Kate Gosselin says it's a "struggle" for her to be anywhere but home in Pennsylvania with her eight children, but feels she has to work to provide for them -- hence her current Dancing with the Stars stint.

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"I'm a working mom and cameras are on me so people catch me traveling and working. I've got to work harder now than ever because I am a single mom," said Gosselin during a Tuesday appearance on NBC's Today show.

"In my heart, I'm always in my kitchen baking and cooking for my kids -- and I'll always be there."

Gosselin's desire to be there for her kids has recently been questioned by her ex-husband Jon Gosselin -- who last week filed the legal papers requesting primary physical custody of the eight children.

In addition, Jon's lawyer labeled Kate an "absentee mom" -- a claim she disputes.

"I'm on the first flight. As soon as the show lets me out I'm on a plane and that's my night of sleep. I get home and dance and I'm done by the time they're home from school and I spend the rest of the week with them. It's difficult," said Kate on Today.

"I make the most of every moment I do have with them and I have a lot of conversations with them. They know that I have to work, they know that I have to go -- they don't like it, but when I'm home, we make those little spots of time really big in our memories."

Jon and Kate's divorce was finalized in December, ending their 10-year marriage, and she said the kids are coping with it.

"They're strong. They're loving. I don't see anything negative they've taken from this," she said. "If anything, I see the kids and I becoming so much closer and they're more open to me."

Kate and her professional partner Tony Dovolani haven't received rave reviews -- or scores -- from the judges during the first several weeks of the competition, and judge Bruno Tonioli went as far as calling her dancing "crap" during a recent interview.

"I don't really have time to pay attention and I do have a thick skin," said Kate on Today when asked about the tough criticisms.

"People are always asking me, 'Are you upset by the judges' comments?' To be honest, I take the constructive part and the rest, I don't even hear what they say."

In addition, Kate acknowledged that it's home viewer votes that are keeping her in the competition.

"I say this jokingly -- but I mean it -- the fans' votes are the ones keeping me on the show. Because it's certainly not my dancing," said Kate. "It's just starting to hit me now that I'm really there. It's truly one of the hardest things I've ever done."
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio

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