Even if you don’t watch the show, you know all about the Gosselin’s from “Jon & Kate Plus Eight”. The divorce of these parents has been spread all across the tabloids, leaving many wondering how the children are handling the pressure. A divorce is hard on any family, but imagine having a camera following you through every step.
MSNBC has reported that on several occasions the Gosselin children have been filmed against their will. The kids have gone as far as to form a “sit-in” and refuse to film. The children have even been told to film outside, although they were tired and just wanted to rest.
As a parent this drives me crazy. How could you do this to your children? I understand that a family of this size must be extremely hard to support and, financially, it is nearly impossible with a “normal” job for the parents to be able to fully care for the children on their own. One parent would have to stay home or pay an outrageous amount in day care costs. But is it worth putting a camera on your child in an effort to support them? Many of us struggle at one time or another, and learn to adjust and work with what you have to make it work.
These poor children have been put to work since birth, supporting their family, while the parents reap the benefits. Although I only know what I see on television, the parents seem to enjoy the benefits of their reality show. Kate had her tummy tuck and now runs around in a bikini much smaller than I would ever wear. Jon went and had his hair plugs done and now there are rumors he has gotten a spokesman job for Ed Hardy and Vitamin Water, which he always seems to be holding, label out.
And it’s not just Jon and Kate. Other reality show families, like Octomom, have stated on several occasions that a reality show is how they are choosing to support their family. Is it fair for these children to be taped from the time they are born? Are they going to be able to have any type of “normal” childhood? How are they going to feel knowing that all of their little secrets were actually filmed and spread to the entire world? I always tease my kids that when they get older about funny things they did as a child. I tell my son that I will show his first girlfriend the picture of him wearing his sister’s princess tiara, but imagine if this wasn’t just a family joke and was actually put out there for the world to see…forever.
Watching the documentary, “Octomom: The Incredible Unseen Footage” I saw her children act out and behave badly. Although this could be age-related, I am sure having cameras on you all of the time could add to the behavior. The children can’t go out and play in the yard without paparazzi hounding them to see if they can capture a photo. Once you bring your children into the spotlight, there is no turning back.
My plea to all of these parents attempting to get a reality show is find another way to support your family. I have two friends that have very large families, one has ten children and the other has eleven. Neither of them have a reality show and they are fully capable of supporting all of their children, including gymnastics and other extracurricular activities. There are ways to cut costs and save a little money here and there. You do not have to take the easy route and potentially hurt your children. For those families that do have shows based on their lives, think about the children first. If they are tired, they should not have to work. It is not their responsibility to support themselves. At least not yet.
