Weddingbee boards

I know I'm not the only one who watched the season premiere...

What are everyone's thoughts? I'm really kind of shocked at how depressing it all was... it seems like they have already given up and moved on. I feel like they haven't gone to therapy (at least not that they mentioned) or really tried to save their marriage. It's all so sad... I know she can be overbearing at times and he is often a sourpuss, but what happened to "till death do us part"?  

I get the impression that she wants to make it work and he doesn't. I don't know how this season is going to pan out but I will definitely be watching.

Sigh.....

I hope that they are seeking therapy privately, off camera.

They used to seem like a couple who worked very well as a team. I'm wondering if Jon is dealing with a sort of mid-life crisis, made worse by constantly living in the spotlight. 

Definitely a sobering episode for those of us who are newlyweds or soon-to-be-weds.  Brings up the importance of communication and being able to work through issues constructively as they arise. 

I think they need to give up the show and work on becoming a normal family again

I think Hollywood has affected them and torn them apart

I don't think Kate gets it, she needs to stay around the family, when you are away it doesn't matter how much help Jon has; you need to have your spouse with you not traipsing around on  book trips; she doesn't get that Jon doesn't like the TV show anymore; you need compromise if one spouse is unhappy you need to have a compromise

sounds like he doesn't like her travelling; I don't blame him, he needs to have his own job and act like a man; he said the job was chosen for him, I don't believe that, you can quit the show if you want

wow, the kids called her by a baby sitter name, that's very telling, she just doesn't get it; one thing it teaches--never do a reality TV show; always compromise

why are they talking to the camera if they should be talking to EACH OTHER

I definitely think Jon is having some sort of crisis.... he seems to really resent Kate for traveling and I guess I can understand to an extent, but I have to admit that it's a double-standard and if the tables were turned, Kate would be looked at as a bitch for being mad at her husband for going away to make money.

They also likely have a contract for this whole fifth season, which they probably can't get out of very easily. 

I watched it too and got the same feeling- that she was still trying and he really wasn't.  I can see how two people drift apart in the middle of raising that many children- it takes over your entire life and you become so focused on someone else you neglect your own self and relationship.  The tv show/ cameras/ publicity seem to be the straw that broke the camel's back.  

I have to say I'm a bit more on "team jon" if we're going to go there.  Kate used to HATE the cameras and the production people because they were always in her way. Now, she shushes and pushes the kids out of the way when the cameras are interviewing her. Also, when they pulled into the parking spot of the party store, and she got out of the car and laughed with and chatted with the "p-people" - "Great parking job huh?" ... You'll find that the celebrities that just ignore the paparazzi eventually don't get followed as much.

At the end of last season, which they showed right before the premier, they had them on the couch together and jon said "I'm not happy. I dont want to do this anymore" and Kate said, "Well I'm happy." .... and just like that they did another season.  I'm sure they did have a contract or something for this season, but I just wish they could somehow get out of it, or at least delay it until they had their acts together. 

But in the end, it's all about the kids, and I'm just sad for them for sure!!

There is so much blame to go around Mrs. Cupcake! They need to stop doing the show, period. It's not about documenting the kid's lives anymore. Humarock was right - he said the show made him unhappy and Kate didn't seem too concerned.

I think Jon is upset because Kate is out making all the money, while he stays at home (I didn't realize until last night that he was not working at all). He's obviously not in charge of things at home either and that can ruin any marriage.

I used to feel sorry for Jon, but last night he came off like a real jerk. You cannot walk out on 8 kids, no matter how sad you are. Now he is what, staying at home AND not working while Kate does everything? And lying to the kids saying he has to work?! He looked like a total d-bag.

Yeah, Jon came off really badly last night. The kids obviously know something is up. I don't know how that family will function any more if they stop doing the show -- Kate seems to have depended on that production crew for so long that I'm not sure how she'd handle doing things on her own. Just very sad, all around. I hope they work things out; maybe the show will be a reason for them to stick together for a little while longer and seek some counseling...

