S11.E05: I Want To Be President

[walnutqueen]

Quote

The Kleins are hosting an adoption extravaganza in DC, followed by a trip to Mt. Vernon for historical fun, then they visit the "Oval Office" where Will assumes a Presidential demeanor; Zoey's 5th cupcake birthday descends into a massive food fight.

[viewer]

Will, Zoey and Bill are out of control.   I felt sorry for Bills mom.    She was the only one that acted like a normal person. 

[flyingdi]

What's with all these little kids being neat freaks?  She freaked out because she got icing on her face.  Most kids I know don't mind a little mess.

[Mom2twoNonna2-3]

My grandson and son never wanted things on their face. My son has aspberger's though, so he has sensory issues. I think my grandson is too, but the specialist my dd works with does not want him diagnosed.

I do think the kids were well behaved at the breakfast before Mt. Vernon. That Zoe(y) knows her mind and refuses to let anyone push her into anything. I have faith she won't be bullied. 

[BitterApple]

"They need to take a nap." Kinda hard to do Jen when you're rehearsing a speech two feet away from them and there's a camera crew in their faces. 

Regarding Mt. Vernon, I know Jen means well but she needs to stop worrying about capturing every moment on her cell phone camera and just let the kids enjoy the experience. If Zoe doesn't want to put on the stupid dress, then drop it already. The world won't end.

I could also be projecting, but Judy seems totally over it. I think she's reached that point where she's getting too old and tired to be playing nanny on all these trips. 

I won't blame Will for the cupcake fiasco, because the adults were egging him on, but Bill should've known better. I feel bad for whoever had to clean up the mess afterwards. 

[winsomeone]

Do you think that maybe Bill sometimes drinks a wee bit too much, and that is when his behavior seems over the top?

[viewer]

I never thought of that but he does have a fixation with alcohol.   Bill is always trying to prove himself.    I would love a show where Will doesn't have a sucker in his mouth. 

[Bellalisa]

eh, they ruined Zoe's birthday party. She was right STOP! It's not funny! Wash Your Hands!

I think she screamed when the icing was put on her face because she already seemed to be getting in a bad mood right before it happened and she didn't want to be a part of it.  My cousin was also a big neatnik as a kid - and she is not aspergers.  Everyone is different but she was already fed up and didn't want to be a part of the food fight and possibly she thought the icing was he beginning of more of it. I have never once in my life been in a food fight. I find throwing food NOT funny, not amusing, stupid. I hate when they smear cake at weddings. I am by no means a neat nick myself. 

[Madtown]

6 hours ago, BitterApple said:

Regarding Mt. Vernon, I know Jen means well but she needs to stop worrying about capturing every moment on her cell phone camera and just let the kids enjoy the experience. If Zoe doesn't want to put on the stupid dress, then drop it already. The world won't end.

I won't blame Will for the cupcake fiasco, because the adults were egging him on, but Bill should've known better. I feel bad for whoever had to clean up the mess afterwards. 

AMEN! Her constant picture taking drives me nuts! I was saying the same thing, "she doesn't want to try the dress on, give it up!" Why must she try so hard to get them to do things after they say they don't want to? I understand having them try to do certain things, but it was a freaking dress for dress up! Just bugs to know end..

I felt bad for whoever had to clean it up AND Zoey. Maybe the men couldn't decorate as well, but they didn't try much and just played dumb. So they decide to egg on Will to start the cupcake war. Clearly, it upset Zoey where she was yelling at them to stop and it was her party, she was 100% right, Bill made it about them being to clueless to decorate a small cupcake. I didn't find it funny and really felt bad for Zoey.

I've been around plenty of children who didn't like to get messy. I knew of one who wouldn't do art projects that involved glue because if one drop got on their fingers, they couldn't stand it(they were around Zoey's age). So for Zoey to get upset about that, didn't bother me and it shouldn't have been done.

Sometimes I think Bill(and Jen sometimes)try to be friends with their kids more than parents. Bill for sure needs to mature up a little, you wanna a "food fight" then do it in your own house, not at your daughters birthday party.

[Absolom]

6 hours ago, BitterApple said:

I could also be projecting, but Judy seems totally over it. I think she's reached that point where she's getting too old and tired to be playing nanny on all these trips. 

I think Judy knows the score and she knows why the kids go wild and act batty.  She would keep them in line, but then Bill leads the march to misbehavior.  I'm a grandma and the grandkids have a great-uncle who has tried that a couple of times.  We've learned that if all the adults leave in disgust, he'll stop.  It's a lot tougher when it's the kids' actual father who is still playing class clown.  IMO it's fine for Zoey to not like mess.  My granddaughter bailed on slime making at the feel of squishing it in her fingers and the instant she's done finger painting she wants her hands washed.  Some kids just have limits on tolerating mess and boo to anyone who deliberately disrupts a birthday party kid.  

