Jon Gosselin Promises the Holidays Will Be the Same for the Kids
The holidays are coming and for families of divorce, it can be a difficult time of year -- something the Gosselin clan will have to get used to. But
Jon Gosselin tells PopEater that everything will remain the same for his eight children despite his estrangement from wife
Kate Gosselin, so that "they have the sense of security with everything that's going on."
The '
Jon & Kate Plus 8' dad -- who will be spending both holidays with his kids -- details for us their family traditions like his apple crisp, and also discusses the foundation he set up with his brother to honor their father and help children in need.
Read the Full Interview
Are you getting ready for the holidays?
I'm going to spend Thanksgiving with my kids when I get back from Hawaii, not all day, just like half the day.
What are your plans for Christmas?
Christmas Eve and Christmas day are joint-shared custody days, which means we're both in the house. So we'll be there.
Have the kids started asking for presents yet?
I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet. Don't put pressure on me! It will probably be all Internet based this year, pre-wrapped. You know, I'm a guy, when there's free gift wrap, I'm like, 'Yeah, yes please.'
It's easier that way.
Oh my goodness, doesn't your back hurt so much? And why do we sit on the floor and reach over, you can never reach the end of the wrapping paper, you need monkey arms, it's annoying. Nothing ever matches up. My mother is like the best wrapper on the planet. The pattern matches perfect and she puts Hershey kisses on top [of the gift.] I'm envious of her wrap jobs.
What are your favorite family traditions to do at this time of the year?
On Thanksgiving I make apple crisp, that's like my thing. They always ask for it. I juice up my mom's recipe, I add more sugar and stuff. So they are always happy about that. They do like apple picking and make cider, all the Pennsylvania stuff that we've been doing for years anyway. We still keep those traditions. We have an organic apple orchard that we go to. There are a couple of apple trees on my property, so we can pick those ... We do stuff outside. I have landscapers, but I still tell them to leave leaves, so we can make a big pile and jump through it ... We do stuff like that at Christmas, hanging the stockings. They do the stockings early Christmas morning. Kate makes sticky buns. We keep it all the same. Nothing has changed. That way they have the sense of security with everything that's going on. But, this year, there's a lot of paparazzi, so who knows? Every year it's different.
Do they get up really early on Christmas?
Oh yes, because they are used to school. For school they have to get up at 5 o'clock in the morning. And the parents [do, too].
You started a new foundation. What can you tell me about that?
I started the Jon Gosselin Children's foundation in the name of my father. It's something that my brother and I wanted to do, but we never had the finances to do so. And obviously this year has been a pretty good year for me financially, so I started the foundation in memory of my father. My father was a children's dentist for 30 years and he dedicated one day a week for 30 years to handicapped children for free. It never really hit my brother and I. When my dad passed away that's when we started noticing at the viewing all these handicapped patients coming in. Now ... they were adults by now, but they were so thankful for all the work he did. He fixed their cavities and stuff like that. But he dedicated full service to them. That was amazing to me and my brothers and I always thought, "That's amazing what Dad did." All the time he spent with us and all the dedication he spent with us and he still had time to help other people. And that's what I want to do. I'm not a doctor obviously and the only way we could do this was start a foundation to allocate funds to children and a few parents that need help with medical bills. We're trying to get corporate sponsorships and hopefully everything will work out and we can continue the legacy of my father.
Is there anything else you'd like to get involved with?
Once you start a foundation, then other foundations call you. Now I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel because I've never ran [one] before. But you learn from other people and what they do and sometimes you can link foundations together, which would be great. Stuff I do, I visit cancer kids, not because it's a pat on the back for myself. It was just a turning point in my life going to St. Jude's. I did a film shoot with TLC last year at St. Jude's. That was the first time I really was shocked. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. You have kids who are not going to make it. You're happy they are there because they are getting the best care in the world. But, it really touched my heart. Just because we showed up, they were happier just that one day. That's amazing you can change someone's life and attitude just by appearing. It's something that you have to realize within the public eye. People look to you and that's why I decided to change my life in recent months and started taking initiative for my actions, owning up to my mistakes and learning from them.
It must be difficult to reconcile the fact that you're in the public eye, but it also gives you the opportunity to help people.
Right. People always say to me, 'Jon, you are famous.' And I'm like, 'Yeah, OK, whatever.' They say, 'You can do two things with your fame. You can have your 15 minutes, or you can take your fame and do good for the world.' And that's what I'm trying to do.
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=762696&pid=762695&uts=1257894832
http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/tv/?s_channel=us.tvpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1
http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf
Jon and Kate Gosselin
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Jon Gosselin gets his nose powdered during commercial breaks of "The Insider" where he appeared as a guest. NON-EXCLUSIVE November 10, 2009 Job: 91110W1 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
ANT GRIFFITH/bauergriffinonline.com
A Slumping Mad Men Heads to Its Season Finale
Who Should Play Christian & Anastasia In 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'?
