It was so ominous when that paragraph flashed on the screen last night in black and white:
“On Monday, June 22, 2009, legal proceedings were initiated in Pennsylvania to dissolve the ten-year marriage of Jon and Kate Gosselin.”
It is just so sad. I have been a loyal watcher of Jon & Kate Plus 8 since the very beginning. I even watched the very first two stand alone documentaries about the birth of the sextuplets. I was fascinated by the juggling act of caring for the twin girls and sextuplets. There were a couple flashback scenes last night. I miss those earlier episodes when it was really about taking care of those cute kids.
So, Jon & Kate are going to divorce each other, but not the show? I think this is the first time a reality show will actually document the end of the relationship. Sure, Nick & Jessica and the Hogans both split up, but that was AFTER their reality shows were off the air. Jon & Kate are sticking around to document the demise of their marriage. The press often wrote about the “curse” of the celebrity reality show. Now it seems it is happening again. Jon & Kate did not start out as celebrities. But they sure are A-listers now. They were on the cover of every entertainment and tabloid magazine last week. I know everyone thinks Kate loves the limelight, but who would really love that light shining on you? Those magazine covers say her husband is a cheat and she mistreats her kids.
I cringed a couple times during last night’s episode. Once when Jon said, “I don’t hate Kate, but…” Ouch. There should have been a period at the end of that sentence. She is still the mother of your EIGHT children. Also, when Kate was calling Jon on his cell phone to tell him where to put those crooked houses. She did seem a little nervous about it and I was just waiting for Jon to FINALLY lose it. He has always been (portrayed as) super laid back and nonchalant. Now he seems like he’s just DONE. He seems relieved that his marriage is over. He even said the word “excited” at one point. What is he excited for? A new life with another woman? A new wife? Does he want to drink and party because he was married so young and he missed out? Does he want to snowboard all day? What does he WANT?
How is it going to work with Jon & Kate sharing that Mansion? Kate mentioned that she will be sad when she has to leave the house on the days when Jon has the kids. So weird. At least it means Jon & Kate are truly thinking about the eight children and giving them some day-to-day stability. The children were cuter than ever on last night’s episode. They loved their new crooked houses and they looked happy and relaxed. I wonder what they actually know.
Kate seemed so sad and I’m curious about the truth of her statement that Jon has a lot of anger and just won’t talk to her. She made it seem like he wouldn’t even TRY to work on their marriage. I was wondering the same thing throughout this entire sullen episode. Why no marriage counseling first? They are religious churchgoers, so why no try at some church intervention? Why doesn’t Jon get a job outside of the house so he could be happier? Why does Kate have to travel SO much?
I LOVE this show, but even I have to ask this final question?
Why not quit this reality show for good and SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE?
:::
On another, and completely different, note:
Happy Birthday Mom! I hope you had a super fun and worry-free day! You deserve it.
PS: Only 16 more days until Big Brother 2009!
My theory, for what it’s worth, is that this whole divorce thing was contrived for ratings, and that they’ll miraculously save their marriage over the course of the season.
Pretty cool post. I just came by your blog and wanted to say
that I’ve really liked reading your posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon!
Interesting and great commentary. My wife and I thought last night, as the show was airing, why do we keep hearing “kids” this and “kids” that. Maybe, just maybe, if they would have put as much effort in their marriage as they do their kids, things might have not gone south so quickly. A book by a prominent pastor friend of mine, Ed Young, titled, “Kid CEO” talks about letting the “kids” take over the house and rule the parents lives. No doubt, they have tremendous challenges with eight little ones, but there has to be a balance within raising children and we have to remember that the marriage came before the kids.
One other thought, do you think that when Jon & Kate mentioned the fact that the house belonged to the children, it made me wonder whether or not that house was built for the eight little ones and not mom and dad so they may be left with no choice. Breach of contract? Hmmm;-)
Mike – I really appreciate your point about “kids” being first. I remember watching an OPRAH episode where she was talking to families. Most of the couples always said the KIDS came first and their SPOUSE was second. They were shocked when the guest said that YOU should come first, your SPOUSE should come second, and your KIDS third. Most parents would be shocked to put their kids last. But I agree, your marriage came first and a healthy, happy marriage will ultimately lead to a healthy, happy family. Thanks for your post. I will def. check out that book as well. Pam