According to our recent daily poll, one of our favorite reality shows is TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8. Kate Gosselin, the 33-year-old mom to a set of 7 1/2-year-old twins and a set of 4-year-old sextuplets, recently sat down with Cookie magazine and discussed all-things Jon, Kate, Cara, Mady, Aaden, Joel, Leah, Alexis, Collin, and Hannah.
On what her children do to make her laugh: “I laugh at them all the time. They are just so cute that I can’t help it!”
On her favorite family ritual: “I feel most happy when we are getting ready for church on Sunday mornings. It is a ritual that works and goes smoothly—for the most part—and I love when our routines are down to a science.”
On her most frazzled mommy moment: “One time I got a call from the [twins’] school that Mady didn’t feel well and needed to come home. I was on a conference call at that time, and Jon was at work. Since I hadn’t had a chance to get a shower in a few days, maybe, I took a five-second shower and got dressed—while wet! I quickly called a neighbor to sit here at home while the little kids were napping, and I went to get Mady. She was okay but wanted to come home, so I brought her home and jumped right into making dinner. While I was at the kitchen sink, I looked down to see Leah vomiting all over the rug next to my feet. So while my pot was on the stove boiling away, I scooped her up and proceeded to bathe her in the kitchen sink! I couldn’t leave the room with a hot pot and six 2-year-olds! I sent two of the kids for a towel and two other kids for a new outfit. I had to laugh because I had to stir dinner and leave Leah splashing in the sink while I cooked! The other kids formed a crowd around me, thinking I had finally lost my mind—because I was cooking and their sister was splashing! In the end, I was able to clean up the vomit and finish dinner (after a good hand scrubbing, of course), and to everyone’s surprise, dinner was not burnt. It was delicious!”
On the issue she and Jon disagree most about: “How to make the punishment fit the crime.”
On her parenting role - good cop or bad cop: “Neither of us are bad cops, but if you are asking who is firmest, that would be me.”
On what she wakes up in the middle of the night thinking about: “How much I miss my kids and wish I had endless hours with each one.”
On what she wishes she had done before having children: “Slept more!”
On what a typical Saturday morning is like in the house: “We all sleep late—or at least play quietly, right, Alexis? And then we have Mommy’s homemade pancakes or waffles around 9:30. After we eat, I clean up and we play and laze around. That is, if our busy schedule allows for that luxury.”
On her guiltiest pleasure: “I treat myself to a spa treatment every month—but wish it could be weekly!”
On her ideal getaway: “Hawaii. With the kids, without the kids … I don’t care. It’s paradise!”
On her favorite clothing item: “Anything summer wardrobe and anything that makes me look thin.”
On her current reading material: “The Bible and a book on how to be the best mommy I can be—but I can’t remember the title, sorry.”
On if she prefers chocolate or cheese: “Yes, please!”
On if she cooks at home or eats takeout: “Oh, definitely at home.”
On if she coddles the tots or lets them cry it out: “Depends on who it is, what time of day, and what the cry sounds like.”