Friday, May 29, 2009

Jon & Kate + 8 needs our SUPPORT...

Hello faithful fans and those of you who Googled "JON & KATE" and ended up here. Don't go anywhere, this is a fun stop on the blogosphere.

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Wow, it has been a VERY busy couple of months and I have been slacking as your hostess of My Semblance of Sanity!

It has been a while since I sat and chatted with you! And with everything going on in the news about my favorite couple JON & KATE, I thought it was a good time to start a good ole' My Semblance conversation!

OK, so those of you who know me know that I have met Kate a few times,

I have read her books, I live in the same county she does and I have endured way too much of the CRAP that the Kate-haters dish out - some of which makes its way onto my blog as hate toward ME.

Tonight I am going to share my thoughts and then I am asking that those of you who have something POSITIVE to say about the show or Jon & Kate themselves will share your 2 cents in the comments section. I would LOVE to bless the Gosselin's with some positive energy! (FAIR WARNING: Trolls, I will delete any defamatory/untrue/rude/hurtful comments so don't bother wasting your time and mine by typing...just telling you ahead of time!)

I love Kate. She is a strong Christian woman who is one of the only REAL people on TV. She is herself no matter WHO is watching. I think that takes a lot of guts and I admire anyone who can TRULY not care what other people think. We all say we don't care, we don't put on a show, but we do and we know we do. We try to look like we have it all together, we try to prove that we can DO IT, we try to keep up with the Jones's....but Kate is real. I have met her a couple of times in different scenarios and she is still REAL in real life. I saw her speak at a Women Of Purpose conference in Hershey and she was great! She joked around and also told the nitty gritty.

There is NO WAY she and Jon could have anticipated THIS kind of frenzy over a couple with a lot of kids. So people who say that J & K asked for this are just naiive. They shop in the stores I shop in and they NEVER can be there without photogs darting through traffic trying to get in her face for pictures. UGH! I just feel for her. She takes a lot of abuse from the public for being grumpy with her husband and her kids...! WTH? WHICH ONE OF US HAS NOT DONE THAT LIKE 1,000 times a day?

I find it interesting that no matter what Jon & Kate do, it is put under a microscope and critiqued like they are on trial. I truly don't understand! Part of me thinks it is jealousy that fuels this fire.

Kate has made an amazing transformation from local nurse to national speaker, she is a mother to 8 gorgeous children, she is a meticulous homemaker who feeds her children mostly organic foods, she is consistent with her discipline, she tells her husband when he pi**es her off and she's not fake - she says what she thinks..about everything!

I don't know about you, but if I had HALF those qualities I would be quite proud of the mother and wife I had become.What do kids do when they are jealous of another classmate? They knitpick and find every little thing they can to knock that kid down a few pegs. That is what those who feed on magazines like US and STAR are doing. It's what the Kate-hate bloggers are doing. They feel intimidated by someone so secure in who she is and in an attempt to make themselves feel better - they bash the hell out of her.

Maybe it is because I live near them...maybe it is because I wish I was a better mom...maybe it is because I would pay a large sum of money to have a physical transformation like Kate has. But one thing I AM consistent in is this comment....

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT - TURN THE CHANNEL!

I ask the haters to do some soul searching..."What makes you prey on Kate and Jon and not the Duggars or the Little People?" I bet if they dig deep enough they will find that it lies in their lack of self-worth and mountains of insecurities.That's sad.

What's sadder is that they are taking a good family down with them.I pray for Kate and Jon and the kids every day. No one deserves what the media is giving this family!

Now, it's your turn. Give them some support.

Peace.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I, too, am tired of the haters out there who are trashing this family.

All we can do, as sisters in Christ, is encourage them to seek Christ. In Him, all their troubles can find resolution and healing can take place.

MaBunny said...

OKies Michelle, I was wondering when you were going to stand up for them. All this stuff I'm seeing/hearing, and I'm wondering to myself"omg, what does Michelle think of all this???"

