Jon and Kate Plus Eight

[Hoodini]

Love that show.

[agzg]

I'm watching the repeat of the season 4 finale - Jon mentioned his going out and being followed by people taking pictures! They also mentioned that there may not be a season 5? When did this show, and why haven't we talked about it yet?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by agzg

I'm watching the repeat of the season 4 finale - Jon mentioned his going out and being followed by people taking pictures! They also mentioned that there may not be a season 5? When did this show, and why haven't we talked about it yet?

This is the most recent ep.

I dunno, I remember that Kate said once that they'd keep doing the show as long as the kids were okay with it. Maybe they're getting annoyed with being filmed and want some time to think over whether they'll keep going?

[agzg]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

This is the most recent ep.

I dunno, I remember that Kate said once that they'd keep doing the show as long as the kids were okay with it. Maybe they're getting annoyed with being filmed and want some time to think over whether they'll keep going?

Kate said she loved it and Jon said he hated it. Eventually, they may make it through season 5 but they'll have to make some serious decisions as to whether or not the show is healthy not only for their kids but their marriage. I think that situation with Jon going out while at his mom's house really weighed heavily on his opinion of doing the show.

[paulam]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

Okay, and another quick comment. I was really glad to see that they did not allow Maddie to participate in the cookie baking activity since she was misbehaving. I can empathize with Maddie's frustrations, but I am glad they have taken their response to her tantrums to another level - removing her rather than tolerating her.

I watch the show frequently and adore the family but I am very troubled by two things. First, I believe Jon and Kate are in denial about Mady. They consider her to be high-strung and dramatic. I can see that she has bi-polar tendencies. She needs to be evaluated and possibly started in therapy and on medication immediately. I watched the other day while she repeatedly kicked her little sister for coming into her room. I also watched her standing at the railing upstairs and had visions of her tossing over one of the "littles" when she is in one of her moods. She actually frightens me. Please, Gosselin's, get her into therapy before someone gets seriously hurt or before she deteriorates to the point where she cannot be helped as easily as she can now.

The other issue I would like to see addressed is the making of a montage of Kate (from all four seasons) interacting with Jon and the kids so she can sit down and watch how she relates to them. Kate is not only obsessive-compulsive but seriously bi-polar, like Mady. Both need immediate evaluation, therapy and medication. Kate doesn't seem to realize how her behavior towards Jon is affecting her kids and the choices they will make as adults.

Jon is a gem but he needs to develop a backbone, get his wife and child into therapy and refuse to be belittled and abused on national television. He is a good husband and father...many women would kill for a husband like him. He does so much for Kate and around the house and never receives his due. I am giving it to him now. Good work, Jon. Help your family.

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
Patrae Multi Spes Una
One Hope of Many People

[DiamondAthena]

[quote=paulam;1795311]I watch the show frequently and adore the family but I am very troubled by two things. First, I believe Jon and Kate are in denial about Mady. They consider her to be high-strung and dramatic. I can see that she has bi-polar tendencies. She needs to be evaluated and possibly started in therapy and on medication immediately. I watched the other day while she repeatedly kicked her little sister for coming into her room. I also watched her standing at the railing upstairs and had visions of her tossing over one of the "littles" when she is in one of her moods. She actually frightens me. Please, Gosselin's, get her into therapy before someone gets seriously hurt or before she deteriorates to the point where she cannot be helped as easily as she can now.

The other issue I would like to see addressed is the making of a montage of Kate (from all four seasons) interacting with Jon and the kids so she can sit down and watch how she relates to them. Kate is not only obsessive-compulsive but seriously bi-polar, like Mady. Both need immediate evaluation, therapy and medication. Kate doesn't seem to realize how her behavior towards Jon is affecting her kids and the choices they will make as adults.

Jon is a gem but he needs to develop a backbone, get his wife and child into therapy and refuse to be belittled and abused on national television. He is a good husband and father...many women would kill for a husband like him. He does so much for Kate and around the house and never receives his due. I am giving it to him now. Good work, Jon. Help your family.

Wow! Really, a psych. eval. of ppl based on edited clips of a portion of their lives? Wow! If you were having "visions of her tossing one of the littles" maybe you need the eval and meds. Its carefully edited to give the perception that TLC wants us to see and sure, if that means the most entertaining bits are the ones where the self titled perfectionest and OCD mom yells at her hubby or her kids have a "meltdown" then that's what they play up.. It's still, loosely scripted, TV...

[nikki1920]

Mady is what, 7? She's a "normal" child that gets annoyed with her younger siblings. Diagnosing a major affective disorder from a reality tv show is probably not the most valid method.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by nikki1920

Mady is what, 7? She's a "normal" child that gets annoyed with her younger siblings. Diagnosing a major affective disorder from a reality tv show is probably not the most valid method.

Agreed. Especially when there are that many other kids in the home.

I babysit for a family of 4 and they have a 7 yr old daughter, and guess how she acts when annoyed with her little sisters and brother (who are 9, 5, and 3)? Yep, just like that.

Particularly when they are in her room/space or mess with her toys and things when she doesn't want them to.

