"Octomom," Kate Cracking Under Pressure?

Reality TV Moms Facing More Scrutiny Over Their Kids' Treatment

(CBS)  Reality moms Kate Gosselin of "Jon and Kate Plus 8" and Nadya Suleman, also known as the "Octomom," are facing increased scrutiny of the treatment of their children.

In Touch Weekly magazine has released photos showing Gosselin spanking Leah, her 5-year-old daughter, for blowing a whistle, according to Kim Serafin, a senior editor of the magazine.

"She's not the first mother to spank and she won't be the last," Serafin said, " ... It's something people are noticing, because it’s so different from what we see on the TV show."

"Jon and Kate Plus 8" has had monster ratings this season, spurred on by news reports that the Gosselin marriage has been strained, with rumors, all denied, of extramarital affairs.

Both Jon and Kate complain they don’t have privacy, but according to Serafin, that’s what happens when you put your life in front of the lens.

"If you're going to put your life out there for people to watch," she said, "you have to expect people are going to start digging and want to find out how you parent your kids."

Suleman's parenting is being questioned, as well. Suleman and RadarOnline.com are feeling the heat from California officials for alleged child labor violations.

California's Department of Labor says Suleman and RadarOnline.com failed to get permits before videotaping Noah and Isaiah, two of Suleman's octuplets.

"Here, the health, the safety and the welfare of these infants ... (are what is most important. I feel that Nadya also should have been involved in protecting them," Gloria Allred, an attorney and child advocate, said on The Early Show Wednesday.

Allred filed a complaint against Suleman in March after learning Suleman allegedly authorized her two octuplets to be taped after the hours permitted by California child labor law. She added citations have been been issued to Suleman and RadarOnline.com because a studio teacher wasn't present to ensure the welfare of the children, as is customary with child performers, and particularly, she said, of premature infants in California.

Allred said a lawsuit is pending. A petition has been made, she noted, to ask the court to appoint a guardian to protect the financial interests of the octuplets, so their earnings will be saved until they reach age 18.

"If parents, if the media, will not protect these babies," Allred said, "I can assure you that others will."

[JoseDoggyDog]

Some of you may not know this but, in actuality, Kate is a self-hating black man in denial.

[FR1360]

JoseDoggyDog; What is your problem? Sounds personal to me!

[leogorky]

Octomom has always seemed to me to have only a tentative grip on reality. I don't think she should be anywhere around children. It's time for her to be spayed.

[vfrost]

I commend her for being able to handle that many kids in the first place, if she feels a child needs to be spanked that is her rite, the only mistake this woman has made is putting these kids in the spotlight, it has only added to her stress. America leave her alone, and the same goes for Octo mom leave her alone

[leogorky]

Does she really "handle" all these children. I don't think so. Other people are paid to do that. Neither you not the Gosselins seem to get it. They are on TV and are experiencing what happens when you open your life to the viewing public. Obviously, they want people to get involved with their show or they won't keep watching. However, the "involvement" may not always be to their liking, but it goes with the territory. They can easily remedy the situation so that, as you put it, America will "leave her alone." Simply walk away from the show, and their lives can start to normalize. They've certainly made enough money from this show at this point. But, I think they want more, so they continue to exploit their children. They are choosing to stay in this at a high cost. It's their decision, not America's. They can't have it both ways. Seems to be a new career goal in our society: have a litter of children you can't afford on your own, then get a tv show to exploit the situation. Disgusting..and shame on the public for supporting it.

[YCantWeAllGetAlong]

I have hoped for many years that these bad parents will one day be stopped. They are sorry excuses for parents, driven only by their greed. I couldn't care less if the woman spanked her child. As long as it was an appropriate reprimand and done with restraint, who cares? However, the constant filming of the children should be highly regulated. I had the misfortune of catching 10 minutes of that plus 8 or whatever it is and that woman is a smart mouthed woman who speaks down so badly to her husband that I would have left her an eon ago. I would have an affair just to drown out her whining and b***ing. How anyone can take time out of their life to put that show on is beyond me. Turn the thing off and go outside and film your children sliding down the slide at the park and make some honest memories that cost you nothing but good, quality family time. What a freak show! Don't even get me started on that Octothing. She needs to have those children taken away and her lips deflated.

[andie52]

Kate has nothing to complain about-It's been obvious for years that the trips and clothes and plastic surgeries weren't being funded out of the Gosselin cookie jar, but at least they pretended to budget and scrimp and save and look at the goodies showered their way as occasional treats rather than a never-ending gravy train.

But no one can ignore the cavernous farmhouse they've moved into even though the so-called family providers haven't brought home anything resembling a traditional paycheck in years.

I don't watch the show nor would never endorse using multiple births as money makers.

[ilsadan]

Really simple: Get off the cell phone!!!

[dekooning2]

Them there mothers need a good red bottom spankin'...till it hurts. Thank u mam!

[OLEANDER_]

SHE IS A JOKE!! i's hate to have this hatefull bit*ch as my mother!

[nirak2-2009]

You have no privacy Kate? Ahh so sorry!!!
Can't have it all Kate, Money or Privacy and for you Money is more important. Stop complaining.

[andie52]

While outside watching her kids, Kate Gosselin publicly spanked her daughter Leah, one of the sextuplets, around 11AM on Saturday (June 13).

Leah was blowing a whistle loudly and Kate told her to stop because she was on the phone. But as soon as Leah blew on the whistle again, Kate said, ?Did you not hear me?? Then she stormed over to her daughter, grabbed her and hit her. ?The girl was screaming and crying,? a witness reveals to In Touch. ?Kate just pushed her away and walked off with her coffee. Her older sisters were trying to make Leah feel better.?

In response to the incident, the Jon & Kate Plus 8 mom tells released a statement through her reps to Life & Style: ?Whether the paparazzi are there or not, I am a mother first. I love my children and when they misbehave, I discipline them as I deem appropriate for the situation.?

As for ratings for J&K+8, Monday?s show was only seen by 2.9 million viewers, down 31% from last week.

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/06/17/kate-gosselin-spanking/

[excoachken]

So, what's wrong with spanking? It worked for me and my children. She knows her kids best, so let her raise them. She doesn't need your help OR approval!

[dragyn30]

I agree I have spanked my kids a time or two and it corrected the problem.

The media seems to be working overtime to to show Kate in a bad light.

It really seems like they are trying to promote that PIG Suleman as some type of great mother. I hope Suleman loses all of those children so they will have some chance at a normal life.

I also think Jon & Kate need to send the camera's away for a while so they can have a break! I think the media right now is maliciously trying to hurt them, emotionally that is.

[fabrat1]

Actually she does need our approval if she wants us to watch her show. She wanted to be in the media and now she is.

[landofoz2]

Being a mother myself I think Kate has every right to spank her daughter, privately or in public. God knows I spanked my kids when the needed it and many times in public. Back in those days you weren't arrested for every little thing you did to your child - as far as spanking. Now BEATING a child to bits is a bit of a different story. I'm sure Kate needed to do what she did when she did - 8 kids (and especially hateful Mady) that's a handful so it's not surprisingly she has to spank. Mady sure needs spanking but instead she pampers her and lets her get away with acting and kicking and throwing a fit.

[Wombmate1]

They have found a way to finance the raising of their large families. I do not feel sorry for either one of them.

[displeased]

I feel sorry for the children. What are the chances of them not being screwed in the heads.