Jon and Kate Plus 8, Plus a Body Guard, Plus the Chick Jon is Seeing on the Side, Plus the Paparazzi, Plus the World

I have seen a few episodes in passing, and have long disliked how Kate acts towards the kids, and her husband. I think they both brought this on themselves, and that they were greedy and wanted more money. They got it, but at the expense of their family. Maybe in 10 years, they'll look back and realize what they did.

Princess Spanky Pants, I imagine in ten years they will regret a lot.  I wasn't kidding with my 'Intervention' comments.

I don't doubt something will happen. At what point do they stop and say, "Ok, this is enough!"?

The older girls are 8 now, I think. When do they stop filming, when the girls are getting their first periods live for the world to see? Or going out on their first dates? Sneaking in drunk one night? At some point, they have to look at how they are raising those kids, and realize that their own selfish greed is going to be those kids downfalls.

I have no doubt in 10 years, we'll read articles about something one of them did, ala Lindsey Lohan or Britney Spears style.

Princess, I agree entirely.  I think that prolonged exposure to fame, especially when no one seems to be looking out for your best interests as a child, can be such a mind trip that if you don't have parents who are investing in you emotionally then I just cringe for their welfare. 

You brought up the Olsen twins.  They have both had various problems from their overexposure.  This is going to get worse and worse for these kids unless someone puts a stop to this.

Elizabeth, at least the Olsen twins were compensated for their work, I don't even know if these kids are getting any money.  I read today that social services is getting involved which is a relief. 

Only took em what? 5 seasons, I think someone said?

Yeah, season 5, and they are FINALLY being investigated for child labor laws. TLC says they comply with all child labor laws, but I have to wonder.

The kids have a cushy life, but that's not the same as having a pay check that's set aside for each of them when they turn 18. Instead, it's probably looked at as "Mommy & Daddy's Money", and they sit on it. If the books and show dry up, I doubt there will be anything left when the kids are all 18.

Elizabeth, yup.

Princess, that is sadly grim...and probably true.

Anybody remember McCauly Caulkin?  Had to sue his parents for HIS money?

Elizabeth, I do remember that!  How horrible.  Remember all the articles that came out about his father?  He turned out to be a control freak. 

Yep, and when McCauly wasn't available anymore, he started with his younger brother.

If you need a new star just create one.  Keep the cycle going. 

That's right! Look at how Lindsey Lohan turned out? And now, her 14 or 15 year old sister is being groomed right in Lindsey's image- not as a star, but as a child who is being shown she doesn't have to attend school, doesn't have to act or look her age, and has even had her mom try to sneak her into bars. Her mom is hoping to cash in big on her, and of course, the kid doesn't see anything wrong with it- she wants to be a celebrity.

i saw the show when i only got one tv channel and it was blurry and lost sound quite often cause i couldn't afford cable and for some reason Discovery Health sort of came in.  i used to call it "the all baby network"  or "the migraine network" cause all i got to see was screaming kids and births.  let me tell you, that was great birth control.

CC, just the mention of children makes me happy that I no longer have a uterus.  Side note, a friend of mine calls the A & E network the arts and dismemberment channel. 

i caught a bit of the season premier the other day.  she said that she wasn't going to give up being in front of the camera as she likes it too much.  as far as i'm concerned, she has no right to complain about the paparazzi since she likes the attention so much.  they make in one episode more than most people make in a year.  i'd welcome that kind of attention if someone would pay me that kinda money.  (hear that people who make others famous?  i'm waiting!)

I agree! You can't put your life out there for everyone to see, then complain that the bad comes with the good!

CC, I think dedicating themselves to say a season or two for financial help is fine, but this show has been on for five seasons and now all of their drama is being cataloged in the tabloids.  I sincerely hope they make this season the last one because even though it is bad, I can definitely see how it can become much worse.

Princess, I think you can, but I think by doing so people simply roll their eyes.

I have never watched the show, but I have friends with 6 - 8 children, mostly individual births.  My friend's mother, who has 12 children, says she never liked kids until she had her own.  She manages to stay in touch with each child's needs, ups and downs, dreams and goals. 

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Jan, I know that some large families can work very well, and I'm not really in a position to judge pro or con, but I've read where there was some fibbing on Kate's part about needing fertility treatment when she was really too young to receive it, especially when it came to having what I think the Wikipedia entry said was seven embryos.  I'm against people having multiple children from implanted embryos.  I think the limit should be two embryos per session.

