Jon and Kate Gosselin's Devastating Divorce
 Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009  by Connie T.

A change in Jon Gosselin seemed to happen pretty quickly. An earring in each ear, an evolution into skater and skull clothing, a motorcycle, keeping company with young women at bars until the early morning, a change from the mute, passive, accommodating husband he once was into an angry, defensive Jon who said on last night's hour long Jon & Kate special, "I don't hate Kate" unconvincingly.

A mid-life crisis? Could be...he married at just 22, and with two twins and a set of sextuplets, had to grow up fast. But they won't make it to a counselor's office to find out - not a marriage counselor, at least. At the end of the special, ominous print read that on Monday, June 22nd, a petition was filed to dissolve the 10 year marriage of Jon and Kate Gosselin. "He won't talk to me," Kate told cameras, and then in a statement yesterday, "Over the course of this weekend, Jon's activities have left me no choice but to file legal procedures in order to protect myself and our children. While there are reasons why it was appropriate and necessary for me to initiate this proceeding, I do not wish to discuss those reasons at this time, in the hope that all issues will be resolved amicably between Jon and myself."

Both reiterated what they've been repeating on the show all along - their best interests are the children. Last year, though, the couple renewed their vows in Hawaii, and mentioned that they were doing so for the kids to see that they were going to stick it out even though "not all mommy's and daddy's stay together." Kate, who has been more candid with TLC cams than Jon, has fretted over parents of multiples having triple the divorce rate, and not wanting to become another "statistic," not wanting the "label that our marriage failed."

On top of everything else the two are dealing with (or perhaps it's a chicken-egg scenario), the paparazzi and the media have been hounding the duo relentlessly for the better part of the year. In Touch weekly's June 29th issue is a cover of Kate spanking Leah for blowing a whistle while Kate was on the phone, and then the police showing up.

The mag claims that "local law enforcement showed up because too many people were gathered outside watching" the incident, though others report that Kate herself called them because of photographers on her property.

The feature continues to cite "experts" that claim spanking is detrimental to children's health, sharply criticizing her parenting.

Give us a break. First off, Kate, who considers herself to be religious, knows the Bible states "He who spareth the rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him correcteth him;" in other words, spare the rod, spoil the child. And there have been many times that I've seen Mady need a smack on the butt more than anything else. But I'll hold off on that debate for now.

Wherever the family of 10 goes, separately or together, photogs scramble after, whether it's Target, a party store, or Jon's late-night romps. And their impending divorce certainly won't douse the media fire - messy celebrity divorce breeds dollar signs in the eyes of tabloid publishers.

I can't be the only fan of the show over the past few years who is heartbroken by this latest turn of events. After the onslaught of their public tension, about six months ago, I said a heartfelt prayer for the Gosselins to have the strength to keep it together. People say that divorce is hard, and it really is, but in my opinion it's harder to stay married in this day and age than it is to throw in the towel, by far.

The Gosselins made it through humble beginnings - when they met Jon was jobless, and Kate was the daughter of a minister who operated a campground and trailer park across from their Pennsylvania home; raising six babies and two toddlers all at once; life in the spotlight after TLC picked up their reality special for a series. They made it through ten years. But with the separate lives in their new $1.3 million home, their lack of communication, and whatever latest "activities" Kate was referring to...their union did exactly what the papers Kate filed yesterday afternoon titled it: it dissolved.

Our thoughts are with all of the Gosselins during this tumultuous time, especially the children, and I hope that they can all persevere, amidst the media frenzy, public scrutiny, divorce, fame. You may or may not agree with their choice to live in the public eye, but do recognize that their pain right now is very, very real. They've made their beds, but at the end of the day lying in each's alone - especially after 10 years of being a united body - will be a misery that if you truly understood it, you wouldn't wish upon your worst foe.

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