Kate

I have been thinking of writing about Kate for a while. Kate who?

Have you seen that show, Jon & Kate plus 8?

THAT Kate...

See? I love the show. It is funny and the kids are precious.

Kate, I have to say, is very close to what I could call my hero. If I don't, it's because I know the show is just TV. Even when they call it "reality" tv. It is still TV. Things get edited, and I know the main "characters" may have an "on tv" persona.

The show has been under lots of scrutiny from the very beginning. All sorts of questions, comments and opinions are provoked by this show. From their looks, to their parenting and other family relationships, to the use of the money and products they receive, to say that the children are being exploited.

Lots of other women I talk to feel that Kate is controlling, mean to Jon, and maybe even has some issues better treated by a mental health professional.

Even my husband comments on how much of a...mean wife she can be.

But I still think she is great. I mean...come on! I only have two kids to raise, and my house is far from organized, I go crazy sometimes with our daily routines (or lack of them), and many times I am exhausted. So I can only try to imagine what my life would be with more kids; even harder to picture 8!

Maybe is because her way of running her house is more like the way Latin mothers run their houses. And I hope I don't get blasted by this comment. But if you go to the house of a traditional Hispanic mother with a lot of children, this behavior is not that uncommon. Or at least, it wasn't when I was growing up. So this is why I don't find her behavior that horrible, while others do.

Now, a blog has appeared, supposedly trying to shed "light" on a situation happening at the show. A friend of Kate's family, who regularly appears in the show, supposedly was asked not to return to the show's most recent season. This person's sister has started the blog. I have to say, I sensed tons of anger and bitterness on that blog. I cannot say, however, if what it says is true or not. I will not judge her one way or the other. There are more than 1 side to every story.

Still, I will continue to watch. My kids love seeing the "little kids show", as they call it. I learn a lot watching them cope with situations that seem very real to me, even from a tv show. And I hope we are allowed to continue to peek into their lives. After all, nobody is perfect. Not even Kate!

On Raising Children...

So, I spend a great deal of my cybertime at a local parenting forum. Bunch of great ladies, I have to say.

And is a great place to exchange ideas and support one another when it comes to parenting-and other stuff also.

It is from there I got the idea for my blog today.

Of how different parenting styles are. How most people are not wrong or right in the way they raise their children. What ones find normal, others find bizarre. What work for some, does not work for many, and vice-versa.

One thread was dedicated at comments strangers make to mothers about their children. The nerve of some people, I tell you! Some of the stories made my jaw drop.

But in particular, one situation touched me closely. I commented on how I got glares from people at the mall when I had my baby's ears pierced; she was four month's old. I also commented that in Puerto Rico that is a very common practice.

Another mom comented she knew a Hispanic family who belonged to a religion that considered body piercings a sin. Well, yeah, those exists. Still, a lot of little girls in Puerto Rico get their little ear bling before the age of one.

Which led me to ponder about this:

Not to use a cliche, but children do not come with instruction manuals. You learn on the go. At first is overwhelming and at times frustrating, but you get the hang of it...eventually-hopefully! We all go through that, and I bet some of the people who glare at the mall, or offer advice nobody asked for are parents who went through that themselves. What is it that make people be so rude? You know what makes me laugh? The well-intentioned ones who offer the advise, even when they don't have children...oh, ignorance is blissful...A little person somewhere in my brain says, while listening to them..."You just wait!"...while laughing hysterically.

Still, I wish them the best. As of me...I have grown a skin thick enough as a mother to know when to smile and ignore, or when to give a witty comeback. And not to let the "mythical" Puertorican temper flare up... after all, Puertoricans are known to be nosey, loud and criticize everything, parenting styles of other ethnic groups included. Because we love our children too. Which is what it all boils down too...love.