Jon & Kate Plus 8: Life with twins AND sextuplets

by Susan Wagner (Subscribe to Susan Wagner's posts) Apr 17th 2007 1:26PM

Categories: Celeb Parenting, That's Entertainment

I am addicted to TLC. Mostly I watch What Not To Wear, but about a year ago, I stumbled on to "Surviving Twins and Sextuplets," the story of Kate and Jon Gosselin's remarkable family. Kate and Jon have six-year-old twin daughters and two-year-old sextuplets. You heard me: the Gosselin's have eight children under the age of seven.

Imagine the diapers.

I love this couple; they are sweet and funny and they clearly adore their kids. Kate is incredibly organized while Jon is more laid back and seat-of-the-pants. They have a good rapport, with each other and with their kids and with the camera. And my god are those kids cute.

Now Jon and Kate have their own TV show, Jon and Kate Plus 8. We get to follow the Gosselins as they do the normal things we all do with our kids: going to the pumpkin patch, doing home improvement projects, hiring a housekeeper. But with EIGHT KIDS. Six toddlers! I'm tired thinking about it.

As parents, we all feel overwhelmed, whether we have one child or seven or more. To see a family that should be the dictionary definition of "overwhelmed" meeting the challenges of parenthood (and of parenting multiples--MULTIPLE multiples, even!) with love and good humor is a nice change of pace. Jon and Kate Plus 8 airs on Monday nights on TLC, and Tuesdays on Discovery Health Channel. Check your local listings.

Comments (81)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Amanda 4-17-2007 @ 3:54PM

this probably sounds silly, but, I think parents of multiples are lucky because, they get to use all the baby names that they love instead of having to pick just one. (that's not the only reason I think they are lucky)

thordora 4-17-2007 @ 4:19PM

I saw that last night, and wondered why I've been so upset with ONE 2 year old. 6! Are you INSANE!

And I was actually revolted at the sight of her pregnant with all 6. It freaked me out.

But it was sweet to see how despite how tired and busy they must be, they still seemed to have a great rapport with each other.

I don't know if I want to watch an entire series though. Seems like overkill, but I imagine they need the money!

Michelle 4-17-2007 @ 4:27PM

I was totally hooked on that last night. So much so that I watched both "Year 1" and Year 2" until 2 am. Then my own precious 2 yr old woke up at 3. Why, oh why, do I continue to do this kind of stuff to myself? I need sleep more than I need internet or watching other people's lives! (I also watched the Roloff's before and after the Gosselins)

LMT 4-17-2007 @ 5:16PM

I loved this couple too! I watched the "Surviving..." show, but had no idea they had their own reality type show too. Better go grab my Tivo and schedule it into the line up! Thanks for the heads up. ;)

Judy 4-18-2007 @ 6:21PM

I LOVE Jon and Kate and watch the shows twice - on TLC and also Discovery Health. Usually when you see a show about multiples you also see the schedule of helpers that show up daily. Looks like they do it on their own. Applause! .... but one thing I am getting tired of is how bossy Kate is and how she barks orders to Jon. During the interview time she acts condescending towards him. Kate, relax, say "please" and "thank you"
Luv,

Kourtney 4-19-2007 @ 6:52PM

I love this show! They both are incredible parents!

Brandi Sheffield 4-20-2007 @ 4:57PM

I saw (surviving)now I am watching jon and kate plus 8. I love it, they are amazing. I have 3 kids different ages and have a hard time. Kate is an inspiration, I watch to get ideas from her too.

Raquel Martin 4-24-2007 @ 12:39AM

I understand that Kate has a serious job on her hands and she is doing a great job with her kids. However, she is MEAN and disrespectful to John and when I watch this show, I feel bad for him and I am just on my couch. my prediction, they don't last the 18 yrs and if they do, their children, at least the boys are going to grow up just like him and with women who are MEAN!

Debbie 4-24-2007 @ 3:32AM

I cannot stand Kate! She is completely anal, mean-spirited, and downright witchy! I don't see how her husband can stand her, she is demeaning to him all the time. She is teaching her kids to be afraid of dirt and germs and even the air they breathe. I mean, seriously, would you want her for your mom? I wouldn't!! All she does is clean and yell. She had the chance to hire a cleaning lady and then fired her after one day. You make your own hell, Kate.

Daphne 4-24-2007 @ 2:49PM

I love the specials on this family, however I just looked at their website and they actually have a "How to Make Donations to Us" section, and under "Contact" the very first thing is how to contact them for speaking engagements. I prefer the more down to earth style of the Duggars and the Dilleys, thank you.

elizabeth 4-24-2007 @ 3:50PM

I think to glorify couples who use fertilization techniques and end up with several kids is ridiculous! Today on Dr. phil they were given $3000 of playskool toys! There are too many parents out there who cannot afford toys for their kids and this couple knew the consequences. There are many parents with multiple births that occur naturally and have problems paying the bills. The media has over-glorified these medically assisted births and parents who have twins, triplets, etc naturally are overlooked!!!!