[Bellalisa]

And the way she is about the stupid photos is crazy because their entire childhood is on film already.

[Foghorn Leghorn]

12 minutes ago, Bellalisa said:

And the way she is about the stupid photos is crazy because their entire childhood is on film already.

Why she is taking pictures when the camera men are capturing everything already.  Bill said that is one reason they do the show!

[Libby]

I was glad to see that they kept the children out of George Washington's house when they went to Mount Vernon.

It seems that they learned from the castle fiasco. They didn't repeat that mistake.

[Bellalisa]

Why did the kids have to go to that dinner? I was confused. There were no other kids there. It made no sense to drag the kids to that.

[bichonblitz]

7 hours ago, BitterApple said:

 

I could also be projecting, but Judy seems totally over it. I think she's reached that point where she's getting too old and tired to be playing nanny on all these trips. 

Maybe that's why she moved back to Florida. Who moves away from their grand kids after they just moved there a short while ago, bought a house and everything, unless they want some space away from them.  

1 hour ago, winsomeone said:

Do you think that maybe Bill sometimes drinks a wee bit too much, and that is when his behavior seems over the top?

I always thought he was smoking pot or still on painkillers for his back issues because he is so laid back about everything. Nothing is ever a big deal with him. Let's just have fun, ya'll...!!

That cupcake fiasco really pissed me off. Jen would never have allowed that in her own home as much as a control freak as she is. That is somebody else's business, have some respect!! Go do that outside in your own backyard so it's easier to clean up. I don't blame little Zoey for being mad. It was her party, her birthday and the day should have been about her. Instead, once again, it's all about Will. These two are going to butt heads when they get older, guaranteed ! Bill is so annoying this season. 

p.s. the cupcake girls are sisters and had their own reality show a few years ago. I really liked it. They are super sweet people and their mom used to help them out in the bakery.

[flyingdi]

I cannot stand that TLC is so about the gender roles.  "Boys don't know how to decorate cupcakes. ". Really?

[humbleopinion]

TLC will crank out shows because the audience is there for the Little Couple shows but viewers can agree that Will is not coming off well as he ages out of the behaviors that make us cringe.

Zoey will have nothing to do with the out of control "play" like a food fight, she follows the rules.

Mixed messages are sent when Will's misbehaving causes Jen and Bill to chuckle and smile and then showcased on episodes.

Zoey is thinking WTF?.....

[BitterApple]

I felt bad for both kids at the cupcake shop. Zoe, because her party was ruined and Will, because he was only following the cues the adults around him were giving him. 

I also felt bad for Bill's mom because she sort of got shoved in the background once the other grandparents showed up. I don't know if maybe she doesn't like to travel or what, but she doesn't seem as close with the kids as Bill's dad and stepmother do.

I did think Jen looked lovely at the adoption event. Chloe did a great job with the dress.

[Bellalisa]

Bill's mom strikes me as someone who is extremely uncomfortable being on camera. I am sure she interacts much more when the cameras are not there. It seems like she purposely stays in the background. She doesn't want to see herself. I don't blame her. 

Yes Jen looked amazing in her outfit. I love Chloe Dao and remember her from her season on Project Runway. Jen does have a lot of style.

[BitterApple]

N/m

Edited October 18, 2017 by BitterApple

[SMama]

Huh?

[Kohola3]

I always attribute Jen's obsession with pictures as "first child syndrome" only in their case they got both first children at one time.  In big families, there are a zillion pictures of every single moment of the first kid and rapidly decreasing numbers for the next ones in line.  My parents must  have taken 50 thousand pictures of me (I found a 50 gallon tub of them when they passed away) and a whole lot less of my sibling.

Jen looked just stunning in her dress. Chloe is clearly on the same wavelength.  And whatever you have to say about Bill, he lights up when he sees her which, I think, is very sweet.

Zoey is going to be doing some serious directing when she gets older.  She made no bones about telling the goof offs that she was seriously displeased.

