I’d need that money if I were raising 8 children. The kids seem like they do a good job of ignoring the cameras, and don’t seem like it bugs them much.

I really think they need the show for the money. I was watching it the other day when John and Kate were answering fan mail and someone asked how long they were going to keep the cameras around. They said only as long as every is okay with it, so obviously they aren’t going to do it if the kids don’t like it.

i dont think so. they dont really do it the way celebs do. beside, they probaly could use the money. also watching them trying to raise all those children makes me feel thankful i only have the one (well besides the one on the way)

That’s not entirely true. Jon does have an outside job and makes very good money. I think Kate would have had to stay home regardless, because with that many children, daycare would have been more expensive.

I really think that there is good and bad to the show. For the most part, I think Jon and Kate are doing a good job and if the show ever seems to be hurting the kids, I believe that they will withdraw. You can ask the same question about any show. Like Little People, Big World. Yes, there is an exploitation factor but I think that we’re better at understanding and looking at little people as normal than we did before.

why would care if you had the chance you would do it too..don’t you think and it’s there life not ours they can do what ever they want

In my opinion, I think that the children have become used to that evironment and I don’t feel that it will be something that the parents will regret because if there are any negative aspects about it i think that the positive aspects outweigh the negative.

I think what they are doing is fine. I mean in a way, you could compare that and Little People Big World and call that exploitation as well.

I think that them being sextuplets would have got them air time anyways, it’s a very unusual thing that happens.

Also, if you want to compare that, what about other child celebrities, them being photographed all the time, never having privacy, things getting put on the internet of them etc. ?

First of all I love the show. Kate decided to stay home with the kids instead of being a full-time nurse. Jon does have a job outside of the home as a computer tech or something right? They also have speaking engagements and frequent business trips that they have to tend to. There are pros and cons about almost everything you do in life so when it all comes down to it, it’s all about personal choice. I’m sure they understand what negative things can spawn from this but this is their decision. Why are you so torn about it? lol. I see that you’re an avid fan too. I wouldn’t worry too much. It’s just how they choose to live their lives =)

I love this show. I really don’t see anything wrong with it. Actually, good for them that they can make money from this show and allows them more adventures than they would probably be able to afford without the show. Think of all the kids are experiencing that they probably would not without the show.

Plus, I learn a lot from this show as well. I see parts of myself in Kate. She obviously has every right to be at her wits end some days, but sitting on my couch at night watching it doesn’t seem that bad, so I try to remember that myself. I can only imagine how chaotic that would be. I only have two and feel as if I lose control sometimes. I need to step back and take a deep breath while remembering, it’s not that bad.

As for pictures that can be on the internet, these days, that could happen to any kid no matter if they have a show or not. Parents post what they think are “cute” pictures and videos all the time. It’s really no different with YouTube, Facebook, etc.

I’m glad they are able to take advantage of something like this and stay home with their children.

I actually like the show, except for the times when Kate is yelling at Jon. But I wouldn’t say they are exploiting the children; they know how far into this “celebrity” life they want to go and I’m pretty sure we won’t still be watching them when Cara & Mady are 12+. If I’m not mistaken, I was sure Jon worked (something in the IT field or medical field), but they do live frugally, you don’t see them living extremely frivolously. I’m in favor of their show and I wish them continues success.

I do not think that it is a bad thing. Jon and Kate video taped their whole lives before the kids. Although it would be on a different scale they would have camera’s in their faces anyways. They might as well get paid for it. I love Kate, I know people think that she is evil, but honestly she is human and says what is on her mind. They are a loving couple and a great family. There are so many other shows on tv about families with multiples and they all suck. They are so boring. Jon and Kate give me my fix to bring me back to reality that my life is not that bad with twins.

I think it is a form of exploitation, then again, I feel the same way about the family with 17 kids. I don’t think we should treat any of these people like special cases because they have too many children. I don’t think you deserve to make a living out of the fact that you have the ability to reproduce in large numbers.

Its hard enough for those of us whose families are of a normal size and sure, I would love it if a network came in and paid us to be who we are on a daily basis, but I don’t think they would be interested in rather ordinary suburban family with two kids.

I love the show! I have been watching it since the beginning when it was “Surviving Sextuplets and Twins.” I would like to say, I am VERY happy that the family is so down to Earth. Jon and Kate do what is best for their children, and like you said, they don’t drive fancy cars or anything. Raising eight kids is expensive, and it seems that they’re putting the money they get from the show to good use.

