Kate Gosselin Gets Her Own Show; Jon Sues Kate for Custody

[Lacey]

He never went to college?

[skatesindreams]

As to Jon's IT career: he was 'let go' from his job several years ago, and that's why he was a stay-at-home dad. Maybe if Jon had been more of a go-getter, he wouldn't have lost his job. I don't see how you can blame Kate's behavior for Jon's job performance.

I don't.
This may explain much of Kate's behavior.
It doesn't excuse many of the things she does; but, her frustration and need for funds are more understandable.

[Prancer]

He never went to college?

I've read mixed things; some say he has a few credits, some that he never went at all. But he definitely doesn't have a degree.

[uyeahu]

IT Specialist isn't a field that requires a degree. My aunt is a self-taught and highly regarded IT Specialist with a GED and no college experience. And being a laid off IT Specialist is hardly exotic. There is a glut of them. Many of the ones I know do it freelance now as it's become more profitable to work several part-time freelance jobs than to work full time for a single employer. I'm not claiming Jon's some kind of secret genius but I find some of the criticisms of him unwarranted. The implication that he can't genuinely want custody of his kids or that he'd be incapable of caring for them especially.

[Wyliefan]

The lifestyle he's been living recently wouldn't accommodate itself to kids very well, that's all. I didn't say he didn't love them.

[Prancer]

IT Specialist isn't a field that requires a degree. My aunt is a self-taught and highly regarded IT Specialist with a GED and no college experience. And being a laid off IT Specialist is hardly exotic. There is a glut of them.

Right; my husband is also a computer programmer who doesn't have a college degree. That's because he got hired when you didn't need one and has been working in the field consistently since then. Experience counts for a lot.

But Jon was hired by a friend, hasn't worked in the field for a few years, was not laid off but was fired, and would have to compete with all those laid off people who have both experience AND a degree. Do you really think he has a good shot at a job in IT, provided he even wants one?

The implication that he can't genuinely want custody of his kids or that he'd be incapable of caring for them especially.

If he wants custody, what is he doing to provide a place for them to live? He has said MANY times that he needs to live in New York for business. Is he now planning to move? He hasn't asked for the house. And he hasn't moved himself that I know of.

This is not to say that I don't roll my eyes at Kate whining that she has to make a living. There is nothing to indicate that Jon is in arrears on child support; if she can't take care of the kids on $20K a freaking month, then she's just not trying. However, saying that Kate is away from home too much is kinda funny, since she IS home during the week; she and Tony practice in the basement of her house and fly to LA for the show.

One thing Jon HAS done that I think is a step in the right direction is he has hired a real lawyer and apparently stopped taking terrible advice from Mark Heller. The public parade of inappropriate girlfriends has stopped, the paparazzi are no longer notified of his doings, and the only photos I've seen of him in the press lately have been of him and his kids. Of course, it's only been a few months since the last incident, and it may all be because of his agreement with TLC. But definitely a step in the right direction.

ETA: According to RadarOnline.com (which may or may nor be accurate), Jon is living with his brother and wants to move into the guesthouse at the family home, which he entitled to do under the terms of the divorce agreement.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusive...s-custody-kids

Since he is entitled to live in the family home during his custodial periods, I guess he would get to live there if he got custody? But according to the papers filed in court, the house itself was awarded to Kate. Hmmm.

[manleywoman]

if she can't take care of the kids on $20K a freaking month, then she's just not trying.

Seriously.

[mag]

...

This is not to say that I don't roll my eyes at Kate whining that she has to make a living. There is nothing to indicate that Jon is in arrears on child support; if she can't take care of the kids on $20K a freaking month, then she's just not trying. ...

I'm not defending either one, (it is my feeling that at least they are not ruining two families!) however, it could be that while Jon is paying child support now Kate doesn't want to depend on him for her income. I can certainly understand her wanting to be financially independent of Jon just in case he ends up not able to pay child support.

[Prancer]

I'm not defending either one, (it is my feeling that at least they are not ruining two families!) however, it could be that while Jon is paying child support now Kate doesn't want to depend on him for her income. I can certainly understand her wanting to be financially independent of Jon just in case he ends up not able to pay child support.

And that is a likely outcome.

But $20K a month works out to $240K a year. Add that to what they already had in the bank from TLC. Add in investments.

They live in Pennsylvania, not Manhattan. Kate should have plenty of money salted away--or could.

[DianeO]

They live in Pennsylvania, not Manhattan. Kate should have plenty of money salted away--or could.

If she hadn't already spent tons on all of her "enhancements".

[agalisgv]

But $20K a month works out to $240K a year. Add that to what they already had in the bank from TLC. Add in investments.

I wonder how much legal bills have taken up though.

[Prancer]

I wonder how much legal bills have taken up though.

Probably a pretty good chunk; didn't she have three lawyers working on the case?

And now Jon wants alimony, or so I keep reading. I read the court filing and that isn't exactly what it said. But I don't find it at all hard to believe that he is broke; TLC is supposedly holding him to his contract, which means he can't do anything without their permission.