Jon and Kate Plus Eight - Page 14

Hoodini · #1 03-28-2009, 08:51 PM

Love that show.

agzg · #2 03-28-2009, 10:00 PM

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 · #3 03-28-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

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 · #4 03-28-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

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.

nikki1920 · #5 03-30-2009, 08:57 AM

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 · #6 03-30-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

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 · #7 03-30-2009, 09:49 AM

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 · #8 03-30-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

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 · #9 03-30-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

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 · #10 03-30-2009, 11:28 AM

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 · #11 03-30-2009, 01:02 PM

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 · #12 03-30-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

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 · #13 03-30-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

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.

paulam · #14 03-30-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondAthena

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.

If you will reread my posting, what I said was Mady is exhibiting bi-polar tendencies. When she is in a good mood, which is rare, she is a very cute, sweet child who likes to talk and laugh and interact with her family, particularly her twin sister, Cara. When she is down, however, she can be destructive (kicking her baby sister repeatedly, throwing things, slamming doors, screaming, crying hysterically at a much higher degree than a seven year old should be doing). The time to deal with this is now before she becomes more out of control and unable to deal with her frustrations.

I wish I had been able to do more for my step-son when he lived with us, but I did not have any legal standing to get him professional help. I always tried to be there for him, even into adulthood. Now he is searching for answers, one of which is why his parents never sought help for him when he was younger.

I am not a mean-spirited basher of this little girl or her parents. I am genuinely concerned for this child. To say it's all an act in front of the cameras is to indicate that there is rampant abuse going on. I do not believe that is the case. I believe what Mady does is real. I hope someone will step up and do what is right for her.

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

nikki1920 · #15 03-30-2009, 04:30 PM

Paula, I get what you are saying. BUT, we all have to remember that this is a TV show. Situations will be edited to fit people into whatever title they have, the sweet kind, the shy kid, etc. We don't know if Mady gets agitated by the cameras, if she had an off day, or what. Mady acts like, to me, a normal 7 year old child. I should know, I have a now ten year old, and my daughter acted a lot like Mady does at times.

<--also has a BS in Psych, one year in Infant Special Education, and 4 years experience working with Kids with special needs. 10 years experience as a mom to a fantastic kid.