Kate Gosselin has a blog on TLC’s website called Kate’s Take. In her most recent entry she blogs about her punctuality issues.
Punctuality issues, in my opinion, are a sign of being an overachiever. I become distracted trying to perfect everything in my path, attempting to do that one last thing and ultimately lose focus and … leave late for my destination thus arriving late!
So, the next time someone comes running into the waiting room or the meeting room late … instead of assuming they are a slacker, just smile because they’ve probably accomplished more than you would think possible today!
(Side note: I still strive to be punctual because it is most proper and respectful… And teach my children to do the same!)
What is your take on Kate’s take? Do you think punctuality issues are signs of being an overachiever or is that just a weak excuse for being late?
We also wanted to bring to your attention an article that was in the Reading Eagle yesterday- Local connections make ‘Dancing With the Stars’ trip special.
Kate Gosselin donated four VIP tickets to a Lancaster Country Day School for the final taping of DWTS. You can click on the link above to read the full article but Carol Wells, one of the ladies that was lucky enough to go on the trip had this to say about Kate:
“Kate Gosselin was so warm,” Carol said. “She was very nice and went out of her way to introduce us to everyone.”
I commented on the last thread about this. I do not think being a serial late-arriver is a sign of over-achieving or perfectionism. I think it is rude. I am occasionally late and I am sorry for it each and every time. It’s always wrong. We all get the same 24 hours in the day. To make someone else waste her minutes waiting for you to over-achieve strikes me as selfish. I am not saying Kate is selfish (I don’t believe that.) I am disagreeing with her perspective about being late. She’s busy, I understand that. She has a lot of kids, and I make allowances for that. I just think she should own that it is rude, no matter the reason, to be late. She should not try to pass it off as a sign of someone who accomplishes more than the ones who showed up on time, because it isn’t.
Yes, this is a pet peeve of mine.
About the local connection:
It is great to read something positive about Kate coming out of The Reading Eagle. That doesn’t happen too often anymore. It is also very nice to read Kate being described as warm. What a fabulous raffle prize for someone from Pennsylvania! The accompanying photo shows a very attractive group.
I don’t agree with this take either. Late is late. Pet peeve of mine also.
I know quite a few chronic late people and not one of them would I consider an “overachiever.” My feelings are that if there are so many things in your life causing you to be late, than you must readjust your life.
I agree with you ladies. Late is rude, period. I don’t see it as being an “overachiever” either. As Pam said, readjust something in your life.
I do hope she strives harder to not be late and be punctual. Just because you have alot of things to do, doesn’t excuse the tardiness. You should always show respect to those who you are meeting and arrive early or on time.
Actually, I have to disagree with you three. I read Kate’s blog. I don’t think she thinks being late is OK. I just think she’s learning to be a little less judgmental herself. I have known people who were late as soom sort of weird power trip etc. I have known people who, for want of a better term, were time-deaf. However, I worked for a perfectionist like that for a long time, and there were times when it was very hard to get projects out because she was so obsessed with getting them absolutely perfect. We’d periodically have to remind her that , when there was a deadline, perfect had to play second fiddle to being filed on time.
The Reading Eagle article is cool. For one thing they made it clear that it was the women with the tickets who made it public, not Kate, & that Kate was trying to do something nice for this school without tooting her own horn. I’m glad she made it such a memorable experience for these woman. They look absolutely over the moon with happiness in the photo.
I agree that Kate probably doesn’t think it is OK to be late. But I still think her excuse is lame, LOL.
Everyone has things happen that cause them to be late once and awhile. No doubt about it. I guess what really bothers me are those people who are late that have no disregard for how disruptive their behavior can be to others when they are keeping other people from making their appointments on time. I don’t necessarily think Kate is doing this but I truly dislike it when people are chronically late. I really don’t think it is a sign of an overachiever. I think it is a sign of someone not being able to manage their time. 🙂
The Reading Eagle article is cool. For one thing they made it clear that it was the women with the tickets who made it public, not Kate, & that Kate was trying to do something nice for this school without tooting her own horn. ~PeggyP
I agree, that was really nice to read about. Kate made something special happen for another family that they will prob always remember. It was really nice of Kate to make sure they were introduced around.
It’s never okay to be late. It happens. It’s nice to read she’s learned not to be so judgmental about the fault of others since she’s been doing it herself.
I hate running late and yet it seems like I’m always running late – the good news is I’m rarely late for anything! The hap-hazardous cycle of “getting” ready and out the door sometimes is a result of losing focus of the goal (getting out the door on time) and getting side-tracked with other things while getting ready. I wouldn’t necessarily refer to it as being a perfectionist by any means.
I always cut slack for first-time offenders because I know life happens and try not to judge. However, regular offenders in the always-late department drive me bananas. It’s rude. Period.
The Reading Eagle story was super nice. Bet those ladies had a blast!
I make allowances for people who are late, especially for women with small children. I will be perfectly honest though: it is a lot easier to get little kids to “Move it, move it!” than it is to get teens to do so. They sleep in and figure they’ll take their own car.
Ann@IW says…. I will be perfectly honest though: it is a lot easier to get little kids to “Move it, move it!” than it is to get teens to do so.
Boy do I ever agree with that statement.
I can’t imagine what it will be like for Kate when she has 8 teens! I understand why she says “lalalalalalala” to herself whenever anyone brings up teenagers!
