I don't have cable at home (but thanks to high speed internet that I've had for a few weeks now and netflix, I manage), but I catch it at work sometimes.

I think the mom is VERY immature. She deals with her kids and husband as if they were her siblings or inferiors. She has a lot to learn about dealing with people. She's not good at explaining things. I think she needs to grown up a lot.

The kids seem spoiled as well. One of the girls one time said she didn't "do" chores because she was a princess or something like that.

One time they made a family creed and were reading it to their kids. Not a bad thing to do I guess, but most of the kids were so young that they didn't have the attention span to sit and hear all that, let alone comprehend it.

It seems like they are just trying to make "good" TV. Give me Lucy or Andy Griffith instead of these reality shows any day!

But, what do I know. I'm only a cat parent!

I have an online friend (you know someone I met face to face a few times-we have kids in common)
Anyhoo...she belongs to the same church as the family.

According to Susie (yes we are both Susie's LOL) they are both incredibly kind and loving people who are all about their kids.

In my opinion I do think Kate is a little rough with her way of speaking but I look at like this...I have NO idea what it must be like to walk in her shoes so I cannot pass judgement.

There are many blogs out there ripping her a new one so to speak...in fact I read a blog about TLC buying them a home in North Carolina which as we now know is totally false. Susie said they moved closer to their church and in fact closer to her.

To me it seems like Kate is a perfectionist. Everything has to be her way or the highway. Jon seems like a happy go lucky kinda guy who just rolls with the punches...so perhaps its a match made in heaven.

It took her 4 hours to clean the moldy fridge?? Heck I would have sprayed the whole thing with tilex and came back later to wipe it down and called it a day...it would have been good enough for me LOL!!

The kids are very cute! How lucky they didn't have any problems being high order multiples. They all seem happy and well adjusted albeit small for their age.

The older kids seem like brats but my kids were kinda bratty at that age too and they turned out pretty cool.

AS for the new house, well they bought it, not tlc and it was a forecloser. They got a great deal on it says my friend who also added the kids are finacially set and the family is living off the book deals. They travel in exchange for publicity but most of the product donations have stopped. My guess is they know they can't ride this gravy train much longer so they are getting the most bang for their buck while they still can.

I hope they have a show or special in about 10 years or so when all the little ones will be driving and the older ones go off to college...that one I will be taping!!

Cheers!
Susie

I agree -- she's a meanie. In the latest episode she said something like "I could just kill him" about her husband, who seems like a nice guy. I realize it's television, but what an awful message to send.

One of the older daughters is kind of cranky, too. Takes after mom. The other older twin seems like she is trying to make up for her mother's nastiness.

They must be making a fortune from that show and the books, etc. I think he was an IT guy, but left that job. They could never have afforded that gigantic new house on what he was earning.

From what I've read, they have been showered with gifts and trips. It's all so silly.

Yes, the kids are adorable. I especially love little Aaden. Since the kids seem okay, the parents must be doing a good job. Hopefully it's different off camera.

Susie -- very interesting. I actually thought the new house was left in dirty condition, so maybe foreclosure explains it.

They live somewhere near Reading, right? Berks County?

"Ripped her a new one" -- too funny.

I want to see the new house... the last one I saw was when the told the kids they were moving.

I think it was funny that her flat top stove "exploded" when she was trying to make chicken soup. They didn't show the explosion... just the stove after and the new replacement.

I like that they are keeping it real and not trying to sugarcoat and present a fake Ozzy and Harriet type of existence. They have spoken about this very thing many times and this is the way they communicate with each other.

When you have 8 kids you have to get to the point I would think and be sort of a general. They are also very loving with each other.

I just don't see the loving part. But then again, I've only watched two shows, so in fairness, I need to see more. I just don't see how she can say those things to him. Admittedly, there are times when I want to roll my eyes at my dh, or to mock something he has said, but respect for him keeps me from doing so. I don't mind her being a general at times to her kids, that is what the situation demands, I am sure. But in no way does she treat her husband as an equal (at least that is how the show portrays her).

Although I have watched the show from the beginning, I have noticed a change in Kate's on-air personality. She has become a little more independent and assertive in getting what she wants for her family. She is now away on her own doing "business" and show promotions that will earn money for their "family enterprise." She does speaking engagements, TV appearances, and she has written 2 or 3 books. She seems to run the "show" and family more than ever. Now, I am not judging her or saying she should be just a sweet, mild mannered, stay at home mom. If I had 8 children to feed, house, clothe, and send to college, who's to say that I wouldn't be milking our 15 minutes of fame for all it was worth, too.
But I am surprised that she still talks and acts to Jon on camera the way that she does. Surely she has seen the film footage of herself - some of which is not very attractive at all.

Like the majority of most parents, they are doing the best that they can for their children in providing, loving, and disciplining. Their children are polite in public, often kind to each other, playful, funny, adorable and sometimes quite smart. As for the older girls, Cara seems mature, helpful and loving to the younger children. Mady is often very moody, not loving to the little kids and seems at times to be spiraling out of control. She's....Mady....and we all might know a child a two with her personality.

I actually cried during the wedding show...they were trying to recite vows with 6 tiny ones in tow. It was very sweet but you can see they adore each other.
Pam, My pal Susie is in Reading very much near the outlets. I met her several years ago on a Pa Moms loop...we had our kids together and I just learned she recently had another!!
I don't know if I could get into baby mode now that mine are grown LOL...anyhow the Gosselins are just one town away in Wernersville which is about 30 minutes from their old home near Epherta.

Its funny to watch all the local places they go to.

For what its worth there is an awesome flee market out in Epherta that Frank and I go to about 2 times a year....its called the Green Dragon...you can google it.

As for the house, Susie said its very excluded...lots of farms out that way...and its HUGE!!!

Cheers!
Susie

Yeah, the house does look huge. When 10 people can get lost in it -- that's big. Seems like lots of land, too.

I've been to the Green Dragon, but not for many years. I have to get back there, not that I need anymore fleas. I like Renningers for antiquing.

Anyway, I think Kate needs to cool her jets. When she was screaming at Jon about giving her the receipt for a purchase and not using a coupon, it was beyond ridiculous. It's an awful way to treat someone and a poor example. Saying you could kill someone just doesn't hack it.

Of course, I am living proof that it draws in an audience. I don't watch each and every episode but it is repeated so often, it's hard not to run into it from time to time.

Yes, it's fun to see local stuff on tv. I remember taking our kids to ride on the Stratford Railroad and they showed that.

In one early episode they all went to Shady Maple. I guess it's a good place to go with a mob. I went once and would NEVER go again. I call it the Temple to Gluttony.

I too would be milking the situation for every dime. They are no fools.

By the way I see the Octuplet lady ia already getting offers for tv appearances and book deals.