Numerous media outlets are reporting that Kate and her eight children left for a trip on Wednesday to Australia and New Zealand!
It is believed the trip will be aired on TLC’s “Kate Plus 8.”
What would you like to see Kate and the kids do down under? Have you ever been? Also, what else would like to see them take on in 2011?!
I’d love to see them going to the Australia zoo. Can you imagine the shreeks Kate would let out there? LOL
I hope they snorkel in the reef. In HI, the kids loved those boards they could lay their faces in and float around on in the ocean.
I think if it’s true that it’s a marvelous opportunity for the kids, especially the most animal loving ones. I’d love to see them see a koala in the wild or a kangaroo or wallaby. Kids can thrive on international travel.
If its true, and I hope it is, what a wonderful experience for the kids. My kids wish they were abused like that.
stxmom… ;0) Yep, that is one helluva ‘abusive’ way to travel in life. I’m holding my breath tho’. It seemed strange that Ellen would be trying to track down who started the rumor about Australia. Radar has become too National Enquirer-ish…take a blurb & embellish. (Who in their right mind would say that Ellen & Jon are not going on this trip too?)
The kids will have a great time I’m sure. First class all the way, not too shabby for a little TV show!!
Oh, the Great Barrier Reef, Kangaroos, Koala bears , what a great experience !
I loved that the story felt the need to mention that Jon & Ellen weren’t going. I’m not saying divorced former couples and current partner(s)/spouse(s) NEVER take a vacation together but it would take a situation FAR friendlier than this one. Didn’t Jon’s attorney (for a short time) List say Jon wanted to be on or at least was willing to be on Kate + 8? I’d still like to see confirmation though. If it’s true, then TLC’s willing to spend a LOT of money on someone whose 15 minutes, according to the haters, is over.
Peggy,
One thing I found kind of funny tonight was a blog that has a post from a few days ago stating that TLC did not include Kate in their Seasons Greetings. I guess inferring that TLC was done with Kate Plus 8. Then the very next post is Kate and the kids going to Australia courtesy of TLC. Too funny.
Pam, I saw that too. Hmm, not the insider they pretend to be, I guess…
I loved that the story felt the need to mention that Jon & Ellen weren’t going.
PeggyP, I thought that was funny too. And yes, Jon’s former attorney, List, said that Jon was willing to film w/Kate. There was no logic as he said Kate was addicted to stardom but it would be okay if he was on the show. It was surprising to me how quickly List was out of the picture.
http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/10/jon-gosselin-kate-gosselin-reality-show-tlc/
You mean a vague geographic proximity does not automatically make one an all-knowing “insider?” Shocking!
I hope they have a great time Down Under.
Kate Plus 8 through the gate. For those that doubted ROL I think this is enough confirmation
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/kate-plus-8-through-the-gate/story-e6frfmqr-1225978942923
You mean a vague geographic proximity does not automatically make one an all-knowing “insider?” Shocking!
But Jennie, I have a vague geographic proximity! I always felt I was close enough to read Jon’s mind. You mean that doesn’t seem credible?
How fun for them! I’m glad they get such amazing opportunities, to broaden horizons, build memories, and that they all get to share in this together. Happy for Kate and her children.
What a wonderful experience for the family. Yes, this will truly be an educational experience for the children and yes in PA you can legally pull your children out of school for a trip with permission from said school. The children will probably have some kind of assignment. Mine had to keep a journal of her experience the first time I pulled her out. She still has wonderful memories of that trip and it was only to CA.
The ranting and raving about this trip over at BKIA is funny. We should really look at their claims.
1) such a long flight is akin to child abuse.
I have flown to Australia from the East Coast of the US (only in coach – not first class). Yes, it is a long flight but I saw many families with young children on the flight. Were they all guilty of abuse or only is only Kate abusive when she travels afar with children? It was easy to stay entertained on the flight as well – each seat has its own monitor in which to watch TV, movies, etc. There was an entire selection of children’s TV shows and movies. The food on Qantas was very good – better than any food I have had on domestic airlines. We were encouraged to get up and walk around the plane so the kids would not have to sit the whole time.
2) pulling the kids out of school is abusive
We don’t know how much school the kids will miss but I think this would have been worked out ahead of time. I know pulling kids out of school for trips that can be educational is done by lots of parents all the time. Are of those parents guilty of abuse?
3) the kids are too young to get anything out of a trip like this
I think Australia is an ideal place to take children. On my trip, we went to a couple of wildlife parks (not zoos). We got to feed kangaroos and koalos. We saw Tazmanian devils, dingos, and penquins. We swam in the Southern ocean and went snorkeling. The kids will notice right away things like they drive on the right hand side of the road, that Burger Kings are called Hungry Jacks, and Australian money is far more colorful than American money. They will learn that people can speak the same language and do things differently than we do.
Oh I can only imagine the nasty stories that a Jon and Ell…oops I mean a secret “insider” are going to release about Kate now and how horrible of a mother she is. How dare she take the kids out of school and torture them by locking them up on an airplane for 15 hours! She must be the worst parent ever!