The 18 and Growing couple, forget their name, really irritates me too.  If you want 18 or more kids, and you can support them, that's your business.  However, I don't want them on my T.V., that means they CANT support their brood. 

I also don't see how they can give each childe the individual attention they deserve.  The one special I saw about those people "Mom" was explaining how each child has a "buddy", and that she's each child's first "buddy".  I'm not my children's "buddy" I'm their MOTHER, and that means that sometimes they aren't gong to like what I say, or make them do, or whatever, but I'm not supposed to be their friend, I'm supposed to make sure they make it safely to adulthood, and become FUNCTIONING adults.  (holy runon sentence batman!)

I have the greatest respect for women with large families, Elizabeth.  It amazes me how they DO know what's going on with every child.  Without exception, the women I know with large families have a certain serenity and they're excellent managers.  I don't know how they do it, but they do!  My observation of their children is that they are more independent and less inclined to drama or getting in trouble.  Rarely are they spoiled or rude.  They're close to one another and like each other.  There's always someone to talk with at home.

I agree with you about mothering.  I think the older kids can and should help the younger ones, and the buddy system doesn't appeal to me, either.  Moms should not be subcontracting their responsibility to their kids. 

Elizabeth, I agree. Once you have to regiment your home to function as an orphanage then you know that perhaps you should give the baby making a bit of a rest.  Society is getting more complicated not less, and that means a that it not only takes money to raise children but a lot of energy which we all know that such huge families can't do.  I'm even hoping that Branagelina give it a rest because even for people with their resources six kids is a lot. 

Jan, no doubt my hat is off for women who do have large families and no television contract.  I'm sure it's very hard for them, but in this day and age when there are various alternatives, starting with birth control, or even simply not having sex and yes, even abortion.  I'm a great believer in if you choose to have children be the best parent you can be.  I think it was the Duggan family Elizabeth was writing about.  Granted, they appear not to have had fertility treatments, but they have a large house and a lot of help.  Think of the circumstances if everyone had such a large group of children?    

It REALLY bothers me when people have fertility treatments, intentionally have 4 or more blastocysts implanted, then find out they ALL took, then go begging at church, fundraising, or TV specials/series, for everything from babysitting to diapers and formula to actual money.  Fertility treatments are EXPENSIVE, if you have the money for THAT then you have the money to support  yourself.  If you DON'T then you shouldn't be getting the treatments either! 

I got pregnant and married at 19, my son is 11.5 yo, I got remarried in 2004 and got pregnant in 2006, my younger son is 2.5 yo.  Doing the math means that my kids are 9.5 years apart in age and from two different marriages. 

I didn't receive any special awards for NOT having a child that I couldn't afford.  For NOT getting pregnant between marriages.  For NOT bringing more fatherless children into this world.

You all must be younger than I.  When I was growing up in the 50's - 60's, large families were very common.  Kids all wore hand-me-downs and nobody starved.  That was pre-birth control pill, so I'd say those who have large families now do so because they want them.  What strikes me most about my friends with large families is that they are so happy. 

I have another friend whose first words when she learned that she was pregnant for a third time were "This means another hundred-fifty grand!"  I had never considered putting a price on a human life.

I know a family with 13 kids. There are TWO mothers and a dad in the house. That's why it works.

Some women are more capable than others.  I can't imagine having so many children and not burning out, but these women make it look easy.  I can't explain it, but am in awe of their abilities.  None of the families I know receives aid and none of them have TV shows.  None have any hired help, either.  One mother's calendar looks like a patchwork quilt. She has her kids' activities color coded.  That's organization.

Elizabeth, I agree.  Beyond all else people who have received fertility treatments obviously (the case with the Octomom being the exception) have the money to raise a family, but if they can't afford four children then they shouldn't be implanted with four embryos.

Jan, yeah there is a big shift to how people view big families.  I think happiness can come from families of all sizes.  I do think you are on target about the hand-me-down clothing, that was true recycling at its best.

150,000 grand, they are getting off cheap.

Em, now my curiosity is up?  Two mothers and a father?  Do tell.

Jan, that is the type of organization that I can only admire because I would never be able to do half as much.

"that is the type of organization that I can only admire because I would never be able to do half as much."

Nor could I, Lady Lisa!  That's why I admire these women.  I think the big difference is that my friends got their kids one at a time, except for one set of twins.  They built up to being able to manage kids of all ages.  The parents who have multiple births get a bunch of newborns, all at once.  I can't even imagine that.

