Erin and Chad: Fifty Shades of Pink

[floridamom]

Erin was "bragging on" Chad about how he has been washing the dishes and doing all of the laundry for Erin since she was expecting William. Isn't he about 2yrs old now? I would think that with the family he has to financially support, his time would be better spent looking for jobs...not housekeeping for his "sweet wife". She is a stay at home wife and  mother. She should be doing these household chores right after she was well with William's delivery. I don't understand why he doesn't apply for a job with the local state, county or city offices. Their facilities usually need employees..he could work his way up with a local government job, have a steady paycheck, health insurance AND retirement. Nothing sinful about this IMO. He seems to be a stubborn individual fixed on a certain way which hasn't been working so well for his family. Time for a change, I say.I agree that Erin was quite stressed and not very happy with the way life has been working out for her. She can't dare show worry or unhappiness which is so wrong IMO.

[BitterApple]

My friend's husband is a firefighter and on his off days he picks up handy work. It's amazing the amount of people who can't do even basic home repairs or don't want to be bothered. He told me his biggest request is hanging flat screen tv's on walls. His situation is the best of both worlds: he gets salary, benefits and retirement through the city and a tidy amount of cash from his side gig. Chad could easily do something similar. 

[ranchgirl]

The new rental looks really nice.  I think the kids will love being in a neighborhood.  

[RebeccatheWriter]

On 12/31/2024 at 8:04 PM, 65mickey said:

On what is Chad basing his assumption that they will be in a better situation next year? They have been in Florida what 3 years and they are no better off now than when they moved there.  Erin looked like she was on the verge of tears when they were in the car talking about not getting a house in Tennessee. But of course God will eventually open a door for them. Wonder why he keeps shutting doors? 

I keep thinking about the old joke that if you live in a house where doors and windows are shutting and opening on their own that much, you are living in a haunted house.

[Spazamanaz]

God helps those who help themselves. Maybe they should be opening their own doors!

[floridamom]

I watched Trace's video of Gil's birthday. He was speaking to Erin about how she's not coming back to TN. Erin admitted to crying a lot about it and that she'd rather be in TN. Trace spoke about purchasing some land and maybe they could purchase together in TN and share it. Erin jumped at this. She was VERY enthusiastic about HIM finding the land and offering this suggestion to Chad. How is it that she also said they hope to buy next year...what will change in their financial status that they could qualify to do this? I think she lives in an unrealistic state of mind. Nothing wrong with hoping for better but you have to be actively working towards it. I don't see any of that in the Paines. I agree that living in an actual neighborhood can be good for their children; IF the allow them to meet and play with any children living there. It must be local to where they moved from because Erin stated that they love their church and will be able to continue to attend.

[BitterApple]

1 hour ago, floridamom said:

I watched Trace's video of Gil's birthday. He was speaking to Erin about how she's not coming back to TN. Erin admitted to crying a lot about it and that she'd rather be in TN. Trace spoke about purchasing some land and maybe they could purchase together in TN and share it. Erin jumped at this. She was VERY enthusiastic about HIM finding the land and offering this suggestion to Chad. How is it that she also said they hope to buy next year...what will change in their financial status that they could qualify to do this? I think she lives in an unrealistic state of mind. Nothing wrong with hoping for better but you have to be actively working towards it. 

I wonder if Erin's tried to talk sense into Chad and it's fallen on deaf ears? The way she became so animated at the prospect of Trace intervening makes me think Chad isn't open to opinions unless they come from another man. While I think two couples going in on land together would be disastrous, poor Erin seemed so thrilled with the possibility. 

With regards to buying, Chad and Erin have been saying this for years. Either they're completely clueless as to the state of the economy and housing market or this is the lie they tell themselves to make life somewhat bearable. 

[65mickey]

20 hours ago, BitterApple said:

With regards to buying, Chad and Erin have been saying this for years. Either they're completely clueless as to the state of the economy and housing market or this is the lie they tell themselves to make life somewhat bearable. 

Bingo!  No way is the prayer card business bringing in enough income for them to support a family of 8 and also allow them to save up enough money to buy land and build on it next year. I don't believe that Erin is buying what Chad is selling but she is trying to save face.

[lookeyloo]

Does anyone else suspect Chad is a bit of a dreamer and maybe a bit lazy when it comes to do anything he doesn't like? Sure he is busy sometimes doing what he likes but the rest of it maybe not so much. I wonder if he only goes by word of mouth and only works for "good Christian people". Don't know. Just speculating. Seems like someone with his skills and talents could make a living if so desired 

[Notabug]

39 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

Does anyone else suspect Chad is a bit of a dreamer and maybe a bit lazy when it comes to do anything he doesn't like? Sure he is busy sometimes doing what he likes but the rest of it maybe not so much. I wonder if he only goes by word of mouth and only works for "good Christian people". Don't know. Just speculating. Seems like someone with his skills and talents could make a living if so desired 

I think you hit the nail right on its lazy head, lookey.  And Erin, trained to be a good robo-wife, won't dare express her dismay at his actions.  Chad thinks he's the shizzle and God is going to drop a house and plenty of cash right into his lap at any moment so there's no need for him to work harder to support his family.  I get the impression he was raised to believe that he is super extra special to God and doesn't have to put much effort into supporting the family as God will do that for him.  

[ginger90]

36 minutes ago, Notabug said:

Chad thinks he's the shizzle and God is going to drop a house

He needs to watch The Wizard of Oz.

[BitterApple]

2 hours ago, lookeyloo said:

Does anyone else suspect Chad is a bit of a dreamer and maybe a bit lazy when it comes to do anything he doesn't like? 