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I sure hope they enjoy themselves and are able to enjoy their time without the papo’s in their face the entire time.
Before anyone jumps to the missed school argument, definitely check and see what the schedule is. Many private schools in my area go with two semesters with a 3-4 week break. The break can be used for any number of one of a kind experiences. Scuba lessons in science and a Caribbean trip to document coral damage. Yes, very expensive experiences. It also facilitates families that have vacation timeshares etc. So it just might be that the children will return with journals and scrapbooks as their break projects.
Some schools are on Tri-semesters. Some go to school all year long with breaks in between. Every school is different.
Paige, as usual, you have made great points – backed by actual experience!
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MarieS, if you can believe it (I am sure you can), some of the hate sites have been reviewing the online Student Handbook for the Gosselin children’s school. Hint to the school – take this document offline and give the parents a password to access. According to them, school will resume January 4th. In other news, the Obamas will be extending their vacation and their daughters will also be missing a couple of days of school. So far, I don’t hear much outrage (even from Republicans). I guess most people realize it is up to the parent to make these type of decisions…Except when it involves Kate, of course. Then we all weigh in!
I hope Kate and the kids have a blast! What a great opportunity for them all.
I does irritate me that they always say Steve is Kate’s bodyguard, he is the bodyguard for the entire family. And while I haven’t visited the hate sites, I’m sure they are all talking about the 2 nannies, so what if she took nannies with her, she has to have help with the kids, even Super Nanny couldn’t watch 8 kids on her own.
As for the kids missing school, that is really none of our business, I’m sure Kate took care of all the details with that, she has always placed the highest importance on education.
some of the hate sites have been reviewing the online Student Handbook for the Gosselin children’s school. Hint to the school – take this document offline and give the parents a password to access.
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This is ludicrous to me. This is beyond hate for someone, it’s simply downright stalking and obsessive. I mean really? What “normal” human being would go so far as to research the school the kids go to and pull up the school documents? That’s downright scary. No wonder the poor woman doesn’t go anywhere without a body guard. Geesh.
How much does the “source close to Jon” make every time there is a closed door hearing? ROL is has an article on how Jon made a desperate attempt to stop Kate from taking the kids to Australia. He’s quite the victim.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/12/exclusive-jon-gosselin-asked-judge-stop-kate-taking-kids-australia
Anya, that’s so creepy. Just unbelievable.
Does Jon not realize that he’s only harming himself with these nasty stories? If he was smart enough to say something along the lines of “I’ll miss the kids but what a great opportunity for them” he would garner so much more sympathy, and respect – and not just from the haterz. Taking the high road on his part would make him a hero to so many more people than playing the victim does. Too bad he’s too dim to realize that.
I think it speaks volumes about Jon that the courts let Kate take the children out of the country and Jon couldn’t stop it. The “court of public opinion” doesn’t matter.
Last night Jon took a real beating on the “hate” blogs from non fans. On one or two particular blogs there was several insiders that were fighting the good fight for Jon but did not make a whole lot of progress in changing people’s minds. One insider sounded pretty familiar.
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Today, ROL comes out with a post about how Jon made a desperate attempt to stop filming.
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Too coincidental?
$Jennie LOL! Thanks for the smile in post #12…vague demographic proximity…or as we shall now call it vdp.
That first Radar online link mentions Steve Neild. I really wish they would stop writing “supposed love interest” insinuating something that’s not there. So disrespectful to so many people, mainly Mrs. Neild. He’s her bodyguard, nothing more. Geeze ROL, stop your nonsese and get your facts straight.
pattypies…my very thought. Show me the proof that Jon went to court over this trip. If Kate just won total control over decision making in re. to filming, I DOUBT any lawyer worth his salt would have left out…’out of country’. Getting those passports was no simple feat…& I’m quite sure those 8 would have told Jon, many moons ago, that they went to get them!
I agree HB and pattypie, getting passports takes up tp six weeks. Jon is just playing the victime again. Using his kids to keep his name in the paper. The “source close to Jon” needs to know that selling false stories could end them up in court.
Pam, yeah its a coincidence alright. I read the comments on the BL and gwop. The response (because that is what it is) on ROL is almost taken point by point. Jon and Ellen saw that Jon was being questioned about why he did nothing about the trip. They could not be more obvious.
Wasn’t there an episode of J&K + 8 getting passports? If memory serves me, and it may not, lol, they were all going to Korea.
Pam-I saw the photos of arrival, too. It’s just that I’ve learned from experience not to jump ahead of the verifiable facts. Remember when they had Kate going to Europe? I was hoping the stories were true I’ve loved Australia ever since I saw “Crocodile Dundee”.
It is being reported that Jon and Ellen have been making plans for New Year’s Eve for a month with friends to party. Jon knew of this trip, so ROL paid Jon for a false story. Jon just scammed money, for his night out on the town. LOL
Pam and others, yes it’s quite the coinkidink that after Jon’s raking on the blogs last night that, lo and and behold…a ROL story telling of his desperate attempt to stop it. I had a hope that he would just roll with it instead of continuing to fight their battles publicly.
