18 & Counting - Are they serious?

[LisaR]

So bored tonight and there isn't anything on. I came across a show on TLC called "18 & Counting." I assumed it was a show about the Duggers but it is a family called the Bates. Can someone explain why ALL of their kids are dressed alike? The boys have on white polo shirts and black pants and the girls have the exact same dress on. The teenagers are dressed like the toddlers. That is just totally bizarre to me. Is this considered normal for this family?

 

[mickaholic4077]

That must be a new family show. They have been featured on the Duggar show alot.

 

[Starbrite]

That must be a new family show. They have been featured on the Duggar show alot.

It is the Duggar's show....but they are visiting the Bates & helping build an addition on their house.

I assumed the dress was part of their religion as well as budget-friendly if they make their own clothes. The Duggar girls used to dress alike, but now they're usually in everyday clothes.

 

[dogodisney]

"18 Kids and Counting" is the show about the Duggers but the Bates are friends of theirs. The Duggers are helping to add on to their house as their family is getting to be as big as the Duggers. The Bates seem to be even more conservative than the Duggers.

 

[DVCLiz]

I think it's still the Duggars' show - the ads I've been seeing for this week's "18 and Counting" have been about the Duggars helping the Bateses enlarge their home.

I don't know about the dress code the Bateses follow, though. Do they share the same religious beliefs as the Duggars? Is it a modesty thing? I can see it being a feature of their religion if they choose a particular outfit and decide it is modest, unisex, etc. It would cut out the fashion angle entirely and make it much easier to dress everyone every day.

I think I'll go see if DD15 and DD20 will go for this...

 

[LisaR]

Now I see the Duggar's. I see they are fixing up the Bate's house. The dressing alike thing just seemed so bizarre. They went to the grocery store that way. I can't imagine many teens being comfortable with that but to each their own, I suppose.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I have watched it too and it's wild how they function with so many kids. I will say this though, the money from the show has not gone to their heads like it has to some other families. They are still shopping for bargains.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The Bates are friends of the Duggars.

When I first saw them on--they were all going to Silver Dollar City and their clothes have been made fun of ever since.

I honestly have no trouble with how they dress. The girls make their own clothes and they choose to dress that way. I think it is better than dressing like a pop tart. They dress innocent and I don't know why this offends so many people.

To each his or her own, right?

18 & Counting as others have said is the Duggars show. They have done something nice for the Bates (I am guessing in return for the cleanup they did for them after the ice storm.)

On a separate note--I was surprised when one of the Bates girls complained about paint colors being used.

 

[LisaR]

I decided to switch to Seinfeld. This is a show that makes much more sense to me!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I decided to switch to Seinfeld. This is a show that makes much more sense to me!

I am watching America's Got Talent.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Okay. I have seen the show where the Duggars are helping out the Bates. I just forgot that they were on tonight.(Did the Duggars stay at the Bates Motel????)

 

[java]

Is anyone watching the Wedding show?? I am sitting here planning my 12 year old's wedding.

No pressure.

 

[Buckalew11]

Is this the family fromTN? If so, I think they were visiting them and doing all this when the oldest Dgger boy and his wife announced the sex of their baby on the Today show.

 

[ksjayhawks]

It was mentioned on one show that one of the older Bates girls makes all of the dresses and that the bates girls like to dress alike. The ones with the peter pan style collars were a bit much, but they were in some the other night that weren't bad.

Don't think the Bates are as well off as the Duggars and I have to agree that the Duggars have not let the money go to their heads unlike parents on another tlc show!

 

[Kimberle]

I don't think the kids have a problem w/ their clothes as they are home schooled and have little exposure with other kids that are not of the same "belief". Their parents keep them sheltered.

 

[C.Ann]

I have watched it too and it's wild how they function with so many kids. I will say this though, the money from the show has not gone to their heads like it has to some other families. They are still shopping for bargains.

It was mentioned on one show that one of the older Bates girls makes all of the dresses and that the bates girls like to dress alike. The ones with the peter pan style collars were a bit much, but they were in some the other night that weren't bad.