Deb 4-24-2007 @ 11:18PM

I feel Jon and Kate are wonderful parents who do a great job with their children. However, they need to be respectful of each other when they disagree. She nags at him and then he snaps back. Tonight on the show she tells him "not to ramble on" and then he gets mad and shuts up. Totally rude to your spouse on national tv!!

Judy 4-25-2007 @ 2:24AM

have you noticed when they are being interviewed, no matter where Kate is sitting, she turns away from Jon? If she is on his left, she crosses her legs and moves her shoulders to the left, away from him. If she's on his right,... ditto. Why does she find it necessary to continually tell us they love each other?

Sarah 4-25-2007 @ 2:09AM

Kate needs to be on Ativan or Xanax. What an obsessive woman. My heart went out to Jon when they were carving pumpkins, and they're all having fun- and she insists he stop to roll up the dirty pumpkin-covered paper. You have EIGHT children- do you really think they're never going to get dirty, get sick, or track mud/poop through the house? Her kids are either A) going to be uptight and bratty, or B) rebel beyond anything her uptight self can handle. If she would just relax, go with the flow, and have fun with her kids instead of act like their warden, she might look like she's enjoying being a parent, rather than constantly barking orders and insults. Her children are going to end up like Monk or Bob from "What About Bob." Jon is such a great Dad- you can see the joy in his eyes and excitement when his children run up to him. Kate seems to back away, as if they're going to get her dirty. I give them 10 years. Jon, call me!

Amanda Arnold 4-25-2007 @ 4:19AM

This show is amazing! I love watching how she has her own way to make things work and how she's got her own schedule. It's just amazing!!! She is a neat freak and that's awesome with 8 children! With that many kids if you skip a day or even an hour then you'd never get caught up. I've noticed a lot of people say she's mean and rude to Jon, but I think she's great. He's more laid back and if she lets him slack off then things would be that much harder for her. She can't do it all and he knows he has to pull his wait and with that many children if you don't jump when someones says, "GO!"...then it'd be impossible to stay on top of things. Most day care centers aren't that organized and her routine is amazing. I actually enjoy picking up on tips and ideas that the couple has for myself and I only have 2 kids of my own. They are very much in love and it shows tremendously even though Kate is demanding. What mother wouldn't be in her shoes and what father/husband would take it if he didn't love his family and his wife? Their children are beautiful and the show is great plus 8!

jean 4-25-2007 @ 9:49AM

I can't help but think how this has gone to Kate's head. Everything is about her and what she can get, free tummy tuck, free nanny, free toys, free trips and yet still complains and nit picks. She is extremely controlling and Jon can not say anything without her correcting him. That will get old. (He stated a 10 ft. table and she had to say no 8 ft.) And what is with the cleaning before everyone is finished carving the pumpkins. I can't believe she was a nurse. She is going to have neurotic kids and then ask what happened and the free-bee's will be gone. I don't like this show at all. It makes me angry after I watch it and I only watched it twice. Never again.

Judy 4-25-2007 @ 2:59PM

To Amanda Arnold - You are right. Kate is amazing, incredible and loves her children, for sure. I believe she loves Jon, BUT she is rude to her husband. You can be organized and efficient without being rude. It is extremely unkind and unloving to continually correct your husband, and insist "it" was your idea, your decision, your initiative...

Janet 4-25-2007 @ 9:37PM

I have read the different reactions to Kate. Yes it appears she can be short with Jon. However, she has been home alone all day with the children. I don't think there are too many of us who could cope with this day in and out. Yes the pumpkin carving did upset me as she whipped off the paper from the table as the kids were having so much fun. I saw the shocked look on the twins' faces. She is lucky to have a wonderful husband and if she can learn to be loving towards him and stop cutting him off as he tries to talk I think he would feel so much better. I was also shocked when she ran her finger over areas after the cleaning lady's first day. Kate, don't worry so much about doing it all yourself and show the patience with your husband that you do with the kids. He deserves it. Not all husbands would be so helpful especially after working all day and you don't want to lose him. I watched him pack the truck when you were moving. Seemed to be doing it all himself. That's when you need friends & relatives to help. RELAX KATE you are a wonderful Mom. Housework can wait and it will be there long after the kids have grown up.

Amanda 4-26-2007 @ 11:08AM

Come on now, I think that it is absolutely rediculous that some of you are writing entries about this woman, making assumptions and some pretty unkind statements about a woman you only know from what you see on the T.V. I for one am a mother on one and am amazed that this woman has the energy and strength to raise 8 small children. I know that I can get snippy with my husband at the end of a long hard day and I only have one baby to take care of. I think that the show is very interesting and I for one find Kate to be quite sweet and inspirational. It's really easy to throw stones, careful though because you know what they say about glass houses and the people who live in them.......

Rebecca 4-26-2007 @ 9:59PM

I agree with all of the negative comments on this show. Kate is very overbearing and rude and naggy to her husband. I don't think this is the sort of example we should be setting b4 America ( and beyond).Not even the children are entertaining.