Paula, I remember them getting passports. It was one of the last J&K’s that they put together w/some mixed footage. That’s when they were going to go to Korea.
If he was smart enough to say something along the lines of “I’ll miss the kids but what a great opportunity for them”
Suesmom, I agree it would have been so nice to hear Jon say something along those lines. This public bickering is not good for the kids.
Paula, I do remember dreaming of taking the 8 to Jon’s roots, but don’t think passports were a theme. Also rethought Jon having to go to court to deny permission for the 8 to travel out of country. I think there was a new law that BOTH parents have to sign for the children to travel out of country b/c of abductions…! While Kate has ‘primary custody’, I don’t believe Jon has lost parental rights in re. to medical, education, religion etc. – that includes signing off on foreign travel. I believe Kate needed Jon’s signature on the passport application in person or notarized. My 1st thought was that after the reported ‘6 hr. hearing’ in re. to TLC filming the 8, that foreign travel would be part of that hand-wringing. So much for my thinking outside the legal box…which I obviously KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!
PS…does anyone remember the rumor that Jon & Kate were adopting a Korean baby? My, my what a daft amount of National Enquirer stuff fills the blog rolls! ;0)
HB, re: the Korean adoption, IRC, that was real. I had almost forgotten about that. They didn’t meet the requirements for the country’s adoption, but I can’t remember what disqualified them. Kate talked about another baby.
I don’t understand when traveling became akin to torture. The haters act like travel is a alien concept and don’t realize that some people and families plane hop all the time.
First class to Australia, ain’t too shabby. I’ve always been jealous walking past those special seats.
HB, If you want to take your child on a trip outside the country and your ex won’t sign the application, what do you do? You should talk to your attorney, but your most likely course of action will be to petition the court to order your ex to sign the application. I found this info on a womens divorce site.
Looks like if anyone was called to court it was Jon to get him to sign the papers! Which he obviously did.
Lily I agree, from the pictures they all look great!
Paula, I like your take much better! ;0) Only out of pure malice would a father deny his children such an opportunity. The very thought he’d miss them NEW YEARS is absurd. (I hope they call him from Sydney when they ring in 2011!…15 hrs. difference, I believe.)
I think this trip was planned several months ago and Jon knew all about it. The source just wants to stir the pot and of course Kate and the kids take the blame again. 🙁 There’s always a hero who thinks they can sell out a family for their own pleasures.
snicker, interesting thought! Your simple explanation surely puts Radar’s lastest scoop to rest. Jon did know exactly what was in the future filming schedule for Kate + 8 when he initially tweeted his LOSS in court. He couldn’t stop the filming using the 2 who were ALREADY exhibiting problems at school. So that drip, drip of leaked info kept him in the news & looking the ever-present, concerned father. Wow, master manipulator. Your take would also explain why Ellen was intent on finding out who stole their thunder. The stories that they had lined up no longer fit their campaign…the very reason for that article that Kate & Jon make peace over Christmas & NEW YEARS. Jon knew all along he’d not have the children New Years! OUCH…how sad is that?
I do believe one of the ‘nannies’ looks like the in-home tutor in the Aussie press photo. ;0)
The trip IS a wonderful opportunity for the children. However; I do not think they should have taken the trip at this time. Why not take the trip when 6 out of the 8 kids are OUT of school? On a different topic, why has Kate not gotten a job? How long will Kate try and “break into the business” before she realizes she may not have what it takes. Bless her heart, but I just do not think she has what it takes to be in showbiz. The more she films the children the more it seems like she IS exploiting them for money IMO. Also, the “bodyguard” bit is beginning to be a bit much. If Kate were to get a job say on the View, would the bodyguards accompany her to work? The whole situation is getting to be really weird. I am NOT a “hater”. In fact, I used to be a MAJOR Jon and Kate fan but now not so much. The only episodes I’ve watched are the chicken coop epi., discovery cove and sarah palin epi.
a different topic, why has Kate not gotten a job?
I don’t understand this question at all. Kate has worked steadily all 2010. She earned more on her book advance/royalties than I earned in 2010. She earned more on DWTS than I earned all 2010. She earned more being on magazine covers than I earned all 2010. And Kate earned more than I did in 2010 for just her part in the Kate Plus 8 series of specials.
How many other people who earned a reported $3.5 million in 2010 are told to get a job. How many other people who earned that much are told they don’t have what it takes to make it?
Also, the “bodyguard” bit is beginning to be a bit much.
Why does anyone care what role Steve Nield plays in Kate’s life? I think he is more than a bodyguard – it is clear that he is a sounding board for her and I think he serves somewhat in the role of manager (as shown on one special encouraging her to make a decision about the DTWS rehersal and recommending what do at a book signing). Kate has denied that there is romantic involvement but she has not denied that he is more than a bodyguard. Why does it matter to anyone but Steve Nields family?
