set. As to college, colleges seem to have this thing about scholarships for multiples - I know of several sets who have been given scholarships seemingly because of their "multiple" status. I'm sure they were otherwise qualified, but still.

And let me point to the Duggars, who until recently HAD no television show, and yet they've provided all these years for all of theirs.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

The same way I do my 4 - um, work? Get help from family and friends? (I have always relied on family and friends for childcare help.) Perhaps write books about it, maybe do a special or two, but I would not have my home become a television production set. As to college, colleges seem to have this thing about scholarships for multiples - I know of several sets who have been given scholarships seemingly because of their "multiple" status. I'm sure they were otherwise qualified, but still.

And let me point to the Duggars, who until recently HAD no television show, and yet they've provided all these years for all of theirs.

The Duggars live debt-free because they have several commercial properties they rent. Do we know if their families are wealthy? Michelle's dad looked like he lived on a sweet piece of property. Maybe the parents gave em a wad of cash to buy property? While they were young when they married, they didn't have all 18 at one time. I just don't buy the fact that Jim Bob and Michelle didn't get a lot of financial help from their family, especially in the early years.

Sure, you work. But would you work so much that you couldn't spend time with your kids? There's only so many hours a day you can work to earn that money. Methinks that still wouldn't be enough.

The show started out with just those first two specials. America became so fascinated with them that the show was created. I don't think J&K are the only ones to blame.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

The same way I do my 4 - um, work? Get help from family and friends? (I have always relied on family and friends for childcare help.) Perhaps write books about it, maybe do a special or two, but I would not have my home become a television production set. As to college, colleges seem to have this thing about scholarships for multiples - I know of several sets who have been given scholarships seemingly because of their "multiple" status. I'm sure they were otherwise qualified, but still.

And let me point to the Duggars, who until recently HAD no television show, and yet they've provided all these years for all of theirs.

Were your 4 born at the same time? I've heard it a lot that the Gosselins should be able to do it themselves because other people have X number of children and they did it themselves. But these people didn't have 6 kids that were born at the same time, needing the EXACT same things at the EXACT same time.

I don't see what the big deal is, because I'm pretty sure that a lot of us (if presented with an offer like Gosselins) would take it. I know I would, especially if I was in Kate's situation. I can't imagine what life would be like for them if they did not have this TV show. Jon & Kate would not have made enough money to take care of these children. I don't see the problem with the TV show. It allows Jon and Kate to stay home with their children, giving them the time & attention the children might not have otherwise gotten w/o a TV show.

In my opinion, you CAN NOT compare the Duggars to the Gosselins. In fact, I hate comparing, in general. But since you brought up the Duggars let's compare. Within the first 5 years of marriage, the Duggars had 1 kid (Josh), the Gosselins had 8.

Originally Posted by OTW

Do we know if their families are wealthy? Michelle's dad looked like he lived on a sweet piece of property. Maybe the parents gave em a wad of cash to buy property? While they were young when they married, they didn't have all 18 at one time. I just don't buy the fact that Jim Bob and Michelle didn't get a lot of financial help from their family, especially in the early years.

If I remember correctly, when I read how Jim Bob & Michelle got together, Jim Bob did mention that Michelle came from a more wealthy family (that and she wasn't religious at all). I do think that, at least at the beginning, Jim Bob & Michelle's family helped out.


According to this article, Jon & Kate parents don't help out because they "disapprove" of and don't want to take part in the show.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by epchick

Within the first 5 years of marriage, the Duggars had 1 kid (Josh), the Gosselins had 8.

NIGHTMARE.

[SWTXBelle]

Other famlies of multiples have managed without subjecting their children to the rigors of filming.(I'm thinking of the family here in Houston who also had 6 after having 2 - no television show - HOW DO THEY DO IT????) It can, and has been done. I think it was less intrusive when the children were smaller. Now that they are getting ready to all be in school, I think it's too much. I answered the question I was asked, and I stick by what I said. Whether you have yours all at once, or spread 'em out, you've still got to provide for them, and most families manage without a television show. I really hate the way the Gosselins continue to plead poor, when we know they are doing quite well for themselves. As to the Duggars - let's just point out that once all 6 were potty trained, Kate was done with diapers. Michelle isn't out of them yet. I've long said it would be easier to have a few at the same developmental stage - taking naps at the same time, going to bed at the same time - then to have several at totally different stages. My two sets of two were 24 and 15 months apart - and a newborn and a toddler will eat your lunch!

If you enjoy the show, by all means continue to enjoy it. I just see a future "Child Stars Follow-Up" in the offing, and wish the Gosselins would consider scaling back. They've got two books out - and I think follow-up specials would be appropriate. But those kids need some time to REALLY be just kids, imho. That doesn't happen with a camera pointed at you.

eta - And do you really think Maddy or Cara should have to stay in their room behind a NO FILMING sign? Is that fair to them? Even if they aren't filmed, their lives are affected.

[MaggieXi]

I work with a woman who goes to the first church that Jon and Kate went to. This was the church that helped raise money, solicited donations from local businesses and provided 24-hour help to the family when the 'tups were born. According to her, back then J&K were pretty normal, had a lot of support from both sides of their families. But Mady was a brat.

After the J&K got the contract with TLC, they basically abandoned the first church - turning their backs on the people who helped them in the begining. They moved, joined another congregation, but apparently they were not receiving the attention or freebies that they had gotten at the first church.

They have since returned to the first church, Jon sits on some sort of board and Kate yells at the parishoners for "looking" at her children. My co-worker says most of the kids are sweet and very friendly, but Mady is still a giant brat. She says alot of parishoners have turned their back on J&K because they don't agree with them doing the show and treating the people who did help them (like Jodi- who also goes to the church) like poop.