'A Day for Dads' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Day for Dads"

• At the Paines’ house, Carson, Brooklyn, and Everly paint birdhouses for Chad for Father’s Day. One of Brooklyn’s favorite things about her dad is that he “helps coyotes not get me.”
• On Father’s Day, Erin and the kids pick fresh herbs from their garden. Erin marinades chicken, and Chad grills it. Chad grew up raising free-range chickens, so he and Erin buy organic, free-range chicken, even though it’s more expensive.
• “There’s so many qualities I love about Chad,” says Erin. “He is such a hands-on dad, so involved in every activity in our family, and I don’t think they could have a better dad.”
• “I couldn’t think of a better way to spend Father’s Day than just sitting there with my children, the best gifts that I have, my wife, and just to know that I’m so blessed is so special to me,” says Chad.
• Meanwhile, the Balkas have a Father’s Day picnic. Josie gives Kelton a keychain that has two handprints. One is Willow’s, and the other says “Coming Soon.” Josie had found out that morning that she was pregnant.
• This time around, Josie and Kelton say they are “happy” shocked instead of “terrified” shocked. “We’ve been praying, we’ve been trying,” says Kelton. “This is awesome.”
• At the big house, Gil and Kelly and the unmarried kids also have a picnic. Kelly takes a picture of Katie, Ellie, Addee, and Callie. Both she and Gil are shocked that only four of their daughters are left at home. “And this one’s trying to leave!” shouts Katie.
• Kelly and the kids give Gil a basket of his favorite treats. “Try not to down it in a week or anything,” jokes Kelly. Per Bates family tradition, the kids share praises about Gil. Callie breaks down as she shares how great of a dad Gil is to her.
• “Y’all are the best kids,” says Gil. “I haven’t done too good as a dad, but I’ve sure enjoyed learning from all of y’all. Y’all have really blessed me.”
• Jackson has been training for ALERT boot camp, but since it has been postponed, he needs a way to stay in shape. Gil gets the boys together for a makeshift boot camp in the hot sun. Towards the end, Judson and Jeb pretend to run inside to “get drinks.” Instead, they fill up a bunch of water balloons and attack the others. Everyone agrees that it feels good.
• Kelly shares an update on her health. She has struggled with gastroesophageal reflux for years and has already had her gallbladder removed. The frequency of her reflux, especially after having 19 children, has created pre-cancer cells in her throat. She needs another scope, but she must first get over the coughing caused by a recent episode. “She’s just too young and beautiful to be suffering like this,” says Gil, who is eager to find a solution for his wife. 
• Later, Carlin and Evan inform Gil and Kelly that they have tested positive. “I pretty much have had all the symptoms, but nothing serious, like hospitalized,” says Carlin. Layla, who tested negative, had been staying with Evan’s family, but one of them came down with the illness. The doctors recommended that Layla come back home so she can nurse and hopefully get antibodies.
• “We were around y’all, and so we figured y’all should probably get tested, too,” says Carlin. “Everybody probably should.” Gil prays for the Stewarts before ending the phone call. After filming completed in August, several other Bates family members tested positive, as well.

'Never Before Seen on TV' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Never Before Seen on TV"

• While helping Josie pack her hospital bag, Kelly shares some wise words: "I don't want to be that mom who is wanting to push ideas or stuff on their children, so I love that we can talk and share experiences and laugh, and if I have some tips, I certainly try to give those. But at the same time, I don't want any of the kids to feel like, 'Mom's a know-it-all, and we have to do it her way' because everybody's different." Josie is very appreciative of her mom’s tips. 
• Katie is in cosmetology school, and the kids weigh in on whether they trust her to cut their hair. "She cut my hair once, with tools that didn't work that great," says Isaiah.
• “I like to wait until they are fully out of school,” admits Tori. “I mean, this is a lot of hair, and long hair can look really bad if it accidentally gets messed up.”
• While Michael trusts Katie to cut her hair, the two Bates sisters have a nice chat. The other siblings agree that Michael and Katie are complete opposites. “I think everything about Michaela and Katie is different,” says Callie, candidly. “Especially their personality and their style.”
• “Katie’s sassy,” adds Brandon. “[Michaela’s] not.”
• How about similarities? “They are both very messy, very,” says Carlin.
• “They love to help people,” shares Erin.
• During a family game night at the big house, one team member draws a picture and the other teammates guess what it is. Who are the best artists in the Bates family? Michael, Erin, and Carlin.
• “We only have like 12 kids at home,” says Gil. “It’s like an empty nest around here, quiet all the time. So having everybody back to have the party get-togethers is like back in the old days.”

