Poll: Jon and Kate Plus 8 -- Yay or Nay?

[bubbaray]

I like this show. DD#1 LOVES this show (6 are roughly her age, have some of the same toys as her, have her same Radian car seat).

Love it or hate it???

[Wife_and_mommy]

I didn't know it was a regularly scheduled show and have only seen a few episodes. I like it.

[Melanie]

hmm...is this really a poll and I'm just missing the options?

I kind of view it like a car accident...I can't turn away but don't exactly like it either. Though I think they are making the best of the situation that is for sure. I don't envy them in the LEAST!

[g-mama]

LOVE IT!! I Tivo every episode and my kids like to watch it, too. Especially my 7yo ds. He is fascinated. Although it might not be a good thing that he said it reminds him of our family. I said, "but we only have 3," to which he replied, "Yeah, but it's always loud and crazy and lots of yelling and stuff, like our house." Ugh.

Anyway, I think they do an amazing job given their situation. I am obsessive enough that I read some message boards about the show and there are some people who absolutely hate this family, or at least Jon and Kate, and think they are horrible parents.

I can't imagine any of us can possibly imagine how hard it is to have 8 kids, six of them the same age, and I think you can tell they really do love each other and do their best.

[Puddy73]

I like it. DS seldom watches adult TV, but he was up late with a cold one night and he was fascinated by the episode where they go to Disney World. DH thinks Kate is a total b*tch, but I think that she manages pretty well most days.

[tiapam]

I enjoy it and DD does, too. I don't let her watch episodes like eye doctor visits, etc. I don't need her getting any more nervous about stuff like that in advance. Kate is a control freak and sometimes talks to her DH like he is another child. But, hey, it works for them, and they really don't have the option of splitting up!

[BillK]

My wife is addicted to it. I'll watch it here or there if I have nothing better to do. God bless them both (especially her) for being able to deal with all that crazyness.

[Pennylane]

I just finished watching last nights episodes. I love the show. I think they are doing an amazing job with all those children. I also really like that they don't sugar coat the arguments that Jon and Kate have. It just shows a real family dealing with all the stresses that familys go through every day. Kate can be like a drill sergeant sometimes but I'm sure she has to be to keep up all those children in line.

Ann

[hellokitty]

LOVE it! I know that kate irritates some ppl, b/c she is so high strung, however, one reason I like that show is b/c it is real. You know she is just being herself and not being fake. I admit too, that she and jon remind me a lot of my DH and myself. I am the high strung neat freak and he is really laid back like jon and the type who is always telling me to chill already.

[Rachels]

I liked it but that potty training disaster is a dealbreaker for me.

[g-mama]

I liked it but that potty training disaster is a dealbreaker for me.


I agree that it was a bit harsh but also am surprised that at 3.5 the boys are not potty trained yet. Of course, there is so much editing on these shows that we have no idea what else had led up to that decision. If Colin had been upset about sitting on the potty or protesting, or crying, it would have really upset me, but he wasn't at all. That made me think that it was a power struggle, which Kate has said is very typical of his personality.

[lizajane]

I just finished watching last nights episodes. I love the show. I think they are doing an amazing job with all those children. I also really like that they don't sugar coat the arguments that Jon and Kate have. It just shows a real family dealing with all the stresses that familys go through every day. Kate can be like a drill sergeant sometimes but I'm sure she has to be to keep up all those children in line.

Ann

exactly!!! last night when she was remarking on how the house MUST be organized, i even said aloud to DH that if she had TWO kids and was that specific about every little detail, i might think she needed meds. (like me, har har har!!) but with *8* kids, i strongly believe that she is RIGHT and they HAVE to be organized. we are a MESS around here and i only have two!!! what would it be like it we were a mess and we had 8!!! CPS would take mine away!!!

and i find the most interesting thing- in terms of the "realness"- is that when i caught a few old episodes, the parents argued ALL THE TIME. and the new episodes, they disagree, yes, but they are SO much less contencious. which proves to me that even with 8 kids, it is hard as *(&#%&* the younger they are, and as they age, life DOES get easier around the house and you CAN reclaim your sanity (and marriage!) at some point in their lives!!

BTW, i missed the potty part so i can't comment.

oh- one more thing- i did see the episode where she remarked the she would not feed the kids pre packaged processed foods and she used all whole foods. and while i do use some "convience" items in my house, i am very impressed and delighted by her commitment to her kids' health in spite of the extra time it takes.

