Sunday, April 10, 2016

Recap: Kate Plus 8 ''School Prep": Typically, everything purchased in this episode can be found much easier online, in general

Next time on the little people, little people swimming!


Coming up on Kate Plus 8, school shopping for clothes, backpacks, and Kate gets distracted by something shiny and starts buying things for herself. This is a literal repeat of at least a couple other back-to-school boring episodes, including Kate buying much more for herself than for the kids. No one in production is even trying to do something original, and why would they when phoning it in is enough? Kate doesn't believe in being fair because that wastes money. She should write a blog post on saving money by not being fair, Dave Ramsey would be proud.

It's always about Kate, Cara explains, who is old enough to be on to her mother but not old enough to realize when she should probably shush, which is my favorite age.

Kate is more orange than usual today in her couch interviews--I would say it's "Trump orange," which is a color I better patent soon before someone else steals it. But in the footage of her packing up the van her hue is back to normal, which is more eggshell white. Hannah gets stress headaches, Kate says as she discloses what should be confidential medical information. At 11 she's stressed? What on earth is she stressed about? Kate packs her into the van with a blanket.

Is that a booster seat? Wtf? I understand the carseat guidelines have shifted to include much older children now (in Pennsylvania, the law is booster seat up until age 7), but these kids are all way too old for that now. Most seat belts will fit children 4'9 and up comfortably and safely. None of these children are that short anymore. Give it up, Kate, they are not toddlers and haven't been for a long time.

It looks horrendous carting a sick child to the mall, I know, Kate says. Correct, it does. So why do it? A set teacher certainly wouldn't permit this or risk losing their license. Kate did the same to one of the boys not too long ago. They have a full time nanny, why can't Hannah stay behind with her? Kate explains this is just a Hannah thing and she'll get over it in a few hours.

There's Shoka again, a mere inches from the moving tires of a several-ton vehicle. Grr!!!

Dowdy Deanna just happened to be visiting and takes the twins off separately at the mall. Why couldn't Deanna stay home with Hannah, and make the twins suck it up and go with Kate and the rest of their siblings? Why do I hurt my brain wondering these things?

The boys say they don't like shopping other than for toys. By the looks of them they don't much enjoy endless couch interviews either as Aaden tosses his head back and lets out a huge yawn.

You know something that I didn't notice much in the past but is really starting to irritate me? How funny-cute Kate thinks she is. She tries to make these little self-depricating jokes and they're just annoying, not funny. "I get distracted by things I want to buy .... maybe I even acted like a person who had never been to a mall before. Did I remind you of someone like that? " She smiles like a goon.

Typically, no one cares what was done in year's past or why or how they need what they need, who likes what or doesn't, and all the whining and begging that ensues.

Joel says they don't want the same backpacks because that makes them look younger. Exactly!! Of course the kids don't want to dress alike or have the same things, contrary to the sheeple claiming maybe they like that. Of course they don't like that, no 11-year-old likes looking like a baby. The only nice thing about the fact that these kids a decade later are still working is that they are validating pretty much everything we predicted about how they likely feel. 

I enjoy watching Kate try to reason with a pre-teen. It's one of the few tolerable things left of this God forsaken reality show.

The kids want her to buy them water bottles but Kate passes on that, initially anyway. She says bottles get dirty and disgusting and they leave water in them and she ends up being the one always cleaning them out. I can't disagree there, reusable water bottles are a great idea in your perfect green fantasy but rarely work out in reality. I have a Contiga cup which is an incredible invention, when I get around to cleaning out last month's English breakfast tea.



Half a minute later Kate's buying them water bottles. She is either the biggest pushover in the world or is just trying to be on her best behavior for the cameras. Much like how she parents in general, she only seems to understand the tangible aspect of raising kids, the stuff, the things. She doesn't understand good parenting is not that you bought kids water bottles because they really wanted them, but rather good parenting is making sure your sick child stays home with someone they trust instead of being dragged along on this trip, or better yet shop on another day. Hannah says shopping stresses her mom out. I wonder if that's why Hannah in turn gets stressed out. 

Kate selects some tupperware and admits 90% of her shopping is done online. I was just going to say why don't they buy all this crap online like normal people? Does anyone even go to malls anymore? Malls are closing across the country at an alarming rate because people just don't go anymore. You can get better deals online usually anyway, and almost all stores now have a liberal return policy with free shipping no questions asked. You save stress, time, and gas and can try things on in the comfort of your own home. I'm guessing the other 10% of Kate's big box store shopping occurs solely because of the cameras. 

During an excruciatingly boring conversation about gym clothes I can hear one of the kids politely saying "excuse me, Mommy," trying to get her attention. She is ignored of course. It makes sense now why these kids shout, scream and stomp around so much. Being quiet and polite gets you nowhere. 

We're moving "owwn" to the next thing which is I guess clothes. This could easily have been the same footage from the premiere episode of this season, School's Out! where they went to the department store to buy luggage. It's that similar. Kate's helping Leah pick out some dresses and Alexis wants something too. Naturally Kate's comment about how shopping isn't always going to be fair was about Alexis, the least girlie of the girls. Figures. I'm not sure I even agree with Kate about how it can't be fair. It seems like this can easily be made fair. Give the kids each $50, $75 or whatever your budget is and have them pick out what they want with your approval. They're old enough to handle the money and pick out their clothes and that makes it perfectly fair. That noggin of hers sure thinks funny. 

This is rather interesting, I assumed the twins didn't want to shop with the younger kids because they seem to hate sharing the same planet as them, but Mady reveals that actually she doesn't understand why she didn't shop with the other kids since she needs clothes too, and that she "wasn't allowed." Wasn't allowed by whom? Production? Conversely, Kate claims the twins didn't want to shop with the younger kids. I immediately assume Kate's lying and Mady's telling the truth. So was separating them out done to have two separate shopping segments and stretch this out? Hmm!!

Anywho, the twins are with Deanna and picking out stuff and it's all absolutely uneventful and boring. Kate buys their boring stuff and then does that sarcastic "thank you, Mommy," thing that some annoying parents say to their kids when their kids forget to say thank you. In defense of Mady, Kate started it, and Mady explains that she was going to say thank you, was in fact about to say it. I'm going to give Mady the benefit of the doubt on this. They had just bought the shoes, at least give the child until the car ride home to thank her. 

This sets Mady off on a snide little tirade, accusing Kate of treating her like a brat. "Thank you, but you can say it to yourself," she snaps, whatever that means. She is I would guess about six months away from saying, "Thank you, but you should be thanking us because that's our money you're buying it with." Just ask the former child actor Missy Francis how old she was when she realized the same about her mother and started embezzling her own money to herself just to be sure she'd see any of it by the time she was 18. 

Mady can be trying, she's mean to her siblings and I think the way Kate allows her to speak to her is completely unacceptable, but I also understand what Mady's saying here, and that is that Kate is unreasonable, disrespectful and patronizing to her, yet expects perfect respect back. It's a set-up, it's unfair and certainly very obnoxious.

All Kate can do is sigh and ignore her at this point, and I think she's wise to shut up and just let Mady say her peace. Kate won't take any of it to heart though, which is a pity. A little give and take with this dysfunctional relationship might do wonders. 

It's a good thing we're not playing a drinking game this afternoon because I'd be soused to the gills. I just heard two typicallys and an "in general." Kate basically admits she's bribing the kids with pretzels. To buy shoes, or really just to stick around and film? I sense the latter. Mmm, I love mall pretzels. And mall cinnamon buns. That's all I miss about malls now that I don't go anymore like most people. Speaking of which, some of the finest television "short films" were made in a Cinnabon in Omaha. Watch Better Call Saul, the best show on television this year, and you'll understand.

I love the way Lancaster is pronounced in Pennsylvania: Lane-kes-ter. That is the correct way if I may say so. We have a Lancaster here, a medium-sized city in L.A. County but pronounced Lan-caster, and to go with its inferior pronunciation it's a desert with lots of snakes and varmints and not enough gas stations to run your tank down to almost empty and be fine.

How ironic, Kate has wonderful fond memories of her grandparents taking her to the mall. Grandpa gave them each $5 to spend. Sounds like even ole Gramps understands how to make shopping "fair."

The store didn't have a good selection of shoes, didn't have their sizes or the styles they want, and it doesn't look like they ended up buying anything. Remember those days? Now we have the inter-webs, where I promise you can find your size and style somewhere in that vast wonderland even if you might have to resort to ebay. Kate says for the second time how much she hates all this. Well, she makes it harder on herself. All this could be accomplished with a few clicks and a credit card that's already automatically entered by the little green men at Google. 

The little people are swimming again, which I realize now was a good excuse for production to try out their underwater camera rigs. They don't come cheap.

We're back with a completely unrelated subplot storyline to plot A, about how they're going to refurbish their picnic table. Kate and the younger kids head to the hardware store. The twins complain that they were not told they were going to the hardware store, they just woke up and they were gone. Sheesh, I hope schmoopy at least left them a note! Assuming it's true, that the twins weren't informed of this outing, this is what I mean by Kate not respecting them. You can't be as rude and inconsiderate as she apparently is to them, then expect respect back. It's a two-way street. 

Kate admits she doesn't "typically" take them to do errands like this, but the cameras are here so .... well, she really claims she took them them because this is going to be a whole-family project, but the truth is the kids are just in her way and she's not making any effort to include them in this shopping trip, and this is really about the cameras. 

Mady and Cara couldn't be more unenthused about helping to sand the table. They're insufferable but understandable.

Kate pulls out a power sander and makes a whole big deal about operating this machinery. This happened before too, just a couple episodes ago when she worked with a chain saw. I hate women who think its funny and cute when they tackle traditionally male jobs and act all damsel in distress about it. At one time this show recycled plot ideas from a season or two ago, now it's just an episode or two ago. It's like a blond bimbo high-pitched awful version of Groundhog Day, a movie I hate in the first placeHa, Kate's awful at sanding, it runs every which way taking the scenic route down the table. Either that or she's really playing up the woman fumbling around with power tools gag. Amy Schumer she is not. 

Of course most of the kids start to gradually wander away, bored, now that Kate is power sanding and not including them or even letting them try it. What does she expect? 

Just an observation now that yet another too long and boring segment is over, but why didn't they pull out the power sander sooner? Why did they all sit there with sandpaper blocks and slave away for who knows how long when Kate had a power sander right there all along that could have done the entire job in 10 minutes?

This is a rhetorical questions I suppose, and the answer to most of my rhetorical questions is usually, because it was being filmed. It makes no sense to do things quickly and efficiently when you're being filmed, then you'd never be able to find enough footage to fill up 60 minutes of this drivel every week. You can only roll your eyes I guess. The kids are half onto all this and will be all the way there soon. 

Commercials, and when we get back they're still sanding that god damned picnic table! I feel like I'm in sandpaper purgatory and can't get out. A somewhat new thing they are doing during the kids' couch interviews is have them say the same thing at the same time. It's Children of the Corn creepy.

Amy Schumer here is working with an air compressor now, acting all inept again. Blow me.

Kate's glad the full-time nanny Andrea happened to be there since for some reason Andrea knows about how to stain picnic tables. Why wouldn't Andrea be there? She is their full-time nanny. The kids trickle back in now, interested in painting. Instead of whining about it, maybe Kate should just appreciate what they are willing to help with, little as it is. Finally after two long segments the table is finished, it looks great and the kids are mildly proud of their efforts. It really is amazing what a little sanding and staining can do. That's what she said.

Commercials, this time the promo is about people who are 600 pounds and a network that still pretends watching people pull their rolls of fat out from their pants and roll it around has educational value.