Truly I feel sorry for them. I think the media attention over them is ridiculous. If we were going though tough times in our marriage I sure as heck wouldn't want it aired and published! Yes, I did buy ONE copy of the recent US magazine, to see what they were saying about her. I do not agree that she is like octomom - for one thing I thing Octomom is completely irresponsible. As are the Duggars.
Hurray that the Duggars can support that many kids, but in todays society I think its pure insanity.
BUT I'm not criticizing them for how well they are taking care of the kids, and I"m not bashing their religion, thats just my feeling......did that make sense?

As for Kate, they were saying how much she spends on her nails - um hello? you give me 4 out of 5 women, and those four will have their nails done. who gives a crap that she gets her nails done? They'd complain if she didn't look nice like 'shes in the public eye , why won't she take care of herself'? I"m with you on the whole jealousy thing - it is all this boils down too.
They were also bashing her for being at a spa for her kids bday..um, yeah, but she wasn't there the whole day.. I wish they (the media) would lay off of them!

Melissa mom of 8 said...

Thank you for sticking up for them. god instructs believers to come along side and support fellow believers. I love that there are others like me who what nothing but the best for Jon and Kate!!!

The Travel Mom said...

Thank you so much Michelle for putting the word out there. For so many that say horrible things about them based solely on jealousy, we need to remember this: This is a real family, one where what you say on a blog can have horrific consequences for them in the future.

As the "biggest fan" out there (lol) I thank you for posting about them. I hope that those that wish nothing but the best can continue to support and pray for their marriage to heal, for the sake of those adorable children.

Cathy said...

I am sad for them all. It's hard enough to be married and have children without the media watching your every move. I know they have chosen to be on TV and could choose not too, but it is not for us to judge. I'm sure they make mistakes and have done things they wish they hadn't, but who hasn't? It's just that we aren't all on national TV or in magazines (PTL)! I admire them for being who they are and for trying to give their children a life that is full of memories and love. I pray they can make it through this and keep their family together. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

emedley said...

I am not J&K's biggest fan, far from it, but I do feel very sad for the kids. I have always thought J&K would end up in this position, and that is why, from the beginning, I did not think they were doing the right thing for themselves or their family. You can not expect to live in a fishbowl and have things turn out good or normal. If J&K would have done a couple of informative documentaries, it would have turned into a different outcome for them. I do believe TLC is the driving force behind this whole mess, but it is the parents who allowed them in. Don't get me wrong, this is not a comment filled with hate or is it a comment filled with jealousy, rather it is a statement of the truth. Why would we want the children to endure the kind of turmoil they are going to endure, just to get our entertainment? We shouldn't want that should we? Sure it makes money for the family, but it does come with a hefty price tag. Was it worth it? I think not. I am hoping only good things for the children. It is the children who have no choice, the parents chose this, the children did not.

Quiltart said...

Thank you for such a POSITIVE site with a positive message. What is happening to Kate right now is no more than a cold and calculated witch hunt by a bunch of ignorant and jealous women and it is totally unfair! Seeing them pat each other on the back as they do their happy dance is disgusting. Their claims of advocacy are absolutely untrue. You can't advocate for a child if you try to destroy his parents!

Beverly said...

I love everything you said ... bless you.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sticking up for J&K! Theyneed it and I feel that the tabloids are giving them a raw deal. I think they are doing a great job raising those adorable kids and hope and pray that they will work out their problems in their marriage. My prayers are with them.

Anonymous said...

Far too long, women have had to deal with everything from gross objectification in the media, to unrealistic superwoman expectations in society, to fighting the glass ceiling at work. They’ve done this while trying to do the best they can to be productive individuals -- often serving others first and putting ourselves last on the priority list.

But no matter how hard the above challenges are to females, it makes me the most irritated when I see how quickly people (especially women) unfairly vilify other women.

Let's focus on the reality of right now -- the family has a lot to figure out and this becomes harder with external scrutiny. We all want the Gosselin family to heal and find love again -- with or without the show.