[JTsMom]

I started out not really liking it, but it has grown on me, and now I'm hooked. I don't agree with her parenting style 100% of the time, but seriously, she has EIGHT kids! 6 3 yr olds! I have my share of less than stellar mothering moments with DS, and I only have one. :ROTFLMAO:

I think, considering the circumstances, she does a great job. I think it's wonderful that she still tries to create happy memories for them, and that she goes the extra mile when it comes to the foods they eat. Yeah, she's a little on the bitchy side at times, but aren't we all? LOL Can you imagine her stress level with that many kids and a camera crew following her around? There is no way I could handle that. I'd be hiding in a corner crying.


The potty training thing was definitely not something I agree with- she had the boys sitting there until they peed. They weren't allowed to have breakfast until they went. The one little boy was there for more than 35 mins. But, like a pp said, we only see part of the story, and until I have 8 kids and do a better job, I'll just :bowdown: to Kate.

[daniele_ut]

I agree that it was a bit harsh but also am surprised that at 3.5 the boys are not potty trained yet.

I don't find this surprising at all. DS is 3 years 3 months old and has shown zero interest in learning to use the potty. I don't believe in forcing a child before he or she is ready and some kids just aren't - even at 3.5. Given that they were premature, lots of their milestones have been delayed.

I watched the show last year when we had cable. For me it was like a train wreck - I had to keep watching it. I am somehow fascinated by families with multiples.

[JBaxter]

I usually watch the show but have missed the potty episode. Not everyone subscribes to the "wait till the child is ready" view of potty training sometimes when a mom is done a mom is done. I know my mom sat my brother till he went ( that was 29yrs ago), I think if thats the only bad mommy moment she has with 8 kids she is doing much better than I would do having 6 3yr old.

[s7714]

OT, but did anyone else catch the convenient product placement that was going on during the last episode? With the camera lingering oh so obviously on the bottles of Juicy Juice? I hate things like that. :rolleye0014: I'm beginning to think the whole Nannies4Hire thing is nothing but a big ad too. But anyway...

My older DD loves that show. She asks all week long if we have a new one to watch yet. She's fascinated with extra-large families at the moment though, so put any show with more than 2 or 3 kids on and she'll be glued to the TV.

I kind of like watching it, and like PPs have said it makes your own life seem like breeze since you don't have that many kids to deal with. And as much as I hate to admit it...I'm a lot like Kate. :innocent: I'm by no means a neat freak, but I can be very demanding and domineering when it comes to getting things done. Watching the show kind of reminds me to ease up on the troops every now and then so I don't seem like such a drill sergeant. ;)

As for the whole PTing thing, with that many kids you probably just have to do what works sometimes and the little snippet we see of a situation on the show doesn't always reflect the big picture, iykwim. Potty training with a camera crew in your house probably isn't the easiest thing in the world.

ETF typo

[KrystalS]

I LOVE this show, definitely my fave thing to watch, especially since most my other shows aren't on cause of the writers strike. DD is 4 and she loves it too, she asks me all week if its on. I keep episodes Tivo'd for her to watch!

[overcome]

Yay!
LOVE IT!
Although the potty training episode bothered me a little (see my post from yesterday).

I think they do an amazing job with their family. I can't imagine having my little family being taped 24/7. I'm sure I'd cringe with embarrassment while watching.

I give them a lot of credit. It must be soooo stressful!! I love watching b/c the sextuplets are a little older than my DD, so it's neat to see them doing the same sort of things she does.

I'd love to know how much they get paid for the show.

They live in the same general vicinity where I went to college (Elizabethtown College) so many of the places they mention are familiar to me, which is cool.

[clc053103]

I love it!!!!! I keep telling myself, if they can keep 8 kids alive, and stay relatively sane, I certainly can do handle 1.

[lmwbasye]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this show. I think they do such a better job with their kiddos than many parents do. They keep a nice, clean, organized household. Their kiddos are loved and well taken care of. They are fed mostly organic, homemade meals. They have two parents that are fairly involved with them. And the blatant ads don't bother me. Jon and Kate have found a way to help provide for their eight children...more power to them.

Laura :)

[Corie]

I don't find this surprising at all. DS is 3 years 3 months old and has shown zero interest in learning to use the potty. I don't believe in forcing a child before he or she is ready and some kids just aren't - even at 3.5. Given that they were premature, lots of their milestones have been delayed.