We're back with the third subplot in this episode that's actually related to the school shopping this time, final preparations for their first day of school. Mady makes an interesting comment that it's not cool to be entering high school, though she likes they don't have to wear uniforms anymore. I have never in all my life met a kid who wasn't thrilled to finally be going to high school with the big kids, even if there were a little first day nerves about it. It's just a strange comment. The twins are going shopping for clothes again? The first trip wasn't enough?

They're at one of those small boutique clothing shops that most women can't afford to shop at until at least a decade after college is over and several salaried paychecks later. In typical Mady and Cara fashion the twins are ungrateful, disagreeable and unhelpful to the very nice salesperson helping them who apparently cleared the store out for them. Kate defends their rude and unacceptable behavior by saying she was just like that as a teen. Well, then they get it from her.

Kate can't help herself and goes after all the shiny stuff, grabbing up dresses and blouses and handbags like it's a pop-up swag tent. The twins knew that would happen, heh.

Kate's still defending Mady who is making snide comments by saying it was actually a round-about way for Mady to say Kate looked nice. Lol! Kate, "oh my gosh you look like a human" is not a nice comment no matter how you twist and turn yourself around to make it one. She is the worst, no wonder these twins are the way they are. The music during this segment was pulled from stock 17th century harpsichords, which is random. 

Up next, they're going to another boutique??? I really am in shock how much is being repeated and recycled in this episode, and the sheer greed I'm witnessing. 

At last the final segment. What's the point in clearing out an expensive boutique for ungrateful teenagers if they don't like anything? Cara is actually arguing with Kate that she has enough summer clothes, she doesn't want anymore, and Mady doesn't seem to want anything at this place. Why in the world is Kate pushing them into buying summer clothes on a back-to-school trip in the Northeast when 95% of your school year will be spent in winter clothes?

Kate complains they're in a phase where they have very narrow likes and don't want to branch out. So? That's normal. At that age I think I had one or two sweaters and a pair of jeans I wore to death, as long as they are washed regularly it's not hurting anything.  What does Kate care? Just get them what they like, online, and be done with it. She really picks a lot of fights she doesn't need to.

Mady gives Kate one too many "it's all about you" comments and Kate finally loses her shit, haha. Love it.

A third store???? This is truly agonizing. Just take my word for it absolutely nothing interesting happened here. Kate suggests she and Mady get these completely ugly sweater pants and share them, "share custody of them" she says. Oh yeah cause Kate's so great at sharing custody of anything. Mady, you'll never see those sweater pants again except maybe for a Tuesday night dinner once in awhile but that's it.

It's finally over, and next time we pick out more clothes but at least it's for Kate's fake-date, and her rather cute (!) suitor, nice selection from all those head shots, production! Baw-hahhaa, the side hug and turned cheek at the end of the date. Shade! Cannot wait.

Little people playing with bubbles, and we're out.

2128 sediments (sic) from readers:

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fidosmommy said...

You're kidding me, right? That was an episode?

If it weren't a term I usually reserve for God's creation, I would say your recap is ex nihilo - made out of nothing. Not easy to do, but you made something readable out of nothing watchable. Good job.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


You're kidding me, right? That was an episode?

If it weren't a term I usually reserve for God's creation, I would say your recap is ex nihilo - made out of nothing. Not easy to do, but you made something readable out of nothing watchable. Good job.



&&&&


There was nothing in this episode. Nothing happened. There was no plot line, no tension, no anticipation. There wasn't even any drama. Whining doesn't count.

God strike me down, I'd rather see them go on vacation to Florida again than this.

JoyinVirginia said...

Thanks for the recap admin! Once again confirms my belief that this is one of the most boring shows on tv.
Things that are more interesting on tv: old Hong Kong Kung Fu movies on El Rey network! Reality tv competition shows: Dancing With the Stars, Amazing Race, Survivor, RuPauls Drag Race! NASCAR races, honestly the rain delay at the Texas track Saturday night was more interesting than tfmjg. Golf! Baseball! Basketball! The Young and the Restless after all these years. Bold and the Beautiful soap opera. And so on...

fidosmommy said...

God strike me down, I'd rather see them go on vacation to Florida again than this.

********
There you go, Admin., giving them plot lines for future shows! Stop! :)

NOIP said...

All that swag on TLC Credit Card. Wrap around deck. New deck furniture plus the labor cost of the workers. Everyone gets new clothing and Kate picks up her $40,000 check. Steve gets his $1600 (RH Book) Saw him trying to hide over Kate's right shoulder, still wearing his blue shirt. How many does he own?! No wonder Kate wants to hang on to TLC until all the kids are in college. Money for old rope..as is said in Britain. And we are to believe 1M+ watched this mindless drivel?!

Tucker's Mom said...

Kate is more orange than usual today in her couch interviews--I would say it's "Trump orange," which is a color I better patent soon before someone else steals it.
******
Ha! You'd better be sure that it hasn't been patented by an Oompa Loompa yet ;-)

Tucker's Mom said...

You know something that I didn't notice much in the past but is really starting to irritate me? How funny-cute Kate thinks she is
*****
Just noticed, really?
;-)
Kate thinks she's actually funny, but it's just more narcissism and self-delusion.

Wowswer said...

Browsing around today...I've never seen a blog that's sole purpose is to write about what happens at another blog...so weird

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Thanks for another swell recap of another lousy episode!

Speaking of swell...did you happen to notice if the water bottles she got the kids were S'well?
It's a very trendy brand right now, and the bottles are $35 - $45 each. And I don't believe for a second that TFW would be the one stuck washing them out.

THREE boutiques? I guess TFW has given up the pretense that such a luxury is a "rare treat,"
and just pawed through the racks with glee.

Dmasy said...

Thank you for another regurgitation of an All-About-Kate show.

My favorite observation -- Sounds like even ole Gramps understands how to make shopping "fair."

She does not understand the privilege she was given with the $5.00 and a free choice. She just seems unable to relinquish power or pleasure to anyone else.

Admin, keep your pencil sharp. We are still waiting for the greatest date of the century recap.

Jojo said...

The kids have been speaking in unison since as far back as I remember. "ALASKA, AUSTRALIA", and such come to mind. I am sure production tells them to do it.

Wowser, nothing wrong with having another blog snark on another. They bring up many legiatimate points Admin won't allow discussed here.

JoJo

localyocul said...

"Oh yeah cause Kate's so great at sharing custody of anything. Mady, you'll never see those sweater pants again except maybe for a Tuesday night dinner once in awhile but that's it."

LOL

For the life of me I've never heard of high school kids going back-to-school shopping at boutiues. What a waste of time and money

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

The kids have been speaking in unison since as far back as I remember. "ALASKA, AUSTRALIA", and such come to mind. I am sure production tells them to do it.

Wowser, nothing wrong with having another blog snark on another. They bring up many legiatimate points Admin won't allow discussed here.

JoJo




&&&

The kids are saying more than one or two words in unison, they are talking in full sentences in unison. Things like "and then we went to the store to get supplies" all in unison. It's creepy. Yes I'm sure the producers made them say that.

I suppose there is nothing wrong with a blog just to talk about another blog. However no long-term successful blog has ever existed solely for that purpose. When I started this blog I modeled the rules on some big, successful forums like TWOP and others that had a very strict rule of no "blogs on blogs" or "posters on posters" or anything that was about the people and mechanics instead of the topics. These rules worked, they made for a much higher quality and stimulating discussion, and for a much friendlier environment. TWOP had some of the most successful forums in blog history, and I believe it was because of their rules. There have been several Gosselin blogs over the years that were set up solely to trash another Gosselin blog. They have all folded. So too will whatever is the flavor of the month Gosselin blog on blog. And that only proves my point, blogs on blogs simply does not work, not long term anyway. Rule four stands and always will.

I "allow" all discussion here. Many posters here have never had a single comment not approved, and have posted lots of different viewpoints. That's because they follow the rules.

It's not fair to post a point as anonymous then cry me not posting it. It wasn't not posted because of the viewpoint, it was not posted because of the anonymous, or some other rule violation.

Tucker's Mom said...

Kate can't help herself and goes after all the shiny stuff, grabbing up dresses and blouses and handbags like it's a pop-up swag tent. The twins knew that would happen, heh.
******
Kate just can't sit back and focus on her kids and their choices and experience, when she can flounce around in her usual impertinent manner.
"Oooh, "I" would look SO good in this! Ooh, I reeeeeeeeeaaaaally need that!"
The twins are constantly getting overshadowed by their mother. It's no wonder Cara thinks she needs to be blonde to somehow register her presence in the world, which is to say, her mother's universe.

Tucker's Mom said...

I find TLC's/Kate's approach to presenting episode material to be confounding. On one hand, we have lavish vacations and profligate shopping sprees, and then we have Kate et. al. refinishing a picnic table with materials that cost more than replacing said picnic table.

Tucker's Mom said...

She does not understand the privilege she was given with the $5.00 and a free choice. She just seems unable to relinquish power or pleasure to anyone else.
****
Exactly.
Kate couches her helicopter parenting as being a good mom, but she's controlling for her own purposes and her own gain.
Most everything she does is with the intention of continuing filming.

Wowser said...

Admin....well said. : )

Tucker's Mom said...

These rules worked, they made for a much higher quality and stimulating discussion, and for a much friendlier environment.
******
We've segued into some pretty interesting topics in part because we DON'T bring over other blogs' business here.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

TFW claims you'll never see her unless you're in
her kitchen or at the grocery store. Then why
would a self-proclaimed piecing-and-patching
single mother of 8 need to go clothes shopping
for herself at a boutique?

Susie Cincinnati said...

Wowser, nothing wrong with having another blog snark on another. They bring up many legiatimate points Admin won't allow discussed here.

&&&&

Such as?

Tucker's Mom said...

FlimsyFlamsy said... 19
TFW claims you'll never see her unless you're in
her kitchen or at the grocery store. Then why
would a self-proclaimed piecing-and-patching
single mother of 8 need to go clothes shopping
for herself at a boutique?
April 11, 2016 at 9:42 AM
*****
I think Kate's been cocooned in the protection of TLC and her handlers for so long, that she just lies with impunity.
Her lies have been WHOPPERS, and no one will really, truly call her on the carpet because of this Madonna-like patina of invincibility which involves not wanting to hurt her children.
The kids have been her protection, and she knows it.
From the very first time Kate pulled out the "you're taking food out of my kids' mouths"- card, all bets have been off.

Jamesvader1194 said...

@Tucker's mom (20)Thats the thing that pisses me off the most.Kate can throw as many fits as she wants,berate any person as much as she can and she can get away with it just by saying she has 8 kids.Im thankful that most don't buy it,but there still seems to be people out there that still buy it.

Dmasy said...

Tucker's Mom (16) -- thanks for expanding my comment and making it ever better. I agree.

JoJo (11) -- I have never felt that my comments -- on any topic -- haven't been accepted by Admin or the other posters. I try not to be rude or mean or insulting.

I have decided to edit my political opinions because I have some strong feelings and they don't always mesh with other posters here. I admire the other posters and don't wish to cause controversy just for the privilege of venting my thoughts.

I have made friends from this blog that have extended into private and FaceBook connections.

I don't always agree with what I read here. But, it has been published because differing opinions are welcome on this blog.

Stick around for awhile. We will ultimately get to a topic that interests or educates you.



Tucker's Mom said...

