LilSugar

What Kate Gosselin Can Teach Us About Raising a Large Family

LilSugar — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:31:52 PDT

For seven seasons, we've watched the famous Gosselin multiples grow up while their parents, Jon and Kate, became tabloid regulars. After a controversial season, filled with conflicts, TLC has called it quits with the Gosselins, and the Kate Plus Eight finale will air this evening. Kate has received her share of negative press over the years, but everyone has shortcomings - especially when faced with a challenge like raising eight children. While we might not agree with all of Kate's parenting techniques, her example of raising a big family, has taught us a few important lessons. Here are five:

Marriage and parenting is a partnership, not a dictatorship. Just as you tell your children not to be bossy, it's important to listen to your husband and know when to control a situation and when to let something go. Kate often struggled to give her husband control of even the smallest decisions like what the kids could wear for their daddy day out. It's always better to work together in the interest of the kids rather than your own personal preferences.
Don't shun help. Even as a stay-at-home mom, sometimes extra help is needed, even if it's for a few hours a week. All moms need a little R&R to recharge.
Expect the unexpected. Being prepared with all sorts of ammo will keep you one step ahead of the curve. Keep an emergency supply kit with extra clothing, diapers, snacks, and more in your car at all times.
Kids enjoy adventures, but they also can be easily amused by little things too. Kate once entertained the whole crew by passing around a tiny plastic shark that she found in her bedroom. The kids loved passing it quietly around to each other, and after everyone had delighted in the surprise, Kate asked them to yell what it was all at once.
No parent is perfect. Despite all the drama, the press, the split, and being on a reality TV show, Kate and Jon have raised eight intelligent, happy, normal, and pretty well behaved children. No parent is perfect, but Kate shows her love the best by providing her kids with a comfortable life, educational experiences, and college savings.

How do you feel about Kate Gosselin's parenting technique? What lessons has she taught you about parenting? And are you sad to see her go?

Kate Plus 8 and Sarah Palin's Crew Go Camping in Alaska!

LilSugar — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:17:30 PDT

Oh, to be a bear in the tree during Kate Gosselin and Sarah Palin's meeting of the moms in Alaska! The Gosselin eight - Cara and Mady, 9, and Aaden, Collin, Joel, Alexis, Hannah, and Leah, 6, - have been spotted in The Last Frontier with the former vice presidential candidate and her clan. Both women are the stars of TLC reality series since the network picked up Sarah Palin's Alaska in Spring. One report gives an insight to the reason behind the trip. It said:

Palin's brother, a third-grade teacher, and father, a retired science teacher, will reportedly give hands-on natural history lesson to Gosselin's 9-year-old twins and 6-year-old sextuplets.

Sarah has been vocal about her love of the great outdoors, but we're curious how Kate (who has said she doesn't camp) will take to living off the land.

Kate Gosselin Says "6 Is Just a Big Baby" Do You Agree?

LilSugar — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:11:07 PDT

Last night on Kate Plus 8, the mom of multiples talked about her sextuplets turning 6. The Gosselins have long referred to their twins, Mady and Cara as the big girls and Aaden, Alexis, Collin, Hannah, Joel, and Leah, as the little kids. Kate wondered aloud when her youngest children will be considered just "kids" and quickly decided "6 is just a big baby - right?"

Photos courtesy of TLC

They're Back...Kate Plus 8 Two-Hour Special This Sunday!

LilSugar — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:00:53 PDT

After a TLC hiatus and making quite a few headlines, the Gosselin eight are back! On Sunday's two-hour special, Kate and her kiddos take a special trip to Discovery Cove in Orlando to celebrate the sextuplet's sixth birthday. After Kate Plus 8, the mom of multiples will be filling fans in on her recent endeavors. Check out the sneak peak photos! Will you tune in?

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Get Your Gosselin Fix Again on TLC!

LilSugar — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:05:26 PDT

If Oprah is every woman, is Kate Gosselin every mother? When it comes to the small screen, the 34-year-old mother of multiples has well extended her family's fifteen minutes of fame despite her split from husband, Jon. According to People, she has deals for a set of specials and a new series to air on TLC. Kate Plus 8 will be a similar concept to the beloved Jon and Kate Plus 8, but run periodically and showcase Kate as a single mom. Twist of Kate is her new series that will focus on women in challenging situations. Are you excited to watch the Gosselin kids (Cara, Mady, Alexis, Hannah, Leah, Aaden, Collin and Joel) in action again? Are you more interested in how Kate's life has changed? Or do you think the outspoken mom has been overexposed?

Source: TLC

Biggest Headlines of 2009: Jon and Kate Plus 8

LilSugar — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:00:17 PST

There's no doubt about it this was a year of Jon and Kate Gosselin headlines. The series finale of the couple's show, Jon and Kate Plus 8, aired in November 2009 after five seasons on TLC and showcased the separated couple striving to be strong single parents. While this past year has been filled with loud magazine covers and speculation about the famous family the show went out on a high note - reminding viewers at the end of the day, it was about the great eight kids Jon and Kate had together.