I agree, Daniele. My son is also 3 years 3 months and he has
shown no interest in the potty.
My daughter was potty-trained at 3 years 6 months and it took
her 2 days. That's it.

I had friends who started the process way too early and it took
their kids several months to potty-train.

[eliasmom]

Love it! And I loved that Kate showed the post-baby (pre-surgery) belly and said something to the effect of "I'm going to show it because I know I would be curious about what it would look like."

DH thinks I am insane for watching the show. I tell him that I watch so that even when I have a frustrating day with DD, I'll know my life is pretty stinkin' easy.

[JoyNChrist]

I like it. DH won't watch it because he thinks Kate's a b*tch, but hey - he also thinks I'm a b*tch sometimes, and I only have one kid! I can't judge anyone who has eight children and manages to keep them all fed and her house relatively clean. She amazes me.

I definitely think the show is more "real" than that freak-show Duggar family. They're way too perfect. Like, Stepford Wives meets Jesus. Creepy.
(ETA - I just realized someone might find that comment offensive. I didn't mean anything by the "Jesus" part...just that they're like a Christian version of the Stepford families. You know, really religious and perfect. Like, because they do things the way they do them, they never have ANY problems. I have no problem with Jesus. In fact, I'm quite the fan. ;) )

Jon & Kate are actually going to be in my town speaking at a local church next month, and I'm planning to go. I hope the kids will be there, but I doubt they will...maybe the two older ones? DH thinks I'm crazy for going so I'm taking my mom - she's fascinated by them as well.

[hellokitty]

I like it. DH won't watch it because he thinks Kate's a b*tch, but hey - he also thinks I'm a b*tch sometimes, and I only have one kid! I can't judge anyone who has eight children and manages to keep them all fed and her house relatively clean. She amazes me.

I definitely think the show is more "real" than that freak-show Duggar family. They're way too perfect. Like, Stepford Wives meets Jesus. Creepy. (ETA - I just realized someone might find that comment offensive. I didn't mean anything by the "Jesus" part...just that they're like a Christian version of the Stepford families. You know, really religious and perfect. Like, because they do things the way they do them, they never have ANY problems. I have no problem with Jesus. In fact, I'm quite the fan. ;) )

Jon & Kate are actually going to be in my town speaking at a local church next month, and I'm planning to go. I hope the kids will be there, but I doubt they will...maybe the two older ones? DH thinks I'm crazy for going so I'm taking my mom - she's fascinated by them as well.

Lol, I bust out laughing at your stepford wive meets jesus comment. Too funny! That's cool that you will get a chance to hear J&K speak IRL.

Overcome- I have always been curious how much they make from the show too. I know they get stuff that they promote on the show, so I'm assuming they get something for stuff like that (ie: the playhouse that folds in half, I can't remember the name of it). Don't they get all their kids' clothes provided by GAP or something? I can't remember...

[rgors]

Not to digress, but your bow down smilie gets the award for best smilie usage I have seen to date on this forum!

[Aunt to sweet baby boy]

I love this show!! I have been watching it since the very beginning, and I even saw those two episodes that were specials on DHC/TLC when the babies were young. I think that Jon and Kate are working better together now than a few months ago when they seemed to argue about everything. I am a lot like Kate- I like things to be done my way, and it is hard to fight your natural impulses and wishes for perfection. I am not surprised that the boys are not P/T at 3 1/2, Avi was just P/T at 3 years and 2 months, and he is the only child we have to focus on, he does not have any siblings to take any of my/his parents attention.

[Kungjo]

I like this show. It's embarassing to see my two give me a run for my money sometimes and then to turn on the tv and watch them handle eight. They do a pretty good job.

[linsei]

Ds and I like the show, DH watches it sometimes when we watch, but would not watch on his own. I completely agree about the "product placement". It's getting a little on the cheesy side. The younger kids are probably close to his age, depending on when they were born.

OT, but did anyone else catch the convenient product placement that was going on during the last episode? With the camera lingering oh so obviously on the bottles of Juicy Juice? I hate things like that. :rolleye0014: I'm beginning to think the whole Nannies4Hire thing is nothing but a big ad too. But anyway...

My older DD loves that show. She asks all week long if we have a new one to watch yet. She's fascinated with extra-large families at the moment though, so put any show with more than 2 or 3 kids on and she'll be glued to the TV.

