18 & Counting - Are they serious?

[ORMom2Four]

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....

Oh dear, the product placements have begun. Did anyone catch the show last night, the one where they go to the baseball game? The first few minutes of the show have Mama Duggar talking about how important it is for them to keep their floor clean. They zoom in on the product they are promoting as she and an older daughter clean the floor with the product, pull off the cleaning pad and notice how much dirt it picked up.

 

[jessily]

Oh dear, the product placements have begun. Did anyone catch the show last night, the one where they go to the baseball game? The first few minutes of the show have Mama Duggar talking about how important it is for them to keep their floor clean. They zoom in on the product they are promoting as she and an older daughter clean the floor with the product, pull off the cleaning pad and notice how much dirt it picked up.

I laughed outloud when I saw that. The product placement is so blatant it's ridiculous. I remember them doing that last season too. There was one episode where Jim Bob and the older boys were cleaning the bathroom and they were holding up the product and talking about it, just like an infommercial.

I like the Duggers. They seem so happy, well adjusted, and willing to help others. While their lifestyle is obviously not for everyone, I think they set a great example of how a family can love one another and help others. It's refreshing.

 

[Jeafl]

I've never seen the show about the Duggers, but I was flipping channels and I saw something about the Duggers helping this Bates family build an addition on their house. I almost fell off the couch when I saw the Bates have like 17 kids and currrently live in a 1000 SQ. FT. HOUSE!!! The voiceover guy said it came out to about 80 sq. ft. per person! The boys all sleep in an attic bedroom that is not heated or airconditioned properly so they are hoping this addition helps change that.

I cannot even begin to imagine 19 people living in a house that small. I could never do it.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

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.

Yes, they were helping with an addition.

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.

Have to agree 100% Joyjoy.....

I think we are no longer used to people living simple & actually getting along.

 

[DMRick]

I laughed outloud when I saw that. The product placement is so blatant it's ridiculous. I remember them doing that last season too. There was one episode where Jim Bob and the older boys were cleaning the bathroom and they were holding up the product and talking about it, just like an infommercial.

I like the Duggers. They seem so happy, well adjusted, and willing to help others. While their lifestyle is obviously not for everyone, I think they set a great example of how a family can love one another and help others. It's refreshing.

They have had placements right from the begining. Obviously their placements are different from other shows, since they live differently. Even with their real estate investments and careful living, I assume it's not inexpensive to feed/support that size of a crew. They still have less children than my grandparents had..I don't think they have time to catch up LOL.

I agree they seem like a nice family. I hope the kids do get to get out and do the things they have talked about on the show (their hopes and dreams)..going to college and having careers. I also hope, just like I hope with that other show, that some of the money is going into the kids accounts, since the amount of kids is what makes us watch the show. I do believe there is a lot of control in that family, but the kids know nothing different and seem to be OK with it. There have been several threads in the past on this family, several talking about how the mom trains the kids from when they were very young..toddlers, and the older kids taking on one of the younger (which is what they have done for years in large families, including my mom and all her brother and sisters).

 

[Saphire]

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.

It's funny, I was at the mall last night and thought the same thing. All the teen girls dressed exactly alike! And they even had the same tramp stamps and belly rings! Yeah, they may think they are being 'different', but they are all conformists.

The Duggar and Bates families may conform within their own families, but they are the real 'radicals' in our society.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Another thing to keep in mind is that they are very likely "dressing up" for the camera. If you were told that a national TV network was coming to film your family and life for the day would you let your small kids pick their own clothes? Mine would find whatever they could off the floor! You would be scouring the closets for something nice and clean and that will look well on camera. Any of you have photos of you and your siblings as children or maybe of your own kids in matching or coordinating outfits? I do! Ever had a family photos with everyone in jeans and a white shirt, or with everyone in a denim shirt? Been on a cruise and bought coordinating outfits?

I am sure that they are dressing up for the cameras by wearing matching outfits. It also helps when going out with a large family if you are all dressed similar in case someone gets lost-- did/does your child's preschool/elementary school/camp require a specific tshirt or bandanna for field trips? Ours does. Look around here at the posts on the Trip Report boards of people that like matching shirts for the family or all wear the same color each day.

And really what you see them wearing is not much different from a school uniform. Eliminates the hassel of 17 kids deciding what they will wear every day and having any problems because of it.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

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.

Nope, Josh and anna were there. It was funny because they got a small bedroom off the side of the Bates house but you had to go through that room to get to the one bathroom so there was constant traffic.

The Wilson family was also there, who have 9 kids. They helped build the Duggar house.

My favorite part of the Bates/Duggar show was when Papa Bates (can't remember his name) said "the Duggars will be here at 10 but they are on Duggar time so that could mean 12 or it could mean 2". LOL That is soooo us! I think we have a big family with 4 kids, or at least we attract a lot of attention due to our family size, but we are late for EVERYTHING! It's nice to see that other families have the same issue of getting everyone moving in the same direction at the same time.

Their house is crazy, but normal, at least for us. There is always noise and chaos and free play. I don't see much free play time on the "other show", it's too structured.

I have also become a firm believer in Jim Bob's saying of never pay full price for anything. DH and I had to buy a new car last week and DH is haggling with the dealer. I was sitting there thinking Jim Bob would be so proud, we got the deal to come down almost $10,000 on the car!

