I know it has been on for a long time now. I used to catch it every now and then. To be quite honest, it is on a network I only watch from time to time as it is. OK, to be totally honest, I only get to watch television on the whole now and then. But, I must admit. I have a new addiction. “Jon and Kate Plus 8” on TLC is one of my favorite shows.

A couple, residing in Central Pennsylvania, had a set of twin girls. And, as they explain in their opening scenes of every show, a “theme song” of sorts, they tried for just one more child. Instead, they got six. Parents of twins and sextuplets, Jon and Kate tape a television show nearly each week for “The Learning Channel” (TLC). And, yes, folks, I am addicted.

I always enjoyed watching the show in the past. But, between the marathon clusters TLC is airing and my own personal life changes, something about my recent viewings has me hooked.

First off, I love their kids. They are too adorable. Each of the children has their own unique and loving personality. From the moment the show starts with one of the eight performing their well-practiced lines “On this episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8,” to the aforementioned “theme song,” I nearly tear up just watching the opening.

Prior to each episode, Jon and Kate take turns with the lines. And they flow as follows:

“It all started with the two of us. Then we had our beautiful twin girls, Cara and Madelyn. We were so thrilled, we decided to try for just one more and ended up with six. Today I could very well lose my mind. And, although the stress of having two sets of multiples doesn't always bring out the best in us, we're a family. And, we're in this together. It might be a crazy life, but it is our life.”

I guess having just two small children makes me feel the same way. And, I think my husband and I think the same way, so maybe that is why I get choked up.

I think this shows ability to relate to my life so much is also the reason I watch it almost every night. (Thankfully, since I haven't seen it in a while, I have many backlogged on my DVR. And, it is on a lot during the week.)

Something about seeing to parents chase around eight kids makes chasing around two seem so much simpler. And, I guess, that is the bottom line of my addiction. I can't seem to get enough of the Gosselin family. They make my life seem so much easier!

   From watching their family Christmas, to their trip to Disney, I love being a part of their family as you watch, too. I want to see them open their gifts. I want to see how they handle potty training and kids learning to share. I love to watch as the kids grow up, just like my own.

   I also just love watching Jon and Kate. Each episode consists of the camera crew following around the family as they attempt their latest "adventure." Of course, with eight kids, going to the store would be an adventure in its self. Before, during and after the film of the "live action," the parents offer up their side of the story, sometimes together and sometimes on their own.

   Their usual relationship dynamic is that Kate is the boss. She has, as do I, a case of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). She has a high need for control and order. Imagine all that with her workload as a stay-at-home mom (former nurse) for eight kids. It seems to never fail that the rule in that house is Jon is wrong, Kate is right. And, the interviews between the two are hysterical to me.

   As I said, the overall best thing is the "relate-able" factor for me. It is my life, in hyperdrive. I always feel like handling a single 3-year-old and an 11-month old is a cake walk after watching Jon and Kate!

  No idea what I mean? Check out the show online: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/jon-and-kate/jon-and-kate.html