Jamesvader1194 said... 22
@Tucker's mom (20)Thats the thing that pisses me off the most.Kate can throw as many fits as she wants,berate any person as much as she can and she can get away with it just by saying she has 8 kids.Im thankful that most don't buy it,but there still seems to be people out there that still buy it.
April 11, 2016 at 10:35 AM
*****
When Kate said that she simply had to bring a lawsuit against the father of her children-for their future and safety-with zero follow up from the very intelligent lawyer who was interviewing her, you know she can get away with big blue bus-sized piles of bullshit.
First, I don't know wtf that even means, and second, Jon isn't Charlie Sheen, so c'mon.

Tucker's Mom said...

I have decided to edit my political opinions because I have some strong feelings and they don't always mesh with other posters here. I admire the other posters and don't wish to cause controversy just for the privilege of venting my thoughts.
******
It's been so refreshing that Tr...er, um...., He Who Shall Not Be Named, hasn't been headlining every. single. talk. and. news show. lately.

Kylie said...

I agree about the blog on blog and why it is wrong. The blog being spoken of is only to bash the people here. What makes no sense is they do the very same things we do here but they come here and take the comments back that are critical of darling Kate and rip the commenter a new one. And then call themselves taking the high road. The idea of everyone having the right to an opinion just doesn't wash with them. I'm glad this blog doesn't allow that. Is everything perfect here? Of course not. But this blog has been around forever and continues to be strong.

Jamesvader1194 said...

@Dmasy I agree with what you said,honestly im guilty of sending comments on here without thinking.For example ,when milo was talking about kate's quarter million twitter followers.I mistook it and thought she said kate has over a million followers but then i realized she didn't say that.I don't get much into politics.I was interested in what people's opinions were regarding not just Kate but duggars,Bill cosby,child custody laws,and court cases

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


She does not understand the privilege she was given with the $5.00 and a free choice. She just seems unable to relinquish power or pleasure to anyone else.
****
Exactly.
Kate couches her helicopter parenting as being a good mom, but she's controlling for her own purposes and her own gain.

&&&&

Well said both of you.

It does rather facinate me how parenting things she does she thinks is SOOO good for them is actually just the oppposite.

Controlling their spending and shopping to the degree she is at their ages is going to stress out and frustrate them. Taking the twins to expensive boutiques spoils them. They won't appreciate the hard work and time it takes to be able to afford to shop at those places without going into serious credit card debt.

kris said...

I'm sure she'll take the 3 younger girls to the boutiques when they hit their teens but the poor boys will end up at Old Navy.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


We've segued into some pretty interesting topics in part because we DON'T bring over other blogs' business here.

&&&7


Exactly. Forcing the discussion away from the "easy" thing, other blogs, or other posters, allows room for more interesting and stimulating conversation. Not every day will the conversation go there, but it creates a friendly environment for it. When you keep cycling back to the lowest common denominator (other blogs, other posters), you really don't leave enough breathing room for something better. That in turn fosters retention and longevity.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Then why
would a self-proclaimed piecing-and-patching
single mother of 8 need to go clothes shopping
for herself at a boutique?


&&&&

THREE boutiques.

Tucker's Mom said...

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said... 30
Then why
would a self-proclaimed piecing-and-patching
single mother of 8 need to go clothes shopping
for herself at a boutique?


&&&&

THREE boutiques.
******
Did Kate tell the twins that her (horrible) mother never took her to a boutique?
I mean, she did have a deprived childhood, right?
It occurs to me that there might be a reason that Kate doesn't let her kids bond with her parents. Maybe it's because they have only Kate and will never have the opportunity to compare her to Grandma, and like Grandma better. Just as Kate has done.
The kids must think their maternal grandparents are absolute monsters.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Kris (#28), yeah, I'm sure it's bare minimum
when it comes to spending money on her sons.
I can just imagine TFW's response if she was
asked: (waving hand dismissively): "Oh, the
boys don't care what they wear."

kris said...

Exactly FlimsyFlamsy!

jamezvader1194 said...

@Tucker's Mom wait a minute,wasn't there a story many years ago about Kate's mom speaking out about Jodi and Kevin?Radar said they did an interview and said it was her.But there were rumors that it wasn't her and that it was a fan pretending to be her mom because of the fact that she threw her own son under the bus and she was on the Imperfect Women blog saying some very strange things.Obviously nothing came out of that story because it was a one time thing and we never herd from that person ever again.

JoyinVirginia said...

OT: it's Disney night on dancing with the stars! Nyle the deaf model and his partner Peta were on the Ellen show and did a short routine. Love that guy, he is so pleasant and hard working. He can't hear, he can't speak, he has a sign language interpreter to communicate with Peta, and he is PERFECT with his routine. Amazing! what a great work ethic he has. I hope he goes far in the competition.

Tucker's Mom said...

jamezvader1194 said... 34
@Tucker's Mom wait a minute,wasn't there a story many years ago about Kate's mom speaking out about Jodi and Kevin?Radar said they did an interview and said it was her.But there were rumors that it wasn't her and that it was a fan pretending to be her mom because of the fact that she threw her own son under the bus and she was on the Imperfect Women blog saying some very strange things.Obviously nothing came out of that story because it was a one time thing and we never herd from that person ever again.
******
I never saw this "Charlene's" posts, but rumor was that Kate's mom was on blogs defending her.
OK if she was, whatever, but holy crap, Kate rips on her parents right and left, so why would she take up for a daughter who does nothing but basically call her a bad mom (vis a vis this ersatz awful childhood), and keep her grandchildren from her?

Lanc Native said...

Did Kate tell the twins that her (horrible) mother never took her to a boutique?
I mean, she did have a deprived childhood, right?

((((((((

Back in the day, when Kate was a youngster, nobody her age shopped at "boutiques," probably because there weren't any in the area. There were a few trendy, expensive designer shops in downtown Lancaster, but they weren't marketed toward teens and mostly appealed to young business professionals. Kids her age shopped at the mall or at department stores in the city. I remember before I got my driver's license, my best friend and I hopped on the bus every Saturday and made the trip to Lancaster to shop and have lunch. We felt very grown up just doing that. Good times! I'm not even sure we knew what a boutique was and I doubt that Kate did either!

ncgirl said...

Great recap. Loved you called her a blonde bimbo. Or maybe that's an insult to blonde bimbos. lol

Tucker's Mom said...

He can't hear, he can't speak, he has a sign language interpreter to communicate with Peta, and he is PERFECT with his routine. Amazing! what a great work ethic he has. I hope he goes far in the competition.
*****
I flipped to DWTS a few weeks ago and didn't know who he was. He was dancing with Peta, and I didn't recognize her. I seriously didn't know which one was the pro, or if BOTH were pros.

Jamesvader1194 said...

@Tucker's mom I didn't believe it was her mom even when i was a fan,what kind of mother throws her own son under the bus to protect her daughter?Wouldn't most real moms want their children to stop this back and forth fighting and get along?Then again,i don't see that with Kate.But like you said,with Kate always throwing her parents under the bus,i don't believe she talks to either of them.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

There were a few trendy, expensive designer shops in downtown Lancaster, but they weren't marketed toward teens and mostly appealed to young business professionals.


&&&&

These boutiques may have been those, they didn't look marketed to teens at all. They looked like shops marketed toward professional upper middle class woman in her 30's, 40's. It was silly to take them in there. If it doesn't smell like bad cologne and have music blasting chances are teens aren't their market.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Tucker's Mom (#39), that's funny, I saw TFW with a
shopping cart once, and I seriously didn't know which one was the shopping cart, or if BOTH
were shopping carts.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I don't really much care if Kate's mom has defended her or doesn't. Those who are abused or put down often defend those doing that to them. Kate is so rude about her parents on her show without any opportunity for them to respond. It's tactless and manipulative. She hasn't said a single thing to suggest her parents are unsafe. She simply disagrees with their parenting choices raising her, which is not one in the same. She has expectations for her parents they either couldn't afford to provide her or chose NOT to provide her. She doesn't seem to understand a parent may be making a GOOD parenting choice by not providing their child lobster, manicures, and other upper class treats, and having expectations for them like yard work, as she has also complained about.

Time to move on stop being selfish and let her children have a chance at a relationship with them. Seriously, who at 40 is still whining about that weekend in '88 when dad made you rake the lawn all afternoon? Get over it.

Tucker's Mom said...

FlimsyFlamsy said... 42
Tucker's Mom (#39), that's funny, I saw TFW with a
shopping cart once, and I seriously didn't know which one was the shopping cart, or if BOTH
were shopping carts.
April 11, 2016 at 3:59 PM
*****
If Tony was pushing it around, you'd have been able to tell ;-)

foxy said...

Why is Marla Maples always introduced as the former Mrs. Donald Trump? Is this her own accomplishment in life? Why can't she be Marla Maples and stand on her own merits.

Marie said...

foxy said... 46

same for the former Mrs. Jon Gosselin

4rmine said...

The stores that they went to were in the Philadelphia area.

Over And Out said...

Speaking of shopping carts, MSN Entertainment posted 22 throwback slides of DWTS, photo of Kate and her pap dance with the caption...

"Following her very public divorce, Kate Gosselin tried to change her image on DWTS. At this point, viewers were still unaccustomed to seeing her with long hair."

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


"Following her very public divorce, Kate Gosselin tried to change her image on DWTS. At this point, viewers were still unaccustomed to seeing her with long hair."


&&&&


Lol, yes, please transition us slowly!

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


Why is Marla Maples always introduced as the former Mrs. Donald Trump? Is this her own accomplishment in life? Why can't she be Marla Maples and stand on her own merits.

&&&&

I don't like that either. It seems sexist. You wouldn't introduce a man that way. Plus my understanding is they are both on good terms and have co-parented while leading separate paths in life. Neither of them are defined by that relationship. He speaks highly of her as his child's mother, and she of him Tiffany's father. She has said she still loves him and fully supports her daughter joining him on the campaign trail. No matter how messy the divorce and what may have been said, most normal people eventually move on and just try to get along. Anything else must be exhausting.

Also proves that you don't just co parent until they're 18. Co-parenting is for life. Sorry Jon.

NJGal51 said...

He can't hear, he can't speak, he has a sign language interpreter to communicate with Peta, and he is PERFECT with his routine. Amazing! what a great work ethic he has. I hope he goes far in the competition.
========
I agree completely but you forgot one point....he is hot!

Susan1956 said...

OT--I hadn't seen anyone mention this, but I was wondering if admin had caught her boyfriend's HBO documentary Nothing Left Unsaid which is about his family, but specifically his mother.

I caught a few minutes and was intrigued, will try to watch the whole documentary soon.

Cruisin' Just As Fast As She Can Now said...

I agree completely but you forgot one point....he is hot!

_________

Totally hot. Where has this guy been hiding? Oh, my gosh!

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


OT--I hadn't seen anyone mention this, but I was wondering if admin had caught her boyfriend's HBO documentary Nothing Left Unsaid which is about his family, but specifically his mother.

&&&&


No! That sounds good. I don't get HBO anymore. My cable offers free previews of HBO for several days every few months, which I found is usually plenty of time to catch up on anything I missed. Resourceful I am!

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Susan1956 (#53), I don't have HBO, but would
love to see that documentary! Anderson was
co-hosting with Kelly Ripa last week and talked
about interviewing his mother. He said how weird it was when she would casually drop the name of some big-time celebrity she'd been intimate with!

JoyinVirginia said...

Goodness gracious, Nyle and Pets did a routine to a song from the Tarzan movie. And he had only a loin cloth on! Gorgeous! Loved their routine! Loved looking at his chest! Peta has a little bit more on, the dh enjoyed looking at her, and also Sharna. Sharma had a Princess Jasmine costume that looked like it was painted on. It was a good show!

