Knocked Up Celebs

This week, Octomom Nadya Suleman has been blasted for having 13 of her 14 kids “enrolled in a private education,” and paying as much as $6,000 a year per child for school.  “She doesn’t even think about the future,” says a source.   Sounds extravagant, no?

Well, yes and no.

Private school is a privilege that is out of reach for most families, right?  I mean, in some circles it’s the very definition of exclusivity.  Private school!  How rich are you?

However, in this case, most of the Suleman kids – the octuplets – are two and a half years old, which means that if they’re in school at all, they’re in preschool.  Except for Head Start, which has pretty low income requirements, there is really no such thing as public preschool in California, where they live.   (Los Angeles County actually has some, but not many.)  Which means that any school the octuplets would attend would almost necessarily be private.   And $500/month for preschool is a freakin’ steal.

As for the other five children who are in private school – Suleman’s rep tells the Huffington Post that the oldest child has always attended public school – at $3,500/month, it probably is a luxury she can’t afford, especially if it’s true that she can’t pay her mortgage.   Even when you consider the discounts she’s probably receiving as well as any scholarships she might qualify for, if she can’t afford to pay for housing, she can’t afford a private education for the older kids, who can presumably attend public school for free.  (Suleman’s rep has said that she’s recently pulled the octuplets out of preschool in an effort to save money, so she is at least trying to reduce her expenses.)

Now don’t get me wrong.  I’m certainly no Octomom apologist.  I think she’s got some serious issues, and I don’t believe her whole “I was drugged” story.  But I do have to take issue with comments like this one:

“Nadya thinks that by shoving her kids in school, it will free her up and give her time to make money doing something.”

In most circles, that’s called, you know, working.  Which is what responsible parents do, and unless you’re lucky enough to have a family member who can provide free childcare, or rich enough to afford a nanny, working means using daycare/preschool.   I mean, the woman might be a little nuts, but in the end, she’s a single mom with a ridiculous number of kids.    If she needs to access daycare so she can work, that’s no crime.   I would argue that it isn’t even worthy of mention.    In this instance at least, I say give Octomom a break.

Photo:  WENN.com

With TLC’s cancellation of Kate Plus 8, Jon Gosselin might finally be getting something his way.  He’s reportedly very pleased that his kids with Kate Gosselin will no longer be a staple of reality TV.    A source told E! Online:

“Jon is extremely relieved his children will finally be off television.  Jon has been fighting for years to remove them from TV, even taking the matters to the court. He hopes they will finally have the normal, private life he believes is best for them. He wishes the best for Kate in whatever she decides to do. He does hope her next career move will only include one of the Gosselins—Kate—on television.”

Of course, since TLC has promised “check-in specials” with the family, Jon’s kids aren’t entirely off TV, just mostly.  Until they grow up and offers for their own reality shows start coming in, that is.   You know that’s coming.

Speaking of Jon, I wonder how his construction gig is going?

Photo:  Adriana M. Barazza/WENN.com

After a six year run and a dramatic divorce, TLC says it’s over for Kate Gosselin.  The network announced their intention not to renew Kate Plus 8.   They released this statement today:

“TLC has decided not to renew another season of Kate Plus 8. By the end of this season Kate Plus 8 will have hit the 150 episode mark (including Jon & Kate Plus 8); an exceptional milestone. TLC hopes to check in with Kate and the family periodically with specials in the future.”

Hmmm.  I can’t say I’m disappointed.  I think reality TV ruined the Gosselins.  I do wonder if it wasn’t their dubious fame that broke up Jon and Kate.

Well, that’s all water under the bridge.  So how’s Kate taking unemployment?  Well.  James Hibberd of Entertainment Weekly kindly compiled Kate’s Tweets on the matter:

“We’ve had a great run! Six years of whirlwind funfilled adventures thanks to TLC and our many many supportive &diehard fans! … While it is very sad for me and the kids (there were many tears at the breakfast table this morning!) … we are looking forward with great anticipation to our bright future! As is very typical for me, I am choosing to … As is very typical for me, I am choosing to see the positive in this situation and I am excited to consider the … I am excited2consider many more invigorating opportunities that may come my way!I poured my entire self in2 last 6 yrs of ‘Kate+8′ … I poured my entire self in2 the last6years of ‘Kate Plus 8′ & I can’t wait2have the chance2challenge myself again w future endeavors!… And maybe even some dating??!! We wish our fans well. And remember, this is not ‘goodbye’.I prefer to say ‘See you around!’ Xoxo … we will all stay on twitter! I know I’m not going anywhere!”