Kate did, at one point, talk about still wanting the experience of having just one baby, but, given their track record on fertility treatments, trying to have just one biological child was too big a gamble which is why she spoke of adoption. Adopting from Korea was one option mentioned because she didn’t want any baby who was adopted to feel out of place.
As for why Steve is needed, the fact that people like Nosy Neighbor pursuing them to the corn maze is ample evidence. In any event, Kate and Gina are friends and have been photographed together including when the entire Neild family have been guests at Kate’s home. I think Steve has become both a trusted advisor and a supportive friend along with his wife to Kate. Jon admitted starting that rumor. I think there are a lot of reasons someone like Jon Gosselin has for feeling jealous of Steve Neild that don’t involve Steve and Kate having an inappropriate relationship.
“I do not think they should have taken the trip at this time. Why not take the trip when 6 out of the 8 kids are OUT of school?”
That’s exactly what they did. All of the kids are off for Christmas break. If they are going to be away for a little extra time when kids are returning from Christmas break, then I’m sure Kate has weighed the pros and cons of that situation, and has determined that experiencing the beauty of Australia outweighs the supposed “negative” of missing a few days of school, especially at this age. I think a lot of older people fail to take into consideration the fact that the Internet can make staying up to date with school work and assignments while away so much easier than it was when they were kids. And let’s not forget that Kate keeps the kids active with “school type” assignments (coloring/identifying shapes etc.) even when they are on summer break. I guess for people intent on criticizing Kate no matter what she does, this could be a nice jumping off point. ‘Oh, poor kids, Kate forces them to do school work even during summer break.’ There, now I’ve saved the critics the time it would take to type that critique.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Nicole!
AngelsMom,
Why not, a trip of a lifetime, a few days of missed school. Educators today say we need well rounded children for the future on our country. Who knows, maybe one of the kids will do something international someday. I think the G’s kids adapt to their way of life more than any of us will ever know. If you think that staying home because two are homeschooled, well they can do that anywhere. We have home schooled kids here where I live and they ride their bikes and play in the mud when other kids are in school. The rules are much different for them as a structured school day. We also have high school kids who do not attend school in a building at all anymore. Everything is done over over the internet, and I can see the G’s being hooked to their classrooms.
Why, you ask, has Kate not gotten a job? Do you want an answer?
I finally found my way to that crazy woman’s site. I hope TLC & Kate’s security team are watching her blog. The things she talks about are blatant stalking. She’s scary and promoting her own hateful agenda. It’s hard for me to believe her activities are legal. I’m glad there are sites like this one that do not bully. I think Kate’s team allows this because all of the people that spend time on these blogs spewing vile accusations, are die hard viewers. TLC may be the “source” for all we know. Controversy=ratings. The only drawback for this family is the day these kids Google themselves.
Here’s a thought for anyone who thinks taking the kids out of school could be an issue – maybe (this is a big maybe since I do not personally know Kate)the kids received the assignments they were going to miss before Christmas break started.
If I know ahead of time that my children are going to miss school I always ask for their assignments and they complete them before returning to school.
TLC would not issue a stement to ROL for any reason. Jon has been on twitter for months boo-hooing. He is so behind in support, and owes everyone money. He needs quick bucks and now Hailey has appeared in the public again, maybe she will finally sue him in court also.
I’m sure the kids had their homework done or are connected to the scholl via the internet. They don’t film 24/7.
Thanks to snickers for alerting us to a new picture of Kate and the kids that is making its way around. I posted it in the main post on this thread.
Wow, Kate looks tan in that picture. She looks good, but I think I’d tell her to back off the self-tanning for a bit! It’s nice to see Mady smiling. I bet all the kids are happy to get out of cold PA and into the southern hemisphere.
Oh, I can almost feel that warm sand between my toes. Oops, I would have to move to a warmer climate here first. 🙂 Hope they are having a great time.
Ladies: I am NOT bashing Kate or the children taking the trip to Australia. The trip seems like a great adventure and a wonderful learning experience for the kids. I simply am questioning the TIMING of this trip. I believe I read the trip will last app. 3 weeks. That means the children will be missing several days of school. I believe the children attend a school with a very advanced curriculum . We know two of the children are already having difficulties so I hope the trip will not have a negative impact on their school work. Also, I believe Australia/NZ is having relentless flooding at this time. Personally, I would have planned the trip during the summer months but that is just my opinion.
My comment about Kate getting a job I feel is a valid question. We know Kate has made several attempts to “break into show biz”. I believe she tried out for a spot on a pilot talk show with Paula Deen. She also tried out for a spot on the View (it was rumored Elizabeth Hasselback was leaving for Fox News.) Kate also tried for the host spot on Entertainment tonight. Obviously, Kate was not chosen for any of these jobs. When is enough enough? As we know, Jon also wanted to continue a career in television (a show about divorced dads) but nothing came of it. Jon was forced to get a “real” job. Kate can and should do the same whether it be as a nurse or in the entertainment field IMO. I still stand by comments concerning Steve Neild. The entire situation is very strange. Jon had every reason to be suspicious of Mr. Neild. I have never heard of a body guard becoming his CLIENT’S manager, assistant what have you EVER. If I am wrong I stand corrected.