What I appreciate about Kate is that she is a decisive woman who says what is on her mind. It might not always be pretty or what other people want to hear -- but that is why real life is unscripted and sometimes the blunt truth hurts. Strong, confident, and self-reliant people understand this.

Could she soften her tone or lose some sarcasm to help relieve the tension? Sure she could, but the point is that she is trying to express herself in the moment -- warts and all -- and that takes guts in front of millions of strangers. She tries to communicate. She tries to open up the dialogue. She always tries.

If we all left our windows open for the world to hear the REAL us at home with our kids and spouses, people might be shocked at what they hear too. They don't have any context. They don't know what issues we're dealing with at that moment. They don't know whether our spouses work with us, or against us on family matters. My point being -- no one truly knows what is going on behind the cameras so people shouldn't judge anyone else PERIOD.

Kate also deserves a chance to develop her newfound talents and skills, just as Jon had done before he "quit his job." It's not a matter of her sacrificing her family for fame -- it's a matter of figuring out how to make both spouses support each other and feel appreciated for doing the best job they know how to do for the sake of their family. Is it easy? No, but that's why the marriage vows say "for better or for worse."

So my message to the critics out there is this -- until you have lived in their shoes, cried their tears, survived their heartache, or worried for their children as though they were your own -- just stop the vicious blame game. Let's focus on helping them bring love back to their household. Let's take the magnifying glass away from what they are doing wrong to help them find ways to get back on track. Life is just too short and too precious to waste.

Anonymous said...

The following note about women reminds me of what Kate is going through now. Kate -- you are beautiful, no matter what people say. Don't let anyone break you down.

A little boy asked his mother "Why are you crying?"
"Because I'm a woman", she told him.
"I don't understand", he said.
His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
"All women cry for no reason", was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God; and when God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said: "When I made the woman she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world; yet, gentle enough to give comfort."

"I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children."

"I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through
sickness and fatigue without complaining."

"I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly."

"I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart."

"I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to
stand beside him unfalteringly."

"And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see: The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair."

"The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

Anonymous said...

oh the media! they are great parents! i don't get what the deal is, with the family being on tv. are the so called investigators, investigating all chilren on tv?? prime time, big screen, so on and so forth? or just the gosselins? she does books, speaking engagements, signings, etc...and? if that is her business to make money for her family...why shouldn't she! there are many, many parents or parent that do this for a living! i am sure both j&k came into agreement, before she hit the road! no where it says that marriage was a bed of roses! true k nit picks at her hubby...hello!!!!!!! so do i! does it mean we don't love each other? soon the media will find someone else to pick on...so j&k keep the faith...don't let the enemy... steal, kill, and destroy you or your family. remember the media is just another one of the enemies tools! i am with you all the way...oh and should you need a to get away...the islands (hawaii) awaits you. there is no place like home and good local food!! aloha

Rebecca said...

I really hope that they don't resort to divorce because then that would mean that the media has won. Jon may have made some mistakes, but he is a good man and he acts like he feels like the biggest jackass on the face of the planet. Yes, he did severely humiliate Kate beyond anything I can think of. Because they are suppose to be this tight knit family living the christian life and working as a team, and he kinda messed that up.....a little. I just hope they make it through together. It would be just saddening to see them divorce. I would cry if I saw big headlines in a magazine saying that Jon and Kate filed for divorce. Anyways, I can definately sympathize with Kate and the whole marriage crisis. I am too having marital problems and am currently seeing a marriage counselor. I have twin 10 month old boys and a 5 year old girl. And she can sense the tension between us, so she asks questions. She is too smart. It's hard to deal when you have kids involved. It's also harder for Jon and Kate, when they have paparazzi in their faces 24/7. It really sucks. And I am very sorry that this is happening to them. They are an beautiful family.

C.O. said...

I'd be rich if someone gave me a penny for every thought I had about children in reality tv.

I feel so sorry for the pain Jon and Kate are experiencing, for the sleepless nights and wonder consumed days; for the sinking feeling that must reside in the pit of their stomachs. But, they're adults and have the tools and resources to use to cope with their pain and insecurities.

