Judge Tells Jon Gosselin "Return the Money" to Kate; What About the Kids in All This?

According to US Magazine, Jon Gosselin received disappointing news yesterday about the money he took from his joint account with his wife, Kate Gosselin. A judge in Norristown, Pennsylvania, in a quick ruling, told Jon Gosselin he must return $180,000 of the supposed $230,000 that wife, Kate Gosselin, says he removed from their account without her prior knowledge. According to statements by Kate Gosselin on the TV show, The View, last week, the account is used for all the expenses for their children and for running the house. With less than $1,500 left, or so Kate Gosselin said, it would be impossible for her to pay most of the bills due. But did Jon take the other $50,000 and where are the kids in all of this?

In several reports over the last few days, it's now looking likely that the other $50,000-plus was actually used by Kate Gosselin herself to pay expenses for the children. A shocking fact to many as, sure, the Gosselin couple have eight kids but even children don't need $50,000 worth of stuff in only a few months time, right?

Jon's attorney has stressed several times, so far, Kate has given no-one any proof that the $50,000 was in fact spent on the children. It's possible therefore that Jon would then go after Kate for the $50,000, demanding she hand it back.

Concerns are rising for the Gosselin children though who, regardless that they live in a nice house and obviously have a lovely lifestyle, seem to be being used as pawns in a nasty divorce. A healthy divorce puts the children first but, with no stretch of the imagination could the Gosselin's divorce be called 'healthy'.

In fact, what's sad to many people about this divorce and this likely first-of-many court hearings, is neither Jon nor Kate seems remotely concerned about what this is doing to their children. Squabbling over money, calling each other names, spending hours a day on national and international radio and TV talk shows and giving newspaper interviews seems to be all this couple is interested in doing. If it was purely about the money too, most healthy couples would simply take the offending party to court and keep silent in polite company. With Jon and Kate Gosselin on TV almost every time you turn it on though, we're probably going to see this kind of behavior until after the divorce - and probably even after that. The Gosselin children meanwhile will surely hear of this through television, magazines or friends - especially as they grow older.

Sadly, a recent study by Elizabeth Marquardt, published in her book Between Two Worlds shows more than 50% of adults, who saw divorce in their family as children, found things their mother or father did during the divorce difficult to forgive. More than 30% also felt the divorce had damaged their feelings of safety and security while still a child. There's a chance the eight children of the Gosselin's will feel the same way if their parents' present behavior continues.

Meanwhile, Jon Gosselin has been told he needs to hand over the $180,000 by October 26th, at which time Kate must also hand over her records on where the remaining money was spent. If neither of them does, contempt of court proceedings will then be filed against them.

SOURCES:

Divorce Reform - Children of divorce: Psychological, psychiatric, behavioral problems and suicide

OMG - Judge orders Jon Gosselin to return $180,000