I believe Australia/NZ is having relentless flooding at this time.
Australia’s land mass is as big as the US. This would be like saying that someone should not travel to New York because there is flooding in Washington State and Oregon.
Kate can and should do the same whether it be as a nurse or in the entertainment field IMO.
When she stops making millions in the entertainment field, I will conclude that she has failed in that endeavor. Do you know how many parts most working actors try out for everyone they get?
Jon had every reason to be suspicious of Mr. Neild.
Jon has not been married to Kate for over a year. He has no right to be suspicious about any invovlement she has with any man. The public thinks they have a right to be suspicious but it is no one’s business.
AngelsMom did you know that its summer in Australia right now, when its summer here its winter there. I’m sure that had a lot to do with the timing of the trip.
For what it’s worth, I think long ago when Jon admitted he floated his suspicions about Steve (NO PROOF) – the fact still remains Steve has a ownership in his Security Firm & has a long resume of who he has been on ‘detail’ for. Steve hires bodyguards. From what I understand, he does the research in advance & decides how to safely facilitate filming &/or getting from point A to B, & so on. IF he were not so stand-out good looking, I’m not sure he’d be the brunt of continued rumors. I’d like to believe there are professionals that do their job, & ‘friendship’ is a safe boundary in the needed trust between client & job. Seeing as Jon has a ‘morals clause’ in his contract, one could safely assume TLC would not be paying for Steve for behind the scenes poor behavior in re. to Kate either. Just the same as Kate needs to trust the TLC camera crew around the 8. If anything in that arena is curious…it is the fact that Kevin Keider said he’d learned some insider info from a TLC employee at the Murt hearing. One would also think that comment did not go w/o notice from Steve & TLC.
I would like to ask what happened to Jon’s bodyguard/private pap?? He had him employed long after Kate and him split. That bodyguard was never seen when Jon had his kids with him, only when Jon was out for the night in bars. That bodyguard was with Jon when Kevin and Jon were bar crawling in NY, and taking pictures of them and selling them to the highest bidder.
Steve was hired by TLC to do a job. With all the negative that is out there for Kate and her children, at least TLC has seen that someone is there to protect them from the crazies.
snickers, if that bodyguard’s name was Tom Meinhelt, he was deposed in the TLC discovery…he’d told Stephanie Santoro that he’d seen a sex video of Jon in LA, & also made accusations that Jon was using cocaine. Not the sorta of bodyguard/friend Jon would want around anymore!
HB,
Thanks, Jon could become famous yet, ugh!!
Ladies, I missed so much!
You know, there are some people who think the whole school year schedule, based on the antiquated agricultural schedule of ending when the heavy planting season kicks in, is abusive. Two of my kids are claiming it’s abusive to make them go back tomorrow (Mon. after New Year’s.) All that sitting…they really wish they had a family “job” of flying to Australia and being filmed in their new swimsuits.
This is another story out by the Australian Herald Sun that talks about who is with Kate and the kids. It really doesn’t give that much info.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad-application/mum-tours-with-huge-entourage/story-fn6bn80a-1225980634340
The NN says she has a “source” who told her that Jon tried to stop the kids from going. Until she names her source, it remains all bs to the public. She also says she is going to write a book about the G’s. Oh my, now who is making money off the G’s.
If only I could fail so miserably at something while making a reported 3.5 million last year. Yes , why anyone wouldn’t give that up to get a “job” is just beyond me.
I have seen some give Michelle Duggar gets a pass on filming her children because they own rental property. So I guess if Kate buys a small apartment complex she also would qualify for the same free pass?
Maybe for a normal family this would be an education trip. But when you have kids as damaged as they are, expelled from school, needing tutoring and counseling, they should not be force to work over THEIR Christmas vacation. Kate needs to get a job to support her kids, not the other way around. No word on a therapist being along to handle all the damage she’ll be reinforcing during this trip. How many days will she and Steve disappear this time?
The 8 are doomed:
Where are you getting your information. I have not seen one thing published exactly who is on the trip with them. According to YOU you think they need all these things in life.As a working Mother I guess you better include Mothers who go to work for 10 hours a day and take their kids to day care or leave them at a after school program every day. Kate is with her kids more than most parents are.I’m glad you said it was “THEIR” vacation, because just because they are filming they are doing fun things . All expenses paid for a wonderful winter vacation.
Your story about Steve is your story.
The NN responded to an internet rumor about the dog being chained outside the house for the last 3 days. She actually called the Humane Society (on New Year’s Day holiday) and informed them “who she was”??? and told them about reading this rumor online and they were supposed to go check it out. What a psycho.
Morrie,
I hope if the dog is being cared for, the Humane Society fines her for filing a false report. When are these people going to leave this family alone. They have gone too far. Some lawyer needs to get involved for the safety of Kate and her children.