'Giving Thanks' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Giving Thanks"

• At the big house, Gil and Kelly and the kids still living at home are working on cleaning up outside. As things start to open up, the Bates parents are eager to get the whole family together again, but they know it will be a while before that can happen. 
• “I want to be safe, not just to protect the kids in my family, but also for us to be responsible to protect other people that we’re around,” says Kelly.
• “…My mom, she tries so hard to be a rule follower,” says Zach. “She wants to follow every rule and do everything right. So I figured we should all just stay at home and eat all the time because everybody knows you can do that.”
• Meanwhile, the Stewarts take a walk and discuss Layla’s health struggles. Layla was diagnosed with a small hole in her heart, and she has also had episodes where she struggles to breathe. ‘Nothing matures you more than being parents,” says Evan.
• At the Paine home, the kids are enjoying the yard. Erin and Carlin have wanted to do something special for Zach and Whitney, who have been keeping up with everything at the boutique. At the start of the pandemic, there was as spike in sales as everyone was cooped up at home. 
• Erin drops a basket off on Zach and Whitney’s porch and then drives away and texts Whitney. The basket is full of snacks and other goodies. The card says that Erin and Carlin are going to provide free babysitting so Zach and Whitney can get away. “Erin makes the best basks, by the way, in the family,” says Zach.
• Nathan, Lawson, and Trace go horseback riding at the Bates ranch. Before the lock down, Nathan was flying to the Philippines every 45 days to do mission work. He has been in Arkansas training pilots but is now back in Tennessee visiting the family. 
• The other two guys notice a ring on Nathan’s ring finger. “It’s a promise ring,” says Nathan. “And I guess it means that I’m promised to somebody, and there is somebody in my life, but right now I’m not really talking about it to the public.
• “I think the time is coming for Nathan, and I’m going to leave the bachelor group and move on to bigger and better things," says Nathan.
• “I think that none of them are going to get married and I’m going to get married first,” says Judson. “Hey ladies, I’m still single.”

'Shelter In Bates'

Bringing Up Bates "Shelter In Bates"

• Lawson has been in Arkansas during the lockdown but decided to fly himself home for a visit with the family. Kelly has heard about the productivity of others during this time. She wants to accomplish an organizing project, so she asks Lawson to help her put together a new shelf to expand her pantry. 
• At Zach and Whitney’s house, Zach is still working as a police officer. When he returns home, he always makes sure to change and wash his hands before going near the kids.
• Carlin and Erin are unable to come over to the small warehouse in Whitney’s backyard, so Zach is taking on new duties in the boutique. “I thought I knew everything that a guy needed to know about girls’ dresses and girls’ style,” says Zach. “But there is so much more to know, I’ll just tell you.”
• At the Keilen home, Brandon is working from home as he usually does, but Michaela is now studying from home instead of attending in-person nursing classes.
• “…Not too much changed for me in a bad way,” says Brandon. “One thing changed in a really good way. Michaela started staying home to study, so that was improvement from my perspective.” In addition to working, Brandon has been taking an online video course to improve his skills.
• “I think every time I see somebody hurting, it deepens the passion for wanting to be in the field and help and make a difference,” says Michael, who is eager to finish her education and start working. “But definitely, the passion is growing seeing the need and the people who are hurting and need somebody to be there to care for them medically and comfort them at this time.”In Springdale, Arkansas, Jackson is working on a car for a friend. “It’s a lot of fun hanging with friends, but after a little while, I started missing home a lot,” he says. Meanwhile, Erin explains  the virus to Carson, who wants to pray for all the sick people every night.  Chad has been home and is enjoying time with the family. He and the kids are planting a garden.
• For his birthday, Jeb goes horseback riding at the Bates ranch with Judson, Lawson, and Trace. They also cook hotdogs over a bonfire. 
• “These are serious times,” says Lawson. “A lot of people facing things they haven’t faced before. I am so thankful for my family’s support system, how we come together and always lift each other up.”
• At the Stewart home, Carlin and Evan are busy cooking, exercising, and bonding with Layla. “It’s pretty crazy that we need a pandemic to make us learn to cook,” says Evan.