Most definitely. Chad and Erin are big on "investing in their children" which on the surface isn't a bad thing, but I also think it's a copout he uses to avoid getting a real job. He can't work 8-5 construction for a legit outfit, because he needs to be home by noon to build birdhouses with Carson. It's like they don't understand that yeah, workaholic parents who aren't around isn't good for kids, but neither is a dad who can't keep a roof over their heads. 

I also agree that he's a dreamer. He says over and over that they want to buy a house yet does nothing to maximize his earning power. Are they hoping some church friend deeds them one for free? Are they waiting on an inheritance from his parents or Papa Bill? Are they planning on time traveling back to the 1950s so they can buy one for 3k? 

I think Erin is well aware he's a moron. You can see her expression hardening every time he opens his mouth.

[Absolom]

Jana dodged a real bullet if the rumors that she was interested in Chad are true.  She has a nice remodeled house (even if she did a lot of it) and a working husband.  

[Heathen]

50 minutes ago, BitterApple said:

Most definitely. Chad and Erin are big on "investing in their children" which on the surface isn't a bad thing, but I also think it's a copout he uses to avoid getting a real job. He can't work 8-5 construction for a legit outfit, because he needs to be home by noon to build birdhouses with Carson. It's like they don't understand that yeah, workaholic parents who aren't around isn't good for kids, but neither is a dad who can't keep a roof over their heads. 

I also agree that he's a dreamer. He says over and over that they want to buy a house yet does nothing to maximize his earning power. Are they hoping some church friend deeds them one for free? Are they waiting on an inheritance from his parents or Papa Bill? Are they planning on time traveling back to the 1950s so they can buy one for 3k? 

I think Erin is well aware he's a moron. You can see her expression hardening every time he opens his mouth.

If they're hoping for an inheritance from her grandfather, they need to pull their heads out. There are 20+ other grandkids, plus their parents. I doubt Bill and Jane would leave the Paines any significant amount just because Chad and Erin are pathetic. 

I have wondered if Chad is like so many arrogant bible-thumper men and thinks he's just too good to work for someone else -- someone who might turn out to be a woman giving him orders. My uncle is a lot like Chad, and he quit a lot of jobs during his working life because he wouldn't take orders from people he thought were beneath him. 

[BitterApple]

50 minutes ago, Heathen said:

 I doubt Bill and Jane would leave the Paines any significant amount just because Chad and Erin are pathetic. 

I pray they don't because it happened in my extended family and it caused an insane amount of bitterness and bad blood. I don't think Bill would be that dumb, but I could see the wheels turning in Erin's and Chad's heads. 

[ozziemom]

All the handyman or carpenters where I am in Florida (gulf coast) are super busy and have been for the 10 years I’ve been here. It’s actually hard at times to even get someone to come. Plus there is building of houses, apartments and stores everywhere. But Chad seems uninterested in building a business and as many have mentioned, can’t work for someone else. He spends far too much time on Erin’s projects but I wonder if she’s realizing how pointless most of them are. Why invest so much time and energy on something you don’t own. It will be interesting to see if that happens at this new rental. If they are really only staying for one year, there should be minimal renovation.

[Natalie68]

On 1/2/2025 at 5:49 PM, BitterApple said:

When you rented, I'm assuming you or your partner had a steady job and paystubs to show you could cover the rent. Chad's income is sporadic. He even admitted on one of their last Q&A's that sometimes he's busy and sometimes he isn't. Most landlords aren't willing to take that risk, which is why they rely on family and church friends. 

And this is why family planning is important.  You want 50 kids?  Great, you work so you can support them without the help/charity of others. These are PLANNED kids, shoulda had a plan Paine's. Ridiculous.  Folks, tie a knot in it!

[andromeda331]

It's funny. When Erin first married Chad, and came the Bringing Up Bates show.  I thought Erin was the one making dumb decisions. She loved to brag about surprising Chad with handyman jobs for her family or her. Of course at the time he had an actual job working at the same metal place that Zach worked at. While Erin clearly is an idiot with money. Chad turned out to be just as stupid. He quit a well paying job to work for a construction company, only to go out on his own five or six months later. Zero experience and he won't get any of the licenses needed which could provide more money. All very stupid decisions. A smart person would have either stayed at the metal place or found another job. Or if he wanted go into construction and work there until he has plenty of experience (as in years) licenses and build up a client base. 

They really are both idiots. Good luck to their kids.

[floridamom]

Paine "Construction"? I think his "company" is mis-named. Does Chad build residential homes or commercial properties? No, he is a handy man. Nothing wrong with being a handyman; there is a need for this..but I think being an unlicensed, seemingly uninsured tradesman would lead to not being hired by most people. I have hired handymen many times in my life and unless they were licensed and insured..they would not be considered. Chad needs to open his eyes and look around the world...THE WORLD in which he lives. He seems to be unmotivated IMO. Unless a job drops in his lap, he's not actively seeking employment...does he advertise? Does he have an ad in their sweet church's bulletin? Other church bulletins? Is he on the internet? I doubt it. There are some great comments here and I am enjoying reading your opinions.

[ranchgirl]

Chad used to have tee shirts and hoodies with his company name on them.  All the Bateseses wore them.  They even wore them on the show or in their YouTube videos.  All the advertising that he needed, right?  I have no idea what Trace does for work anymore, he used to be Chad's right-hand man.  I'm sure he also wants Chad to move back to Knoxville so he can work with him again.  

[Tdoc72]

On 1/6/2025 at 8:09 AM, 65mickey said:

Bingo!  No way is the prayer card business bringing in enough income for them to support a family of 8 and also allow them to save up enough money to buy land and build on it next year. I don't believe that Erin is buying what Chad is selling but she is trying to save face.

I saw some at Dollar Tree. Sure, they were mass produced and not in Cherin’s fancy handwriting, but they were essentially the same. Small laminated prayer/Bible quote cards.