'Jon & Kate Plus 8': Episode 13 recap

This week's episode saw Jon and Kate trying to make the most of their indiviudal time with the children, as the former threw a garden movie party and the latter introduced them to the joys of fishing.

Determined to provide the kids with good memories, Kate decided to conquer her fear of the grill to cook a chicken dinner for the family but admitted that she was feeling "constantly overwhelmed" by her current situation.

"The new normal is I'm here a lot of the time, Jon's here some of the time... I hope it settles down to something less than this at this point."

After celebrating her salmonella-free dinner, Kate attempted to control a hazardous popcorn maker before the family snuggled up on sleeping bags to watch a movie in their back garden (set up by the show's audio man, Alex). However, she later reflected on how difficult she still found it to leave her home and children.

"It was Jon's turn to come and that's a good thing, because I'm glad the days he's here with them, but I will always hate leaving my kids," she said. "It's a very hard switch. I don't know how Jon feels about it. I don't know if he feels the same way, or if he feels relief when he leaves."

The second half of the instalment saw Jon teaching his initially unenthusiastic brood how to fish, although the day ended on an upset note after 5-year-old Joel burst into tears when he thought he had been hit on the head by a fish.

"I'm trying to spend as much time with them as possible because my time is limited now. It's nice to leave the city and come home to the country, relax and play with the kids," he said. "It's hard being solo, it is really stressful, especially if you have long days at home by yourself."

He added: "It's bittersweet, I see them here and then I have to leave. It's exhausting being with them, but then I leave and I wonder what they're doing... even in the city, they're calling me all the time. It's nice to go to the city and do the things I do, but it's also nice to come home."

Jon & Kate Plus 8 airs on TLC.