Jon Plus 8 and Kate Plus 8
Posted on June 23rd, 2009 – 10:21 AMBy Kay Krhin
So we haven’t had a “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ post on Cribsheet yet. I have only seen glimpses of the show and quickly turned it because it stressed me out too much. Besides, watching anything on TV before collapsing on the couch for the 10:00 news is a rarity. However it did also put our life in perspective - life with two little ones is a piece of cake compared to the motions they need to go through to get through each day. (Which is why I’m assuming the show is so popular). Have a tough day? Turn that show on and sigh, “At least we’re not them….” They’ve been plastered all over magazine covers recently and now we know the inevitable “big announcement” they made last night was - they are getting a divorce.
But their story puts the spotlight on a topic we haven’t discussed on Cribsheet yet. Divorce. Already a heartwrenching decision. But when there are kids involved everything is intensified. I know many of our readers have been touched by divorce first-hand and can give a personal perspective.
What is your opinion? Stay together for the sake of the kids, or break up and get out of an unhappy marriage?
16 Responses to "Jon Plus 8 and Kate Plus 8"
I am fortunate to not have been through this myself. I do have a strong belief that marriage is a sacred covenant, however, and that simply being unhappy is not a very good reason to break that covenant. I do believe there are times where divorce *is* appropriate. Abuse, infidelity - those actions have already broken that covenant of marriage. But I believe that most of the time our society puts too much emphasis on “me” and “my happiness”. And I believe that a lot more marriages could be saved, and healed and brought to a happy partnership once again if people would commit to it. I’ve been unhappy with my spouse plenty, believe me, but when I think of trying to raise my girls on my own, I know it wouldn’t be any better or easier, it would be a lot harder, and I do think people forget that some times. And making it harder is more likely to make it unhappier, not happier.
I am not a child of divorce thankfully ~ but my 2 cents on the whole J&K debacle - I used to love the show - and then you could just see the greed…I stopped watching about 2 years ago or so but have tuned in from time to time this season to see what everyone is talking about - I was hoping that they would announce they were putting their show on hold and working on what is really important - their family.
Those poor kids…
Proof in point - did anyone notice the tshirts they all happened to be wearing last night…whaddya know - Crooked Houses…sick. sick. sick.
Even in the midst of the biggest life altering decision ever - they choose to keep on this path that got them here in the first place…
I can’t believe any woman in her right mind would want to date a man with 8 kids, especially one so self absorbed as Jon. Maybe instead of new earrings and hair plugs he should have gone through counseling! I’m so disgusted with his “I’m proud of myself” attitude, I’ll never watch the show again. Good luck to Kate when she files for child support. He’s such a loser.
Well my opinion would be that they’re both really messed up, and this divorce was bound to happen. Kate verbally abused Jon, Jon was a lazy , selfish cheater, and kate was a power hungry monster to him. I’m deeply sorry for the children, but both their parents are obviously unforfilled , and dont make a good match.
They should have gone to counseling. But there were a lot of things they should’ve done, so this is the sad ending result.
My parents divorced when I was around 7. I agree that getting out of an unhappy situation is better than just sticking with it because of the kids. I’d rather have divorced parents that got along OK than have unhappily married parents. In most trouble marriages (with the exception of those that have abuse issues) there needs to be some marriage counseling going on prior to “we’re getting divorced.” It does seem that pretty much as soon as one party gets tired of being married, it’s time for a divorce.
I can’t speak on divorce in general but being a stepparent of two and having my own two children as well isn’t always sunshine and roses and we have a great situation!
I am very disappointed and saddened about the whole Jon and Kate thing. I think that when troubles started they should have taken some time off from the show or ended it all together to work things out rather than letting it play out on television. They both claim they are doing everything for their kids yet just announced they are divorcing on tv, how do they think that will affect their kids to watch years down the road? Their marriage has taken a back burner to their children, their fame and all the luxuries they’ve gotten used to. I think that any divorce takes two people so I don’t think either one is particulary innocent but I am glad to some extent that Jon has begun standing up for himself. I’ve never thought of him as lazy or selfish, but I have definitely seen Kate berate him over many things. We don’t see everything on their show so I’m sure there are a lot of missing components but I am very saddened and think that if they would just get away from the spotlight and the show for awhile they might have a chance at trying to work things out. If they think this whole thing is going to be easy, they have another thing coming.
