I'm in Italy, and I still can't escape the Jon and Kate Gosselin train wreck of a divorce. When I turned on my computer to check my e-mail, I came across video of Jon on Good Morning America talking about how Kate verbally abused him and kept him from seeing his family, including his mother. Like me, you probably don't know what to believe anymore about this marriage and divorce, both of which turned into a three-ring circus.
As a fan of the show Jon & Kate Plus 8, I, along with other viewers, often witnessed Kate putting down her husband, yelling at him, and barking orders. I'm not sure, however, whether I'd characterize that as abuse or a frazzled mom with eight kids. Either way, lots of people I know already had commented on how emasculating her actions must have been for her husband. I've seen many couples in public have similar back and forth commentaries. The father simply can't do anything right and the mother lets him know it.
I'm certain of only two things. The first is that Jon and Kate's children are the victims and are surely suffering. The second is that having your life taped always and indefinitely is not healthy for a relationship. I also think -- but am not certain -- that Jon might feel cheated out of his youth because he married Kate and had eight children rather quickly when he was very young. He might be trying to make up for this lost youth now. The only problem is that we can't go back in time, and we can't erase our past. His twenties are but a memory, and he has eight children to help raise now.
The truth about who is to blame -- Jon or Kate -- doesn't even matter. Now, what's important is to create a civil relationship with your ex, so you can properly parent and protect your kids. That is no easy task.