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Christianity Today, November, 2008

Extreme Family

Jon & Kate Plus Eight is at home with faith.

Todd Hertz | posted 11/03/2008 09:47AM

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I am a 31-year-old male—not exactly the demographic for the network of What Not to Wear and Say Yes to the Dress. But I am fascinated by TLC's Jon & Kate Plus Eight (Mondays, 9/8c, 4 stars).

Thanks to infertility treatments, Jon and Kate Gosselin have 8-year-old twins and 4-year-old sextuplets. The parents are quirky, the kids adorable. What keeps me watching is awe at how this family circus operates. These are not the staged scenarios so typical of reality TV (try scripting six 4-year-olds). This is Christmas shopping, picnicking, and traveling. It's real enough to relate to, but extreme enough to make it a spectator sport.

It is said that you can tell who a person really is by observing them on a bad day—well, this show is an open window into Jon and Kate. The stress, craziness, and exhaustion take a toll; they often bicker and snap at one another. Kate's strong personality is the center of debate among viewers: for some, she's a domineering witch, to others, a take-charge former nurse who gets things done.

Jon blogged that it's hard to watch episodes where "we are too harsh to each other or the kids or we don't react as we should. [But it's] a reality show—you get the good, the bad, and the ugly. Many people have been helped by our honesty, so are we sorry that certain things are aired? Never."

What comes through is a portrait of parents who love their kids—and each other. You see it when they playfully tease one another during interviews. These debriefing sessions are not just narration, but provide moments when this time-starved couple can process what has been happening with their family.

The Gosselins attend an Assemblies of God church, and their first priority in their family mission statement is "to show God's love to others"—a likely reason they have let the viewing public into their private lives. They also speak at churches, have released a book (Multiple Blessings) with Zondervan, and run a website (sixgosselins.com) that includes prayer concerns, devotionals, and Scripture.

Not many people face the challenges of this growing family, but most can appreciate the ups and downs of trying to grow faith in the midst of hectic circumstances.

Todd Hertz, managing editor, Ignite Your Faith

Related Elsewhere:

John & Kate Plus Eight is on TLC at 9 p.m. Eastern. Check out the Gosselin family's website for more information about their family.

Kate Gosselin co-authored Multiple Blessings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets.

ABC News interviewed the Gosselins last month.

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November 2008, Vol. 52, No. 11

Comments (17)

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Displaying 1–5 of 17 comments

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robin

November 12, 2008 10:25pm

I enjoy watching this show and I think they do a real good job with those babies. I see nothing wrong with them going on trips. One thing nobody knows what they give in secret. How do you know they aren't giving money to donations mentioned.

Kristi

November 09, 2008 9:46pm

For being a Christian woman Kate sure does needs to pray for "kindness". I understand why they are doing the show. Why not be financially secure for life especially with 8 kiddos. I think the all the extra trips and vacations is not something people going through tough times right now want to see. With all this extra income what are they contributing back??? Are they helping out other families?? Maybe we would like to see more "giving" instead of them "getting". In my opinion I think TLC should pull the plug on Jon and Kate and spend their money elsewhere concerning families who could use the money.

Hazel Moore-Thomas

November 07, 2008 1:16pm

I love Jon & Kate. I love the way they fight like normal families as well as deal with everyday struggles having so many children. Jon and Kate are not ashamed to say at times that they need help. What I like the most is that they are willing to give their children the best nutritional foods available on the market. They are also in to organic foods and I have seen locals (Trinidad ) attempting to do the same. Keep It Up !!!!!

November 07, 2008 12:43am

"These comments are exactly why we need this show." I can't disagree more. While the show may be cute and entertaining we don't "need" to watch these six young children grow up in a media fish bowl. I beleive it is terribly selfish of people to watch this show and not consider the impact this show may have on these young children. The Gosselins are not bad parents. But no matter how good they are, no one may be good enough to protect the young ones from the incredible pressure and burden they may likely live with the rest of their lives through no fault of their own or choice of their own. They will always have the "where are they now" pressure and spectacle upon them. How sad. As a society we should have more respect for our children. In this situation it would be much better to err towards over protecting them.

wow

November 06, 2008 8:35am

great article!

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