As reality TV fans know, this show began as Jon and Kate Plus 8, following the lives of Kate, her husband Jon Gosselin, and their eight children:  twins Cara and Madelyn, and sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel.  Following the Gosselin’s divorce in 2009, the show was revamped to focus on Kate as a divorced mom, and was renamed Kate Plus 8.

Photo: C. Smith/WENN.com

Mary Stuart Masterson and husband, Jeremy Davidson, are expecting twins. Jeremy revealed the news during an interview with  E!.

“My family life at home in Brooklyn is becoming [more involved]—we’re actually pregnant with twins. We are four months along. So balancing career and family is becoming increasingly challenging for me…and in five months we are going to have three kids under the age of two. We are in happy shock about it.”

The couple also have a 17 month old son.  That would be crazy to have them that close together. But imagine how close they will be when they have grown up.

[Image by WENN.com]

Everyone seems to be talking about Nadya Suleman‘s appearance on the Oprah show yesterday. I didn’t get to catch it but I am sure that it’s controversial just like everything attached to her is. Here are some of the highlights from the interview that she did with Oprah.

On the character named ‘Octomom’ the media created: Thus far, the media has depicted a completely false picture of who I am. The trial I’ve been put through has forced me to see my true self—something I have avoided most of my life. I have been compelled to dig deep inside and pull out strengths I never knew I possessed in order to protect my family. I am not a victim. I do not blame anyone for the circumstances of my life.

On getting paid $100,000 to pose in her bikini: I need to tell you why: 14 hungry mouths. Then a 15th here. And it is my responsibility. I own full responsibility for providing for my children. A parent must provide for their kids, not the other way around. I will never—from the beginning I’ve always been consistent with this—I would never do a reality show. That has been a lie from the very beginning. And I must provide for my children. Deep down, I was ashamed of [the bikini shot]. That is not my character. I am shy. I always have shied away from cameras. But I feel as though I needed to do something. And in doing so, I was able to provide for my kids. We have some of that money still left until I figure another way to make ends meet.

On her desire to have a large family: I believe going back, reflecting back, I feel as though I was so caught up with my own childish desires to compensate. There’s an amalgamation of factors contributing to why. I didn’t do one or choose one thing for one particular reason. There were so many reasons. And perhaps selfishness—perhaps trying to compensate for being an only child, trying to fill some missing piece inside. And I maybe wrongfully looked outside of myself when I should have been filling that in from within.

“Do I regret [it]? You can’t regret children. But the choices were childish. They were immature. They were selfish. Are we defined by our choices? Our behavior? Our actions? No. I don’t believe that defines our worth.”

On how she pays for her family and three nannies: Not on government help. That has been one of the most erroneous beliefs out there. From the very beginning, … I canceled food stamps. I was receiving food stamps with the six children for one year. Once I found out it was affiliated to welfare—and I was oblivious, I guess, at that time—I terminated them.

We were on private insurance, and we went on MediCal. Then we went off of MediCal [and] back to private because I do not want to be a burden on anybody. This is my choice. It is my responsibility to take care of them. So I have been ashamed of myself for going through certain, let’s say, media outlets to provide for my children. And it has helped. It has helped significantly.

On the possibility of putting the family on a reality show: I would never do a reality series, anything associated to that, because that robs them of their childhood. And I think it’s borderline abusive.

On choosing to implant six embryos (which resulted in the octuplets): Knowing what I know now, if I had it to do over, they transferred in six and based upon my past reproductive history, they didn’t do anything different. He didn’t do anything different. But if I knew then what I know now, perhaps if I still chose to do it, maybe I would have transferred in far fewer. I never wanted more than maybe six, seven children total. Not double that.

[Images by WENN.com]

Nadya Suleman was on The View yesterday laughing up a storm. I know I watched the segment looking for something else but I couldn’t get over how much energy she had. The ladies on the show I don’t think knew how to take her but I think they did a great job.