The fact that they don’t work outside the home doesn’t bother me at all. Both parents USED to work outside the home, and then they were fortunate enough to give Kate the opportunity to stay home while Jon worked. Now that the show has been a success, they are both fortunate enough to stay home. It seems that both parents need to be there since raising that many children is A LOT of work. It’s not like Jon and Kate are home doing nothing - they are both playing active roles in their childrens’ lives.

One thing I would like to say about Jon and Kate is that they aren’t complainers or going on television just for hand-outs. They had sextuplets and welcomed all the of trials and tribulations that came with it. That is why I like their show so much! I can’t stand watching shows where all the parents do is complain about how hard life is - I saw a show with parents that didn’t work who had quintuplets and neither parent was actively looking for a job! Both were just complaining and taking the freebies.

Happy New Year!

I think they’re doing it for the money, because having 8 children is a huge undertaking. You can’t blame them for trying to pay the bills and give their kids the best.

The way I see it, this is just going to be temporary. I do not think they’ll be filming forever. They might have a TV special when the kids are 10, 16, 18 or 21. But, I think our days with Jon and Kate are numbered. I love the show too. But, I can see them saying, “Enough is Enough”

As for the future of the kids, I think they’ll be fine. Honestly, in 10 years, only a handful of people are truly going to remember the show. Their appearances will have changed and the kids will probably not be noticeable. As for the poop on the potty, all the kids have to do is say, “So, what? My family was a reality TV Hit and I got to go to Hawaii, Disney, Skiing and all these other cool things because of it.”

Kids will tease them, but if anything, this will make them the “cool kids” one day. Everyone will be saying, “Yeah, my mom remembers watching you. She loved your show. That’s so cool! You were on TV.”

I figure soon enough the show will be ending. I mean it was pretty interesting when they were still babies and all the craziness. Then the potty training and how crazy that was. But as they get older, no more messy diapers, no more sippy cups, no more baby stuff I think the show will lose a lot of its audience. Soon enough the sextuplets are going off to school. I can’t see the show lasting much longer.

The huge popularity of the show was great for their family. It helped solve a lot of money problems, let them indulge their children more than they would’ve been able to w/out the money earned from the show.

I don’t really think it will harm then irreparably in the future. It’s not like they are true hollywood child actors. Once the show ends, I don’t see them getting any A-list movie offers.

Also, I thought Jon did work outside of the home? Did I miss the part where he doesn’t have a job anymore? Just wondering.

I think it is fine. The children get to go to all sorts of places, and the family seems happy. As long as they meet their children’s emotional and physical needs, I’m fine with it.

Ha, I understand where your coming from. I think Jon and Kate have the best intentions for their children. If it’s hurting them in the future, they will stop filming.

Being on the show they are able to get sponsors just like other shows on TLC such as little people big world. Just because their kids are younger does not mean it’s exploitation. Since they are on the show they are given opportunities to do so many things they would never have been able to dream of doing on their own with only one parent with a full time job. It also gives viewers a chance to see what it’s like to deal with 8 kids under the age of 8.

I love this show! I think in a way that some of the kids might look back on episodes and be embarrassed. However, as you said… the family needed this opportunity to survive. Families these days can barely afford two kids, let alone 8. I think Jon and Kate have done what they had to in order to provide their children with a decent life. Think about it this way… would they even be able to afford to feed and cloth them without the money from the show? Also, these kids have been on numerous vacations…without TLC paying I’m sure they would not have gone anywhere! They might be embarrassed a little in high school… but all little kids poop….. just most kids aren’t shown on national television doing so. People like the family though… I doubt if they get made fun of for things that happen. I’m sure all the kids will eventually realize that being a part of the show gave them so many opportunities.

Well, I think that we never know what they’re keeping from us. I mean, I don’t really think that they really let us in on everything personal in their lives. They have to tell us fo some things every now, and again, because that’s what makes people want to keep watching we “feel” like we really know them. That’s the trick to reality TV shows.

Jon, and Kate were always very wealthy people, but they wouldn’t have nearly as much as they did before. They go out of their way to comfort people that are having a hard time with 2 kids, while they have 4 times that many. They do get paid a good amount to do it though!