The 8 are not doomed and they are not damaged. I bet they are having a great time in Australia and the kids are filmed playing on a Beach just recently, that is not work. Why not advocate for children in sweat shops or in Mexico forced to sell PeZ Dispensers and then return every penny made to a pimp, they don’t even get to keep any profit to even buy something to eat. (This is no joke, it is happening in Mexico).
I don’t get the melodramatics that those who dislike Kate will assume and make up, and why they go from one blog to another to stir the pot of hate for Kate.
Kate took her children on a once in a lifetime trip to Australia and New Zealand, her children are going to return with so much to share with their classmates and what a learning experience, to travel and be so diversified and have their horizons broadened beyond the United States.
Good for them, I hope they have a safe and fun adventure and build many memories together, a mother and her 8 children, who will forever be able to look back and share in a special event together.
Kate has a job and had income earning opportunities besides the show with her children. Just because it is not a job of your liking or what you consider “a job”, does not mean she needs to give up this amazing opportunity and amazing fun, trips, earnings, and financial security, to please a select few fanatically obsessed internet haters.
To the 8 are Doomed: Go visit a large farm and watch children work on a farm. THAT is work! Pitching manure, milking cows, driving trucks, tractors, combining, swatching, raking hay, planting potatoes, bailing large and small straw bails, stacking small straw bails, feeding pigs, chickens, guinea hens, cows, horses, sheep, goats. Detailing lambs, vaccinating the animals, branding, sheering sheep, moving snow just to get to the barnyards and feed storage, mechanical maintenance, mowing ditches, mowing the farm yard, planting trees, picking rocks out of fields, driving truck for harvest, hauling bails, and the list on a family farm goes on and on and is forever never ending.
The Gosselin children are not working! What they do while filming is playing and being recorded experiencing new things, new sites, laughing, smiling and sharing their individual experience while being asked simple little interview questions.
They are filmed being kids, playing together, sometimes fighting like siblings do, they are not involved in heavy labor or being over worked.
I just can’t understand the thinking that those 8 little kids are doomed. I find it so sad that people are so quick to label the kids because a couple had some problem at school.
The8, They are not spending their vacation moving rocks. Their work is to be themselves while being filmed some. It is work because they are being paid for it. But, it’s natural for them to be themselves. The last time I remember them filming was a few days in October. That was two months ago.
If I may? 🙂
It’s not so much to me what they are doing while they’re working it’s more the cameras. They can’t go anywhere without pictures being snapped. They have no privacy in public. Everywhere they go people are staring and pointing at them. They can’t just run on the beach carefree and not worry about people looking at them and taking pictures or go school shopping without a camera in their face. They only time that I know of when they don’t have cameras in their little faces are when they are in school or at home. It’s not natural. If the rumors are right one of the boys even hid his face when he was getting his school picture taken. It’s probably too late now, they will have cameras in their faces the rest of their lives but I just wish they could have somewhat of a normal childhood.
Kate didn’t take the kids anywhere. Their employer TLC took them. Kate can barely drive them to the bus stop on a daily basis. They are the ones that are gone 10 hours a day in school – no excuse for her not to have a full time job.
The 8 are doomed:
You seem to think Kate needs to get a job. She has a contract with TLC and that is her job. When will you say something about Jon contributing some support for his children. Just asking~~~~~~.
someone sounds jealous of Kate and her children going to Australia and of Kate’s earnings and benefits with TLC
She didn’t call the Humane Society, she called the police! I’m a huge animal lover, but I can’t even begin to imagine reporting this to the police based on Internet gossip. If she were so concerned, why didn’t she go look for herself?
We have a new post up
https://imperfectwomen.com/hypocrite-extraordinaire-part-ii/
I am not a fan of Kate’s; I’ll state that outright. I realize most of the posters here support her and think it is fine for her and the kids to continue filming. I realize most of the posters here have issues with Jon. But here’s what bothers me and I wonder if it bothers any of you guys: don’t you find it odd and sad how disconnected Kate is from her children? Does it make you uncomfortable how mean she is to them? Isn’t it strange that she lets other people take care of her kids when she is available and capable of doing so herself? (ie: how the palins fed, entertained and took care of the 8 while Kate whined). For me, I find Kate so difficult to stomach because of the way she ignores her kids or yells orders or threats at them when she does pay attention to them. She really doesn’t seem to enjoy those kids. She may, but it doesn’t seem that way to me. Please don’t attack.. I’m asking this sincerely. Do you have a problem with her treatment of the kids?
Hi Melissa. No, I don’t. She doesn’t come across as a warm mother all the time to me, either. But often she does, and I try to remember that the show is edited to garner ratings. Over the years, Kate and TLC have been rewarded with higher ratings when she is portrayed as whining or crabby at Jon for a portion of the show. Not to satisfy her fans, but her critics.
I wouldn’t put too much stock in what I see on a reality show. I missed the Palin show, but you know what I was sure to check the next day? The ratings. Palin’s ratings, already very good, went UP when Kate was on. Her non-fans, teased by the clip of her whining about the sandwich, were more loyal than, oh, say, me, who watched something else that night. They watched. In high numbers. Because Kate’s whining sells.