My real sadness comes when I think of their innocent children and the pain and uncertainties they must obviously be feeling by now and that they have no one who is really speaking for them. Their parents appear (as they have for a long time - to me anyway) too concerned about keeping the show going and getting high ratings than about the effects the show might have on the children.

I read a comment somewhere where the writer wondered if the child-guests at the 5th Bday party were allowed to watch themselves on tv because of all of the Jon and Kate couch interviews and how the info they heard would quickly make it to the ears of the Gosselin kids. 'I' wonder how the Gosselin children will feel a few years from now when they watch the YouTube of their own 5th Bday party and the heartbreak that will come when they see and hear their parents talk about the pain they lived for the first time on tv. And, I wonder if Jon and Kate even thought about that issue when they sat down to answer those questions on camera.

I'm so conflicted about the choices both Jon and Kate are making and about the effects this show will have on the children. And, I wonder if 20 years from now, psychologists will talk about the 'infamous Gosselin sextuplets' and the effects reality tv had on children who grew up living with a camera. My heart goes out to each of the Gosselin children now and in the future and I pray that they have love, forgivness, acceptance, good self-esteem and strength in their make-up.

I wish we could turn the clock back and make things better between Jon and Kate, but I fear it might be too late to salvage their relationship. But I pray that they can truely put aside their personal differences and make the best decisions for their children - whether it involves continuing with the show or not. The children deserve the absolute best from their parents. It's time for Jon and Kate to make mature and informed decisions regarding their children. If the show can continue and 'everyone' be happy, that's great. If they can't figure out a way to accomplish this monumental task then perhaps it's a clue the show has run it's course.

I get no pleasure watching a marriage crumble and seeing people's pain and heartache. I don't feel like I have any business watching something that should be very private between 2 people. Can Jon and Kate keep their troubles away from the cameras or will TLC convince them to allow cameras to capture them during their private and painful moments? Oh, how I hope for their children's sake that they can keep it all private.

I want to regain respect for these 2 parents. I haven't always agreed with their every decision in the past but I hope I will respect the way they handle their relationship problems and their tv life. What a difficult balancing act they have ahead of them. I pray for the best for them all and for happiness and security in the future. I hope they can make it work.

emedley said...

What is happening to Kate right now is no more than a cold and calculated witch hunt by a bunch of ignorant and jealous women and it is totally unfair!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do you know they are ignorant and jealous? Maybe you are judging them the same way you say they should not have judged Kate. Maybe some people are actually concerned about the children. It may not have anything to do with ignorance and jealousy. I for one can say, I do feel like the kids are getting the short end of the stick right now. Jon and Kate need to step back and try to see what is really important to them. Is the show more important than keeping the family in tact? Is the show causing the problem? Jon seems to think it is. He lives it everyday so he should know. If it is, they need to end the show. Kate wants to continue the show. Is Kate making the best decisions right now? It doesn't seem to me she is. I think everyone needs to come together and forget about Jon and Kate and what is best for them, and worry about the children.

Mommy to those Special Ks said...

hey friend :). I didn't know you've met her! How cool! I will say this, I watch their show... I think their kids are adorable and I enjoy watching. However, I feel horrible for ALL 10 of them right now. For the kids... for Jon and Kate... my heart breaks for them. Watching the season premier was gut wrenching. I am praying hard that Jon and Kate can find some way to make their marriage work. It is going to be SO hard with America watching... I can't even imagine. As much as I have enjoyed their show, I think the best thing at this point is for their show to end so they can work on their family. They need some serious family time, some God time, and then maybe a big welcome back show to say "HEY we made it!" I don't know, I don't know what the answer is here, I feel horrible for them and I wish the tabloids would leave them alone.
There's my 2 cents... since you asked!

Anonymous said...