Jan, not that I'm one to preach about a grand design, but seriously, there is a reason why women don't have litters.  Human infants are one of the neediest creatures on earth.  You can be parent of the year material, yet fail to meet their needs.  I think for many that is where a lot of our anger comes from with these large families.  Granted, I'm not an advocate for large families with dozens of children, but quite frankly it isn't my business.  It does becomes a bit my business when parents set out to have dozens and dozens of children...instantly.  Babies born too early have learning issues that in the case of implanted multiples could have been addressed with less embryos - as in not enough womb in the inn. 

According to maternal science there is a "formula" for the average number of offspring a mammal will have.  A mammal female will generally have twice the number of breasts as babies she will carry.  We have two, meaning we should, usually, only carry one.  Cats, dogs, and other 4 legged critters have between 4-8, etc.

Elizabeth, I never thought about it that way, that totally makes sense.

and you know Octomom only got impregnated so she could get a reality show.

CC, then that makes her far more clever than I thought she was.

This is just revolting.  Any network that would give her a show should be boycotted.  She just makes me want to hurl.

Elizabeth, to be honest what else is she going to do?  I bet she is trying to sell a 'situation' as I type this. 

Open adoption?  Forced removal of her children, because she is OBVIOUSLY out of her mind?  Forced hysterectomy?  I'm sure I could come up with some other ideas given time.

Elizabeth, well if she is to lose the children I hope it is soon so they can bond with other parents. 

Personaly, I don't think she should have been allowed to take them from the hospital.

Elizabeth, I don't think they really any law enforcement agency would have had the jurisdiction to intervene at that point.  I think the doctor who implanted Kate should have let her have three embryos and that's all. 

Babies are kept from going home with unfit parents all of the time.  If they are born addicted to drugs, they don't go home with "mom".  I'm sure there are other reasons, and to me, this is a damn good one.

I think there should be a law about how many embryos can be implanted at one time.

I think stage parents are probably the worst of all parental genres. 

I caught a few early episodes. Immediately thought they were two of the most selfish and stupid people ever to breed - artificially or otherwise. They had 2 kids. What makes them think they're so special the world needs to be filled with their genes?

The dad always looks like he is in total hell. The mom is such a bitch. I think a better show would have been John and Kate get neutered and spayed. I seriously believe if a person can't reproduce naturally, that's probably a sign they shouldn't for either health or sanity reasons. I worked with an insane career woman who had to have it all. She put her in-vitro procedures on her credit card so she could earn frequent flier miles and take a trip to de-stress after the twins were born. Yes, the children are freaking neurotics too.

EM, with all due respect to Heidi, that has been my impression as well.  Granted I wouldn't know any of this if I didn't watch 'The Soup' but since I do I can only laugh that we think the same.  In all seriousness, their interaction would be sort of cute if they were an older couple, but Jon was born in 1977, which took me aback since he appears to have been born in 1917.  I'm keeping mum in regards to the chitlins. 

All I see in this thing is the parents sacrificing their children to satisfy their own greed. If I were a social worker I'd yank those kids out of there and have the parents charged with reckless endangerment.

And people wonder why I don't have a TV.

I have a TV, but I don't pick up programming, and I certainly don't pay for it.  My life has certainly not suffered as a result.

Roy, I can understand why you don't have a TV.  For the longest time I lived without one, but then it became too silly for me to stare at the sets in other people's home as if I was seeing this thing called T...V for the first time.  I don't think the children should be yanked from the home because, quite frankly, it isn't as if there are a ton of options for alternative placement for the kids.  I just think it is one of those situations which require some sort of laws to be in place which limits the amount of time children have to endure 'reality' cameras in their lives. 

Ashley, I have to admit that TV was my savior during chemo since I didn't have the option to read (the chemicals made my eyes googley).  Speaking of 'America's Next Top Model' I remember just vegging out on the sofa knowing that one of those marathon showings of 'ANTM' was on and that I could kind of watch it (it would keep my interest) until I could fall asleep. 

I hear that!  Except my saviour has been this laptop and I was recovering from Menengitis/Encephalitis, not chemo. 

Elizabeth, I loved the Bravo network during the time I was sick.  I still like it of course, but literally it was such a lifesaver when I was ill.  I could watch the shows with interest but not so much interest that I couldn't fall asleep. 