Lots of:

[whiney voice]

"Oh my God you guys are soooo annoying!"
"Get OUUUUUT of my roooom" (followed by "Ow, Becky hit me!" from one of the others if they don't move fast enough)
"Mooovveeee."
"Gosh, leave my stuff aloneeeee *cry*"
"I hate youuuu"
"Leave me aloooone *smacks little sister*

[/whiney voice]

It's not okay for her to kick/hit them AT ALL. But there's nothing abnormal about it. I defintely don't think therapy is necessary. All Mom and Dad do is make sure they stick her in time out and let her know that it's not okay. Eventually as she gets older, it will stop.

[ForeverRoses]

I don't think Mady NEEDS therapy, however I can see how it might benefit her. She has trouble finding the appropriate way to vent her frustrations- so maybe therapy would help her find better ways to express her frustrations and feel empowered.

So I guess she would be fine if she didn't go, but the right therapist might do wonders for her.

Then again, I am pretty pro-therapy as a way for self improvement.

[paulam]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Agreed. Especially when there are that many other kids in the home.

I babysit for a family of 4 and they have a 7 yr old daughter, and guess how she acts when annoyed with her little sisters and brother (who are 9, 5, and 3)? Yep, just like that.

Particularly when they are in her room/space or mess with her toys and things when she doesn't want them to.

Lots of:

[whiney voice]

"Oh my God you guys are soooo annoying!"
"Get OUUUUUT of my roooom" (followed by "Ow, Becky hit me!" from one of the others if they don't move fast enough)
"Mooovveeee."
"Gosh, leave my stuff aloneeeee *cry*"
"I hate youuuu"
"Leave me aloooone *smacks little sister*

[/whiney voice]

It's not okay for her to kick/hit them AT ALL. But there's nothing abnormal about it. I defintely don't think therapy is necessary. All Mom and Dad do is make sure they stick her in time out and let her know that it's not okay. Eventually as she gets older, it will stop.

I hope everyone is right because the consequences of ignoring a developing pattern of destructive behavior can be dire. I spent many years dealing with a step-child with bi-polar disorder which both his parents refused to address. He is now an adult in continous therapy, thank goodness. I always worried about how he treated my children and slept with one eye and ear open all the years he lived with us. My evaluation of the Gosselin's situation is based on years of experience. I hope I am wrong but I can't ignore what I see. It could not hurt to have Mady evaluated and may do her a lot of good. Ignoring her "tantrums" will accomplish nothing.

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
Patrae Multi Spes Una
One Hope of Many People

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by paulam

I hope everyone is right because the consequences of ignoring a developing pattern of destructive behavior can be dire. I spent many years dealing with a step-child with bi-polar disorder which both his parents refused to address. He is now an adult in continous therapy, thank goodness. I always worried about how he treated my children and slept with one eye and ear open all the years he lived with us. My evaluation of the Gosselin's situation is based on years of experience. I hope I am wrong but I can't ignore what I see. It could not hurt to have Mady evaluated and may do her a lot of good. Ignoring her "tantrums" will accomplish nothing.

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
Patrae Multi Spes Una
One Hope of Many People

I wouldn't go as far as to say she's exhibiting bi-polar behaviors.

I'm sorry you experienced this, but honestly, if Mady is bi-polar, then so is every other 7 year old I've ever encountered.

[gee_ess]

I don't think Mady is bi-polar. I do think she is very adversely effected by her whole situation with the little kids.

Siblings exhibit this type of behavior often - see KSUVIolets post above - however, as a parent, I think Mady is more than just a little frustrated. She melts down and cannot get control of herself.

I tend to agree that she doesn't require therapy but some helpful intervention that can teach her some techniques to control those emotions could help.

From what I see, Jon and Kate are not really providing that. And if they are, they could serve some other parents well by showing others how they deal with this situation. Heaven knows we get to see how they deal with plenty of others.

[nikki1920]

Mady has a hard time with calming herself down. She's a typical 7 year old. And again, the show could just be showing her meltdowns and not how she's calming herself down if and when she does it. Saying she's bi-polar is a bit of a stretch, I would say.

<--does not have an advanced psych degree

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by nikki1920

Mady has a hard time with calming herself down. She's a typical 7 year old. And again, the show could just be showing her meltdowns and not how she's calming herself down if and when she does it. Saying she's bi-polar is a bit of a stretch, I would say.

<--does not have an advanced psych degree

Right.

I think peeps do need to remember that this IS TV after all and things are edited to show the meltdowns because well, that's more interesting than perfectly well-behaved kids.

We don't know what J&K are doing to help her or to stop the tantrums, because that may not be something they deal with on camera.

From what I have seen, they do pretty well. Example: when they don't allow her to participate if she's going to have a meltdown.

That's what I do with the kids I sit for. If Becky is going to have cow over (example) which watercolors we use when painting, then she doesn't get to play.

[DiamondAthena]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Right.

I think peeps do need to remember that this IS TV after all and things are edited to show the meltdowns because well, that's more interesting than perfectly well-behaved kids.

We don't know what J&K are doing to help her or to stop the tantrums, because that may not be something they deal with on camera.

From what I have seen, they do pretty well. Example: when they don't allow her to participate if she's going to have a meltdown.

That's what I do with the kids I sit for. If Becky is going to have cow over (example) which watercolors we use when painting, then she doesn't get to play.

Thats all I was trying to say... And I do not have an advanced psych. it degree either but I did get my B.S. in psych. (and I have a close relative with this disorder), and bi-polar disorder does not typically present itself as early as in 7 in girls.