Jeanne said...

I have to disagree about online shopping always being easier. I think when buying jeans for growing children it really helps to try things on their body. Same with a few other things. Online, you either have to order 14 pairs and try them on or you get a few and send them back, get a few and send them back. Some of us don't live at FedEx like Kate. But finding the right size and style for your kid's body takes effort so I'm sure Kate just buys 3 pair of boy size and 3 pair of girl size. They are all identically sized and always look alike, right? But her shopping isn't all online. Why is she always at Target? To get away from the kids? A desperate need for paper towels?

I assume they went to boutiques so Kate can get lots of clothes on TLC's dime. Then she can sell them and keep the money. More income not declared or shared with the kids. And they have more days that Steve is paid for. NOIP, I agree they're paying for Steve but he has to be getting more than stated in Hoffman's book. Probably up to $2500/day. Maybe more.

Thanks for the recap. Riveting tv.

Susan1956 said...

Jeanne said... 58

I assume they went to boutiques so Kate can get lots of clothes on TLC's dime. Then she can sell them and keep the money. More income not declared or shared with the kids.
**************************************
Good point re: TFW reselling her boutique clothes. Jackie O. was a point and buy shopper, usually multiples of the same item, paying for them with Onassis' money, which she would then resell to NYC consignment stores & reportedly squirreled away hundreds of thousands dollars. from Onassis. TFW could be doing that on a much smaller scale.

Tucker's Mom said...

Jeanne said... 58
*****
Agree about clothing-especially jeans. What Kate diddles around for, buying at Target, she could easily order online and just get a subscription.
When her personal pap, Chris, was in toe several years ago, he'd snap photos of Kate getting piddly crap at Target. Paper goods, chips etc.
Seriously?
What locals and Chris never accounted for was Kate taking her kids out to the mall on her own. It's no wonder the boys' clothing was so ill-fitting.

Tucker's Mom said...

He said how weird it was when she would casually drop the name of some big-time celebrity she'd been intimate with!
******
TMI! Ewwww, Mom!!! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Tucker's Mom (#61), and you had to see the look
on Anderson's face when he told about his mother admitting to a dalliance with a woman!

fidosmommy said...

Didn't Kate say once that she bought the boys clothes they could wear for several years (or something like that), admitting those huge outfits were intentionally ill fitting?

Jojo said...

On one hand, we have lavish vacations and profligate shopping sprees, and then we have Kate et. al. refinishing a picnic table with materials that cost more than replacing said picnic table

Umm, doubt that on the refurbished barn wood table. That was reclaimed old barn wood that is very sturdy and likely worth much more than the stain. That is actually a piece I would like and she is resealing to protect it. I love that table.

JoyinVirginia said...

I watched Live with Kelly and Michael on Monday, yesterday. They talked about Anderson s guest hosting and Kelly was still talking about his mother's stories, quoting Anderson quoting Gloria Vanderbilt: "I was so glad to get involved with Frank Sinatra because that was the only way I got out of my relationship with Igor Stravinsky" ( the conductor). Kelly and Michael were both so impressed by just how many people Anderson s mother knew!

4rmine said...

I find with teenage girls it is easier to go to a store to buy clothes. Sizes, style and taste vary. When my kids were younger, I would buy clothes hoping that they would wear them for 2 seasons. So they would be somewhat bigger.

I think many are assuming that the Gosselin kids don't see there grandparents. Someone on Twitter asked Kate why she has such a bad relationship with her parents, and she replied that she has a good relationship with them. Perhaps they prefer to stay out of the limelight. My point is assumptions really shouldn't be made.

I think I'm missing Tucker's point about Kate's shopping for weekly household purchases at Target. Target is one of my go to stores depending on the sales.

Tucker's Mom said...

Umm, doubt that on the refurbished barn wood table.
*****
Umm, is it Talk Like Kate Day?
Hmm?

My point was that refinishing the table was for the show. If the plot line was "let's play filming a tv show and donate our old table and get a new one", she'd part with the reclaimed table (as if she gives a hoot about being forrest-friendly!) in a heartbeat.

Tucker's Mom said...

I think I'm missing Tucker's point about Kate's shopping for weekly household purchases at Target. Target is one of my go to stores depending on the sales.
******
My point is that Kate, per Robert's book and many, many pap photos, takes off from her kids at the compound to get away from them, more than buy stuff they really need.
Have you ever seen footage of their veritable bomb shelter in the basement? There's a dozen of everything down there.
Kate has always planned much of her shopping and pampering when the kids are home, vs. when they are in school.

Tucker's Mom said...

Kate's sister Kendra said:"Kate Gosselin’s ‘Heartbroken’ Sister Speaks Out For The First Time: ‘She Wants A Big Life And We Don’t Fit In’
Posted on Jan 27, 2014 @ 16:27PM
Kate Gosselin's Sister Speaks Out For The First Time
Divorced mother of eight, Kate Gosselin has cut ties with nearly every member of her family and now her sister, Kendra Wilber, is speaking out publicly for the first time claiming she’s heartbroken because she hasn’t seen her nieces and nephews in six years.

Kate’s marriage to Jon wasn’t the only relationship that crumbled over the family’s Jon & Kate Plus 8 fame — Kendra claims she hasn’t seen or spoken to her sister or any of the eight children since 2007, and that Kate rejects all attempts at a reconciliation.

PHOTOS: Jon & Kate Plus 30 Scandals — Secrets & Lies Of Reality TV’s Former First Family

The kicker — Kendra only lives a few miles from Kate’s home in rural Pennsylvania.

“Kate does not speak to her family at all. It is very painful… The last time we saw and spoke with her it was in our church parking lot. That was years ago, I have lost track of time,” Kendra told the Mail Online.


http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/01/kate-gosselin-sister-kendra-speaks-out-no-relationship-painful/

On the show, Kate herself said that the kids were starting to ask about their grandparents and she's maybe think about doing something about it.
Personally, I don't believe the kids have seen their aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents (on Kate's side) in years and years.
No, no proof, but why would every single family member object to a mention of a get together? That makes no sense.
I can see if they don't want photographs or filming, but objecting to Kate mentioning visits?
Nope, don't believe it.

Dmasy said...

I have a Super Target and a TJ Maxx less than 4 miles from our rustic little town of Gruene, TX. Between those two stores, the corner gas station, a grocery store and some on-line activity, most of my needs are met. I am not a shopper. NOT! I can't recall the last time I was in a mall.

Target is a great go-to place. They even carry Ezekiel bread and a few other items that would require a trip to the health food store.

Hubby likes Costco. I seldom go with him. We don't need cereal boxes the size of end tables or the buy one get 10 free stuff anymore. We live in a real town. We aren't country settlers any more -- stockpiles are not needed. Hubby hasn't figured that out just quite yet.

Speaking of my farmer -- he will be leaving on Thursday to go back to plant this year's crop. Dog and I will be holding down the Texas territory while he is away.

Sorry for the personal chatting. Too much coffee this morning?

4rmine said...

When I was growing up, my friends and I shopped at the mall. We didn't go to boutiques, because it wasn't that available, and if it was, we wouldn't have shopped there because we didn't have the money for it. However, we knew which stores were the expensive stores, and we would go into and dream.

I don't see Kate throwing her parents under the bus when she says that she didn't have something, or that she had to do something when she was growing up. Many, many people say that. I say that. I'm not throwing my mom under the bus. Sometimes it makes my kids more appreciative. It's just a statement of how times have changed.


Many parents provide their children, and themselves, with items and opportunities that they didn't have growing up.

Localyocul said...

Here's a bird worth following on Instagram! It's Iggy Pop's Cockatoo Biggy Pop

http://instagram.com/biggypop

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3533900/Iggy-Pop-s-cockatoo-instant-Instagram-star-bops-rocker-plays-guitar.html

Tucker's Mom said...


Target is a great go-to place. They even carry Ezekiel bread and a few other items that would require a trip to the health food store.
******
Target is just never on my radar. I have to check one out, really. I hear so many people loving the bargains.
I'm enamored with our Wegmans at the moment. The prices are good and their store brand is excellent.
Love the sushi, omg!

FlimsyFlamsy said...

About not making assumptions...since TFW has posted hundreds of pictures of her children, and her dog, and her bird, and plates of food, and random anything and everything, and yet not one, single, solitary picture of another family member, I feel quite comfortable in making the assumption
that they are not a part of her life. And the idea that she is respecting their privacy does not scan with the person she has presented herself as for a decade. TFW doesn't "do" respect, and the only privacy she cares about is her own. All my opinions only -- others might feel differently.

Tucker's Mom said...

Sorry for the personal chatting. Too much coffee this morning?
******
I love Costco, but find we're not going as much (again, the Weggies!). I like their meats, buy my vitamins there and well, just never know what I never thought I'd need before!
Oh, probably going to get more custom window treatments from Costo sometime soon.

jamezvader1194 said...

@4rmine I get where you're coming from but should we believe Kate?I mean Kate is basically saying that she talks to almost all her family(except Kevin)and that they all want to live private lives and not one of them wants to be on the show?This is the same woman who insists that all 8 of her kids love filming.You can't tell me that not one relative doesn't want to be on the show with her.If you look at other TLC shows,they at least have that one relative that appears on the show.So why doesn't Kate have at least one appearing on there?I think if her family members were on the show like other TLC families,she'd have a more higher viewer rate.But thats what i think.

Jane said...

DMasy, like you I just don't like shopping. I do as much as I can online but if I need a mall it's a bit of a hike. Shopping for flowers and shrubs...now that I can do daily! After being down south for the winter where the seasons hardly change, it's WONDERFUL to be back in the NE and experiencing spring, although it's taking its time arriving. I think it's finally going to hit the high 60's this weekend which means I'll be buying pansies.

I brought back two orchids from the south and while they bloomed prolifically there, they immediately started to drop flowers here. I'm wondering if I should cut them back or just toss them? There are very differing opinions online. Any orchid growers here?

Like you I'm a bit over caffeinated today, but for me it's tea!

Tucker's Mom said...

4rmine said... 71
When I was growing up, my friends and I shopped at the mall. We didn't go to boutiques, because it wasn't that available, and if it was, we wouldn't have shopped there because we didn't have the money for it. However, we knew which stores were the expensive stores, and we would go into and dream.
******
My friends and I went to "the mall". We'd browse, check out the record *albums* at Sam Goody, get something to eat.
There weren't any fancy stores until a new mall opened up with, gasp! Bloomingdales and other high-end shops.
It was something to see and do at the time.
I haven't been inside a mall in years. I shop at a Macy's nearby, but never enter the mall.
DH and I went to a Pottery Barn the other week, but again, didn't step foot in the mall.
I do think it's still fun for kids!

Jane said...

Tucker's Mom....Wegmans! Sadly, I don't have one but loved the Weggies in Bethlehem. I used to stock up whenever I visited my best friend there. Every once in a while I check their website to see if one is planned, but no luck so far. Another store I enjoyed there was Ollies. Although shopping isn't high on my fun list, both of those stores were great.

Tucker's Mom said...

Any orchid growers here?
*******
I'm pretty horrible with orchids. I try not to overwater, and give proper food, but my luck is pretty bad.
Speaking of Costco, I just bought this gorgeous lavender topiary, like this:
http://tinyurl.com/gq97ch6
Link

I just bought a pretty glazed pot for it, from Tuesday Morning. Amazing find. This time of year, TM has pottery, plant stands and trollies for great prices.
The lavender will stay indoors, while my enormous fig, an ivy and a couple other plants will go outdoors on the deck and patio soon.

