My Jon & Kate Divorce Question
Here's my question about the Jon & Kate scandal. Is Kate Gosselin a working mom? (If you haven't been following the flap, the Jon & Kate Plus 8 reality television show -- focusing on a family with twins and sextuplets -- is currently rocked with reports of infidelity and possible divorce.)
Since her six babies were born, the show has cast Kate as a stay-at-home mom. But when you look closely at this 34-year old woman, you have to acknowledge that she has a career. First, her job was simply being a reality television star. Now, she's written two books on mothering multiples and is touring the country to promote them.
So if you consider that Kate is a working mom of sorts, I wonder if she gets more negative coverage because she has a career that requires travel away from her family? The way some tabloid reports portray her, as controlling and cold, certainly sounds like one of the working mom stereotypes I try so hard to rebut.
What's your take on it?
Update as of June 23, 2009: Jon and Kate announced they will end their 10-year marriage.
Photo credit: David Livingston/Getty Images
Comments
I think the backlash Kate Gosselin is receiving has nothing to do with whether Kate is a working mom or not (although to answer your question – she most certainly is – but again, that is irrelevant to her case). I used to be a fan of the show, but it has changed, and not for the better. As a twin and one of six children (including 4 in four years), my mother never behaved like a tyrant (although my dad acted like a grown up, with responsibilities, unlike Jon – which probably helped). My “final straw” moment was during the episode when they moved into their newsest house/mansion. Freebies and making money off of your children aside, when Kate told the children to come in and take a last look at their parent’s room because they were “NEVER” going to be allowed in there for “ANY” reason or under “ANY” circumstances, I was disgusted. These kids were 4 years old. Who didn’t run into their parents room at that age? What parents don’t like having their kids come in and hug them in the morning? She does not treat her husband or children with respect – even though it is her children have provided her with this nice lifestyle – and I think it’s about time the hammer has come down to put her in her back in her place – as a parent to these adorable children – in real life, not just on tv.
AMEN to that post! I thought the same thing when I saw that episode about her telling the kids to stay out of her room. She talked down to Jon, with her arms folded as if he was one of the kids. It was that moment that I was no longer a fan of the show. She made the comment on last weeks show saying “if my kids are happy, healthy, and loved then I am going to continue doing what I’m doing.” Well… If my kids called me their babysitters name, I’d consider that a sign that something needs to change! I do not wish them divorce, and I do hope they can manage to work it out, but I think unforunately for them the only way to do that is to stop the show, and the million dollar paychecks and get back to the basics….
A woman with that many kids, or just one for that matter, should be home, paying attention to the kids and thankful that her MAN is providing for her and the children. That is a hint….Jon is not the provider and Kate is not at home mothering her children. The whole family is suffering due to the more important fame. What a shame if they divorce…8 kids being shuffled back and forth between parents, and then step parents,,,,,how sad
I agree with the comment(s) on the bedroom. That just blew me away, she needs to get her head out of the bleach bucket and realize she would NOT have that bedroom if not for her children. Just a very selfish, rude, abusive woman. Never seen anything like it. If anything I think people are watching this waiting for the day when Jon tells her off on TV.
I also saw that show, how many times in the middle of the night have my children come to our bed scared, wanting that extra security or sick and needed Mommy. This show needs to be shut down and the adults need to get real jobs and take care of their childdren
I’ve not watched this show in a long time. That woman is horrid. I agree that she talks down to Jon, yells at the kids, spends more time on her hair and makeup than with her children, parades the family around as if they were circus performers, etc. She went on the 700 club here not too long ago, testifying that she and Jon used to have to go to food banks for donations and scrape up every last bit of change to pay bills. I am sorry, but THEY chose that kind of life when they chose to attempt another pregnancy with fertility treatments. They knew the chances of multiples was higher this time around. Don’t go crying about how hard your life is, especially now that you have MILLIONS of dollars. No one told you to play God. Some people cannot have children. It is sad to say, but sometimes, there is a REASON for that. I wouldn’t let this woman watch my dog! You made the decision to be a mother. NOW START ACTING LIKE ONE.
I find it sad that it is so easy to judge peopld and their situation. We should all know reality TV does not mean reality. You get clips and cuts from their life. I agree there are times when Kate may come off less than perfect. However, do you really think your life would look perfect if someone were taping and editing it for a viewing audience? Part of the problem is you think you know her and her family because you get to watch snipets of their lives. You do not know the situation and what goes on behind the scenes. It is very easy to sit back and judge people.
I agree with Lanie. Noone has the right to judge anyone. None of us are perfect!
I am sick of the backlash. Where is the humanity? We should support people and wish them well instead of celebrating peoples’ failures and shortcomings…
Thank you Lanie! I completely agree. We see them for 30 minutes a week, sometimes an hour. This is reality TV. They are trying to make money. Which ever angle they have to take the show in order to make money, they will. We don’t know the entire truth, and we never will. The show is supposed to be a documentary on the life of raising multiples. People have talked down on them for doing it, but TLC is a station filled with documentaries on families with multiples, people with medical conditions, women buying dresses, etc. I don’t hear as much backlash for those shows. The episode with the bedroom is not that big of a deal. I wasn’t allowed to go into my daddy’s room, and guess what, I STILL love him now that I am grown. He needed his own special place, just like as a child I wanted my own special space. Everyone has different parenting styles, and those kids seem to really love their parents, so they must be doing something right. None of us are perfect. We wouldn’t be so quick to judge if we had a camera crew following us, and they caught us in some of our more trying moments. They are human beings, and they will make mistakes. Who are we to judge?