It is very sad to see that they have not gone to counseling before making this decision. However, it seems Jon was very keen on leaving, what else was Kate suppose to do? I come from a family of a divorce, my father wanted to leave, there was no keeping him with us. I think the fame has gone to his head and he does not realize how this will effect his kids for the rest of their lives. I feel sorry for Kate that she is being pushed into this situation. Even if there marriage had issues, they both could have worked through them. He said he was to passive - that is not a reason for a divorce. He did nothing to help the situation! I feel he is resnetful of her success and instead of being proud has a sense of entightlement alongside his idiotic mid life crisis.
The show is on hold till August, so that is a good thing.
Kate treats Jon like a dog. I am glad he has moved on and left her to file, she is one sick lady.
I was hoping the big announcement would be that they were going to put the show on hold for a while and avoid the media and really work on their marriage. But when I saw the show last night and they decided to seperate I was very saddend. I’ve been watching the show for over a year or so now. Its sad but its true…I don’t think Jon did anything to help their marriage. I feel sorry for Kate. She won’t go through this alone. I feel most sorry for the kids. Well I just wish them all the best.
I was under the impression that the Gosselin’s were a Christian family. She was not upholding Christian values regarding the way she treated her husband. Divorce is no fun but especially when there are 8 kids involved. I loved their show. Then it got too commercialized. She seemed as if all she cared about was the money. Anyway I wish them all the best and hope they can get their lives on track again. Kate is a beautiful woman but, she has 8 kids. Jon is adorable and hopefully he will find love again. God bless this family.
I have not personally seen the show, and both my husband and I have been lucky enough to come from homes where the marriages were very happy, but I agree that while divorce is sometimes necessary, people that I have seen tend to use it to quickly. Of course it is very easy to judge because you never see everything that goes on inside a marriage. I feel very sorry for these two and the kids. Whether for the best or not, the divorce’s that I have seen look like they are heartbreaking to go through even in the best of circumstances. I also agree that if they had issues they should have stopped the show and gotten counseling.
If Jon said that he can’t be Jon that it is Jon and Kate plus 8. Kate should have let Jon be on his own. Then stop doing the Jon and Kate plus 8. If that would keep the family together. So the movie is going to be Jon Plus 8 and Kate Plus 8 that just is not right.
Dear Kate
I am 15 and live in PA as well. My parents have also recently have gotten a divorce. I know it has taken my mother a long time to get over it and she still struggles with the sadness everyday. My father cheated on her for the second time and she took him back after the first time. My brother and i were right around the age that your kids are. I would like to just say protect yourself from the hurt and let yourself get some of your anger out. Also I know that you appreciated the help of Cara and Mady but make sure that in the process of everything that they don’t grow up to soon as my brother did. I hope you figure out whats best for you and your family and that you are able to find the silver lining in this frusterating mess that has been thrown on you.
Best wishes to you and you 8 special kids
Sincerely Samantha
I am not a child of divorce, but my husband is. Although I don’t know his father (they haven’t spoken in almost 20 years), I think in general that I am happy that his parents divorced.
His father cheated on his mother, dodged child support, etc. Not a good person. Imagine staying together “for the sake of the kids” and having that be the example that is set for your sons.
Because he was not there to support them, my DH and his brother were not tarnished by this crappy example. They are both wonderful husbands and fathers, and would be the least likely candidates to cheat, divorce, etc. that I can imagine.
So at least in this example, I can’t imagine that staying together “for the kids” would have been at all helpful.
That’s just my two cents. As for the J&K issue…I think it is truly sad that all this is playing out on national TV. Neither of them, in my opinion, is behaving in a way that is consistent with “doing everything for the kids.”
I don’t believe you should get married because you are pregnant and I don’t beleive you should stay married just because you have kids. My husband’s mother stayed with her husband for over 30 years and she should have left when the kids were toddlers; I have seen first hand the damage that is done when parents stay together when it is clear that they shouldn’t.
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