Tucker's Mom said...

Jane said... 79
Tucker's Mom....Wegmans! Sadly, I don't have one but loved the Weggies in Bethlehem. I used to stock up whenever I visited my best friend there. Every once in a while I check their website to see if one is planned, but no luck so far.
*****
I would write to Wegmans customer service! "Hey, the new Wegmans seems to be taking longer than planned. WHEN THE HELL IS IT GOING TO OPEN FINALLY!!!!!!!???"

Yeah, I'm pretty excited to have it here. Which makes my life seem a bit dull, come to think if it. Oh heck, the little things in life do matter ;-)

Jane said...

Thanks for the Tuesday Morning recommendation, Tucker's Mom. The nearest is about an hour from me but I do occasion get to that area and will definitely drop in.

As for Wegmans, what the heck. It won't hurt to write them. I'm surprised they haven't expanded into my area. Their brand would do well here.

Dmasy said...

I don't know Wegmans. Sounds great. Ask anyone in Texas and HEB will be the grocery store response.

Formerly Duped said...

I like Target too. One of my favorite parts is the dollar section, where I find cute things for gift wrapping- chalkboard, burlap, cardboard tags, butcher string,raffia, seasonal tags and items, little gifts, even nice mugs and bowls. They can go up to $3.00, but it's a place I always stop at. Great things for pets and kids, too.You can stock up fro upcoming occasions. I don't like spending a lot of time shopping so it's nice to pick up things for later when you see them.

TLC stinks said...

She takes photos of her kids holding buckets of empty plastic Easter eggs? What's that about? Dumb. I bet those pictures were not taken anytime near Easter but recently.

Tucker's Mom said...

https://www.instagram.com/dj_jon_gosselin/

Hmm...Jon's Instagram is seemingly gone. Maybe it's a glitch. Just odd, this after Kate pops her head out of her hidey hole for a few tweets after a couple months MIA and then disappears again.

NJGal51 said...

I'm sure that TFW's sister (the one that makes/sells jewelry would love to have a little publicity on the show.

Somewhere In Time said...

CJWhodunit ‏@CJWhodunit 7h7 hours ago
@Kateplusmy8 @Mydmaxx Wow! It's been almost summer-y here but a bad hailstorm slammed the area yesterday!😱

LOL! The most common time for hail to fall is during the spring and summer. Thunderstorms trigger it. It's sleet that comes down during the winter.There's a difference. I guess meteorology isn't the tweeter's strong suit!

I wonder if Kate cares.

Somewhere In Time said...

She takes photos of her kids holding buckets of empty plastic Easter eggs? What's that about? Dumb. I bet those pictures were not taken anytime near Easter but recently.

----

How can you tell that they are empty? They could have been filled with Hershey Kisses or coins. That's what we did here!

Lanc Native said...

"Every once in a while I check their website to see if one is planned, but no luck so far. Another store I enjoyed there was Ollies. Although shopping isn't high on my fun list, both of those stores were great." (Jane 79)

)))))))))))

We have two Ollies in the area, and Wegmans just bought a huge plot of farmland and is expected to open in 2018. Not only that, but we are getting a Whole Foods next year. We're really getting into this century...finally! I just don't know how the smaller mom and pop stores that have been here forever will be able to compete.

IfollowJon said...

Tucker's Mom, I still see an Instagram for Jon. I show it under Jon_Gosselin. His last post was March 28th.

TLC stinks said...

Hi Somewhere. Hopefully it wasn't just a photo op, but although it's hard to tell if something was inside, I noticed that one of the clearer yellow eggs was empty. Was the point that each child pour the Target bags of separate colored eggs into their bucket and then hide them? Just how long is she going to play this childish game with them? To me, it appeared as a photo op...did you notice how just about everyone's clothing was color coordinated with their eggs? Hannah was the only one that was not. She's the rebel in the bunch, IMO.

So maybe I am reading too much into it, but Kate posts nothing without a reason.

Jamesvader1194 said...

@Tucker's mom Nah he just changed his name to this,it still saids he's a D.J so don't think anything happened,hope the link works. https://www.instagram.com/jon_gosselin/

Tucker's Mom said...

Somewhere In Time said... 88
CJWhodunit ‏@CJWhodunit 7h7 hours ago
@Kateplusmy8 @Mydmaxx Wow! It's been almost summer-y here but a bad hailstorm slammed the area yesterday!😱

LOL! The most common time for hail to fall is during the spring and summer. Thunderstorms trigger it. It's sleet that comes down during the winter.There's a difference. I guess meteorology isn't the tweeter's strong suit!
*****
Cool new word I learned this winter- "graupel". It's like soft, fuzzy hail.
We had sleet early on Saturday. Went to our "Weggies" and it was cold and rainy. Walked out into a blizzard!
Today, almost 70.

Tucker's Mom said...

I would miss all of our shopping options if we moved somewhere less populated and diverse. We have Whole Foods, Wegmans, Trader Joes, local boutiques/gastro/artisinal/butchers/cheese mongers/boulangeries, farmers markets, Costco, good old grocery stores, ethnic markets...

Formerly Duped said...

Doesn't TFW put Bunny Munny in those eggs, to be exchanged at her Ms Bunny Store ? She said that way, they would get their favorite sweets.I also vaguely recall she put money in the plastic eggs?

TLC stinks said...

Back when there was that posting at IW from Kate's mother slamming Jodie, a few of the gossip sites picked it up, including Radar. Radar claimed that they verified it was Charlene Kreider, not from Charlene, but through "someone close to Charlene". What the person wrote was exactly what the Jodie haters had been saying about how she was money hungry and jealous of Kate. I am pretty sure it was an imposter because the Kreiders have remained totally silent over all these years. I have no idea if there is any contact between the Kreiders and Kate, and it may just be there is but nothing is public. It will be interesting to see in some future biography if the kids admit to alienation or just a quiet relationship. My impression has always been, though, that the relationship is strained because the parents were not forthcoming with cash help like Jon's dad. I make that assumption because cash is king with Kate.

Tucker's Mom said...

Jamesvader1194 said... 93
@Tucker's mom Nah he just changed his name to this,it still saids he's a D.J so don't think anything happened,hope the link works. https://www.instagram.com/jon_gosselin/

******
Thanks! I like checking in on his posts now and then-he seems to be doing well.
He's had a long journey these past several years.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

TLC stinks (#97), I think the significant revelation from TFW about her parents was when she said, "They didn't know how to help us." Without knowing that, it might be easier to swallow that she has just kept her relationship with them on the down low.

thuvia said...

Jane #77 I find that I need to mist my orchids every other day when the furnace is running and the humidity is low in the winter, if I do not the blossom will not open or if it opens, drops quickly.

Lanc Native said...

"LOL! The most common time for hail to fall is during the spring and summer. Thunderstorms trigger it. It's sleet that comes down during the winter.There's a difference. I guess meteorology isn't the tweeter's strong suit!" (Somewhere in Time 88)

))))))))))))))))

Yes to the summer storms. The worst hail storm I can remember happened over the Fourth of July weekend. We were outside barbecuing and we had to run for cover. It was like Armageddon. There was so much damage from that one. Hail, the size of golf balls, pounded the area unmercifully and it seemed to last so long. I can remember grabbing the dog, who was totally bewildered by the whole thing.

Jane said...

Thuvia, thanks! Some of the flowers are starting to drop. If they all go, should I just keep watering the orchids, not cut back the stem and hope new buds will form? I do see a beginning bud on one plant.

Jamesvader1194 said...

@Tucker's Mom You're welcome,same here,hope hes seeing Collin and Alexis,if not,then hopefully one day he will get to see them again.Just hope that Collin and Alexis don't hate him for whatever reason and they still invite him to weddings,pregnancys and etc.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Didn't someone ask TFW on Twitter if she was
still friends with Beth and she responded,
"Yep!"? I suppose TFW thought Beth would
never have the nerve to tell the truth.

Tucker's Mom said...

FlimsyFlamsy said... 99
TLC stinks (#97), I think the significant revelation from TFW about her parents was when she said, "They didn't know how to help us." Without knowing that, it might be easier to swallow that she has just kept her relationship with them on the down low.
******
That, and Jon's interview in Utah. Frankly, he looked baked when he did it, and said that Kate's parents just liked to swoop in whenever/now and then, and that didn't work for Jon and Kate.
It made zero sense and I believe at the time, Jon was on the money train express, believing the lies they told themselves as they made choices which ended close family and friend relationships.
Neither Jon nor Kate has give a cogent explanation as to why Kate's parents were kicked to the curb.

Tucker's Mom said...

I also hope that all the kids get to have strong relationships with Jon. I fear most for the girls who don't actually. They will look for that love, acceptance and approval from the first guy that winks at them if they don't.
I don't care what Kate says. Those girls are in peril because of the way the divorce and parenting has been handled.

fidosmommy said...

The Kreiders used to babysit for Mady and Cara and were their caretakers when the littles were born. So whatever happened to snap that relationship must have happened about the time/soon after the babies came home. Remember the unmatched crib fiasco? I will bet the rent there were words exchanged about that. Add to that the remodel on the original house that Kenton's church started - and turned over to some show to finish - which was not beautiful in Kate's eyes. I can almost hear Kate's reaction to the cribs/remodel and am thinking the Kreiders were mortified for the church members. Then there was Kate's comment about how they should have just given cash... Ungrateful, rude and impossible to please would have been appropriate descriptions of such a daughter even from the most loving father. Enough for Kate to flap her hands and announce she's done. Bye parents.

Am I remembering this right, or am I letting my prejudice form my memories?

BTW, yes I saw the remodel pictures. And yes, I agree it would have been a great idea to consult parents before painting huge images on nursery walls.

Tucker's Mom said...

I think the Kreiders appeared on the show when the tups were 3 or 4, on their birthday? The split seemed to be related to the show becoming very successful and demanding and J+K making their show their lives, and their lives their show.
J+K were making choices purely for money, fame and stuff, and if the people close to them didn't approve. Whomever wasn't on board got kicked to the curb.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Tucker's Mom (#106), and some of the girls might
have the opposite reaction -- learning to avoid, fear, distrust, or even hate men because of how
their mother handled the divorce. The idea that
TFW thinks she did it maturely, and even labelled
herself as the peacemaker, is ludicrous.

Rainbowsandunicorns said...

BTW, yes I saw the remodel pictures. And yes, I agree it would have been a great idea to consult parents before painting huge images on nursery walls.

-----
-----

Oh, geez. Remember the bordello decor and that bathroom sink? It was a decorating nightmare.

Speaking of bordello. I pulled up that site of the "memorable" DWTS photos. I wonder how much the costuming department hated her. When she wore that red dress with the long side ponytail and gobs of pancake makeup she looked like a saloon girl who rented a room in the upstairs bordello for hormonal gunslingers in the Old West. The costumes now are gorgeous and I haven't seen anything that comes close to being as hideous as the ones she wore!

Rainbowsandunicorns said...

LOL! The most common time for hail to fall is during the spring and summer. Thunderstorms trigger it. It's sleet that comes down during the winter.There's a difference. I guess meteorology isn't the tweeter's strong suit!

-----
-----

But she's really good at vetting potential cruisers! I guess that's where the money is!

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Rainbowsandunicorns (#110), your description of
the red dress was brilliant! I can almost hear
the player piano plinking in the saloon. Yeah,
somebody was clearly not winning friends behind the scenes.

foxy said...

When Kate was on DWTS the other contestants had very pretty costumes that fit well and were to their personality. Kate's costumes were hideous, ill fitting and suited her just right.

fidosmommy said...