It is impossible for ANY family to have normal relationships if cameras, producers, and directors are manipulating their way through a home most of the time. Has anyone noticed that there are no longer any family members or close friends on the scene? There were in earlier seasons of this show, but no more. The fame and the huge revenues have gone to Jon and Kate’s heads and thus they have alienated their friends and family, split their marriage, and have exploited their beautiful children for the BIG bucks and a posh lifestyle. What kind of family image are J&K modeling for their children, who will be spouses and parents someday? They are diving head first into the proverbial slippery slope of greed and fame, and they ain’t coming back for nobody, including their innocent children.
It has nothing to do with Kate being a “working” Mom. It has everything to do with how she treats people. (And as Kate as an “author”… the first book was mainly written by Beth Carson and the second book is Bible verses and pics.)
I found it ironic that Kate was “the expert” on Larry King, Oprah, and Dr. Phil when Nadya Suleman surfaced. Yet how was Kate any better? She herself famously said in her appeal to have their free nurses extended beyond a year, that she “feels society has a responsibility to help with the children, since modern medicine promotes the use of fertility drugs, which can lead to multiple births”. She and Jon were also on Medicaid.
Kate is a controlling, verbally and emotionally abusive woman with serious rage issues. She needs help. Jon needs to go back to school and get a degree so he can somehow help support his family without exploiting his minor children. They both need to step away and work on their marriage in private. Heck, with eight kids, that needs to be the first priority. Remember how they used to say, “we’re in this together”? Well, that’s out of the new season opener… yet they need to be. I’m sure they can still pull in big-bucks by doing twice or once yearly specials.
Most working Moms I know do rethink their careers (job-sharing, horizontal promotions, smaller company, etc.) with kids. Somebody with eight kids is going to have to do that as well. When your kids call you the babysitter’s name, are suffering from the career you’ve forced upon them, and your marriage is in shambles… it’s time to rethink!
Wow,can’t believe how judgemental these posts are. I suggest you look inside yourselves before you start judging these people in what is a difficult situation. Sure they may make mistakes ut to say they chose this life when they took fertility treatments is a stretch. Walk a mile in their shoes and then… C’mon lets get real here and have some empathy for the whole family.
I think it is very sad to see what has happened to their marriage. Kate says that everything she does she does for her children – at the top of the list should be providing a solid and loving marriage to the kid’s father.
I went back and read her 8 gosselins blog – how sad to read her posts from years ago. God and their church family seemed central to their marriage – I certainly don’t see that reflected on their TV show.
They are both chasing after the things of the world and it is ruining their lives. Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
While negative news and gossip swirls around the web about Jon & Kate Gosselin and their family, a new blog is joining the ranks of those praying for this couple and their family – JonandKatePrayers.com. The purpose of this blog is to refocus attention on praying for this couple, their marriage, and their family’s healing.
Featured also are many resources and tools to help strengthen your marriage.
JonandKatePrayers.com
Kate is doing this for Kate. If she were the one staying home and Jon spoke to her the way she does to him there wouldn’t have even been a season 3.
I think you’re on to something, Katherine. It’s murky because Kate on the show is pretty hard to like, I think; but when I’ve written about her on my blog, I do see a lot of comments about her being away and not being there for her family. Lots of commenters seem to want her to stay home and let John “be the man,” and they say that will fix the marital problems. Interesting…
Do you know if Kate is going to be comming out with a book on how to be a BITCH!!!! She could write a good book on that.
I am a working mom and certainly would not consider the difficulties “everyday” working mom’s face to be a concern of Kates. Who will stay with the children if they are sick and can’t go to school or daycare? I would miss work for my children. It appears Kate has the ability to call on a number of caretakers for her children if she was faced with this situation. The father could even stay home with the children in this case. Most working moms (families with working moms) do not have the options the J&K have available to them.
I have a very difficult time sympathizing or empathizing with these people who specifically chose this path in life and then claim they deserve more than the majority of families that struggle to make it on a daily basis.
My husband passed away unexpectedly when my children were six and four. I have struggled for the past 10 years as a working mother and would have loved to have the options available to me that the this family has been given. I guarantee you, I would certainly show appreciation rather than expectation that I was entitled to luxuries given to this family.
Jon seems to have a lot of free time on his hands. I wonder why he’s not out getting a job since that’s what he says he wants.
I don’t think this show is a good example as to how their house hold really runs. It’s all a show. I mean they can’t make their kids do by so many things but to a certain point. I don’t believe a thing the tabloids say about either of them. How many times have things been in the tabloids and than we all find out later it was all junk. I think the Tv show should let them take a leave to fix things in their family. Alot of families suspect things are going on when they aren’t. Nothing they show in those videos proves a thing to me. They can be doctored and the ladies brother CAN be full of crap. I just think they need a break as a family to fix things in their family. Good luck
Brandi, I loved your comment, I wish your comment could be seen by everyone who bash Jon & Kate and think they know enough to judge them in a negative way-I honestly can say I agreed with everything you wrote.
Kate needs help. It’s me, me, me, and the way she talks to Jon. He is the better parent and should get custody of those kids and take them off TV. Did you see the show when they were in the toy store? OMG she talked to him like he was a Dog!
He should of left then, he waited too long. She is a mess and any judge who gives her custody would be just as nuts as she is!
They put themselves out there on TV so they need to expect to get the backlash they are now receiving. Can’t just make the money and not take all that comes with it.
Re: No Longer a fan of JK+8- I ran into my parents room all the time when I was young! if there was a monster under my bed, or if I wanted to dress up in my mom’s fancy dresses.
I never liked Kate, she is so naggy and bossy. Jon just seems more laid back, he’ll get the job done he’s just not going to be a prude about it. I don’t know how he put up with her for so long…
Oh and speaking of perfectionism- she corrects him ALL the time in the show but in the intro she says “this is are life” when she should say “this is OUR life”