So, while I think we see the “real” Kate, I think we see a distilled version of her. What we like and what we don’t like will be intensified by squeezing 3 days of filming into 22 minutes.
I also use another trick to guage how well she relates to her children: their behavior. Her kids respond well to her; they obey her; they do not avoid her; they hold her hand; sit with her; try to interrupt to get her attention; complain to her when the want something; hug, kiss, and laugh with her. I’ve seen them playfully tease her. They are certainly not afraid of her.
You said she doesn’t seem to enjoy those kids. I think she doesn’t really enjoy the travel chores, packing, and drudgery of getting ready for these trips. I think she enjoys the kids and the vacations very much when they arrive at the destination. JMO.
Melissa:
I think Kate can be short with her kids,but trying to just keep structure would be hard for anyone even with help. You have at least 6 kids running in a dfferent direction all the time. I think it’s better that she has paid help, then to expect the twins to be her babysitters or helpers all the time. That’s all I have seen on the Duggers, the older girls always take care of the younger kids, they cook, they clean, they get the groceries etc, and Michelle seems to ignore them also. The older Dugger kids even have been shown teaching school to the younger ones.
I think when they are filming Kate has to listen to all the instructions in her ear and has to be ready to move with the kids at all times. I think when they are home and in the privacy of their own home, Kate spends a lot of wind down time with her children. Now that J/K are divorced, all we see Jon do is play with the kids, while his focus also should be making a living to help support them, and not selling his kids out to the rags for a few bucks. IMO.
anya, thanks for your answer. While we may perceive things differently, I do respect your point of view and appreciate your well articulated answer, and LOVE that it stays on subject without diversions. I agree that TLC is playing more to the critics these days. While this may drum up ratings, it either encourages ugly behavior from Kate or encourages the editors to paint her as a witch/buffoon/whiner. She may be paid well for this, but being portrayed so negatively, real or not, cannot be good for that family. No matter where the truth lies, like it or not, people will and do believe she is that person who is so unlikable on Kate plus 8. I hope things are not as bleak within that house as people are led to believe, I really do.
http://bradsbeard.com/kate-gosselin-kids-brisbane-bunch/
There is a nice picture attached with this article. Looks like they are in Brisbane.
Oh, I guess ROL is all over that news and has more pictures. http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/01/photos-kate-gosselin-her-brood-arrive-brisbane
Well, those pictures are interesting. For all of the folks following the great hair extension drama – It appears that she has reduced or removed the majority of the extensions. Wearing your hair pulled back with a head band the extension root would be more noticeable.
Marie S
I did read somewhere that with Kate’s last trip to New York- all extensions were removed and her hair is all her own.
Melissa – Kate has proven for years she does not care what the negative naysayers spew about her. She continues to live her life as SHE sees fit. Hopefully, she is teaching her children the same thing.
I will never understand how people think the Gosselin children have such a horrible life. All you have to do is watch Kate + 8 and you will see the love and devotion Kate and her children share.
I am so glad that the pictures in the airport the kids looked rested. Cause if they didn’t the media would have been all over it and the media coverage would have been uncontrollable. I still have a question regarding Steve Nield… now, before Kate and Jon divorced they all got passports for a trip to Korea to visit Jon’s “homeland” now they are visiting Steve Nield’s homeland of New Zealand… to cause more “flurry of rumors” I would think TLC would be more cautious.. We all know Steve is more than a bodyguard. I don’t get on ROL cause it messes up my computer, but Thanksgiving, I saw pics of Steve’s son but not of Gina. If she was there that is fine. But the overseas trip is just something I was unable to overlook. As for the kids missing out on school, 3 weeks is a long time to miss but hopefully they did the homework before they left and turned it in or they will have alot of work to do when they return. JMO.
BMBMGoBLUE – Yes, Steve is not only her bodyguard but he and HIS WIFE are good friends of Kate. There has NEVER been one picture showing anything inappropriate between Kate and Steve. Please explain what you mean by “We all know Steve is more than a bodyguard”. Just because you did not see Gina’s picture it is not proof she was not there!
I feel TLC and Kate are proving they could care less about the “flurry of rumors”. They know the truth and that is all that matters.
I didn’t mean that any hanky panky is going on between Steve and Kate. He is her handler. TLC employs him because he can handle Kate to be able to cope and manage all the stuff that Kate deals w/when she is alone.
Good to know you don’t think there is any hanky panky goin on.
IMO it is still strange regarding the trip coincidence w/Steve’s homeland and when they were planning a trip to Jon’s homeland. To me 3 weeks is a long time to be out of school. My boys were out of school for 10 days and they had tons to do before the trip so I can’t imagine 8 kids and homework. I know it is early in their trip but I hope they show more pics than bikini pics and beach and swim pics of Kate & 8.
BoBlue
I doubt anyone will see pictures of what they have done or will be doing except for some free time of swimming etc. They won’t show the kids doing homework, that will be private also. They will save the exciting things they have done for the show.
