Jon and Kate, plus 8 and two more?

[Pam]

For the first time last night I felt sorry for Kate. I think it has sunk in with her how much this split is going to cost them in terms of the family she had hoped to always have. Her eyes were definitely puffy and she confessed to a crying meltdown the day before. I think she probably realizes her mistakes (she has confessed to being hard on Jon) but it seems that there is no patching things up and no turning back.

Jon seemed to be the one who wants this to happen. I can understand his point of view. He (and Kate) are only 32 years old and they have 8 kids. As they say in the beginning of the show, "it may be a crazy life but it's our life." Can you imagine just how crazy it is? I raised two and that was hard enough. Jon said he wanted this for the good of his children (so they didn't have to witness all of the fighting). He is right. The fighting is no good, but divorce will present many other problems. Raising this group is hard enough with two parents at the wheel let alone one at a time.

I really think these two could benefit from some good counseling. Unfortunately the impression that I got as I watched the show (more from Jon than Kate) is they want this split and that is the way it is going to be. I think counseling has probably never been an option. Therein is part of the problem.

The sad part is that the kids will some day watch this and understand and a few of them may blame themselves for splitting up their parents due to the high stress level of just keeping up with them. It was not their fault. It is actually not anyone's "fault" really. It was a huge task to undertake (having and raising 8 children) and it was probably only a matter of time til the stress killed them.

[happylabs]

I was hoping the BIG announcement was going to be that they were canceling the show. The best thing they could do is cancel the show and get on with a normal life, well, as normal as one could be for them now.

I also raised two kids, and, yes, it was a full time job. My husband left me after 17 years of marriage for an old college girlfriend. His reason for leaving was that he was not happy. He expected me to fix his unhappiness. I tried but he wasn't. My kids were 13 and 11 at the time. I asked my husband to go to counseling to try to work things out. He wanted no part of it. I asked the girlfriend to back off so we could work on our marriage and she declined.

The divorce was tough for me because I still loved the guy. I went through a year of being hurt and healing my heart. Then I went through a year of being hateful towards him which did not help the kids. Finally, I came to my senses and realized that being hateful was eating me up. After that we parented the kids together even though we were not living together or married any longer. It isn't an easy thing. My kids are 22 and 19 now and have come out fairly well.

The reason for my rant on this...I cannot imagine going through this with 8 kids! They could work it out but they need counseling big time.

I'll get off my soap box now.

[beeniesmom]

Jon seemed to be the one who wants this to happen.

I really think these two could benefit from some good counseling. Unfortunately the impression that I got as I watched the show (more from Jon than Kate) is they want this split and that is the way it is going to be. I think counseling has probably never been an option. Therein is part of the problem.

The sad part is that the kids will some day watch this and understand and a few of them may blame themselves for splitting up their parents due to the high stress level of just keeping up with them. It was not their fault. It is actually not anyone's "fault" really. It was a huge task to undertake (having and raising 8 children) and it was probably only a matter of time til the stress killed them.

I totally agree with what you said. It's a real pity.
I was really sad watching the episode last night.

It's pretty obvious that Jon initiated the divorce because he is tired of the lime light and being treated as less than a man .... and as I mentioned somwhere in this thread about him being passive.... he admitted being the passive one and letting Kate rule the roost.

They are both to blame.

I don't agree with what Kate said.... about this happening whether they were on the show or not. I don't think it would have happened if they lived out of the lights.... they both would have stayed more in tune with each other.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

I figured things were starting to get desperate when they had the big "wedding" episode a few months back.

[beeniesmom]

Random thought.....

I bet Jon will go on and become a porn star...

[happylabs]

random thought.....

I bet jon will go on and become a porn star...

lol!!!!!

[Cataholic]

It is difficult for me to feel sympathy towards Kate. There had to be some moments in the last 3 years when she realized that she treats Jon (and the kids, IMO) like 2nd rate citizens. To hear her now, she is just coming to this realization that she might not have been that perfect. Duh. Most of us know when we cross the line...we do it anyhow, but, we know it.