I kind of see both sides of the tardiness debate. I have a problem being on time. I think my problem stems not from being a perfectionist, but just being very unrealistic about how long it is going to take to get from Point A to Point B. I have gotten better, but there is more room for improvement. Because I have the problem myself, I tend not to be as critical of others that are late. I do agree that repeated tardiness is rude and shows a disregard for others. At least Kate recognizes she has an issue. I know some people who are chronically late that it doesn’t even seem to register with.
I love the Reading Eagle article. Nice to see positive local press.
Here is another nice piece about Kate:
Evan Lysacek Calls Kate Gosselin the ‘Sweetest Woman in the World’
http://tvwatch.people.com/2010/06/14/kate-gosselin-evan-lysacek-dancing-stars/
Pet peeve of mine also, and it has nothing to do with Kate! Once is no problem but after that it is just plain rude. I think it goes back to our life experiences. I started working at 17 for a big utility company and was right out of high school. You could not be late and if so could be docked or had to make the time up at lunch or after work. After a certain amount of lateness/illness, you could be suspended from work or fired, so I come from a different background than a lot of people. I can remember running down the street in the morning to make it to my desk at 8:00 and running back at lunch to make my 1:00 deadline. One of the reasons for the last one was that the other people in the office would take their lunch when I returned so if I was late, they would be late getting out. It was just courtesy. I was never an overachiever, just someone who obeyed the rules in life. Unfortunately, most of us are governed by the clock. I am surprised at Kate’s response though because I have always seen her as someone who is always in control because she has to be with 8 kids. She just never seemed like someone who would disregard appointments, etc., because she always seemed to have to keep a tight ship.
Umm, I already told you about my time management issues on the last thread *hangs her head in shame*. So I’ll just discuss the picture, wow…how fun would that be for those girls? I know some people may say..oh what’s the big deal so she comped some tickets. However, not always do celebs take the time to take the winner’s around & introduce them treating them like a guest. It was nice to see an article that was nice in the local paper, they do seem to be pretty hard on the G’s usually.
I’m one of those people who’s chronically early……….lol. In fact, I am so rarely late that on the rare occasion that I have been late the people waiting for me are concerned something’s happened to me. Still, though I try not to make judgements of people who are late if they seem to be sorry for being late, if that makes sense. Anyone can be late through no real fault of their own……due to traffic, weather, last minute phone ringing……that sort of thing, but what does bother me are the people who refuse to even try to be on time…..if it’s a 20 minute trip, they don’t leave until 10 minutes before they’re due, even though they could have left in time and then they walk in as though they have all the time in the world. That is rude and inexcusable in my opinion.
I agree with you, Mairposa. There are plenty of times that people are late and it is so out of their control. Traffic is something really hard to control if it is a major problem in a large city. A child that wakes up sick in the morning and someone needs to find child care is another reason that comes to mind.
I mostly get annoyed with people that are chronically late. I think that is just disrespectful.
I think there is no one reason why the chronically late are that way. Perfectionism may be one reason, but I doubt it’s anywhere near the most common reason. Poor time management and a lack of concern for being on time strike me as much more likely reasons.
I’m not great about being on time. I have good intentions, but often run just a few minutes behind for appointments, etc. Not horrendously late, but not punctual, either.
Mariposa, I agree with the way you framed this. I get annoyed less with someone being late and more with the latecomer excusing her(him)self with lame excuses. A truly sorry latecomer never irritates me.
I am definitely too jugmental, I think.
(Side note: I still strive to be punctual because it is most proper and respectful… And teach my children to do the same!)
I think this is the most important part of what Kate said. She understands being punctual is respectful and is teaching the kids that. As for reasons for not being punctional, I believe in her case it is perfectionism. However, for many people, it is poor planning, laziness, or power issues.
I was laughing because some of the haters are saying that Evan’s calling Kate sweet is part of a conspiracy with TLC. I guess the Reading Eagle is now in on that conspiracy. LOL.
Yes, credit to Kate for recognizing that it is good manners to be punctual. Paige you make a very valid point. I have been kept waiting due to “power issues” and you can be sure that makes me steam a lot more than someone who was stuck in traffic or even lost track of time. FWIW, I was late picking my daughter up today. I was perfecting nothing, lol. I just lost track of time. A lame excuse to be sure.
I am definitely too jugmental, I think.
Eh, part of being an “imperfect woman” – one we’re all guilty of, I think. I try to work on it, but my first reaction is often to reach for the torch and pitchfork.
There are a couple of articles out in the news recently. One is about Kate getting a new show. It is from msnbc.com and it says that Kate is rumored to get a dating show. You can find it here.
The other is from PopEater
It discusses what Kate is earning from the new show Kate Plus Eight and how much of that is going to the kids. Jon’s salary is mentioned in this article also. Who knows how true this is.
Thanks for the links Pam. I think she’d do well with a dating show. Do I believe love can be found on them? Not sure about that. But, I think she’d bring in huge ratings for the dating show and it would be very popular. (which I recall Ellen DeGeneres told her she should do…Get a Date with Kate is the name she proposed on her show when Kate was on).
It would be nice for her to meet a nice man. She deserves happiness on that front.
I remember a dating show rumor coming up before; I didn’t really believe it then and I have trouble believing it now. I guess we’ll see.
BTW, did anyone notice that, in the one family shot for Kate + 8, Mady has the red hat on that Kate has in the picture that accompanies this post.