I've seen a couple of the shows, but I'm not an avid follower.  I just want to know when couples will stop and look at all the other couple reality shows and how most of them are now divorced.  Why agree to put yourself through this for a little bit of money?  I also don't really trust the Brother and SIL.  It really seems fishy that they choose to speak up now and not earlier.  Of course earlier they probably wouldn't have gotten a fee for being on so many shows to bad mouth their own family.

I can promise that I will never watch a show about octomom.  She just furiates me beyond belief.

Jamie, I just read an article about how all of the Gosselin fuss has reinvigorated the tabloid magazine market.  I'm pretty sure that things will come to a head sooner than later. 

Lisa, thanks for the update (about what’s really of concern in the U.S. right now). I have been in Europe for the past month, so based on what I catch on my google home page and daily internet edition of the NYT/BBC, I thought the focus was on such boring things as healthcare reform, getting a new Justice on the supreme court, global recession and  nuclear testing in North Korea… I stand corrected.

I don’t own a TV so even when at home, I had never of Kate and Jon until they showed up on a Yahoo newsflash. But even then, I didn’t realize I was supposed to care. *Reality* TV? Isn’t that an oxymoron? I know this will sound naïve, but I thought the news were reality TV; until I visited with friends abroad who, thanks to the wonder of twenty first century telecommunications, get multiple news feeds from around the world. I assure you that the same daily events don’t appear to have much in common, when viewed on CNN, BBC, al jazeera , etc… news (although al jazeera often seems more factual and objective than others major networks).

Now I surmise that Reality TV implies a program focusing on the *real lives* of supposedly *ordinary people* (whatever that means). And here I thought that real life was what you and I did everyday, anonymously: the best we could to live it meaningfully, enjoy it to the fullest, and at time just struggle to make to the end of the day.  But ok… in case anyone cares, I woke up about one hour ago in Paris; rejoiced that the sun was shining again after two days of gray skies; noticed that my friend’s two teen-age daughters had, per usual, left for school leaving the kitchen looking like a superfund site; briefly wondered whether to clean it up or follow their mother’s advice and NOT pick up after them (said mother is away this week, they will have to clean up the place before she gets home or suffer the consequences). I opted to follow her advice and simply fire up the espresso machine; on the second try I coaxed a decent cup of cappuccino out of it and declared the day officially started; then I powered my computer and read your post…

PS – I totally agree with you on children, and scientifically-induced multiple births.

Josette, don't you know that all of those things that you mentioned in your first paragraph take a back seat to what is happening on 'Jon and Kate Plus 8?'  Hello, these people have real problems which must be solved by the masses! 

Let me just add that your story about waking up on a sunny day in Paris gave me the biggest smile I have had all week.  Speaking for myself, I know that there are so many scary issues out there that sometimes studying about them just makes me want to cry and never stop.  With these 'reality' programs (which BTW, your summary of them is on the money) is that they have issues that I can solve...well, maybe not about the multiple birthed kids, but about exposing them to cameras for the enjoyment of the masses...yeah, I can add my two cents into the mix.  Now if you are talking about global warming or funding universal health care (something that the world needs) that I find myself stumbling upon in terms of a solution.  Recently I attended a walk-a-thon for some earth centered society and the thing I learned is that earth supporters don't know how to organize a walk-a-thon (kids in strollers, families, dogs; everyone walking in a different direction around Kansas City's Plaza) and I thought how are we going to save the earth if we can't even get a simple coherent walking path together?

Not to nitpick(G) but the Earth doesn't need saving, it's the human race that needs saving.   The Earth is going to live with or without us, and at some point She is going to get tired of our shenanigans and shake us off like a bad case of fleas.

Elizabeth, that's the spirit!

Amen, Josette!

Roy, I agree!

I've never seen this show and never will -- my idea of hell is to be surrounded by a mass of howling, sobbing brats, which every preview of J&K+8 promises. Mostly I wanted to stop by and fling my arms around you as a sister, Lisa -- I'm so relieved whenever anyone else will show up and admit to not liking children. I'd rather clean the cat crap out of an animal hoarder's furniture than spend half an hour with one kid, let alone eight of the screeching little banshees.

I'm also glad you called her, and other people who don't understand it, on believing in science long enough to have most of a baseball team take root in her body. This stuff makes me want to donate my own uterus to science. Tomorrow. Or as quickly as I could yank it out with a barbecue fork.

And I'm totally stealing "reverse mullet." Kate is the hairstyle soulmate of Adam Lambert.