I know she has 8 kids, I am one of 8 kids myself. No, not all at once, of course. But, she ran that house like an obsessed crazy woman. Who in their right mind mops a kitchen floor 6 times a day? Who pulls out a dresser and notices the dust on the baseboard and fires the house cleaner over it? Who puts their sick child on the floor of the laundry room on a towel...so that vomit doesn't get on the bed clothes? If these are the things that are shown on TV, what must go on when no one is looking? I would imagine she has some form of OCD...and he seems more easy going. That would be tough to deal with for each person.

People divorce for many reasons, the kids shouldn't be a reason to do it or not do it. Is it sad? Yes, very. But, life does go on, even in a divorced situation.

[RICHARD]

MY mom and dad had 6, 1 really nasty girl, four boys, each a year apart and a girl 6 years after the last boy. It can be down. My mom was the Terminator, dad was the silent partner.....

My mom did have the mouth, but she was never abusive, the way Kate is to her hubby.

Three things that killed this marriage is the show, her (Kate's) desire to be a perfect mom and her attitude towards Jon.. What she will not admit is that she is a woman who has a 'compulsive disease' -everything is a list that has to be checked off, in order and done in the time frame she sets up.

------------------------------------------

Dude,
I can imagine that in another marriage, some cuckoo/fruity nut cake would have made sure the new playhouse was situated over the shallow grave.


I just heard a radio clip of Jon saying that they were separating...Hmmmmm...
Just because the filed papers does not mean they will divorce.


IT's just a vacation, Jon will come visit his testes, Kate will realize she needs pro help and the show MUST GO ON!

[Pam]

I have an idea for a future show..... an interview with Dr. Phil as the mediator. Seriously, I think they need to look at themselves through the eyes of someone else. They are too busy defending their own positions in this. I have concerns with Jon planning a move to New York. I have a feeling he is just going to sort of "drop off the scene" totally - not just the TV scene. I hope not, but I think he has some wild oats he has yet to sow and wants to get away from the husband/dad role for a while.

The playhouse thing was some good insight into their problems. He told her where he wanted to put them and she didn't pay attention to what he was saying until the things actually arrived. Kate had a good idea about the placement of the playhouses but why did she wait so long to discuss this with Jon. It's about COMMUNICATION or, in their case, lack of it.

P.S. to Richard. They did file divorce papers yesterday. I think this is the real deal.

[kuhio98]

If the rumors of Jon apartment hunting in New York are true, I find it very hard to see how he intends to stay that involved in his children's lives.

I've always had compassion for Kate. I figured all her demanding ways came out of fear of things. She has to have things a certain way or she freaks. I really don't think it's because she's mean -- I think she has panic attacks or OCD issues.

Jon is pretty passive. I think she felt she had to step up to the plate and take charge because he didn't want to take that role. Nothing wrong with that, but then don't beat up the person who took charge because you didn't want to.

Jon will never read this, but if I would tell him that if he wants his wife to stop treating him like one of the children, he needs to stop acting like one of them.

[joycenalex]

.....I've always had compassion for Kate. I figured all her demanding ways came out of fear of things. She has to have things a certain way or she freaks. I really don't think it's because she's mean -- I think she has panic attacks or OCD issues. Jon is pretty passive. I think she felt she had to step up to the plate and take charge because he didn't want to take that roll. Nothing wrong with that, but then don't beat up the person who took charge because you didn't want to.
Jon will never read this, but if I would tell him that if he wants his wife to stop treating him like one of the children, he needs to stop acting like one of them.

there is truth to this.....so let jon have custody and watch how that new girlfriend moves on. as for the porn career....has anyone else seen the promos for the HBO show "Hung"?

[caseysmom]

I'm not that organized but I admire how organized she is and he definetely looks dopey on the show.

[RICHARD]

there is truth to this.....so let jon have custody and watch how that new girlfriend moves on. as for the porn career....has anyone else seen the promos for the HBO show "Hung"?

"Hung" is about an interior decorator that likes art and paintings....


Pam,

I respect you too much to say that Mark Geragos should be showing up soon!

[Pam]

"
Pam,

I respect you too much to say that Mark Geragos should be showing up soon!

LOL! Now there is a weasel whom we haven't heard from lately. I wonder what your "girlfriend" Nancy Grace has to say about all of this? She actually makes Kate look meek.

[lizbud]

Wow, I am amazed that so many people actually spend the time
to watch this show.