Did you miss the pictures of them at the Brisbane airport? Lots of smiles from the whole family.
This is off topic, but I attended a Women in Denim Conference today and we had 15 ladies at my table. I thought I would throw Kates name out to see what kind of reaction I would get. 14 out of the 15 said how great that this Mother with this large family could have a TV show to support them all. The 1 negative only thought they should just film a few specials a year. They said if we tell women they cannot move forward at every opportunity that comes to us if life, we will just be behind the men in big corporations again. No one seem to be concerned about kids missing a few days of school as a lot of these women travel for a month at a time and their kids are left with ,nannies,relatives or entended family. They all missed their children while on the road, but it was the sacrifice they were making to keep off the welfare roles. They are all hooked to the internet, can see their kids and talk to them daily over skype. Some were in private school, while others were in public school. One Mother has 3 children, divorced, and has taken each child alone on a trip overseas with her. She said the learning of the culture and what their Mother did was very rewarding to them. I just found this all to be very interesting over a lunch break. My world sure seemed very small as some of these women flew in to give the conference. I decided maybe I need to travel more. 🙂
For anyone who does not know what this conference is about , it is for women who own farms, work on farms, work in implement business and land management from real estate, to ownership of land. It’s quite surprising of how many women own land acrross America. Thanks for letting me share this with all of you.
Very interesting, snickers. I had never heard of Women In Denim before. Sounds like a group of women supporting women in a positive way.
Snickers, that is nice to hear and I totally agree with Pam — how wonderful for woman to take the time to support each other in a positive way.
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Also interesting that over 90% of the group was so positive regarding Kate. I think it speaks to the fact that the internet encourages people to share their unconstructive and pessimistic thoughts much more readily than our encouraging and upbeat ones. That is really a shame.
To clarify, Kate’s kids are missing 9 days of school at most – four this week and 5 next. I’ve been reading “3 weeks” on a couple of sites, and that’s an exaggeration.
BMBMGoBlue-Australia is a major tourist destination, and New Zealand is increasingly one also (especially after The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed there). In terms of visuals and cool things for the kids to do, I don’t think you can beat Australia and New Zealand. A lot of their other trips have been based on an invitation from someone, a resort or other major destination spot (like Discovery Cove), so I think it’s likely there was some kind of invitation. Quite frankly, I think this idea that it has anything to do with visiting Steve’s “homeland” as a reason for choosing it is all in your head (of course, Nosy Neighbor thinks New Zealand, which is actually larger than Great Britain, is a small island and this just has to be a trip for Kate to meet his folks) is purely your imagination.
Korea was another matter entirely. For starters, both Jon AND Kate were always very gung ho about making the kids familiar with their father’s heritage, which, of course, means that it is part of THEIR heritage. Korea is a lovely, ancient country but you really don’t hear much of South Korea as being much of a major family tourist destination except among those of Korean ancestry. When the kids are in New Zealand, I’m sure it will add to it that Steve can add to the experience, but it’s not part of the kids’ heritage.
Speaking of Steve – notice that when in Australia he is not in the pap photos so he is walking outside the field of vision. This is what bodyguards do if there isn’t a reasonable expectation that their client will be physically attacked. That’s why we don’t see the four bodyguards that travel with Angie and Brad.
So that means that when Kate + 8 are out and about in the US and Steve is within 4 feet of them it is because there is reason to believe they could be physically harmed.
It also seems that whoever the paps were at the airport they were saying things that everyone found funny. How different from what the paps shout in the US.
Snickers, thanks for sharing that. Ever since I started watching J&K+8, I’ve never found anyone that watches the show. Before there was so much info out on her, I used to really wonder who her fanbase was. Now, of course, everyone knows her name, but I still don’t know anyone who watches or who is interested. Sounds like an interesting group. Yes, travel more. There’s so much to see!
MarieS, interesting observations. I’m always a little surprised when Kate is caught smiling in a pap shot since she tries so hard to ignore them. Nice to see them coming off the plane looking so happy.
as i read these comments the thing that keeps pounding in my head: do these commenters really have children of their own?? my husband and i were the grownups, our kids were that; occasionally and i do mean occasionally one or both ofv us would play a game with them or go to the park BUT generally they did the playing or the reading or whatever on their own.and every family i knew did the same thing. my children are grown up to be great family people. yet every other comment i read here or at other sites it’s the kids aren’t smiling or kates not paying attention blah blah . i’ve stopped reading any comment that talks of the failure of kate. the kids look happy sometimes and unhappy sometimes and completely neutral sometime and for goodness sake they’re 6 years ild. just one other thing. tlc has a video that has aaden getting right up to the camera chomping on a mouthful of popcorn. no stress there.
Lily,
I think my area enjoys family shows more because of the travel that the G’s do. They get to see things that most would never get to do. Also, many have had bigger families, and cable added a lot to their lives. The women that I’m involved with are strong business owners, so they watch what is going on in the money world. They watch markets, trade, travel, stocks, futures etc. They watch product placements on Tv programs, as many are involved with things that come from basic product to the end result.