Jon & Kate Plus 8

So the world is full of entertainment media these days, a lot has been going on. The death of Michael Jackson seems to have literally sent shock waves around the world. I'm disenchanted. Really, he died years and years ago in my heart. Yes, I was one that had a life size poster in my room, Off the Wall and Thriller were my first two cassettes ever played in my Walkman. I was a huge fan. Note, I said was. I can't help to allow all of the creepiness surrounding his life over the past decade (or two) jade his legacy. I won't take anything away from his talent, he had a gift; it's simply a shame that he was a little weird in the head.

So yes, the King of Pop has died...but I would rather talk about Jon & Kate Plus 8. Nothing says "you're a desperate housewife/mom" better than that. For the record, I am so NOT a desperate housewife. Mom, yes...I wear that one on my sleeve.

About a year ago a friend of ours told me that I reminded him of Kate. Never having watched the show, I didn't know whether to take it as a compliment or a dig. This peaked my interest, so I set my DVR to start recording this reality show.

My first impression, yikes! This is an obsessive, overbearing, control, germ, dirt freak who expresses the most defensive body language during every "interview" session with her husband. This is me? Is this the image that I portray? Good lord!

But I keep watching, and I relate to Kate. Yes, she has eight kids and I only have three but I watch how she runs her roost and I have to imagine that if I were in her situation I would be much like her. I am organized, I dislike clutter, I prefer to be in control, I'm fiscally responsible...organic eating not-so-much but I do like my kids clean and tidy to a point, I believe that kids need to be taught their manners and to respect others; and most obvious I love my kids, fiercely.

I feel for Kate. I admit it. I fully believe that television (especially reality T.V.) has a way to editing and manipulating the content to garner the best ratings. I've always felt sympathy for her, although she comes across as a crazy-obsessed woman I've always believed that she genuinely loves her kids. Her husband? Maybe not-so-much and this is where we vastly differ and I am nothing like her. I love my husband dearly, I respect him, I adore him. I suppose that is easy though, considering he is nothing like Jon. Not to place blame on Jon, because again the magic of crafty editing can make him out to be whomever the media wants him to be...but I don't know if he was ever cut out for this. They admit he never wanted to go forward with the second pregnancy...and to get SIX more kids from it. That's probably not what he signed up for or ever expected, and I'm guessing his resentment towards Kate has been building ever since.

As I watched the episode where they announced their separation, I truly felt sad for Kate. What a heavy heart she must have. It isn't the show that caused their separation, I think it would have happened anyhow. Sadly, when she talked about Jon not considering the future ramifications of his desires now, I think she hit the nail on the head. Fifteen years from now, will he be alone...wishing he had done it differently? She is looking at the big picture, he is living for the moment. So who is right? I would have to side with Kate. It appears as though she would do anything to make it work (that's what you do when you're married), but he left the relationship months (maybe years) ago. So, I am truly bummed for the Gosselins. Divorce is a sad, heartbreaking, life-changing event. Hopefully Kate will find the peace for her family that she is looking for.

So that is my pathetic update. I have so many things that I want to blog about...and I choose to talk about a reality t.v. show.