She was used to looking after a two-and-half year old with the help of a devoted husband and a housekeeper nanny. So Kendra Wilkinson was in for a shock when she discovered whose home she would be taking charge of in a new episode of Celebrity Wife Swap. The former Playboy model ended up in tears as she struggled to meet the task of looking after Kate Gosselin's eight children.
Tearful: Kendra Wilkinson got a shock when she took charge of Kate Gosselin's household and eight children on Tuesday's night's episode of Celebrity Wife Swap
'I'm in Kate Gosselin's house with her eight kids! Oh my God, Can I open a bottle of wine please,' the 27-year-old reality star exclaimed when she entered Kate's Pennsylvania home. The bread machine and military-style manual of household rules also threw laid back mother Kendra,
who was especially flummoxed by Kate's 5.30am morning start. Since splitting from the children's father Jon, Kate runs the household with the help of a friend Deanna who was on hand to help Kendra with twins Cara and Madelyn (Maddie), 12, and eight-year-old sextuplets Aaden, Collin, Joel, Leah, Alexis and Hannah.
No bread for me: Kendra was shocked at the sight of the Gosselin family breadmaker in the kitchen
Living life by the manual: Kendra was thrown by the pinpoint timings of Kate's family help guide
In for a shock: Kendra didn't know what she was letting herself in for as she arrived at Kate's immaculate Pennsylvania home
'Maddie is mentally older than I am. She knows more than I do,' said an amazed Kendra after meeting the children. Kate's home, complete with chickens to feed and a chore list, was a far cry from Kendra's more cluttered and chilled out Los Angeles mansion.The star admitted on camera that she lets her two-and a-half-year-old son Hank Baskett IV do 'what he wants to do.'She added: 'Just because I'm a mom, doesn't mean I'm a dead,' admitting she entrusts most of the household tasks to helper Rosa who also looks after Hank.
Laundry time: Kendra said she was not a fan of handling other people's dirty clothes
Juggling act: The former Playboy model is more used to looking after one small child with her husband and nanny's help
Eight mouths to feed: Kendra served the children cereal when they really wanted eggs
Are you being served? The eight Gosselin children knew exactly what to do with their regulated chores
'She basically just runs the house and I just sit in it,' admitted Kendra as footage played of her relaxing at home in Los Angeles over a glass of wine by her swimming pool. But over in Pennsylvania, her chilled out attitude didn't quite click with Kate's regimented lifestyle. Kendra soon found herself out of her depth having to do the children's laundry and needing to provide a more inventive breakfast than cereal.
Sit back and relax: Kendra revealed her home life is taken care of by her nanny and housekeeper Rosa
'She runs the house and I sit in it': Kendra admitted she wasn't really interested in chores and keeping house
Mother-of-one: Kendra usually only has to look after two-and-a-half-year-old Hank Jr
'This has been the longest day of my entire life,' she admitted after her first 24 hours. 'The fact that Kate does this every day. I don't know how she does it.'There's so much I have to do before I go to bed. I don't know one person my age who has this much structure and this much discipline.'But she ended up surprised at the children's impeccable behaviour and willingness to do their fair share of chores. 'Maddy is mentally older than I am. She knows more than I do,' she said of the 12-year-old.
Changing the rules: Kendra abolished the chores after dinner when it came to her turn to implement a change in the household
It's taco time: Kendra introduced the idea of picnics on the floor of the home instead of a formal meal around the table
Sweet treat: Kendra indulged the children with an ice cream for their good behaviour
But Kendra soon got emotional at the lack of childlike spontaneity she saw in the Gosselin children.
'These kids have so many jobs to do. I'm a big believer in a kid being a kid,' she told the cameras tearfully. 'This is so hard.'
Unsurprisingly, Kendra loosened up the rules mid way through her week in charge, swapping out the children's chores and introducing the idea of a taco picnic on the floor.
'This is their time to be a kid. I want them to have childhood memories,' she said.
Taking a trip: Kendra began to realise why so many of Kate's rules worked after taking the eight children for a fun and chaotic day out
Child at heart: Kendra took to the race track on the fun day out
However, having to take control of the children on a day out made Kendra start to realise that Kate's rules did have their place. 'I'm starting to get why these eight kids have their strict schedule,' she said. 'It's made me realise if I can do it with eight kids, I can do it with one.' Meanwhile, over in Los Angeles, Kate was getting to grips with a more laxidasical life. 'I'm a very organised, very scheduled, very routine mom. Everybody has to help out,' she said, referring to her style of discipline in Pennsylvania.
