Today was a bit chaotic on the Oprah Winfrey show. The talk show host was joined by my favorite TV couple and their 8 children.
Jon and Kate Gosselin, along with their twins, Cara and Mady and sextuplets Hannah, Joel, Leah, Collin, Alexis and Aaden sat down with Oprah to discuss life with two sets of multiples.
Many of you know the family from their TLC show ‘Jon and Kate Plus 8’, which airs every Monday night.
In 2000, Kate gave birth to twin girls, Cara and Mady. Then, the couple decided to try for one more child.
“We got a little more than we bargained for—we got six more,” Kate says. “We’re considered a fertility nightmare.”
At 5 weeks gestation, Kate had a feeling there was more than one baby growing inside of her.
“As soon as they flashed the ultrasound screen, I saw too many circles to count,” she says. “I was thinking, ‘These cannot be babies. There’s too many.’ I instantly went into shock.”
Jon’s reaction:
“He was close to tears, which he’s usually very silent and strong,” Kate says. “I thought, ‘Now we’re really in trouble.’ … It sounds funny now, but at the time, our whole lives just flashed before our eyes.”
Even knowing how draining – emotionally and financially – raising eight children would be but Jon and Kate say they never considered reducing the number of fetuses in the womb.
“When we went in for that [fertility] appointment, I said to them every time, ‘Really be careful with us, because we’re not doing that ever. It’s not for us,'” she says. “Actually, right before that ultrasound, the last thing I said to [the doctor] was, ‘Whatever you’re giving me, we’re taking.'”
On May 10th 2004 at an amazing 30 weeks gestation, in just three minutes the couple welcomed Alexis Faith, weighing 2 pounds, 11.5 ounces, Hannah Joy, 2 pounds, 11 ounces; Aaden Jonathan, 2 pounds 7.5 ounces; Collin Thomas, 3 pounds 0.5 ounces; Leah Hope, 2 pounds 14.8 ounces, and Joel Kevin, 2 pounds 9.7 ounces.
Now that the sextuplets are almost 4, the busy mom spends most of her time cooking healthy, organic meals for her family of 10.
“My day is make a meal, serve a meal, clean up a meal, clean up everything, wipe this one, change that one, deal with this one,” she says
Kate’s day by the numbers:
- she runs the dishwasher two or three times a day
- uses about 1,200 paper plates every month
- do at least two loads a day, with the most being five a day
It took two days, six suitcases and three carry-ons to get the Gosselins from Pennsylvania to Chicago. When they travel, Kate says she fills luggage with treats, blankets, Crayons and toys to keep the kids busy during the flight. “Take tons of food,” she says. “That’s my secret for everything. When they’re cranky, just feed them.”
I love Kate’s no nonsense approach to motherhood. The kids don’t get away with anything in fact the couple says that “timeouts are as normal as blinking.”
They may be out of the “terrible 2” phase, but Kate says the sextuplets’ behavior has not improved. In fact, it’s gotten worse. “Actually, 3s are rougher for us than 2s,” she says. “Didn’t you know? Three is the new 2.”
If you would like to read more about the interview. Please visit Oprah’s site.
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Jon and Kate: I have been watching your show for the past year and I find it very entertaining. I hope that you can tolerate doing the show for several years, so we can all watch the children grow up. You both are doing a superb job, despite what the negative people say. You can’t please everyone all the time. Who cares about them. I love that you are doing your yearly family traditions. As most people would realize, its hard taking care of 2 or 3 kids alone. I can’t imagine taking care of 8 alone! I am glad you have help. It was brave of you to do this show, but I think it will give young parents insight for whats in store for them. You just keep doing what you do!!!!
As a mother of 5 ranging from 17 to 9 months, I would gladly change places with Kate. I saw an episode where she said she had to have her laundry done by Tuesday so one volunteer could fold on Wednesday and another could put all the clothes away on Thursday. I keep looking, but no one around here is doing that for this full-time working mother.
Good for Jon and Kate for taking advantage of reality TV and claiming their 15 minutes of fame, but whenever they want to experience what it’s like to be a parent of a large family WITHOUT help, they can come on over. My family doesn’t get VIP treatment everywhere we go because of our size. We don’t get private tours of the zoo or a ride pass at Disney. We don’t have daycare who comes on vacation with us. Get off the pedestal about how hard it is and how much work it is for you. They don’t have a clue how much work raising a family can be!