We've offered up more than eight reasons we love the family over the years and have followed their moves on and off the small screen. Here's a look back at the show and famous family.

Did You Tune In to the Series Finale of Jon and Kate Plus 8?

LilSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:00 PST

Last night marked the end of an era for one of TV's most talked about families. The series finale of Jon and Kate Plus 8 aired after five seasons on TLC and showed the separated couple striving to be single parents. While this past year has been filled with loud headlines about the bunch, the show went out on a high note - reminding viewers that at the end of the day, it was about the great eight kids Jon and Kate had together. We've followed the crew's moves on and off the small screen for years so we were sad to see the show end. Did you tune in to bid adieu to the family?

Share your reaction to the finale in the comments below. For a bittersweet look back at photos of the family and episode recaps and quizzes from this past season, read more. Jon and Kate Plus 8: "School Days" episode

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Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Time to Organize" episode

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Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Tea Party & Snakes" episode

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Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Farm to Table" episode

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Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Dude Ranch and Dress Up" episode

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Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Battleship and Barber" episode

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Relive the growth, gossip and tales of the famous family by checking out our past coverage. Photos courtesy of TLC

"Kate: Her Side" Special

LilSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:50 PST

Jon and Kate Plus 8 may be over, but the saga is not. For every story there are usually two sides and last night viewers got a glimpse of Kate Gosselin's point of view on her family's drama. Whether you're on Team Kate, Team Jon, or neither, the TLC special provides another perspective on the woman who's gone from a regular mom to a tabloid staple. Take the quiz to see how well you watched Kate's side of the story.

Can't get enough of the Gosselins? For more on the whole crew, visit the Jon and Kate Plus 8 group over in our LilSugar Community!

Source: TLC

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It's Time to Bid Adieu to Jon, Kate, and Their 8

babysugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:48:25 PDT

Turn out the lights . . . the party's over. The reality show that once focused on a fun-loving and wildly entertaining family is coming to a halt. Jon and Kate Plus 8 captured the hearts of viewers (including our own) all over the country. The adorable children and their parents made the TLC show a hit, but it was the parent's marital demise that made it a phenomenon. While many couples could relate to their bickering, it got to be too much for the Gosselins themselves and eventually led to the announcement of their separation and divorce. As it often happens, things have turned sour and until the two can reconcile differences and iron matters out privately, TLC is turning off the cameras and refusing to air anymore dirty laundry . . . literally.

Perhaps the lack of camera crews will allow the family to focus on what is important and bring some sanity, or at least normalcy, to the wee ones' lives. While 63 percent of LilSugar readers believed the show should be canceled, will you be sad to see it go?

If you want to dish about all things Jon and Kate Plus 8, join the discussion in the Jon and Kate Plus 8 Group in the LilSugar community!

Source: INFDaily.com

For a bittersweet look back at photos of the family and episode recaps and quizzes from this past season, read more. Jon and Kate Plus 8: "School Days" episode

View School Days Photos ›

Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Time to Organize" episode

View Time to Organize Photos ›

Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Tea Party & Snakes" episode

View Tea Party and Snakes Photos ›

Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Farm to Table" episode

View Farm to Table Photos ›

Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Dude Ranch and Dress Up" episode

View Dude Ranch and Dress Up Photos ›

Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Battleship and Barber" episode

View Battleship and Barber Photos ›

Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Beach and Kitchen Reveal" episode Jon and Kate Plus 8: "Vacations & Renovations" and "Backyard Camping" episode Source: TLC

Jon Gosselin's Epiphany: Believable or Not?

LilSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:00:21 PDT

Apparently a light went off in Jon Gosselin's head but the timing is a bit questionable. He appeared on Larry King Live last night saying that he had an epiphany and is demanding a cease-and-desist order upon TLC to stop filming the children for Jon & Kate Plus 8 - this after TLC announced that they were dropping the father of eight from the hit show. Jon, who recently claimed that he despises his soon-to-be ex-wife Kate, admitted to making a few mistakes including saying that the children are having fun while taping episodes. King asked Gosselin if he made a lot of money from the series and Jon said, "No", but when King asked how much Gosselin made, the papa replied, "Maybe a million dollars, $500,000 after taxes."

Jon's television appearances do not seem to be helping his case in the courts or with loyal viewers who are having a hard time believing that he is speaking from the heart and not the wallet. We can only hope that Jon is truly putting his children first, but his actions are suspect. What do you think of Jon's epiphany - believe it or not?

Can't get enough of the Gosselins? For more on the whole crew, visit the Jon and Kate Plus 8 group over in our LilSugar community!