[SMama]

Zoey definitely does not suffer fools and she is only five years old.  I like both kids but think Will is going to be put in his place by his little sister. The cupcake fight could have been producer instigated, but Jen should have asserted herself and said no. It made Bill looked like a clueless father. Worse, he came across as a father who was willing to ruin his daughter's birthday party in order to be a clown with his son. I felt so awful when Zoey yelled for them to stop, that it was her birthday party. My ten year old was almost in tears, so as much as she likes the kids it's no longer a show I can allow her to watch. On an incredibly selfish note I am grateful that my husband and I are so much alike on our parenting. I have complained that he indulges our daughter too much on certain things (LEGOS, Super Hero paraphernalia, etc., there is a spare room full of them) but he expects proper behavior from her. I don't think our marriage could survive the constant lack of unity (if Bill is indeed an insufferable clown).  Also grateful we were given the opportunity to raise such an easy going child. Although we are very aware that it is just her personality to follow rules and be mellow. Oh Will, I hurt for you because I want you to thrive, but you will need more than your magnetic personality.

[missnoa]

1 hour ago, humbleopinion said:

TLC will crank out shows because the audience is there for the Little Couple shows but viewers can agree that Will is not coming off well as he ages out of the behaviors that make us cringe.

Zoey will have nothing to do with the out of control "play" like a food fight, she follows the rules.

Mixed messages are sent when Will's misbehaving causes Jen and Bill to chuckle and smile and then showcased on episodes.

Zoey is thinking WTF?.....

Honestly I can see this being an issue with both kids. They do stuff they're told not to and it just gets a chuckle or "that's so cute!" or they get "disciplined" (which is nothing) while the parents smile and laugh. I don't think they're bad parents or anything but I do feel like the kids are getting mixed messages. I think Zoe gets away with a lot too, she cries and they're instantly trying to give her what she wants.

That being said, I would have killed my little brother if he tried to start a food fight on my birthday so I don't blame her in this case lol. She's really not here for Will making a mess in general but especially on her birthday with her cupcakes.

[SMama]

I don't think Bill and Jen are bad parents, just inexperienced, and insecure. I only have one child who went through hell in an SWI in China. Our hearts ache for her everyday, every second; but we are her parents and must model behavior. Consistency is a must but so difficult when you have children with such a horrible start in life. We have struggled ourselves with consistency at times. We finally found we don't have to be draconian, and we are not running a clown workshop. Then add the things we have not been shown, like Zoey's ear tubes, they have a lot on their plate. We had an opportunity to adopt a boy one year after our daughter came home. It's what we wanted, our dream, but we decided against adopting. Our daughter was still getting to know us, we were still finding out about her insecurities, her fear of abandonment. We knew it would be unfair to our daughter to add another child, especially one with an albeit minor special need. Our girl is ten now and we made the right decision for our family. But it still stings so many years later.

[Bellalisa]

smama what stings? Not getting the other child?  Or knowing what she went through?

it sounds like you made the right decision. Imagine if the other child was a complete disaster with lots of issues and you had to cut way back on the amount of attention your daughter got? Kudos to you parents who have adopted these children from orphanages. 

[RubiksCube]

3 hours ago, Bellalisa said:

Why did the kids have to go to that dinner? I was confused. There were no other kids there. It made no sense to drag the kids to that.

I thought the same but maybe there was something we didn't see that involved them being on stage /part of the presentation. Otherwise made no sense, especially when they had babysitting available.

[SMama]

Thank you @Bellalisa, and a great question, because I just typed the sentence and submitted. I guess a bit of both, my husband and I are on the practical side. We know it was the right decision. But it is tough to see his sister on her fourth kid and her husband has not held a job in three years. And the kids are one right after the other, and they are not fundies or quiverfull. I sometimes wish we were not both so practical, but college is not cheap.

ETA: My comment regarding the cost of college only applies to my SIL. My criticism was about their particular circumstances. We pay for everything for our children, we do not expect others to pick up the entire tab. Sorry if my words offended anyone.

Edited October 18, 2017 by SMama

[Bellalisa]

I know college is NOT cheap - I put 2 sons through and it was expensive. My 3rd son is special needs (developmentally delayed) so he didn't go to college. I know it's easy to say but try not to look at what other people have, look at how nice your own family is. 

[birkenstock]

Bill can't just leave things be.  He was like that with the tea in London, he had to make a game of it with Will when both kids were content and behaving relatively well.  I think that he thinks if they're laughing and having a good time that means that he's succeeding as a parent even if it inconveniences other people.  I don't blame Jen for the cupcake fight because she was in another room and she was focused on helping Zoey decorate.  Everything doesn't always have to be goofy. Bill needs to model more appropriate behavior to Will because Will is a good kid who can listen and follow direction.  

I'm glad that the cupcake ladies were able to redirect the party by singing happy birthday to Zoey.  They did a great job setting up something Zoey would like and were able to salvage the end of the party with the cupcake cake.  

