Jon and Kate + 8...Are they exploiting their 8 kids they were blessed with?

Rating: 5 after 4 votes

Are they exploiting their 8 beautiful kids they have been blessed with? This is a huge discussion right now.

Here is a website that is questioning this very topic, alot of it is negative, BUT if you really read and think about what those little kids lives have been put through to earn all the stuff they have been *given*. They now live in a $1.3 million house. Is that a stuggling family of 10 that they say they are? I dont know very many middle class working families that can go on 4+ huge vacations in one year plus buy a million dollar house.

Here is the link to the blog that addresses this HUGE issue..... http://gosselinswithoutpity.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01...

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Permalink Reply by Louise on January 22, 2009 at 7:55pm: The only reason they can do those things is because of the show. I don't have cable anymore but I used to watch it. Not sure what my opinion on it is though. I think they are doing what they have to do to take care of their kids.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Curvaliscious on January 23, 2009 at 12:09am: Personally I don't know what the hype is about where they are concerned. I watch the show on occasion but there are many other families out there that have had similar situations with multiples and no one is making them out to be the greatest family in the world. I think that they are, to a degree exploiting their children and I have to wonder how long they will be able to continue with the show - especially once their kids start school full time. I guess that with a family of 10 you have to do what is necessary to provide for them but there are other families making it work on far less than what the Gosselins have. Its a tough call. I certainly don't think that they are in anyway struggling.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Manic Mother on January 23, 2009 at 2:27pm: I just always feel so bad for the husband she is always so rude and emasculting to him.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shawnev on January 23, 2009 at 7:09pm: I think starting out they were struggling and needed anything extra then they got this gig and they prob get paid very well and all these places they go they get invited and alot of it is free. as the kids get older it will be alot easier for them they all will help each other. I am happy for them to be able to have this stuff now I hope they dont forget how they started out.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shawnev on January 23, 2009 at 7:12pm: Manic Mother said:
I just always feel so bad for the husband she is always so rude and emasculting to him.

Yes I agree she treats her husband like he has no brain. I know she is upset at times but don't take it out on him. Suck it up when he does something you don't like and shut your mouth.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by DTaggett75 on January 23, 2009 at 10:14pm: No, I think they were blessed with the opportunity to show that people can overcome a lot of obstacles. If I was in their situation and I had the opportunity I would do it too. People should let them do what they have to do and haters out there need to deal with it or not watch it. As long as the kids are healthy and taken care of then what should it matter. I watch the show and they are always saying that they are blessed with the opportunities that they have had since starting the show. If it wasn't for their opposite personality they would probably be boring. I think the kids are cute and my kids love watching that show.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by BarbInNebraska on January 25, 2009 at 1:59pm: Yes, I totally agree that they are exploiting their children. I'm a regular reader of the blog you posted and have followed their show for a while now. I used to enjoy the peak into their life but then I started to feel sorry for the children and mad at the parents who weren't looking at what the effect of this show will be on their children. Think how child stars suffer when they grow up and the limelight is off them. Looking at the twins who used to be happy go lucky and now are sullen and angry shows me how this show has affected them already.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Memoirgirl on January 25, 2009 at 8:38pm: I haven't watched the show very much, I admit. Mostly I saw the husband and wife, not as much of the children. I don't think they are exploiting the children in the truest sense of the word - like parents who put their child alone in the spotlight (like making a child become an actor and living off of the money). I believe they are exploiting themselves. I mean, if this couple was easy going, funny, kind and basically normal, there would be no show. We've seen the special on the family of 18, about how they all work together to make ends meet. But they aren't divisive enough to be interesting for 20 episodes year after year. Who wants to watch people get along? So Jon and Kate continue to argue (and she continues to treat him like an idiot) rather than work on their relationship and become better people. That wouldn't bring in the dough.

I thought BarbInNebraska's comment about the twins becoming angry over time was interesting. I also found the perspective that using the show to be able to afford certain things, and that makes it okay, interesting, too. Personally, I'd rather having my loving husband and our once-in-a-lifetime relationship not recorded by cameras, even if that means we still live in a rental.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Melissa Smallwood, Multi-Tasking Mama on January 26, 2009 at 5:17am: I think that if they are comfortable in doing the show and have weighed the pros and cons and came to the conclusion it is best for their family then it is none of our business or place to judge.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Trisha on January 26, 2009 at 7:24am: Ok, this may sound rude, but just because you wouldn't choose that path for your children doesn't make it wrong or exploitative for theirs. Who are we, or anyone for that matter, to tell them how to raise their children? No one can possibly know what is best for their children other than them. One of my biggest pet peeves in life is people perceiving to know what is best for someone else's child/ren and telling them how they think they should be raising their children.

Jon lost his job and was then without a job for almost a year because no one would hire him based on the fact that he had 8 kids. It meant their insurance would skyrocket and they weren't willing to risk that. Anyone who has ever been through a job loss and subsequent job search should be able to appreciate that. Do they get help? Yes. But honestly, what parent doesn't need help at some time? They also donate a lot of money back to the hospital where Kate lived for 3 months and to organizations that help kids with cancer.

I don't think people should be judging them based on a tv show. Until you've walked in their shoes, you can't possibly know anything about what they've gone through.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by theslickmom on January 26, 2009 at 9:25am: Trisha, I'm with you on this. It is their own prerogative how they raise their children. If I had 8 kids I would take any hand out available. The fact that they can provide a nice home and nice vacations for their children through the help of others is great. Would you rather see them live in a small cramped house and on welfare? I mean come on! More power to them!

Trisha said:
Ok, this may sound rude, but just because you wouldn't choose that path for your children doesn't make it wrong or exploitative for theirs. Who are we, or anyone for that matter, to tell them how to raise their children? No one can possibly know what is best for their children other than them. One of my biggest pet peeves in life is people perceiving to know what is best for someone else's child/ren and telling them how they think they should be raising their children.

Jon lost his job and was then without a job for almost a year because no one would hire him based on the fact that he had 8 kids. It meant their insurance would skyrocket and they weren't willing to risk that. Anyone who has ever been through a job loss and subsequent job search should be able to appreciate that. Do they get help? Yes. But honestly, what parent doesn't need help at some time? They also donate a lot of money back to the hospital where Kate lived for 3 months and to organizations that help kids with cancer.

I don't think people should be judging them based on a tv show. Until you've walked in their shoes, you can't possibly know anything about what they've gone through.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shannon on January 26, 2009 at 10:07am: It's unbelievable how there is always a negative to everything that happens on tv. There is always someone out there saying that someone is doing something wrong. Who are these people to bash another family for doing what they do to make a living. I thinks its incredibly rude for people to pass judgement on something they know nothing about! This family was struggling to make a living and was approached to make a show about their babies. They did so to help others out there with multiples, and to let other large families know that they aren't alone. Viewer appreciation and interest was huge and they were approached to make a few more shows, which in turn, turned into a series.
I think if I had 8 kids and a mortgage and mouths to feed, I would accept any sort of help offered to me, even if it entailed letting camera's into my house.
This opportunity to support their family is a blessing that millions of families pray for everyday. People should stop being jealous and be happy for them. I know I am!; ▶ Reply to This