I disagree -- no matter how Adam Lambert did (or didn't do his hair,) I never had to squash the urge to set him on fire... then again, maybe it isn't Kate's hair that causes that in me. 

Kris, believe me, in my social circle people like us are the majority.  One time we were all sitting around and someone discovered that out of say twenty women, only one wanted children...and she just wanted one. 

As far as the reverse mullet, that isn't my creation, so feel free to use it. 

Joy, I want to get back to your comments but I have to leave.  I also have to google Adam Lambert because I don't know who he is. 

I don't know who any of these people are, but does that mean I have more time for say, reading War and Peace, or writing? No. I just have different vices: Playing Bejeweled 2, watching old seasons of The Shield.

Charles, that is probably a good sign that you don't know who these people are.

Heidi, I have never seen that show.  I guess I missed out. 

Lisa, I admit to rabidly following this train wreck for a variety of reasons, most of which I'm not going to disclose publicly.  I've watched from season one (just lucky, I guess,) and Kate has ALWAYS been a bitch on wheels.  It just rolled off of her in waves and made me feel even skeevier, somehow, than any episode of the Flavor of Loves or even Rock of Love: Tour Bus.  The most recent (and most watched episode,) was a treat on so many levels, since we got to see Kate at her finest: Bitching, moaning and pissing about what a martyr she is, all the while being arrogantly clueless as to why she's completely full of it.  She claimed that she is regularly traveling on book tours and speaking angagements because that's "her job." 

I nearly went apopleptic at that, simply because it's such an insult to anyone with half a functioning brain in their head. HER JOB was to raise eight kids; the books and the speaking engagements came OF that job.  Does she realize that, though? Hell no! Really, I want to set her on fire.  I may still do the "Pants Deconstruct The J&K+8 Premiere" article over the weekend. I haven't decided. 

(On a "technical" note, can I just say that you turned a couple of phrases in here that make me GREEN with envy -- particularly, "her air brush with fame."  Brilliant!)

I totally agree.  I have a job, I stay at home and take  care of my 2yo and I'm here if my 11yo needs me from school.  My children will never have to wait for hours in the nurse's area because I can't be reached or because I'm busy.  THAT is my job until they are old enough to take care of themselves.  IF something like a book deal, or some other money making thing fell into my lap BECAUSE of that, it would STILL take a back seat to my children. 

What I personally LOVE about Kate, Elizabeth, is how she's wandering around the country speaking about her "experiences" parenting multiples.  Well, HOW in the hell is she "experiencing" parenting multiples if SHE'S NEVER THERE?!

THAT, my friend, is the question.  

The only thing I REALLY remember about the little I've seen of them was abouot her hair.  The special they did when she was pregnant with the 6, and  then after they were born, her hair was brunette, and short.  Jon said that it wasn't that way when they got married, that she'd had long blonde hair.  She said she cut it because it was easier to take care of, and that he should have checked her roots.  She said she didn't have time to bleach it with all of the kids.  Apparently, now, she has time.

St. Joy, if you write an article about them please, please, please link it with this article.  Feel free to use, "air brush with fame."  Kate has, according to the clips I have seen on 'The Soup,' always came across as the type of woman that would...how should I put this...deball any man.  The clips I have seen of the first episode made me roll my eyes when she rolled her eyes about being the one who had to plan the birthday party.  Hello!  As if TLC wasn't footing the bill for it in the first place.

Oh, and thank you for the compliment about "air brush with fame." 

Elizabeth, amen to your making your children into your priority.  I know that it is impossible to be a perfect mother, but lordy, must she belly ache about everything?

St. Joy, what are you talking about, she has a camera crew in her home which means that she can download videos to see how the kids are doing.

Elizabeth, I can't fault her for being blonde.    

I don't care if her hair is purple polka dots!  It's just the only thing I remember from the initial special, because I thought she was kinda nasty about the way she responded.  Also, as I said, she seems to have re-found the time to do it.

Well if you have nannies and such I imagine that any mom could find time to have her hair done. 

I catch an episode of this series usually from my bed, nursing a cold or virus.  The shows are pretty much the same... get the kids ready, with one of them melting down, getting them out to the van, then another one melts down, then they get to the "thing" (fill in museum, playground, pizza place), and one of the kids melts down.  All this new controversy can only do them good because I would imagine it was getting pretty hard to think of new blood to pump into the show, until the kids start dating, anyway.

Kids melt down all of the time, that is the nature of kids.  They melt down because they are stressed, tired, hungry, want what they cannot have, or just because.