Sometimes I think Tony slipped a few Franklins to the DWTS wardrobe and makeup staff. ;)

thuvia said...

Jane; only cut off the blossom stalk if it starts to dry down. New buds can form after blossoms drop off. If you haven't fertilized it may help new blossoms form. Just be sure to get one for orchids. Lowes carries a brand. Put them outside in a shady area in the summer and fertilize once a month. Good luck

NJGal51 said...

For those of you watching Better Call Saul, how great was last nights episode!

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Fidosmommy (#114), I don't think any bribes were
necessary. If TFW treated the dance pro with such disrespect, I can only imagine how shabbily she treated the behind-the-scenes "helpers."

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


Didn't someone ask TFW on Twitter if she was
still friends with Beth and she responded,
"Yep!"? I suppose TFW thought Beth would
never have the nerve to tell the truth.


&&&&

It's incredible the way she lies. And I'm convinced that was a whopper too. Beth was pretty clear they are on awful terms, that there has been a complete breakdown in the relationship. But in Kate's mind saying they are friends is not a lie because KATE is still friends with Beth, it's just Beth is not friends with her!! Why, she can't control what Beth does in the friendship.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

For those of you watching Better Call Saul, how great was last nights episode!

&&&&

GREAT.

How great is this whole season? As a lawyer, I am in absolute awe at Kim's character and the emotions she has nailed that young women lawyers go through as they are trying to shape their careers. The highs and lows, ebbs and flows, victories and defeats. The crossroads you sometimes reach and the gravity of knowing the decision you make now will change the course of your career forever.

It is amazing to me that actress is not a real lawyer, or those writers. Well done. Very well done.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


That, and Jon's interview in Utah. Frankly, he looked baked when he did it, and said that Kate's parents just liked to swoop in whenever/now and then, and that didn't work for Jon and Kate.

&&&&

I believe him that they swoop in and out and as I recall he implied they had never shown that much interest in the kids.

I also believe there are two sides to every story and that they have another side to it. They may have felt uncomfortable being around more often because of Kate. I can't believe the way she talks about them on the show, her near constant snide remarks about all the things she was deprived of in her childhood. It must be awful for a parent to hear that and know that she's telling her children that.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

If you change your name on instagram it makes it look like your old account is a dead one. That's stupid, it should just redirect to your new account.

fidosmommy said...

My question to the Kreider family would be "Do you watch the show?" Since that question puts me on Milo's level of MYOB, I guess I won't be askin'.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


I don't see Kate throwing her parents under the bus when she says that she didn't have something, or that she had to do something when she was growing up. Many, many people say that. I say that. I'm not throwing my mom under the bus. Sometimes it makes my kids more appreciative. It's just a statement of how times have changed.


Many parents provide their children, and themselves, with items and opportunities that they didn't have growing up.


&&&&

I think you are absolutely right that many parents, dare I say all parents, want their kids to have "more" than what they had as kids, whatever that is defined for them. I think that's human nature.

I think Kate's comments though are somewhat different than what you're talking about. One, it's not just that Kate's saying she didn't have certain things growing up. She seems to be saying she SHOULD have had those things, that there was some lapse in parenting, some kind of neglect, that caused her to miss out. She is definitely assigning blame to deficient parents instead of being understanding of budget constraints and so forth.

The second difference is she is saying this publicly, on her show. It comes across as critical. There have also been several times, which I documented in the recap, that she has taken a very negative resentful tone when talking about what she didn't have. It wasn't just like I didn't have red hats growing up because we were poor but I want my kids to have them now. It was, my parents DEPRIVED me of red hats, my parents intentionally didn't attend to my needs out of spite and neglect. It wasn't just that my parents couldn't provide me red hats. They WOULDN'T.

That is her tone. That being the case, it's best she not mention her parents at all. That would be the tactful thing to do.

Tucker's Mom said...

Didn't someone ask TFW on Twitter if she was
still friends with Beth and she responded,
"Yep!"? I suppose TFW thought Beth would
never have the nerve to tell the truth.


&&&&

It's incredible the way she lies. And I'm convinced that was a whopper too. Beth was pretty clear they are on awful terms,
*****
Was this recent? IIRC, Kate said this about Ashley, not Beth. I don't think Kate has tried to fool anyone about Beth since she attempted to screw Beth out of her contract for writing Kate's book.

4rmine said...

Tuckers mom, I believe dj jon gosselin is Jon's Facebook page. I'm not sure.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...



Right, you just focus back to the lowest common denominator, Kate, Milo, Goody and rehash the same things over and over and over. Every thought has been restated her ad nauseum, for years. Every idea, every theory. You snark on Kate and her twitter people but in YOUR mind that is different than what the Sage people do. You are deluded.

&&&

I disagree with that. We have talked about so much else other than Kate Plus 8. In particular I really enjoyed our discussion about Kim Davis when that went down. We have had some really interesting political discussions as well. Of course we will continue to discuss Gosselin news here as this is a Gosselin blog about a public family and public TV show that many other people are discussing out there--there is nothing odd or strange about that, it is done every day around the internet about all facets of pop culture. This is simply one little corner, niche, of that pop culture not unlike thousands of other niche pop culture blogs. I'm not sure how you can with a straight face compare that to a blog that solely exists to talk about other bloggers--which is VERY odd and strange and might I add, creepy, and has absolutely nothing to do with something in the public domain or something pop culture. Weird. My statements about the success of TWOP and their strict rules forbidding what you do on another blog are true and really can't be refuted. Their incredible success doesn't lie.

I don't have any other blog than this one and even if I did I don't think I would intermingle them. If you have questions about some other blog whatever blog you speak of why not ask them on that blog? That makes more sense.

Tucker's Mom said...

he seems to be saying she SHOULD have had those things, that there was some lapse in parenting, some kind of neglect, that caused her to miss out. She is definitely assigning blame to deficient parents instead of being understanding of budget constraints and so forth.
******
Kate has made it exceedingly clear that her upbringing, and that which Jon can provide, as well as the vast majority of Americans, is mediocre. Substandard. Deficient. Cruelly withheld.
Kate comes across as angry and vindictive when she revels in telling her children how much better a parent she is, compared to her own. How her parents chose not to give her the things she gives her kids, when probably, they couldn't afford it, even if things like spa treatments were on their radar.
Kate has had this chip on her shoulder since she was a kid.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


Umm, doubt that on the refurbished barn wood table. That was reclaimed old barn wood that is very sturdy and likely worth much more than the stain. That is actually a piece I would like and she is resealing to protect it. I love that table.


&&&&

I thought the table looked cheap actually. Very thin cuts of wood, and poor construction. Something you get for 59.99 at costco, and I did not get the refurbished vibe. The benches will be sinking in a few years and it will need to be trashed.

My bed is refurbished barn wood and looks nothing like that. It's beautiful and looks ten times as expensive as what I paid.

That said they did a good job fixing it up, it looks much better. In the future I recommend she not be so lazy and move it into the garage in winter. It will last maybe another year or two longer.

Fleecing The Sheeple said...

My question to the Kreider family would be "Do you watch the show?" Since that question puts me on Milo's level of MYOB, I guess I won't be askin'.

===================

As long as you don't go peerin' into the Kreiders' windows, all is good,

Tucker's Mom said...


Right, you just focus back to the lowest common denominator, Kate, Milo, Goody and rehash the same things over and over and over. Every thought has been restated her ad nauseum, for years. Every idea, every theory. You snark on Kate and her twitter people but in YOUR mind that is different than what the Sage people do. You are deluded.
******
And you're banging your head against a wall whist complaining of a headache. Go the flip away if you think we're redundant.
Why come here just to tell us how much you don't like us?
I don't get it.
Better yet, start your own blog and see how long you can keep it viable.
Good luck with that.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

. I have never, ever heard the kids speak out a whole sentence like you pointed out. Please site the episode and scence in which they did.

&&&&

For goodness sake! This episode. This recap. Watch it. I am not your research attorney here to find your cites for you. (It's cite, not site) You go find it, it's in an episode I just watched. I think I know what I just watched.

Who even cares anyway?? What does it matter?

Tucker's Mom said...

Gawd, Admin, the sheep shit you have to wade through is astounding.
Thanks for doing what you do.

Jamesvader1194 said...

@Fidosmommy Speaking of milo,im shocked she's has not give Kate a birthday shout out or a reply to the tweet of Kate admitting more episodes are coming.Im not convinced she's busy with family for this long,FAN milo would of NEVER missed Kate's birthday even if she was on her death bed.I've also herd that she was even still twitting when one of her family members was ill.Im convince she's PR or someone was about to out her and she had to disappear.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


Better yet, start your own blog and see how long you can keep it viable.
Good luck with that.


&&&&

Starting a blog is easy they said. Getting people to stick around for over 6 years is a piece of cake they said.

Unfortunately the more the other blog drops in here to tell us how awful and pathetic we are the more pathetic they look. Nobody drops by there to tell them they suck because nobody cares. Sad.

fidosmommy said...

Didn't we read somewhere that Kate and Beth were in the same spot in the grocery store and ignored each other? A tweet from another shopper maybe?

Tucker's Mom said...

. I have never, ever heard the kids speak out a whole sentence like you pointed out. Please site the episode and scence in which they did.

&&&&

For goodness sake!
****
Jeez, go back to most every episode of J+K+8!
"On this episode of J+K+8".
"Coming up next on J+K+8"
Kids saying it. In unison.
But, nah, nothing's scripted.

Tucker's Mom said...

Nobody drops by there to tell them they suck because nobody cares. Sad.
*******
I don't even know what other blogs that blog on other blogs people are referencing. Wouldn't have any interest. Don't care.
I did enjoy Small Town Gosselins with Polly.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Another comment about giving kids everything you never had.....

I have also heard many adults say well we didn't have lots of money, but we had the things you can't buy like a loving household, family dinners and together time, supportive parents.

I never hear Kate qualify her complaints about her childhood. She never says, growing up I didn't get a chance to try things like lobster, or get manicures, etc., BUT I did have a nice childhood just the same because of "fill in the blank."

There is never a "but" for Kate. It's all negative. I think any parent hearing the things she has complained about would be heartbroken, would take it personally. It hurts me just to think about her parents hearing that, that's how awful I think those comments are.

Finally, over the past decade I have, with trepidation, watched a parent give their sons everything they never had. This parent grew up in a two bedroom house, shared their room with two siblings, and had a fairly simple upbringing until adulthood when they quickly became very wealthy.

Giving her sons everything destroyed them. They are drug addicts and kicked out of multiple schools and their relationship with their parents is in pieces. In the process of getting everything their parent never had, they also missed out on everything their parent DID have.

Jamesvader1194 said...

Like i said before,im interesting in discussing other things aside from Kate,like the duggars,bill cosby,court battles,custody laws and etc.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I don't even know what other blogs that blog on other blogs people are referencing. Wouldn't have any interest. Don't care.

&&&&

I don't think most people are interested in that kind of thing which is why very few blogs out there do it because no one is interested.

fidosmommy said...

Admin, I don't give a bullfrog's care what anybody thinks of your blog. I love it, I've been here for years and years, and enjoy all the reality tv chatter
that goes on here. Carry on, please.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I love discussing the Duggars here. Lots of great insight.

Jamesvader1194 said...

@Tucker's mom That and wasn't it also confirmed that the Duggars(Another TLC show)is scripted?If that show is confirmed scripted,then why should we have any doubt that other TLC shows aren't scripted?

Tucker's Mom said...

