Why I Went from a Jon & Kate Plus 8 Supporter to a Disenchanted Viewer

I wanted to like Jon and Kate Gosselin. I wanted to believe their story and I found the idea of this young couple with several children trying to budget and get by rather inspiring. Little did I know I was being deceived, or rather, the public was being deceived.

I have watched every episode, and at the inception I was one of Jon and Kate's many supporters and defenders. I never thought people were jealous of them, but I did think their detractors were pretty hateful and I even started writing an article about those hateful people.

And then...as each episode aired I became increasingly troubled. At first Kate's treatment of Jon didn't seem so bad, in fact, during the early years of my marriage I had a tendency to be demanding but seeing myself on home video changed things completely. I couldn't stand what I was and I changed for the better. I also apologized to my husband, and meant it.

Light-hearted teasing between spouses can be fun on some level, but when it becomes criticism cloaked beneath playful banter it becomes disrespectful and unkind. Kate continually harps on Jon but I don't imagine it would be well received in return. Even more so would be the infamous "love taps." How would she react if he was continually yelling for her to do everything? Unfortunately, even now I can hear her bellow his name.

I've also been disturbed by the obvious favoritism of the girls, and the heartbreaking treatment of little Joel. I didn't want to believe it; I didn't want to see it. I really wanted to like Jon and Kate.

In the most recent episode, Kate coldly, yes, coldly, dismissed Joel after he asked to help decorate a cake, but Kate happily let all the girls participate and even brought out her camera to capture the moment on film. While they were smiling, Joel walked off by himself. It was not an isolated incident, although I wish it were.

Other than the favoritism, I couldn't understand why Kate refused to let the children have fun, and sometimes fun means getting messy.

Now I know why...Kate receives free clothing from sponsors and she consigns the clothing for top dollar; top dollar means receiving clothes that are "gently used."

I believe that fun memories and a carefree childhood are more important than worrying about what kind of stains get on clothing, especially clothes that were given free of charge. They are only young once, let them scamper, cavort and get dirty.

And that brings me to the freebies...

I'm around the same age as Kate, but I was raised to believe that the world owes me nothing, and that a sense of entitlement is a terrible, selfish thing to have. I'm free to make my choices in life but society doesn't owe me for those choices.

I fully understand the generosity and kindness of those that have donated to the Gosselin's. What I find offensive is that Jon and Kate deceive the public into believing they still need and deserve all the freebies. They expect them and they are not truthful about the help they receive.

They once claimed that they would donate what was donated to them. They haven't. They've sold them.

They do not let the public know that they have been given a chef who cooks them organic meals every day (according to one source). Kate has someone do her laundry, and now some of her cooking. Jon takes care of the children and they also have a nanny, nicely referred to as a "helper." But Kate is always exhausted...

Their website still claims there are no college funds set up for their children but according to the state of PA, one was set up shortly after the children were born. Having said that, why does the public owe their children a college education? Many people pay their own way through college and do quite nicely. Self-sufficiency is an admirable trait to have.

Neighbors have claimed that when Kate received her free tummy tuck that many meals were cooked and delivered to the Gosselins but that generosity was never mentioned in the show. Those same neighbors say that Kate has always been rude and dismissive towards them, even when help has been given.

Kate has alienated her family. Have you noticed the lack of Jodi's presence on the show? Apparently TLC was going to compensate Jodi financially for being a "regular," but Kate would not allow it. That's when the show hired the new nanny. Evidently Kate thinks its okay to pay an outsider, but God forbid a family member be compensated for her appearances. And let it be known, Jodi didn't care about the money. Jodi's sister has a blog called, "Truth Breeds Hatred." One of her posts has a short video clip of Jodi thanking the public for being so supportive of her. Jodi, kind sweet Jodi - the kind of Aunt I wish my kids had - hasn't seen her nieces and nephews in months. That's the kind of thanks she gets from Jon and Kate for being such a help and support to them all these years. Who can forget her watching her own four children, plus her eight nieces and nephews - all of whom were really sick - so Kate could accompany Jon when he flew to CA for a free hair transplant? Has Kate ever watched Jodi's kids?

And where is Beth Carson? The wonderful friend I wrote about in one of my previous articles? It seems she was alienated for the same reason as Jodi was. Remarkable people such as Jodi and Beth do not come into people's lives easily - some can only dream about having family and friends like that - but Kate couldn't even give back or nourish those relationships, which I find tragic.

A home is being built for Jon and Kate, rumor has it that it's being built in NC, and is 8,000 square feet with a pool house. According to a family member, sponsors are donating furniture and appliances.

Jon does not work outside of the home. Neither does Kate. Normally I wouldn't find that a negative if they in fact earned their way, but they are living off their kids and I find that objectionable. We are allowed a glimpse into their lives on a weekly basis. How much camera time and re-shoots do those children have to endure to make up one episode? According to those that are privy, a lot. They also have permanent cameras in their rooms and studio lighting. Those children are working but have no protection. They are also subjected to situations that could be humiliating for them in years to come. I know I wouldn't be happy if my childhood potty habits and temper tantrums were filmed for posterity, and to line my parent's pockets.

Jon and Kate have regular speaking engagements. For years they have claimed financial hardship, even when it wasn't so, and asked for "love offerings." Now, though, they are reneging on their commitments to various churches who can not afford their new speaking fee, which some estimate at around $25,000 including first class air fare and accommodations.

They have approached talk shows, always expecting freebies in return. I remember seeing them on Dr. Phil. They had written in asking for "parenting advice." In return they received a free nanny (for a year) plus thousands of dollars worth of toys. On Ellen they received bikes. Oprah gave them nothing which, according to Jodi's sister, upset them. They expected more.

Expectations and a sense of entitlement; when is enough, enough?

I would not mind all the freebies Jon and Kate receive if they were honest about them. It's not about envy; it's about dishonesty and trying to make people believe one way when, in fact, the situation is drastically different. Jon and Kate can provide for their family the way millions of others do. They are not the only ones with a large family but not all large families think they deserve to be rewarded or taken care of and given to because of the number of kids they have. Jon and Kate do.

Ultimately I hope they are honest with the public and stop taking from those that are worse off than they are. I also hope that the show is canceled, sooner rather than later. Yearly updates would have sufficed, but the train wreck it's turned into is both a shame and a disappointment.