I never watch it.  I deal with 15+ kids a week with developmental issues.  I do not need to watch parents be idjits just because they can.

Vicky, kids breaking down is the reason why I go to the grocery store at odd hours.

Grem, let me just say that you deserve a salary of two million a year.  I know that you probably don't make that much, but I'm saying that you deserve it. 

Yes, congrats for making your vagina into a clown car...but wait a minute, you are now saying that you might need some help taking care of 6 - 8 babies?

HAHAHA!  I've had the same type of thoughts!  I've never watched the show, although I did see the original "special". 

The Dionne Quints are a really sad story.  That truly was an "act of God", so to speak, and somehow they were yanked from their parents arms and put on display.   They were even put in their own little "cage" with plexiglass so that tourists could watch them play, go to school, and just be kids.  It's really very disturbing.

 I know that the fraction of children involved with such the institution is small, I think that it would be fairly easy to write legislation which would limit the amount of time a child can be in front of a camera for the purpose of entertainment even when it might be documented as 'educational' (TLC stand for The Learning Channel). 

I don't care how "small" the fraction is, there should be laws protecting these children, even if it means protecting them from their own families.

I also think that someone should make sure that each of these children gets a portion of whatever is being paid to the "family".

Elizabeth, hopefully, legislatures are working on some laws.  After all this is a high profile time for the family and any politician should be happy enough to get their name on a bill. 

I got sucked into glancing at this POS show because of the unavoidable foofaraw everywhere I turned, but I could only tolerate a few minutes of it.  I grew up in the era of the Dionne Quintuplets and have distinct memories of the unbelievable exploitation those girls endured...and that was BEFORE television.  Their case was different from the Gosselins, however, because the parents were taken out of the picture and kept in the background while the little girls were trotted out for the public like sideshow freaks.  K&J, on the other hand, ARE the freaks in this sideshow: she's a dominatrix shrew and he meekly lets her juggle his balls.  One of the most shocking two minutes I saw was when one of the six little G's pointed out some papparazzi lurking in the bushes at their highly publicized fifth birthday party and Mom said, "Don't use that word!  Call them 'the P word' instead."  In other words, "if we aren't being paid to have cameras pointed at us, it's an obscenity".  Great lesson in parenting!  I wonder which chapter in her book covers that one.

That's just awful.  So, basically, she's teaching her girls to be whores.

Dame Ruth, I saw a made for TV movie about the Dionne Quints and wow their lives were horrible.  They were messes when they became adults.  I loved how you described the Gosselins.  I hope you trademark that.

Elizabeth, I don't think she actually understands what she is doing to her kids.  Especially with cameras following them everywhere.   

Interesting exchange of ideas!

I have never watched the show, but from what little I know, the husband will probably leave home.

You couldn't cement me in place fast enough to keep me there!

Leo, well I wouldn't wish divorce on anyone, but they definitely appear to be a couple in great need of marriage counseling. 

Elizabeth, but I have to admit that I do love the clips about this family. 

If it weren't for Gather, I wouldn't know who these people are.

Well, thank God for Gather. 

Like you, I've never really watched the show but am quite aware of the controversy surrounding it through a variety of alternate sources.  The issue surrounding children and entertainment labor laws has been fought since the times of Mickey Rooney (probably earlier) and Shirley Temple (also Little Rascals) wherein their parents governed and/or lost the accumulated earnings.  The Olsens were fortunate to have a caring family that adhered to the rules and laws regarding the earnings of the twins.  This whole concept of using children to gain publicity, notariety or monetary gain (sans any tangible talents that are being exploited) disgusts me.  I remember the issues surrounding the Dionne family and I was equally repulsed by the 70s program, An American Family that aired on PBS exposing all the emotional angst and intricacies of a nuclear family experiencing divorce in real time.  As someone with more than a handful of children, I cannot see how any loving parent could subject innocent, developing children to the myriad issues caused by making their lives public long before their capacity to understand such things exists.

Madame Donna, can you imagine going through adolescence in front of millions of people and then forever being reminded of you awkward phase on YouTube?  God that would suck, suck, suck!

Actually I can imagine going through adolescence in front of lots of people (since I did) but the part about being broadcast on YouTube would send me to therapy.  Yes, it would suck, suck, suck until I choked.

Thanks for posting to Fugitives from Ignorance, Conformity, and Peer Pressure

Jan, you are welcome.  Thank you for having such a great group.