I never hear Kate qualify her complaints about her childhood. She never says, growing up I didn't get a chance to try things like lobster, or get manicures, etc., BUT I did have a nice childhood just the same because of "fill in the blank."
*******
Exactly. My mother told me stories about her childhood, being lower middle class, scraping by at times. She had to pick reusable coal out of the furnace in the cellar, and collect tin cans to recycle for money. She made her own prom and graduation gowns,as well as most of her clothes. Beautiful!
Her childhood was full of love and fun. No pampering. Never a fancy vacation, if any at all.
I got a whole lot more as a child, but me getting more was never coupled with my mother having been given less. I witnessed her relationship with her parents. I was very close to them, too.
Having less and being given less than me was never an indictment of my grandparents. They did the best they could, but the meaning of family transcended material goods. As it should be.
It also bothers me that Kate takes all the credit for her kids getting vacations, spa days, experiences and things, when in fact, it's production that's paying for it all. Further, the kids are working for everything they get.
If it weren't for the kids working, and frankly, being born to Kate and Jon, Kate would be a mediocre. She acts so magnanimous, like she's doing the 50-hour week grind, when she's NEVER done that, like most parents.

fidosmommy said...

Speaking of the Duggars, I did catch about 5 minutes of an episode tonight. Joy and 2 non-Duggar women are baking and decorating cookies. The conversation is mostly "oops" and "we've been at this for hours and have only finished 2 dozen cookies".

My biggest criticism about it and almost every cooking show out there ----- GET YOUR HAIR PULLED BACK BEFORE YOU APPROACH THE FOOD! Each one of those 3 women had
hair hanging. It's a pet peeve of mine especially when cooking for guests.

No, actually my very biggest criticism is how utterly unnecessary it was to film Joy and Friends baking and decorating cookies while saying not much.

Fleecing The Sheeple said...


Right, you just focus back to the lowest common denominator, Kate, Milo, Goody and rehash the same things over and over and over. Every thought has been restated her ad nauseum, for years. Every idea, every theory. You snark on Kate and her twitter people but in YOUR mind that is different than what the Sage people do. You are deluded.

==========

Then why, on God's green earth, do you read here? Just to pick it apart? Just to poke and jab at admin? That in itself speaks volumes. Don't like it, find another blog to frequent and criticize. It's not rocket science. Surely your time and talent could be put to better use elsewhere. Oh, and the correct spelling is "nauseam," a Latin phrase "argumentum ad nauseam." Just thought I'd throw that out there because I don't believe it's ever been discussed here before. You're welcome.

Where is AuntieAnn? I'm really concerned about her.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Ha oh that's the most annoying thing at all about her "your childhood is better than mine" comments. She wants credit for their better childhood. Bitch, please! You sent out a bunch of demo tapes and letters begging for a show when they were six months old and someone finally took the bait. You have this lifestyle by sheer luck and 50 bucks spent in postage, not hard work.

And yes Tucker I like how your mother's comments about your childhood were not framed in an inverse relationship, which fosters a sense of negativity and resentment. You weren't given "more" because your mom got "less". Your more was just a different kind of more than what she had. It's all about how you frame things.

Growing up I always knew I had "more" than how my grandparents raised their children. For one that had many more kids to raise, for another they lived in a blue collar part of the country and made next to nothing. But that childhood was never framed for me like they were missing something. I knew they didn't have cable, all the toys I had, a pool, or as many vacations as we took, but I didn't see it as somehow my childhood was "better" than a childhood spent running barefoot through apple orchards in the hot summers playing games, going to church and spending lots of time with family and friends. In fact, I was raised to appreciate this part of our family too, the simpler values and pastimes, and to pass it on.

Fleecing The Sheeple said...

Tucker's Mom said... 132
Gawd, Admin, the sheep shit you have to wade through is astounding.
Thanks for doing what you do.

===========

Maybe we could all pitch in and purchase rubber knee-high droppings-resistant boots for admin. It's spring, near shearing season, so perhaps the sheeple are getting cold hooves at the thought of going woolless.

Sheepless In Seattle said...

Oh, and the correct spelling is "nauseam," a Latin phrase "argumentum ad nauseam." Just thought I'd throw that out there because I don't believe it's ever been discussed here before. You're welcome.

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

lol, Fleecing. Good one!

fidosmommy said...

My parents decided before they even had children what they, as parents, owed their children. Shelter, nutrition, decent clothing, safety, education (and for my parents, that included 4 years at a state college), a religious home, opportunities for art/music/sports/etc. Most everything else went on a
list of nice unessentials. Funny, I remember a full, happy, enriching childhood for which I was thankful then and I still am.

When you are given too much, nothing registers as enough.

Sherry Baby said...

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! I'd think that this sheeple would be tired of leaving the same droppings, time after time. "You're ignorant. You're delusional." For heaven's sake, google a synonym finder and come up with something new! The redundancy is annoying and not very creative.

Just missy said...

Yuck! Just saw an ad
for a "new" episode of Kate plus 8 - April 26th. Kate looks back. How original. Yawn.

Jeanne said...

I was talking to my mom recently about her childhood. I said something about them being quite poor. She said they weren't poor. They just didn't have cash. But they were on a farm so they always had food. She said she knew kids who were really poor. It is perspective. I do say things about what I didn't get as a child. It's joking and my mother rolls her eyes.

I think I would have had a falling out with Kate too after the way she treated the church people. They got her cribs and clothes and who knows what else. She publicly announced that it wasn't good enough and put that wish list on their original website. Then I believe a lot of the volunteers from the first year were from the church. We have heard stories about how she treated them. I know one volunteer. She won't talk about it (were there NDAs that early? my friend is kind and just may not be willing to badmouth her) but she makes a face and shakes her head and sighs. Her parents were church leaders, the volunteers helped out of love and respect for the Kreiders, and Kate acts like an ass to one and all. I would have had words with her and I might have been the one to cool off the relationship. She couldn't even act polite to friends of her parents. It is sad for all involved but I would support them in saving their own emotional health. I have cut off people who treat me like dirt.

TLC stinks said...

Just missy said... 151
Yuck! Just saw an ad
for a "new" episode of Kate plus 8 - April 26th. Kate looks back. How original. Yawn.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Another recycled episode? She gets $40K for that? Her contract with TLC must guarantee her a certain number of episodes and/or it's another attempt to rewrite history with Jon erased.

Tucker's Mom said...

Just missy said... 152
Yuck! Just saw an ad
for a "new" episode of Kate plus 8 - April 26th. Kate looks back. How original. Yawn.
April 12, 2016 at 10:11 PM
*******
Really? Hmm, surprising. Usually, Kate's Prima Donna episode comes at the end of another boring "season" of episodes.
If this is what TLC is offering as a "new" episode, then they've got nothing.
Anyone else think it's odd? Didn't TLC end last "season" with a "look back"?

FlimsyFlamsy said...

When TFW tweeted last week, I said maybe she got some air dates from TLC and finally decided to
get back to communicating. Or perhaps they even
put some pressure on her to do so.

TLC stinks said...

I wonder if they have already filmed the twins birthday episode?

When she was originally cancelled, there was some question and answer stuff from viewers and she was asked if the twins would go to driving school and Kate said most likely. Then she went on to write how she got a job and earned her first car. I guess one could say the twins have worked for their first car. TLC will squeeze a few episodes out of this and the New Orleans vacay.

TLC stinks said...

Flimsy, good guess. Probably in her contract to promote the show. Wonder if on Twitter those are bots asking about when she will be back on air.

Leslie said...

Gloria Vanderbilt was married to Leopold Stokowski not to Igor Stravinsky as mentioned above. She had two children with him. She has not spoken to one of the two in decades. I watched a special with her and Anderson on HBO the other night.

Leslie said...

I watch Better Call Saul and love it too. I have a question. What was the purpose of Mike tying up the guy and wanting it to make the papers? If the incident had made the paper what would be the point of it? Thanks

Jane said...

The Gloria/Anderson documentary was beautiful and very touching. Cinematically, I thought it well done. She was very honest about her life and spoke openly about the many tragedies she's lived through. A fascinating woman!

Leslie, she said she reached out to her son on occasion but that he was adamant about staying out of the spotlight to the point of changing his name and she felt she needed to respect his choice. It appeared he was reclusive and I had the distinct impression there might be mental health issues. I'm sure there's more to it than was shown in the film.

MikeB said...

10 Year Anniversary

"Kate looks back 10 years to when their first television special aired and compares then to now. The challenges are different, but the memories are just as rewarding."

I don't see how this is any different than the last special where Kate looked back on previous episodes and said what she would do differently and the three-hour special "Decade of Kate" from last year. Both of those episodes were among the lowest rated of any of the specials. What a waste of time.

Jane said...

Mike, I was thinking the same thing. This sounds just like the last retrospective. Maybe it is and they simply reprocessed it?

Jamesvader1194 said...

@TLC stinks isn't that what the I AM is for?I've felt that whole thing is nothing more then to get back at Jon for the interview with Steve Harvey.Unless he did or is trying to get to see collin and alexis and this is just an attempt to make her look like the victim again,"Its not my fault my kids want to stay with me and not go to their evil father."

TLC stinks said...

Leslie, I love, love Better Call Saul. Mike was interested in why the robbery did not make the papers because that would indicate dirty cops or the scene was cleaned up. Sure enough, a Good Samaritan was killed due to Mike's actions. I could see how upset he was and now I guess it's war. And Jimmy...I keep rooting for him but I know his future.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

MikeB (#162), good grief, it's the same old, same old, isn't it? The planet's least introspective person re-examines her life. Which she just re-examined a few months ago. Oh, and the year before that. The only challenge putting that episode together will be editing out the children's beloved father. Reality at its
finest.

TLC stinks said...

Let's see how much they show of Jon. Somehow she has to make him out the bad guy and make herself the only parent. I hope Jon doesn't put up with it.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

Besides going on fancy vacations and shopping,
I bet TFW loves "Looking Back" episodes the best.
She can talk about the 8 all day long, but it is clear she loves it when the spotlight is on her and her alone. I can only imagine her glee when her loudly-breathing husband was no longer next
to her on that interview couch. "Check!"

Jamesvader1194 said...

Lets see if the viewer count has changed,i don't think she gain viewers from last year.Funny thing is i saw this twit from this person who was a fan of Kate's but it seems Robert's book changed her mind.Lets hope there's more like this that have. keri
‏@hippie0701
@Kateplusmy8 I was a fan of your but now I'm not because all you do is lie and exploit your kids for money!

TLC stinks said...

Wow. What "struggles" does she possibly have? A roof over their heads? Paying bills? Food on the table? School? A steady job with excellent salary? Kids' health? Nannies? How the heck is she and TLC going to paint her as anything struggling? Loneliness maybe? How can anyone be alone with eight kids? Ok, maybe no man wants to marry her or maybe she can't have Steve but really? She "struggles" like other divorced women on this planet? I think she and TLC need to go another route.

fidosmommy said...

Oh goody! More wallowing in how hard she's had it after scheming to get HOMs. TLC has this show on some kind of loop feed.

And next in the We Ain't Got Nuttin' to Film department, the Duggar girls and friends will sew training blankets for Israel and Spurgeon. The men will whittle up some training rods. And every one of them will look bored when interviewed.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

TLC stinks (#170), and a key element here is
that TFW ended the marriage. It was her decision
to be divorced. And it was her decision to not
figure out a reasonable way to co-parent. So
if she's going to act all "victim-ish" (her
word) about her situation, she has no one but herself to blame.

TLC stinks said...

Oh sorry. TLC used CHALLENGES, not struggles. Yeah, rigghhtt. Her biggest challenge is getting up in the morning.