Balancing act: Kate Gosselin with some of her eight children who she looks after in Pennsylvania
Chilling out: Kate Gosselin found a rare time to relax with a glass of red wine over at Kendra's house in Los Angeles
But the 37-year-old reality star had a pleasant surprise at reading Kendra'a manual which advised her to 'relax and have a drink on me.'
After Kendra's sports star husband Hank Baskett cooked dinner, Kate was taken out on the town by a few of the model's friends.
'I think living Kendra's life has made me realise how little I have a social life,' said an amazed Kate.
Meet the toddler: Kate was delighted to spend some time with Kendra's two-and-a-half-year-old baby Hank IV
Plush pad: Kate spent a week at Kendra's home which she declared not quite as immaculate as her own home on the East Coast
Despite usually going to bed at 9.30pm, Kate tried her best to relax but was puzzled at the little amount of time Kendra spends with her son.
'This life is definitely relaxing and luxurious but if I had this much free time, I would be spending it with little Hank,' she declared. Hank Sr took her golfing in an effort to get her to chill out and Kate soon realised she could do with having a little more 'me time.''It feels great to relax. This is what I've been missing,' she admitted. 'I am very focused on my kids and maybe I do need to step away a bit and start dating.'
Making sense of the manual: Kate was bemused at Kendra's wish for her to 'relax and have a drink on me' in her home
Night out on the town: Two of Kendra's girlfriends took Kate out for a rare evening out
Teeing off: Hank Baskett tried his hardest to make self-confessed ;'Type A Mom' Kate relax by taking her golfing
However, the love of a lot more relaxation didn't stop Kate from introducing different rules into the household.In her first rule change, she took little Hank out of school and introduced him to some fun chores. 'He's two and a half - I don't want to be in school all day,' she said. 'In life there's responsibility and chores and that's what I wanted to show little Hank.'Kate then tried to persuade the toddler to eat properly and arranged for the whole family to have dinner together at the same table.
Magic moments: Kate suggested Kendra spend more time with her young son
Dining together: Kate ensured little Hank would eat dinner at the table with the family, and learn some table manners along the way
Group yoga: Kate suggested the whole family including little Hank partake in a yoga session instead of separately
'It's like he's craving structure,' she declared, much to father Hank's dismay. 'I've never been able to take too much criticism from outside,' he muttered, while Kate gave Hank a painting lesson. and arranged a group yoga workout for the family. 'Just spending the time with little Hank. I definitely feel like they can do more family stuff together,' said Kate, before bemoaning Hank Sr's willingness to take on parenting chores and household duties for his wife. 'Hank is kind of giving Kendra a free pass to step away from her mothering role,' she said.
Playtime: Kate was determined to spend more time with Hank Jr and even managed to get him to perform simple chores
Outside intervention: Hank Sr admitted to finding Kate's comments a little hard to live with at times
At the end of their week away, both celebrity mothers were both equally relieved at the end of the week but first had to discuss their experiences with each other face to face. 'It was a unique experience. I've never been around anyone who had that much structure,' Kendra told Kate. '
Every now and then, there should be that spontaneity. I think that's what I brought to the table with my rule changes.' Kate admitted the experience had made her realise she needed to relax more, and that she could do with some help at home.
The big goodbye: Kendra said she 'grew up a lot' during her week with Kate's children
Motherhood bonding: Kendra and Kate met to discuss their shared experiences at the end of the week
Raw emotions: Kendra got a little tearful when discussing what she'd learned from the Wife Swap experience
'The most unexpected thing is how much I enjoyed the whole experience as a whole,' she said. 'And how much it would be nice to get someone to share the large load' Kendra said the whole experience looking after Kate's children 'has made me grow up.''Kate has empowered me. I feel like I have to dedicate more time to little Hank,' she admitted. 'Through this experience, I have learned to appreciate all then thing Hank does for me.''I need to be drunk. I need to be stupid, I need to get drunk and go out and have crazy nights.'
Round table chat: The couples ironed out their parenting differences in the candid conversation