Don't think the Bates are as well off as the Duggars and I have to agree that the Duggars have not let the money go to their heads unlike parents on another tlc show!

Exactly.. Nor do their shows center around product placements; flying off on trips to expensive/exotic locations; hair plugs; tummy tucks; flashy cars; million dollar homes made off of their childrens backs; and any other number of things..

They are a Christian family - always helping others; engaging in missionary work; spreading their religious beliefs to anyone who is interested; budgeting carefully - regardless of their current income level; and have always worked hard in the past to earn a living - without depending on a television series that centers around their children.. Quite a refreshing change to see a family working to accomplish their Christian goals - rather than working to obtain over-the-top material goods, expensive vacations, fancy "toys", and all types of "services" so they never have to lift a finger themselves....

 

[pweyl36]

Exactly.. Nor do their shows center around product placements; flying off on trips to expensive/exotic locations; hair plugs; tummy tucks; flashy cars; million dollar homes made off of their childrens backs; and any other number of things..

They are a Christian family - always helping others; engaging in missionary work; spreading their religious beliefs to anyone who is interested; budgeting carefully - regardless of their current income level; and have always worked hard in the past to earn a living - without depending on a television series that centers around their children.. Quite a refreshing change to see a family working to accomplish their Christian goals - rather than working to obtain over-the-top material goods, expensive vacations, fancy "toys", and all types of "services" so they never have to lift a finger themselves....

You said it sister! I have always liked the Duggars, I really dont think they live a sheltered life as much a people think. The older kids do lots of things on their own.

 

[joyjoy]

Yeah, I saw the show where one of the older girls was talking about their clothes. She said they like to match and having one pattern just makes the sewing that much simpler. I think simple is key to these people. They aren't as materialistic as ummm, some other large families.

And can I say this? I am amazed at how well behaved and composed the Duggar children are. Did y'all see that episode where Jim Bob took 3 or 4 of them to the dentist? One of the kids had to get a shot and a filliing and he just sat there so still and quiet. JB said they tried to teach their children self-control and to not make a big deal out of things. Like a SHOT in the mouth??? Wow. I kept thinking of that episode where the Gosselins went to the dentist and at least a couple of them screamed bloody murder when the dentist was just CLEANING their teeth. Yes, I know they were younger, but still. They seem very spoiled and out of control to me, especially compared to the Duggars.

 

[C.Ann]

You said it sister! I have always liked the Duggars, I really dont think they live a sheltered life as much a people think. The older kids do lots of things on their own.

Yeah, I saw the show where one of the older girls was talking about their clothes. She said they like to match and having one pattern just makes the sewing that much simpler. I think simple is key to these people. They aren't as materialistic as ummm, some other large families.

And can I say this? I am amazed at how well behaved and composed the Duggar children are. Did y'all see that episode where Jim Bob took 3 or 4 of them to the dentist? One of the kids had to get a shot and a filliing and he just sat there so still and quiet. JB said they tried to teach their children self-control and to not make a big deal out of things. Like a SHOT in the mouth??? Wow. I kept thinking of that episode where the Gosselins went to the dentist and at least a couple of them screamed bloody murder when the dentist was just CLEANING their teeth. Yes, I know they were younger, but still. They seem very spoiled and out of control to me, especially compared to the Duggars.

Let's just put it this way.. If I had a choice of being raised by the Duggars or the "other" family, the Duggars would win hands down!

 

[DWGal210]

Amen, CAnn! I 1,000% agree with you. It seems they are taking the best from being on the show, and not letting the worst parts of it get to them.

With how they manage their finances, and how they are still shopping for bargains, living frugally, etc I would think that in 10 years, they will be MUCH better off financiall than another TLC family I can think of.... To the Duggars, it appears that they think of the money from their show as a blessing to their family's security, and perhaps as a way to evangelize to others without being "over the top"; with the other family, it has been clear to me (at least) that they saw their show as a meal ticket, a free ride, Mommy and Daddy never have to work again. And we wonder why one family is still happy, by all accounts, and the other is on every tabloid day in and day out. Hmmm, intersesting!