Tuesday, July 29, 2008

They're only markers!

Dear Kate Gosselin,

I realize that you have eight beautiful children and can imagine the amount of work a family of this size generates, I really can.

I understand that a family of ten will generate mountains of laundry to rival the Rockies, I get that.

However, markers? You wouldn't let your kids use markers in the Crayola Factory (where I'd be willing to bet they use the washable markers especially for little visitors)?

Come ON!

My heart was breaking watching an episode of Jon and Kate plus 8 last night. Kids in the Crayola Factory - what could be more dream worthy than that? Excited to use the many different art supplies available and actually have FUN, these kids were jumping out of themselves and pumped to get to use markers when Jon let them do it. You didn't like this though and immediately put an end to it, citing interminable laundry and not wanting kids to be seen with marker on their clothes. The kids, especially Cara and Maddy were devastated.

Washable markers are magic, they come right out in the wash - even without pre-treating the stains. If this doesn't work, Crayola.com have wonderful and plentiful tips on removing stains from their products, should you encounter these. And if all this fails, and your kids went home after having a great day at the Crayola Factory with a few marker marks on their clothes, in the scheme of things, is this the worst thing that could happen?

If you're going to take your kids on a fun day out - let them do that! Have fun.

Oh, and never underestimate the calming, relaxing effect of colouring with crayons or markers yourself. Sit down at the table with your kids - get those colouring books out - heck be reckless, breakout the dreaded MARKERS, and try it yourself. Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of doing nothing but shading in your images. Look at the delight on your children's faces when they have you all to themselves, colouring with them. I promise, you won't regret it.

Yours sincerely,

Blooming Marvelous.

9 comments:

justme said...

i haven't watched it lately. she is anal, i recall watching one show and she was wiping ice cream off their outfits all upset and changing them. i found it amazing....ice cream gets messy deal with it. then again, i don't have 8 kids and maybe it is the only way she can deal. plus putting herself on tv for all this criticism has got to be hard. i know if i was filmed for even an hour folks would be appalled at some of my actions.

The Laundress said...

that woman irritates me.

Heather said...

Kate needs to drink. Like ALL the time. Way too anal-retentive and controlling.

Anonymous said...

Usually I feel a little protective of Kate. I feel like she gets in trouble for her parenting style, one that I think is necessary when you have 8 kids!

HOWEVER.

I couldn't agree more about the marker incident!!! She was being unreasonable. Why even take them there if she wasn't going to let them use markers!!

Life As I Know It said...

No, kidding! She is a little over-the-top-anal, huh?
I remember watching one episode where she was trying to hire a cleaning lady and one woman refused the job when Kate told her she had to get down on her hands and knees twice a day and wash the kitchen floor!

Jessica said...

Oh my goodness, was she out of control or what ? I wa sembarrassed for her- she looked like a nutjob. Gymboree gives her those clothes for free, so its not like she'd be out money anyway. Plus, don't they get washed no matter what? What is the big deal- I'll never understand.

Anonymous said...

I blogged about this very episode in March.
http://domesticaccident.blogspot.com/2008/03/kate-i-get-you-now.html

Brillig said...

"If you're going to take your kids on a fun day out - let them do that! Have fun."-- this is such great advice for ALL parents!

How many times have you been at an amusement park where the parents are yelling at the kids? Or at a playground when the kids are told not to get dirty?

I think I'll go get out some markers for my little stinkers...

Great post, Annie!

Anonymous said...

I have never seen this show, but it certainly sounds like that woman needs more than a drink. Please someone, reassure me that she is in therapy? I can't imagine having her as a mother!