I kind of like watching it, and like PPs have said it makes your own life seem like breeze since you don't have that many kids to deal with. And as much as I hate to admit it...I'm a lot like Kate. :innocent: I'm by no means a neat freak, but I can be very demanding and domineering when it comes to getting things done. Watching the show kind of reminds me to ease up on the troops every now and then so I don't seem like such a drill sergeant. ;)

As for the whole PTing thing, with that many kids you probably just have to do what works sometimes and the little snippet we see of a situation on the show doesn't always reflect the big picture, iykwim. Potty training with a camera crew in your house probably isn't the easiest thing in the world.

ETF typo

[denna]

I *LOVE* it. I DVR it every week...havent seen last nights yet.

[NewfieNat]

The younger kids are probably close to his age, depending on when they were born.

The sextuplets were born on May 10, 2004. It's easy for me to remember because it's also the day my son was born.

[colleenfs]

I also love this show. Like many of you, it make me feel like we have it easy!! I can't imagine how hard it must be to take care of that many kids, most of them the same age. My girls are about the same ages as these kids, and it just fascinates me to watch them. I also love to spot Gymboree and Gap on the kids for fun! :D

I missed the WDW episode (my DVR was wacked) and I hope they show it again, even though it was from last season.

[JulieL]

I love it too. I honestly think it's a bummer that Kate gets any negative comments at all. Everyone has their way of parenting, and no one completely agrees with the way another family runs their households. I can think of lot of close friends of mine who I really respect, but they all do things that in our house we don't, and that I don't agree with. Also if we all had to watch ourselves on tape for a week, I'm sure we'd all give Kate a pass and agree she really is a great mom. Where she might be domineering, you might be to passive, or dirty, or - fill in the plank. Anyway, to the origanal question - love it :)

[BethS]

[QUOTE=JoyNChrist]
I definitely think the show is more "real" than that freak-show Duggar family. They're way too perfect. Like, Stepford Wives meets Jesus. Creepy.
(ETA - I just realized someone might find that comment offensive. I didn't mean anything by the "Jesus" part...just that they're like a Christian version of the Stepford families. You know, really religious and perfect. Like, because they do things the way they do them, they never have ANY problems. I have no problem with Jesus. In fact, I'm quite the fan. ;) )

I'm a bit behind but I had to say that I'm LOL at this paragraph. Thanks for the chuckle. And...I, too, am a fan. :)

As far and the show, I watch it and am amazed at how well they manage. What has impressed me most is that they try to give the kids normal experiences and have normal expectations. (I'm specifically thinking of the 4th of July show where they went to the parade, all the kids walked, etc.)

I'm no where near perfect and I only have three kids and zero cameras roaming about my house. More power to them.

[Fairy]

I don't find this surprising at all. DS is 3 years 3 months old and has shown zero interest in learning to use the potty. I don't believe in forcing a child before he or she is ready and some kids just aren't - even at 3.5.

I'm just really relieved my 3.5 yo DS isn't the only one.

[daisymommy]

I have been trying to figure out when this show comes on! I saw it once and was fascinated with it, while DH nearly ran screaming out of the room with fear ;) I checked the website, and I could only find when it was coming on in late February.

[ShayleighCarsensMom]

I do like the show....but...
Have you ever seen them give the kids anything but juice? It seems like all day long its juice juice juice....
I just find that a bid odd, thats all!
Valerie

[Puddy73]

I do like the show....but...
Have you ever seen them give the kids anything but juice? It seems like all day long its juice juice juice....
I just find that a bid odd, thats all!
Valerie

I'm pretty sure that Juicy Juice pays for product placement in the show. The Rose Petal Cottage gets a lot of air time, too!

[JTsMom]

It's on tonight (and most Mondays) at 9 and 9:30. Followed up by our favorite tator-tot casserole makers... The Duggars! The Duggar Family Album is on at 10, and it supposedly has a little bit of baby #17- I think it's mainly recycled footage though.

I don't know what my fascination is with the- what was it Stacy? Jesus meets Stepford Wives? :ROTFLMAO:family, but I just can't stop watching. LOL

[s7714]

I'm pretty sure that Juicy Juice pays for product placement in the show. The Rose Petal Cottage gets a lot of air time, too!

I agree. Not to mention on one of the episodes last week Collin was standing there pointing at the Juicy Juice bottle saying "what's that? what's that?" as she's setting it down on the table.

[DebbieJ]

Kate needs a new hairstyle and needs to wear WAY less eye makeup. :)