What Parents Can Learn from Jon and Kate Plus Eight

Jon and Kate Plus Eight remains one of the most popular shows on the TLC network. And it seems, from website blogs, that many of those viewers just like to watch to criticize Jon and Kate Gosselin's parenting skills. However, there are a few tips normal parents (i. e. those with less than eight children to handle daily) could pick up from the Gosselins.

There's No Excuse Not to Eat Healthy

Kate is definitely the organic, healthy queen of home-cooking. Most of the obesity on America has been linked to poor diet, which research shows is based on low household incomes preventing the purchase of vegetables and healthy foods. The Gosselins, however, have always eaten healthy, even on the tight budget. And Kate doesn't accept the picky-eater syndrome from her kids. She makes it, they eat it. Her children have never had the option to throw a tantrum and make her run to McDonald's.

Kate obviously buys into all the research marking the effects of high-sugar and simple carbohydrates on children. Just like a day care would be crazy to serve red Kool-Aid and chocolate, Kate knows her kids will melt down under the sugar rush, which effects their health and happiness.

Kate plans the family meals carefully by dividing the food budget into daily meals designed to deliver the most health bang for their buck. She also uses creative ways to sneak extra vegetables into the meals. For example, her meatloaf recipes uses non-traditional ingredients like zucchini, diced into tiny pieces and mixed in. This adds fiber, nutrients and vegetable servings to a normally meat-based meal.

Be Proactive About Making Memories

Critics make a big deal about Kate's ideas for family fun, specifically the huge birthday party she throws for the sextuplets. Viewers witness the stress, planning and spats involved with planning family outings. New York City can be a nightmare for normal families, but a family outing for Gosselins to New York City seems out of the question. Yet the Gosselins still push on, and now they have a family photo album filled with memories from Disney World, pumpkin patches, museums, and other activities. Why all the hassle?

Because Kate insists it is important to give the family memories: both individual adventures with one or both of the parents and memories that involves the entire, large family. To Jon and Kate, the stress, planning and toddler meltdowns are all worth it if they have great moments as a family.

Apply this in your own family. Take time to plan simple things, like an impromptu photo shoot at a pumpkin patch or a visit to a children's activity museum. Avoid getting so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of daily life that you neglect important times and experiences with your children.

Great Memories Don't Have to Break the Bank

Despite popular belief, the Gosselins are not raking in money hand over fist by exploiting their children on television. A family of 10 requires a lot of budgeting, but Kate and Jon have found ways to make memories on that budget. Many of their family traditions, like the 4^th of July picnic, may require planning but use free parks and resources.

Jon and Kate are a Team

Sure, America gets to watch the spats, the snide remarks and a few hurtful comments form both sides. But considering the level of stress, number of kids, and miraculous feats (such as a family trip to Disney World and getting ready for Oprah - all of which become miracles with eight kids) on the show, Jon and Kate argue less than most couples with fewer children and larger budgets. Critiques love to talk about the fights and point to a shaky marriage, but avid watchers of the show can view a pattern of team parenting that is obviously working. The children are remarkably well behaved considering everything.

Even though Jon and Kate obviously don't agree on everything, they generally stick together when it comes to disciplining their kids. Kids learn early how to manipulate weak parents, but the Gosselin children have not been taught, but passive behavior, to play one parent against the other. Rules are set and kept. The parents may spat about which shirts to wear or who is responsible for the bathroom break, but a melt-down will result in a stern admonishment always backed up by the other parent.

You Are In Control, You Are the Parent

The biggest complaint critiques of Jon and Kate Plus 8 have is that Kate is obsessive and controlling. Sure, Kate admits to needing more control than most people, but she manages to run a tight ship without being a mean mommy. Kate just wants to make sure she has a clean, germ-free house and well-behaved children who don't look like ragamuffins in dirty clothes. At first, watching Kate set up tight schedules for the six infants and two pre-schoolers, you think, "Get over it girl, you'll never have control of this." But season after season, Kate proves that it is possible to keep a clean house, clean kids, good manners, and at least one set of nice clothes without gum or ink stains. She and Jon maintain an attitude of control which the children are used to and work well in. The schedules and the rules give the children a sense of stability. The kids are still allowed to be kids, but Kate avoids situations, like chewing gum and permanent markers, which cause un-due stress on the family and budget.