[BitterApple]

I think Bill needs to find a happy medium. Being the goofball in the privacy of your own home or at the playground or at Chuck E Cheez is one thing, but starting a food fight at your fastidious daughter's birthday party is another. He meant no harm, but it certainly wasn't the best timing. 

I just feel horribly for Will. He's getting ripped to shreds and being called a brat on FB when it wasn't even him who started this whole mess in the first place. The adult males failed miserably in this situation, not the 6 year-old boy.

[SMama]

Will has age as an excuse, the others, nope. And he is a sweet little guy.

[Kohola3]

47 minutes ago, SMama said:

Our girl is ten now and we made the right decision for our family.

Kudos to you both for making a difficult decision that was best for your daughter but hard on you.  That's what good parents do - kids come first.

I think Bill and Jen know their limitations which is why Bill dismissed the idea of another child.

[SMama]

Thank you @Kohola3. I did not intend to offend you @Bellalisa, sorry if I came across that way. Yes, we are indeed fortunate, she is a joy to be around, peers and teachers love her. We just attended an informational meeting for the advanced STEAM program at her middle school next year. We knew she's smart but did not expect an invitation, thought we would apply. Things work out in the end, as I hope they will with Will and Zoey.  In a perfect world Will will grow up to pilot/drive something, and Zoey will work with animals. Or whetever their dreams take them.

Edited October 18, 2017 by SMama

[Bellalisa]

well I was not offended at all, not sure why you thought that. She sounds like a wonderful kid and overcame her hard beginning, thanks to you!

 

Where is the facebook page where they are bashing Will? Will did really enjoy it though, he was talking about it with glee that night. I think he just loved the whole thing but it was inappropriate for Bill to do this

Edited October 18, 2017 by Bellalisa

[SMama]

I read some negative comments on The Little Couple Facebook page.

[TVFANATICA2000]

This might be mean - but I thought Zoey was so cute when she started crying and put her little hands over her eyes.

[BitterApple]

24 minutes ago, Bellalisa said:

 

Where is the facebook page where they are bashing Will? 

The show's official page, not Bill or Jen's personal pages.

[Bellalisa]

I found it - some people complain about the behavior of the kids and then other people defend them and say "if you don't like it don't watch" ad nauseum! Bill and Jen do film their family and put themselves on TV so they open themselves up to scrutiny. I do think Jen is kind of "on" when the cameras are there, trying to be a perfect parent. I know whenever my mother-in-law was here I always tried to put on my best parent behavior. I wonder how they are when the cameras are not around?

[BitterApple]

37 minutes ago, TVFANATICA2000 said:

This might be mean - but I thought Zoey was so cute when she started crying and put her little hands over her eyes.

I did too, especially when she said "That's VERY bad!!!" and stormed off. Her little high pitched voice demanding everyone cut the crap was hilarious, even if what caused the meltdown in the first place wasn't funny. I was glad she cheered up by the end.

[RedheadZombie]

4 hours ago, Kohola3 said:

I always attribute Jen's obsession with pictures as "first child syndrome" only in their case they got both first children at one time.  In big families, there are a zillion pictures of every single moment of the first kid and rapidly decreasing numbers for the next ones in line.  My parents must  have taken 50 thousand pictures of me (I found a 50 gallon tub of them when they passed away) and a whole lot less of my sibling.

Jen looked just stunning in her dress. Chloe is clearly on the same wavelength.  And whatever you have to say about Bill, he lights up when he sees her which, I think, is very sweet.

Zoey is going to be doing some serious directing when she gets older.  She made no bones about telling the goof offs that she was seriously displeased.

I am a long awaited for, adopted, only child.  It's hilarious to look back at some of my pictures and see myself glaring at the camera.  I could not make a move without a camera in my face, and to this day I hate having my picture taken.  It seems I didn't mind it so much until a certain point in grade school.  I was hardly traumatized, but I see my mom in Jen.  

[RedheadZombie]

3 hours ago, SMama said:

I don't think Bill and Jen are bad parents, just inexperienced, and insecure. I only have one child who went through hell in an SWI in China. Our hearts ache for her everyday, every second; but we are her parents and must model behavior. Consistency is a must but so difficult when you have children with such a horrible start in life. We have struggled ourselves with consistency at times. We finally found we don't have to be draconian, and we are not running a clown workshop. Then add the things we have not been shown, like Zoey's ear tubes, they have a lot on their plate. We had an opportunity to adopt a boy one year after our daughter came home. It's what we wanted, our dream, but we decided against adopting. Our daughter was still getting to know us, we were still finding out about her insecurities, her fear of abandonment. We knew it would be unfair to our daughter to add another child, especially one with an albeit minor special need. Our girl is ten now and we made the right decision for our family. But it still stings so many years later.