As fellow Christians, we can recognize when Satan is attacking...and that he is with this family. I am so saddened by the sudden turn that has taken place in this family. I am praying that they will seek God both as individuals and as a couple to find the comfort and help they need to keep their family intact. Kate and Jon, do not forget who you really are in the midst of all the insanity! God bless the Gosselins!

Harmony said...

I have only seen a couple episodes (don't have cable or satellite) and really enjoyed them. I feel bad that they are being so mistreated in the media. I think that the media is going too far for all "celebrities". Even if you are in the public eye, everyone deserves some privacy. Anyone can judge them for deciding to be on TV but honestly, wouldn't a lot of us choose the same thing? The show is great for giving the kids opportunities they wouldn't have had. No one could predict that it would end up this way and you can't go back. They can only look forward now and we enjoy watching the show. I hope that things calm down and that this doesn't split them up. For the kids' sake, the media needs to butt out. Just film the show and then leave them alone!

Theresa said...

My mom wanted to talk about them. "Did you hear that Jon etc etc". Yeah, yeah, it's the rag mag. What do you expect? Someone else told me that it was there publicity stunt so more people would tune in? Oh, yeah...how do you know? "Well bad press is still press?" Whatever! Gossip, gossip, gossip. It will wreck people.

How have you been? I've been away from the computer? Are you doing Relay again?

Love T

aimee said...

as a christian family, it is important to put your priorities in order:
1. God
2. Spouse
3. children and family

when J&K sat on that chair at the end of the episode last week, they BOTH were adamant that they were in it for the KIDS...and KATE repeated that outside of the requirements for her JOB...she would be there every minute...for the kids

i pray they don't lose sight of the other 2 things that should come first.

Anonymous said...

C.O.

I completely agree with what you said. It was a very well written comment. As a Christian woman of 4 wonderful and active boys 14,11,9 and 6 I would never want to be seen talking to my husband they way Kate does. Children learn from their parents and the last thing I want is my sons speaking to someone else like that. I only hope Jon and Kate can get back to the basics and the simple life for their beautiful children. I would still love to see the children grow up over the years. Perhaps a couple of times a year a special done on the family. That would be wonderful. Keep up the great work!

Aubrey said...

Thanks for your positive post. What makes me the saddest and most scared is the mere fact that there are people out there that are honestly rooting for them to fail and revelling in their misery. Life if life and all stories aside, we are all human and will all go through joys and struggles. But to actually find joy in their demise is just plain wicked. And even moreso, the naysayers are "worried" about the Gosselin children? Yeah right, how about being worried about the character traits some people are teaching their own children by writing such hateful thoughts. It has to spill into their own "perfect" lives. As you, i truly wish the best for the Gosselins and that they can rise above all of this.

aged said...

Maybe it is because I live near them...maybe it is because I wish I was a better mom...maybe it is because I would pay a large sum of money to have a physical transformation like Kate has.

Maybe you should examine why you got caught up in an ILLUSION called a REALITY show.

I hope that Jon and Kate's marriage can be mended too for the sake of those 8 precious kids. First they need to fire the body guard that has gotten too close to Kate, and then turn off the cameras. The FANS have become too selfish about this family, we don't need to know about this family every week. Let Jon and Kate write their books and have specials a few times a year but 40 episodes?? That is making these kids work....it is making them lose their childhood...it is too intrusive of their lives.

I hope people do not excuse their own behavior because of the way Kate treats her husband and kids. Deep in our hearts we all know right from wrong. We don't have to be perfect...but still we have the responsibility to treat another human being with respect and decency.

Jen said...

I understand that you have your opinion that they could not have anticipated this, but considering the direction this has gone in, I have lost all respect, what little I had to begin with, for her and Jon. They have a choice to make: continue to let this drive them apart or circle the wagons and work on their family. The fact that they have chosen the show, money and fame over the privacy of their family says more than anything. Her motives, in particular, have been made clear.

Anonymous said...

They ask for it and They received it ! No body's fault but their own, and they can correct it if they want to, their choice. "The poor kids do not have a choice"

GOD Please Bless the Children, and the law take charge.