I think I def. side with John – Kate has gotten out of control.  Remember in the first episodes when she wore sweatpants and her #1 priority was her kids?  And the show was actually about the KIDS?  Now, half the show is about her, she won’t go outside the house without hair/make-up.  She never cared about what she looked like before – there was even a whole show where John took her shopping to get her new clothes and she admitted she didn’t care about that stuff – which I think is completely contrasted to where she is now with the tanning/tummy tuck/make-up and her infamous hair.  I think the $$/fame/publicity has definitely gotten to her.  Jon has said for many seasons he does not want to do the show anymore and yet they still do it – IMHO because she likes the free stuff and fame.  She commented that she ‘travels’ a lot now for her ‘job’, (I read somewhere she was gone 21 out of 30 days last month) whether or not that is true, she quit her job as a nurse to be with her kids since they were her everything-

And notice how they have no friends/family around? Ever? Even ‘Aunt Jodi’ is never on the show anymore – I heard that TLC offered Jodi money for being on the show and Kate said ‘No one is getting paid but us’….and they were cut.  And the kids loved her, which is sad that she was removed from their lives

I don’t see their marriage working out unless they nix the show.

yeah Kate looks very depressed, Jon looks defeated

I don't think this will end well

I say quit quit quit the show

I thought about watching the premiere and I couldn't do it.  Sadly, I'm over the show entirely.  I don't think I could handle watching this play out on TV, I've lived through my parents break up and I don't need to see another--especially one that has 8 kids in the middle.  I really hope that they will be able to work things out in the end. 

June Bug - I agree with you. That house they have, the clothes they were, trips they've been on have all been for and because of the money they've made from the show - I have to believe that's why all these families (Duggars, the new TLC family with 10 kids) choose to be on TV because you can make enough money to support a family that size!

But at some point, you have to think how being on TV is affecting the kids. These kids (the sextuplets) have been on TV since birth. On last night's episode, they had floorseats to the Globetrotters. They go backstage at Sesame Street shows. They've been on Oprah twice. They have a parent who stays home. They go on nice vacations. The life they are living is not real.

I have enjoyed following the family, but I think this has to be the last season. To me, it's no longer about "look at those cute kids growing up", but now we're watching a family, so dependent on each other, fall apart, I'm thinking "what is going to happen to these kids at school?"...it's not fun. It's just sad to watch and think about.

I have read so many things about this family that it's hard to know what's what anymore.

Kate has always been abrasive, and I used to stick up for her. She seemed like a real down to earth mom in the beginning. Now she just seems hateful and she has dollar signs in her eyes. FI showed me a list of freebies that they've gotten recently, and it was pretty insane. That vow renewal in Hawaii? FREE. Kind of makes you wonder how much sentiment was behind it. 

FI and I watched the marathon leading up to the show and were just appalled at some of the things she said to Jon, especially in the last year or so since I quit watching. Jon sometimes DOES act like a ninth kid so I can see why she gets frustrated with him, but in the last year or so her anger branched out to just about everyone, including blatantly making fun of people who gave her "freebies".

That said, I don't think Jon's blame-free by any stretch of the imagination, but if your spouse is constantly at you and critcizing you, I think it's only a matter of time before you do just lose it, and I think that's what happened here, which is why most people I know (including myself) are more sympathetic to him. 

In all honesty I don't think they should stay together. Last night it was apparent that there are no warm feelings towards them. I hope that if they do seperate they can be civil to each other and still do things together as a family. I do wish them the best.

I have to agree with diorable that there seems to be a double-standard.... if he were traveling to make money for his family, it would probably be seen as admirable. I don't think her doing book tours and appearances is "gallavanting" when she's made a career out of it and it is obviously helping them to be able to live a certain lifestyle and give their kids experiences they never would have had otherwise. (For the record -- I don't know that I blame them for doing the show. Their kids have seen and done so much as a result of the show and will be able to go to college now without it being too much of a financial burden... it's just sad that it has also lead to the demise of their parents' relationship.) I also can't say I blame her for taking more pride in her appearance these days. Since when can't a woman look attractive and still love her kids?  Sometimes taking care of oneself is part of taking care of others. You have to like yourself and have pride in your appearance sometimes to make peace with the fact that you do a lot for others much of the time.

They have obviously both made a lot of mistakes and I don't think Kate's an angel... but Jon definitely seems to be going through some sort of crisis and he seems like he's being pretty stubborn. For the sake of the kids, I hope they work it out.