It's so interesting that you said this!  I was adopted about three days after birth, and my parents had an opportunity to adopt another child around a year after my birth, because the social worker really liked them.  They thought it was a little too early, and my dad had open heart surgery when I was about four.  Back then, that was enough to put them out of the running for an American adoption (outside of the private adoption industry).  My mom regretted it, as have I.  I have always yearned for a sibling - desperately.  But I lay no blame on my parents.  I had several cousins about my age, and that's the closest I've ever come to a sibling.

[Snow8585]

There were some interesting moments last night, that's for sure. I agree with other posters that it appears that Judy has had enough of the whole TLC thing and has a good idea of what is really going on in the Klein household. Judy and Dave are not featured too much yet this season. I thought it was odd that we did not see any real footage of the Kleins at their house after they fled the hurricane. Some family moments were posted on Instagram and Twitter but not on the show. And when Bill said to Judy on the previous ep, here's your chance when she was tying his bow tie, I wondered if that was just a quip or perhaps there is some notable tension behind the scenes. I also thought it possible that Bill and his Dad had a few drinks before the cupcake fiasco. Bill does love booze, he brought back custom blended scotch from Scotland, often mentions how much he enjoys "adult beverages" and he admitted to resorting to booze back in college to get through tough times. So it is not a stretch to wonder if maybe he still drinks more than occasionally. And I really wondered about his Dad when he tossed the money at the Cupcake store owners like they were strippers in order to bribe them to win. That was disgraceful. Not funny at all. I went to that Cupcake Store's website today and it mentions TLC left and right, but no link to last night's episode. A mention on their twitter acct. but nothing more. I am certain those ladies were most unhappy at how things progressed and how upset Zoey was. I felt badly for that little girl. At least she shamed her moronic father into apologizing. Jen should have stepped in and told Bill to STOP. Jen  was at the next table, not in another room. And no apology from Will. Will later laughed about it and called his sister a silly goose. Not very nice. Also of note, when Will told Jen that he did not like her. He was sitting in the faux Oval Office and further said he does not like when she suggests he could be such and such. The look on her face was priceless.  I noticed on Jen's instagram page that Zoey had a mermaid birthday at Disneyworld, I hope that made up for that terrible cupcake party that was an embarassment.

Edited October 18, 2017 by Snow8585

[SMama]

I'm sorry @RedheadZombie, I completely understand. Although our daughter has an older brother, he is my biological child. Our reason for wanting a sibling from China was for our daughter to share life with someone who experienced her journey.

[birkenstock]

1 hour ago, Snow8585 said:

 Jen should have stepped in and told Bill to STOP. Jen  was at the next table, not in another room. 

The tables were separated by a half wall that would make it difficult for Jen to see what was going on at the other table.  I don't think that Jen should have to tell her husband, dad, and FIL how to behave.  It puts her in the situation where she would have to be the buzzkill once again.  The only way I think that she could have done it is if she had pulled him aside and told him to knock it off.  By the time it got to Zoey and the "girls'" table it was already a mess. I do agree Will should have apologized to Zoey immediately and in their talking head.   

[Snow8585]

If there was a half wall than how did Bill's dad walk over in view of the camera and then Zoey yelled for him to go away.  Jen and probably everyone else in that small store knew and heard exactly what was going on and yes Jen should have told them to stop.  Instead she let her daughter scream and scream and carry on and cry. And let the boys make a mess in the shop. Disgraceful.

Edited October 18, 2017 by Snow8585

[Libby]

Jen should not have to be her husband's babysitter. He is a full grown, adult man.

Bill's mother had to go on welfare when Bill's father left her with 3 children. I read it in their book. I am starting to think that the Klein men are nothing but big children. Definately, not prizes, in my opinion.

[Absolom]

It sounds like Zoey learned that no one stands up for her.

Ratings:  1.276 M viewers and a .21 rating (a slight drop).

[birkenstock]

I agree it was disgraceful, I just think that the guys should be held responsible for their own actions and not Jen. Jen was focusing on bonding with Zoey during her party.  She shouldn't have to babysit her own husband.  He is her partner and not another child. Plus, her own dad and FIL were going along with it, it makes for wonky relationship dynamics.  Bill and the rest of the guys are responsible for making the mess and Jen probably just heard laughter.  Why didn't the other Klein/Arnold women step in then?

The wall obstructed half the table, Bill's dad was able to walk into the room because it was an open doorway.  

[Patricia07]

I got vibes that Bill's mother was a little uncomfortable.  And after hearing the story of her having to go on welfare, I can understand why.