For nearly two decades, Kate Gosselin and her family have been living in the public eye, and in that time, fans have had a lot of opportunities to see her parenting in action. From sharing her motherhood journey on Jon & Kate Plus 8 with ex-husband Jon Gosselin (which later became Kate Plus 8 after their split), to their custody battle still making headlines to this day, to Kate's talk show appearances and interviews, she has certainly shared her philosophy on motherhood and how it's changed over the years.
Recently, In Touch Weekly rounded up some of Kate's most eye-opening quotes on parenting, both before and after her divorce — and those aren't the only things that this reality TV mama has said about what it's like to be a mom to her oversized crew (and all the drama that has come with it over the years).
Keep scrolling for quotes from Kate on parenting. Despite the times we've definitely disagreed with her in the past, it seems like her focus is totally on her kids and their well-being — or at least, that's what she's striving toward.
On Sending Her Kids to College
A couple of years ago, Kate sent her oldest daughters, Mady and Cara, off to college away from home, and even though she missed them, she knew it was for the best.
“When your kids go to college, do you miss them?" she said to People in 2016. "Yes, but you reassure yourself that they are getting so much out of it.”
On Giving Her Kids Phones
Like many moms, Kate has learned that technology is a form of "currency" with her kids.
"I got those little girls cellphones and iPads so that I could take them away. Yes indeedy," she said on a 2014 episode of her show, reports ABC News. "And I've learned I'm not the only parent of teens who has discovered that little gem. Find their currency and that is that."
On Being Protective
Kate acknowledges that she can be a bit of a helicopter parent, but only because she loves her kids.
"I am a very protective parent, as you probably know," she said in 2019, according to People. "It comes from a place of love. I do think that I care so deeply that I have been, at times, overzealous.”
On Having High Expectations
While on Jenny McCarthy's radio show, Kate admitted that she has high expectations, but it's because she wants the best for her kids.
“Am I a mom with high expectations? Absolutely," she said, reports The Ashley's Reality Roundup. "Am I a mom who wants the absolute best for my kids at all cost? Absolutely. Do I drive a hard bargain? Sure. But the truth is that, within that, my kids know that it’s out of love. Literally, from day one, wanting the best for them, and I don’t apologize for it. My life is for my kids, and I really want the best for them.”
On Her Kids Getting Older
In 2014, Kate told Hollywood Life that as her sextuplets were getting older, they were becoming even more fun to spend time with.
“They want to give me fashion advice and dating advice and all of these other things,” she says. “They are very vocal … and they’re just the same great kids and becoming more of who they are and will be.”
On Providing for Her Kids
When Kate was called out for going on Dancing With the Stars in 2010 and missing time with her kids, she released a statement in response.
“I am not willing to comment in public on the custody discussions regarding my children,” Kate said, reports CBS News. “What I will say is this: I am and always will be a mother first, but as a single working mom, I will do everything necessary to provide for my kids despite the opinions of others.”
On Her Kids Being Reality Stars
Kate has been criticized for putting her children on reality TV at such a young age, but according to what she said on Kate Plus 8, she had no regrets because of how that TLC paycheck allowed her to provide for her kids.
“Let’s face it — being a nurse, a single mom of eight kids, I would not be able to provide for them in any way shape or form," she said at the time.
On What Being a Mom Means to Her
“I am a mother first,” she said on a 2009 episode of The Ellen Show, reports TV Guide. “I will always be a mother and I would die for my kids if need be. I would never put them in a situation that was dangerous or unsafe for them, and like any mother … my focus is not what trip I can go on or what shows I can do as a result of this thing. This is my job. This is my paycheck and so …"
On Messing Up
During a 2016 episode of The Dr. Oz Show, Kate admitted that she hasn't always been a perfect parent, but she's willing to own it.
"I mess up, yet it's out of love for my kids that I say, 'whooo, I messed up. I need to get better at that,'" she said. "I mean, my life is my kids and there just wouldn't be Kate Gosselin if it wasn't for my kids. Everything I do [is] for them. I mean, being on TV is not easy. Having tabloids written about you constantly is not easy."
On Co-Parenting With Jon
In the same interview, Kate lamented her difficult relationship with Jon, accusing him of not supporting his kids the way he should.
"Having an ex-husband who doesn't see the value in uplifting his children and his family, whether he chooses to be on the show or not, is extremely difficult," she said. "But I can't change those things. All I can change is me and my response and what I teach my children about it."
On How Her Kids Handled Their Parents' Divorce
“I remember when we decided to separate that I felt grateful for that year, because it prepared us all for this," Kate said in a 2009 interview with Good Housekeeping. "The kids are OK. They go through their, ‘I miss Daddy,’ and, ‘Why can’t both of you be here?’ I try to point them in the positive direction: ‘Remember how we did July 4 together? I hope to do more holidays together.’ They go, ‘Oh, yeah … yeah!'”
On How Her Kids Were Raised
Most kids don't experience childhood on camera, but that's something Kate's well aware of — and something that she's prepared to address with her children if they have any questions.
"I know they will have a lot of questions about things that may not make sense because they were raised so unconventionally," she said during an appearance on The Today Show in 2010. "I don’t want them to grow up and wonder; I want them to know without a shadow of a doubt how much I love them and how much every sacrifice made was worth it for them.”
On Finding a New Partner
During an appearance on Dr. Drew's Lifechangers in 2012, Kate said she knew she might have trouble dating while being a mom to so many kids, but she didn't necessarily see that as a bad thing.
She said: “I think a lot of my friends who are being constructive say, ‘Gosh, who are you going to meet that is going to be able to deal with eight kids?’ My answer is always, if they can deal with eight kids in our situation, it probably will be the person. It will sort of prove it."
On Only Caring About Her Kids' Opinions
In 2019, Kate said she was aware that people might judge her for being on reality TV as a mom, but that she only cared what her kids think about it — no one else.
“I feel like I know what my role is as a mom, and I know that there [are] eight people on the planet that matter to me and their opinions matter,” she told ABC News. “If those eight people say that I’ve done a good job, honestly the rest doesn’t even matter.”
On Her Priorities as a Mom
Even while caring for so many children, Kate knows exactly where she wants her priorities to lie — especially on a daily basis.
"I strive to bring health and happiness into their everyday lives," Kate said at a women's health conference in 2010, according to Radar Online.