There so amazing to me those babys couldnt have asked for better parents.I have three kids and thats stressful i couldnt imagne eight of them.I wish them the best in all they do.
Vickie said, “I can’t imagine taking care of 8 alone!” For the record, neither can Kate! LOL
Wow…I can’t believe how there are so many people on this website who are so quick to judge Jon and Kate! Especially the neighbors! I am sorry, but the neighbors keep saying how unfriendly Kate, well if thats the case and you havn’t spoken to her, how are you so quick to judge! You sure have her all figured out don’t you?? Kate says on her show all the time that she is so grateful for her “helpers”, so all this non-sense about her claiming to do everything on her own is definitely exaggerated! I know I am guilty of snapping at my hubby, and he does the same, especially when we get overwhelmed and stressed about our daily lives, so why do you think Kate should be any different? She obviously loves her husband and family, and if you watched the episode showing Jon and Kate before they had children, you would notice that Jon and Kate have teo totally different personalities, Jon has always been much more quiet than Kate, and I think that sometimes people interpret that as her always “nagging”. Jon knew what he was getting into, he does not seem like a “dumb” guy, and how do you think he would feel about all you bashing his wife like that? Come on guys, stop being so judgemental and start understanding this is “reality” not the Brady Bunch.
Where are the Grandparents of the 8 children?
Im just like everyone else by saying WE LOVE YOUR SHOW! I have 3 of my own and then I got 3 of my sisters. I have had them for 6 months now and am in the prosess of adopting them and YES, it is very hard! At first it was. But now, it’s like , if I’m missing one something don’t feel right. My husband helps me out a lot by working 2 jobs and feeding the baby at night. The baby is 6months, my neice at 4yrs, my baby at 5yrs, my middle one at 6yrs, my older neice at 8yrs, and my oldest son at 9yrs old. I just want to know….. what is a good medicine for your headache? LOL!
Get a LIFE PEOPLE!!!!If you dont like watching the show turn it off. This is their life and we are just spectators if we choose. They are a beautiful family and are lucky to have two parents that love and care about them. If only every child in the world had someone, we would live in a better place. Quit being HATERS!
I cannot believe there are people who are supposedly “really raising” a family who have the time to make snide remarks that are not based on factual information whatsoever. To everyone esle, it is not worth your time to stand up to these people, just bypass the negative comments and focus on the posotive. My mother always says the glass is half-full. Now she is an amazing parent and a good woman. She reminds me so much of Kate, who obviously cares about her family. To Jon and Kate: I do not know your family and am not going to pretend I do either. The way your children interact with you on the show CLEARLY supports the fact that they love you both very much and you love them. Although I’m sure much of your life occurs outside of the show, as you have said cameras are there only three days a week, it is educational and provides excellent substance for both children and parents. I believe, that this is, afterall, what this show is meant to do. The amount of love is obvious and I believe you do an awesome job as parents. The best part of your series is that you DON’T sugarcoat everything. Thank you so much.
One word to Jon and Kate’s neighbors: Why would they want to be cordial towards you if this is how you treat them behind their backs? I wouldn’t, and the majority of America wouldn’t either.
For all of those defending a “reality show”, you need a step back and think about who you are defending. Do you know these people on a personal level (neighbor, coworker or relative) or it because it’s good entertainment? If it’s because of entertainment then i’ll try to get John & Kate to do a commercial to sell you something (since you like to blindly defend someone you have absolutely no connection socially or professionally with.) The next time someone has an opinion other than yours just think how your opinion would like to be treated (Either respected or shot down in flames).
I have been watching this show for a while and as time goes by there has not only been transformations in their appearances which hey, she looks way better but if you watch her back at first she did not act so high and mighty. I think and I say think because all of us are only stating opinions except for the neighbors I guess but I think Kate is one of those who in every aspect of life has to be the center of attention. I have had to turn it off also because of the way she acts sometimes in the chair, just the comments and I know couples like them and Jon knows if he dared to disagree with her in front of millions, he would reep the wrath of Kate afterwards. A lot of women think it is cool to speak like Kate, use her tone and pretend like they wear the pants in the family, whether they do or not I feel is so demeaning to their husbands who they say they love. Yes we have heard them all say they act like that with each other or make excuses about how they treat them and this of course goes both ways. Some men are demeaning to their wives like she is to Jon but anyway it is so , well I know they go to church and I think they are Christians and she needs to read how wives should treat their husbands. You know it’s not just with him, she just seems to know everything. She should write a book “The Gospel According to Kate” or “How I Know Everything about Raising Multiples when I Only did it Part time”. Okay, that was tacky but it could be a sucessful show but people don’t like the attitude. I love my husband dearly but help I have never gotten. She should be thankful for him. He is a big help when he is home and also provides so she doesn’t have to. He aught to tell her to go to work and he’ll stay home and then when she gets home tell her he wants her to ask him what he needs every night. LOL. I need to stop.