Carole said...

Jane said...

I brought back two orchids from the south and while they bloomed prolifically there, they immediately started to drop flowers here. I'm wondering if I should cut them back or just toss them? There are very differing opinions online. Any orchid growers here?

*************

What kind of orchids are you growing? I'm definitely not an expert, but from what I've experienced and read, yours probably just reacted to the change in location and temps and need to acclimate to their new climate, light conditions, etc. I'd put them in their optimal growing spot and they should recover with proper watering. I have some that bloomed 2 months ago. They are still in bloom, but with the longer days and brighter light of spring, they're developing additional huge new buds on the same spikes. I'm so excited.

Some orchid growers cut the spike after all of the blooms drop, others say to leave it. I didn't know what to do when I got my first orchids so I left the spikes and I've gotten plenty of buds and blooms on the original spikes each new blooming season.

I've found a great forum with very helpful posters willing to answer any and every question, whether expert or newbie. I hope Admin won't mind if I share the URL: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/orchids

Carole said...

jojo said...
That was reclaimed old barn wood that is very sturdy and likely worth much more than the stain. That is actually a piece I would like and she is resealing to protect it. I love that table.

************

Wasn't that the same table they had at the old house? If so, it didn't look like it was barn wood then; it looked to me like it was a basic, inexpensive table that could have been bought at any lumber yard or big box store at the time, definitely nothing special.

IMO, the table had been neglected for a long time and was very weathered. They breathed some new life into it by refinishing it, but I'm with Admin and I don't think it was made of barn wood.

Jane said...

Thanks so much for the advice and link. I think you're right about the change in climate putting them into shock. They were transported in my car, which was shipped from south to north, and the weather went from 85 to 40 pretty quickly. The cold spell wasn't anticipated and had I known, I think I would have just given them to a neighbor rather than try and continue growing them in the north! But I do see buds so there's hope.

Kaya said...

TLC stinks said... 170
Wow. What "struggles" does she possibly have? A roof over their heads? Paying bills? Food on the table? School? A steady job with excellent salary? Kids' health? Nannies? How the heck is she and TLC going to paint her as anything struggling? Loneliness maybe? How can anyone be alone with eight kids? Ok, maybe no man wants to marry her or maybe she can't have Steve but really? She "struggles" like other divorced women on this planet? I think she and TLC need to go another route.
***************
You seriously think that people with $ don't have struggles? Or that someone with 8 children couldn't be lonely?

Raising eight children cannot be easy, alone or with a partner. I don't care how much $ you have. Certainly, having the resources to support them takes many stressors off the table, but it certainly doesn't guarantee a struggle-free existence.

localyocul said...

Kaya said... 177
TLC stinks said... 170
Wow. What "struggles" does she possibly have? A roof over their heads? Paying bills? Food on the table? School? A steady job with excellent salary? Kids' health? Nannies? How the heck is she and TLC going to paint her as anything struggling? Loneliness maybe? How can anyone be alone with eight kids? Ok, maybe no man wants to marry her or maybe she can't have Steve but really? She "struggles" like other divorced women on this planet? I think she and TLC need to go another route.
***************
You seriously think that people with $ don't have struggles? Or that someone with 8 children couldn't be lonely?

Raising eight children cannot be easy, alone or with a partner. I don't care how much $ you have. Certainly, having the resources to support them takes many stressors off the table, but it certainly doesn't guarantee a struggle-free existence.

((

People with money may have struggles but they have one-less (actually many-less) struggles than people who live paycheck to paycheck. For every struggle she has, it would be magnified if not for the money.

A broken appliance is a hassle. Getting a new one, getting the old one out, finding time, blah blah. For someone who lives with almost enough money, something like that is a catastrophe.

She has 8 kids, that's a struggle. But she can afford a live in nanny.

Got a mouthy, troubled kid? That's a struggle, but she can afford therapy and medication if needed.

Money isn't everything but not having enough of it is a hellacious life. So yes I would say her struggles are minimal unless someone is dealing with a life-threatening situation we don't know about.

People who have always have money have No Idea. The thing is she has been financially strapped and does not seem to feel any gratitude whatsoever for her extremely good luck. I am finally getting above water after raising a child by myself with little help and every day I am grateful. And I'm still rather strapped.

localyocul said...

FlimsyFlamsy said... 172
TLC stinks (#170), and a key element here is
that TFW ended the marriage. It was her decision
to be divorced. And it was her decision to not
figure out a reasonable way to co-parent. So
if she's going to act all "victim-ish" (her
word) about her situation, she has no one but herself to blame.

)))

EXACTLY

PatK said...

Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! A 10-Year Anniversary Special that "takes a look back"!!! Cancel your cruises, everyone and make sure your cable bill has been paid! This is a Do Not Miss, one-of-a-kind very special episode--the likes of which you've never seen before and probably will never see again!!!!!!!

At least for three months.

I can hardly contain myself! I think I'm gonna pee!

FlimsyFlamsy said...

PatK (#180), I think TFW is creating her own
genre: Must Miss TV!

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


I watch Better Call Saul and love it too. I have a question. What was the purpose of Mike tying up the guy and wanting it to make the papers? If the incident had made the paper what would be the point of it? Thanks


&&&&


A little hard to follow, but I thought he wanted buzz, press, and police circling the guy, to intimidate him make him nevous.

localyocul said...

Now we know why she popped back on Twitter..her show is coming up.

fidosmommy said...

Nah, Flimsy (#181). She just wants to be "Ms. TV".

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


Now we know why she popped back on Twitter..her show is coming up.


&&&&

Or to put it more plainly, her show is coming up, filming has wrapped and the couch interviews are all done, and she's lonely again for a narcissistic supply. I KNEW it was all about that supply.

Tucker's Mom said...

localyocul said... 183
Now we know why she popped back on Twitter..her show is coming up.
*****
She didn't even promote it, did she? IIRC, she responded she had NO IDEA when it would be broadcast, when in fact, it was scheduled to air in around 2 weeks!
Does TLC really treat her like a mushroom?

Tucker's Mom said...

Better Call Saul- very good this week. I really like Kim and appreciate the insight of a real lawyer.
Oh, and F*ck Chuck ;-)
(I love Michael McKean)

Just Missy said...

Love Better Call Saul, too. It started out slow this season but it's really good. My take on Mike is that he wanted to make sure the guy he bound and gagged had been found. Papers usually scan police blotters for stories and someone finding a person bound and gagged would have contacted the police. I think he was sick to his stomach that an innocent person died because of something he started. That actor is so good. He says so much by saying nothing at all. Unlike TFW who just blathers on relentlessly and says absolutely nothing of substance.

jamezvader1194 said...

Her relationship with TLC confuses me.On one hand they give her a birthday shout out and i think referred to her as their girl,on the other hand they don't even tell her the air dates of the episodes and they refer to the episodes as a season but they don't really put her show in their line up.Its weird,its like TLC wants to keep her,but is so ashamed to.

Jane said...

Just caught up on Better Call Saul and wowowowowow! One more episode and then the long wait. I wonder if Saul Goodman will emerge next week?

ncgirl said...

Little People, Big World is coming back on May 10. Looks like TLC is dusting off their neglected reality "stars".

Localyocul said...

Tucker's Mom said... 186
localyocul said... 183
Now we know why she popped back on Twitter..her show is coming up.
*****
She didn't even promote it, did she? IIRC, she responded she had NO IDEA when it would be broadcast, when in fact, it was scheduled to air in around 2 weeks!
Does TLC really treat her like a mushroom?

...

True but my e she realized she shouldn't just pop back and say hey my show is on!

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Jonathan Banks is wonderful as Mike, he did feel awful about the Good Samaritan death. He portrays the multiple layers of a seemingly bad crean up guy/criminal who is actually a caring father and grandfather and has a huge conscience. I hope he gets another Emmy nod and a win this time. I'm

NJGal51 said...

And this is how sheeple think.

MsGoody2Shoes21 (@@msgoody2shoes21): Mother hits children with wooden spoon!

Shocking?!

I don't think so. LOL ‭@Kateplusmy8‬

Chablis (@@Chablis4u): ‭@msgoody2shoes21‬ ‭@Kateplusmy8‬ That's child abuse.

MsGoody2Shoes21 (@@msgoody2shoes21): ‭@Chablis4u‬ ‭@Kateplusmy8‬ Your opinion. Not mine. That's not child abuse.

FlimsyFlamsy said...

NJGal51 (#194), I wonder what Ms. Goody would
call it if someone twice her size smacked HER
with a wooden spoon? I bet it wouldn't "happy
her up."

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


Chablis (@@Chablis4u): @msgoody2shoes21 @Kateplusmy8 That's child abuse.

MsGoody2Shoes21 (@@msgoody2shoes21): @Chablis4u @Kateplusmy8 Your opinion. Not mine. That's not child abuse.


&&&&

I've said for years there's a problem when people have fundamentally different sets of values.

When one person believes it's okay to cause physical pain to a child in an effort to get them to do what you want, and some else believes that is never okay, I don't see where you even start the conversation.

Over In TFW's County said...

When one person believes it's okay to cause physical pain to a child in an effort to get them to do what you want, and some else believes that is never okay, I don't see where you even start the conversation.

++++++++++++

I hope she doesn't have young children or animals. I don't even want to think about what they might have to endure, all in the name of discipline.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

She didn't even promote it, did she? IIRC, she responded she had NO IDEA when it would be broadcast, when in fact, it was scheduled to air in around 2 weeks!
Does TLC really treat her like a mushroom?

&&&&

Yes, and it's hilarious.

To be fair, my understanding is talent is normally treated like this. Networks don't see themselves as a talent's personal secretary, filling them in on all the inner workings of scheduling and other post-production decisions. Kate's job was to show up on filming days and perform. Once that's done they'll call her next time they need her to do that again and not before. Unless they have a legal obligation to include Kate and inform her of programming scheduling, like if she were REALLY a producer (I think that's BS), they won't bother.

Talent will find out when they find out. But, the irony here is that Kate has said many times TLC is family blah blah. Family isn't supposed to be so inconsiderate and uncaring. Bullshit, she's not family to them. She's talent, and when they are done with her, she won't even get a Christmas card.

jamezvader1194 said...

Someone on twitter did mention how supernanny was also against spanking.I also believe the nannies on nanny 911 also said they were against it.I remember i used this argument one time against the Kate fans 2 years ago.Their excuse was"Well those nannies don't have kids of there own so obvoiously they don't know what they're talking about."If thats the case then why do these parents who don't know how to raise their kids,hire them if the nannies themselves don't know how to raise kids because they don't have any?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Oh, and F*ck Chuck ;-)

&&&&

He deserved every bit of his public embarrassment.

I appreciate his character's layers as well. He feels years of resentment because he feels like his own brother has hurt their father and family. But now decades later he has been very cruel to him even though his brother has been there for him during his (mental) illness. "You're not a 'real' lawyer" is about as cruel and cutting a thing as you can say to someone like Jimmy who so badly wants in to that profession and did work very hard to get there. I really have had my mind blown about how much this show understands the emotional relationship lawyers have to their profession, for many the "lawyer career" part of them is like an extension of them, a living breathing thing. The "lawyer path" and which way you will go is always above your head almost visible. Without a doubt the writers have consulted with many lawyers about this to develop this understanding.

I love the cliffhanger at the end. The ethical dilemma. Help his brother and be caught in a crime, or run away and don't get caught but your brother could die.

I am impressed and humbled by what they have put together the past two seasons. Damn, TV is good right now.

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