Joy Behar stopped the interview eventually to ask her, “Are you on something?”

“It’s called DNA!” said Suleman, “because my mom’s in her 70s and she has as much energy as I do.” After she laughed Sherri Shepherd had to comment on her “maniacal” laugh.

“Hahahaha! I don’t like it,” said Suleman. “I try to suppress it. Someone told me I need a laugh coach.”

You can’t miss her answer for if she wants more children or not. See the video above for the answer.

I didn’t realize that Kate Gosselin had written two other books until I heard about this one. She is releasing her third book on April 13th and it’s name is I Just Want You to Know: Letters to My Kids on Love, Faith and Family. The book will feature prayers, excerpts from her journal and eight individual letters addressed to each one of her children.

“Each day the thought crosses my mind that when they get older, my kids are going to look back and think about how they were raised,” Gosselin says in a statement. “I know they will have a lot of questions about things that may not make sense because they were raised so unconventionally. I don’t want them to grow up and wonder; I want them to know without a shadow of a doubt how much I love them and how much every sacrifice made was worth it for them.”

I know as a mother I might want to actually read this. I am in awe of how she manages to balance everything when I have troubles doing that and I have only two kids.

Photo Source: People

People might not agree with Nadya Suleman‘s way of life but since she has 14 kids and is a single mom she should know a thing or two about parenting. She recently shared her way of thinking on parenting…

Her parenting philosophy: “Love with some boundaries and rules. I try to be firm but also attuned to my kids’ needs. I think religion is important. So are good manners, good role models and a good education. I try to be present for each one of my children and give them love and attention to the best of my ability. I also try not to judge other parents.”

The “life lessons” she tries to teach her kids: “To work hard for what they want and stay the course. Never give up, don’t get distracted or worry about what others think of you. Don’t let anyone else determine who you are and what you want to accomplish. Hopefully, I can help my children achieve their goals no matter what they are.”

The rules of the house: “Foul language and disrespectful manners, from the older kids especially. They need to do what I ask them and show respect for adults. I’m there to read stories and play, but when it’s time to clean up and get ready to go out, go to school or go to bed they have to follow my instructions. Mutiny is not an option in my house!”

I would love to see how she enforces things. I have such a hard time with that myself.

[Image by WENN.com]

I don’t like to talk abut Nadya Suleman but I had heard a couple of things about her that I couldn’t resist sharing. Nadya said to Good Morning America that she would be open to adding to the 14 kids she has already.

“If I wanted to do it the traditional way and get married. That’s like another chapter.”

I am thinking that marriage isn’t in her future any time soon.  And what is killing me is how much she spends per week, month and day on expenses.

- $1,000 in groceries and buying about 700 diapers per week,
- eight loads of laundry and going through four and a half gallons of milk per day, and
- $10,000 for five nannies per month.

I don’t even know how she can do it. I would be in debt the first month.

[Image by WENN.com]

Jon and Kate Gosselin are the stars of the TLC show, Jon and Kate Plus 8. They are also parents to eight children. They are being featured in the May 2009 issue of Ladies Home Journal. How cute does their family look all in white. In the interview included in the magazine they talk about what it’s like living life in front of a camera, the time before the sextuplets and the state of their marriage. Here are the highlights…

Jon, on his life now: “I spend my whole life counting to eight.”

Kate, on the popular series: “Our show is the realest reality show there is. You get the good, the bad and the ugly.”

How Kate deals with it all: “Pressure is my middle name.”

Kate, after having twins, Cara and Maddy: “I had everything I had ever hoped and prayed for.”
Would she return to the quieter, pre-sextuplet and camera days? I wouldn’t … We think of the TV show as our family job, one that lets us stay home together.”

Jon, on photos of him with several college girls, whom he calls fans: “I am not perfect. This struggle has definitely put some tension in our marriage. But I never cheated on Kate. Kate and I are together.”

Their crazy lives now, according to Jon: “Kate and I have maybe 10 minutes together while we’re cleaning up the kitchen, but other wise it’s the kids and the show and meetings and, well, see you next Christmas, Kate.”

What Kate thinks of her success: “I don’t get it. I’m just a mom who’s doing her best — not unlike moms every where. I just happen to have a few more kids than the average.”

Photo Source: Popeater