Jon and Kate,
God Bless You and your family. Everytime we expose ourselves to others we are unfortunately judged by people who apparently hate themselves. These are people who look for any opportunity to vent anger that has nothing to do with your family. I love watching your show. Please continue it. Kate, I absoultely adore you!! I think you’re so beautiful. I think you look even better now than you did before the kids were born. Please overlook the demonic comments on this site and focus on the encouragement and praise coming from God. God loves you regardless of what others may think or feel.When people attack you, thats a sign you’re doing a GREAT job!!!
ADVICE TO ALL WHO JUDGE…. NEVER JUDGE A PERSON…TILL YOU HAVE WALKED A MILE IN THEIR SHOES. E.G. I HAD NO SHOES…AND COMPLAINED..TILL I MET A MAN..THAT HAD NO FEET.
I TOO believe that these people are being given everything! Every time i watch this show they are spending money like it is growing on trees! the rest of the world has to penny pinch and save, but they are obviously given money to buy anything and everything that they want. In the past 3 years how many homes have they gone thru? Everytime you turn around and watch the show they are moving! Where in the WORLD are they getting the money for everything they buy? It is truly unreal. There are SOOOOOO many other families out there that have had multiple births and are NOT given anything. These people are frauds! They chose to do Invitro and now we all have to give them everything. Why on earth does it seem like wherever they go they are the only ones there, like they made the place (business or company) close down to the public and ONLY wait on them! outrageous! And i just read the blog about how they are mean and not personable. They have a sign outside their house that says ‘do not stop to talk to us’! Who do they think they are? I know one thing, this show will not last long. The money they are given to buy buy buy WILL run out! good luck then! Tootles!
hi its me again i just wanted to say that i love the camp out episode!!!!!!
I love, love love the show. I don’t have children of my own but I’ve always wanted them. The show fills such a void in my life. I love watching the children grow. It’s amazing that you have shared this with all the viewers. I tape every show and watch them over and over. If your kids ever need an Auntie Joy please get in touch. I already feel I know them.
As i was going down all the other comments and i was reading some of them. I cant believe how many people judge them. they have 8 kids,8 i mean yeah she gets help but you try and handel 6 3 or 4 years at once by your self, plus doing wash, cooking, and cleaning up after everyone. and then the twins come home and u have to help them with home work on top of all that thats crazy.
LET’S ALL REMEMBER THAT WE DO NOT WALK IN KATE’S SHOES OR IN JON’S. HOW ABOUT WE ALL TRY TO LIVE OUR OWN BEST LIFE AND BE HAPPY AND QUIT WORRYING SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE SHOW…SHUT IT OFF! TURN THE CHANNEL! PERSONALLY…I ENJOY WATCHING THE SHOW! THE CHILDREN ARE ADORABLE AND GENUINELY HAPPY! YES, I OFTEN THINK AT TIMES KATE IS A BIT HARSH WITH JON, OR IN GENERAL, HOWEVER, THAT DOESN’T MAKE HER A BAD PERSON. SHE HAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ONCE AGAIN, NO ONE WALKS IN HER SHOES BUT HER. LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE SO PETTY. IT ANGERS ME PEOPLE SPEND SO MUCH TIME SMEARING HATE ONLINE ABOUT PEOPLE THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW AND ONLY SEE A TID BIT OF THEIR LIVES ON TELEVISION.
I have watched jon & kate plus eight and love them all.
It’s going to be very interesting to see how all those
kids will be doing when they grow up. I think jon & kate
will learn alot from all of them. Love the show!!
i love you and your kids. someday i wish to meet you.i watch every show. im 11 and i live very far away from you but someday i hope my dream to meet you comes true.
love,ashley