Add a comment
Christmas will be the same despite Kate??? Kate was the one in the beginning who sad despite what happens she wants the holidays to stay the same for the kids sake. Once again it is sad to see this man trying to victimize himself. When will he learn to work with Kate, and stop all the hate. Did he lie to everyone at the synagogue when he sad he was going to stop his negative actions towards Kate? It is sad that he just doesn't get it!!!!
Reply
Good for Jon. Too bad Kate does not seem to realize that she should give back, as well.
I'm proud of you Jon.
Reply
Ok, he talks about what a wonderful man his father was, which he may well have been. But go back a few months when he talks about his father being an alcholic and how he did not want to be like him, wanted to break the pattern. Maybe he needs to retrace his words before he done an interview so he can keep track of all the lies he's told over thr course of time. And going to Hawaii for Thanksgiving, wasnt't he spending it with the bimbo's family? Or did her words penetrate his dead head when she told him not to do her family the favor.
Reply
WHO CARES?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??!?!
Seriously - Take the energy you would be putting into this slimebag and go read a book.
Reply
Jon.if you cannot accept your wife and forgive her,dont come to your house..your kids come from your wife..you dont love them...if you want to forget your wife and you want her to die because of problem from you...no need to visit them...its pretending that you love them...in reality not...continue to be far from them..you started it and you didnt change..useless celebrating this christmas without your respect and honor with them...
Reply
please Jon,dont come during Christmas,your adding their heartaches..its better not to see you,than you are there to recall them of what you did to them..its better if you say that you reconsile to each other during that time..but you say only to visit and pretending you are good..its enougth heart aches you did...let them happy without you...they can survive without your presence..They only recall you and Hailey making embarrassing to them...
Reply
jon dont let your family recall your bad deads to them...you hurt them so much and now go with them for what acting that your good?i think enougth your so stupid father,they dont need to see you anymore...if you come there may be they will prepare bump for you..so that your bad behavior will stop...new year continuing hatred to your wife?what kind of a person you are that you dont need to change being bad...crazy....crazy.. you are..
Reply
Jon,this coming Christmas..if you dont forgive your wife and you dont forgive of what you did..i think go away!!!!!they dont need a stupid father...they need a father who is loving to their mother and everything will be fine...your adding problem to them..your making trouble not peace.they felt ashamed with you..your not a model to them...you make them truggle...please dont do and come to them...
Reply
My 1st thought echoed Pete's "Oh, please....." Who cares - go away Jon Gosselin & tend to your family and stop feeding on the media frenzy which you constantly avow. So now he jets off to Hawaii - Kate had better stash that cash safely or this guy will blow through it in short time. A guest spot on the Insider? Why? I am glad I am not a fan or I would have to now stop watching.
What a parasite. And he begrudges the continuation of their own show so Kate can't profit. How despicable is this this guy.
Reply
In his father's honor-how about a good way to hide away money. Of course in his name-that way gets to take it out without any one noticing. had to take those paying jobs on other networks as needed the money to hide in the father's name. Silly silly Jon. No taxes either I believe.
Reply
jon,wheres your friend who supporting you during your dirty work?are they protect you and help you inspite ofyour crises or they will witness agains you.if you have money many girls will come to you and now you become loser are they provide money for you to pay TLC?your alone if trouble will come,so its your lesson,only your family will sopport you if you go down,dont hate them,dont abandon them..they still love you..change you immoral behavior...and comeback to your family...
Reply
I am praying for you and Kate and your entire family. Your family is precious. FIGHT for what is right! What is RIGHT is that you two forgive, forget and get together as the good Lord planned it! Do not let the world destroy what is good in your life. Hope you read this message of HOPE for you all! I believe strongly in my heart that you two will be reunited as a family. So...what's stopping you two??
Reply
OMG--this is such a poorly written article. How many times can you use the word "like"? It sounds worse than a teenager. Maybe Jon says it (he's such a class act) but who is the smarty who needs some grammar lessons here?
Reply
I have the perfect Xmas idea for Kate- Stick a star on his balding head and light his a-- up like a tree!
Reply
Do you mean he decided to not spin the dreidel with the kids? Thank God! Our tribe wants no part of him.
Reply
Eniugh already. Every sinle day there are new quotes from Jon. Will someone tell him to shut the h up
Reply
Jon's 15 minutes of fame was up hours and hours ago! Don't believe a word of either of Jon's stories; 1. That it has ever been about what is best for his children and 2. Dental Charity? Gimme a break!
Reply
lets see ...Thanksgiving with my family...or Hawaii...hum....eenie meanii minie moe....wait both yeah both....i mean its only the first thanksgiving since the divorse....and theyre still young...besides i'm so busy i cant even shop for their christmas presents....everything bought with just a click of the mouse...i wont even haveto log off facebook....yep...i'm the most famous man next to micheal jackson...maybe theyle erect a statue of me....yeah...i giant one...next to the statue of liberty
Reply
I feel sorry for the kids if the holidays are going to be the same for them. That means they have to put up with a screaming mother with a short fuse and a selfish self centered tightwad of a dad. What kind of happy holidays can that be for the kids?
Reply