 

[DMRick]

Any of you have photos of you and your siblings as children or maybe of your own kids in matching or coordinating outfits? I do! Ever had a family photos with everyone in jeans and a white shirt, or with .

Especially when our kids were very young. All our Disney trips have the kids (and mom and dad LOL) in matching clothes..easier to find them and describe them. I used to make all our t-shirts, so it was easy to make them match.

(PS: Love your kitties)

 

[piglet50]

i love to watch the duggars. they seem to enjoy each other so much. i'm impressed with how well behaved the children are. they're not perfect but they seem respectful of their parents and each other. there seems to be a lot of love in the family. i think it's cool that they're helping the other family enlarge their home.

 

[laurie31]

I am sure that they are dressing up for the cameras by wearing matching outfits. It also helps when going out with a large family if you are all dressed similar in case someone gets lost-- did/does your child's preschool/elementary school/camp require a specific tshirt or bandanna for field trips? Ours does. Look around here at the posts on the Trip Report boards of people that like matching shirts for the family or all wear the same color each day.

And really what you see them wearing is not much different from a school uniform. Eliminates the hassel of 17 kids deciding what they will wear every day and having any problems because of it.

I don't think so. I saw a family like this in Real Life, back in 2002 in Plymouth, Massachusettes. All the girls wore long green dresses with a small floral print. They spoke with northern accents so I don't think I somehow met up with the Bates family before their brush with TLC - lol. I have also seen several Mennonite families (smaller in number of kids, but still very very conservative) with their children dressed like this. It's just considered modest and simple, as other posters have said.

I also think the show is refreshing. The parents obviously love each other (aside from the "proof" of 18 kids - they talk to each other with respect and show each other physical affection...unlike...well, you know) and the children aren't spoiled and whiny. I was really impressed to see the teenaged daughters laying tile. We did that last summer, and it is serious work. I do well to get my DDs to load the dishwasher - lol.

 

[LisaR]

OP here. I really can't comment on the show because I know very little about the Duggar family and absolutely nothing about the Bates family. I watched maybe 15 minutes of the show last night and found it odd and boring so I changed the channel. I am not judging them. They can all wear whatever they want to. If their happy, that is all that matters.

However, I can not imagine my teen daughter wanting to wear the identical outfit that her toddler nieces wear to the grocery store. A family picture? Sure. But to the grocery store? Even if I offered to pay her, she wouldn't do it. So the whole thing struck me as odd. Again, not my life but I felt the need to comment on it last night.

Maybe it was simply for the show and they don't dress alike normally or maybe it is for simplicity sake. I won't ever find out because the show was just not my cup of tea.

As for the person that commented that all the teen girls in the mall dress alike and they have "tramp stamps" and "belly rings" and are all conformists, all I can say is maybe that is how it is in your area but that isn't the case everywhere. My teen daughter wears Bermuda shorts or jeans. The only thing pierced are her ears and there aren't any "tramp stamps" to be found. Not ever teen in our society presents this image and most don't even have a TV show.

 

[rie'smom]

I've never seen the show about the Duggers, but I was flipping channels and I saw something about the Duggers helping this Bates family build an addition on their house. I almost fell off the couch when I saw the Bates have like 17 kids and currrently live in a 1000 SQ. FT. HOUSE!!! The voiceover guy said it came out to about 80 sq. ft. per person! The boys all sleep in an attic bedroom that is not heated or airconditioned properly so they are hoping this addition helps change that.

I cannot even begin to imagine 19 people living in a house that small. I could never do it.

There's no way we could live with 19 people in 1000 sq. ft.
When our teenager asks a friend to travel with us, we have to get connecting rooms or a suite.Those areas are more than 700 sq ft for 4 people.



I do like the Duggars. They are a very sweet family.

 

[C.Ann]

However, I can not imagine my teen daughter wanting to wear the identical outfit that her toddler nieces wear to the grocery store. A family picture? Sure. But to the grocery store? Even if I offered to pay her, she wouldn't do it. So the whole thing struck me as odd. Again, not my life but I felt the need to comment on it last night..

But for them, it's a choice - not something they have been forced to do by their parents.. I remember seeing an episode where the Bates girls were asked why they all dress the same and they said it was because they enjoyed doing so - as well as making the dresses themselves..

Definitely not a lifestyle for everyone, but the Duggars and the Bates have a firm grasp on what is really important in life - that happiness can be obtained without oodles of money - and have done a remarkable job of passing that insight along to their children..

 

[LisaR]

But for them, it's a choice - not something they have been forced to do by their parents.. I remember seeing an episode where the Bates girls were asked why they all dress the same and they said it was because they enjoyed doing so - as well as making the dresses themselves..

Definitely not a lifestyle for everyone, but the Duggars and the Bates have a firm grasp on what is really important in life - that happiness can be obtained without oodles of money - and have done a remarkable job of passing that insight along to their children..

I said I found it strange/odd that a teen would willingly do that. I don't know if it is their choice to dress that way or not. I know nothing about the show except the 15 minutes I saw. My first impressions would fall along the lines of brainwashing or for the cameras but that was just my first impression. Since I don't ever intend on watching the show again, I will take your word that they dress alike because they really want to.

I've managed to pass on to my children that they don't need "oodles of money" to be happy and I did it all without cameras following us around 24/7. I am not a fan of reality shows and think they should all go away. But that is just me. I am thankful for my remote control.

 

[C.Ann]

I said I found it strange/odd that a teen would willingly do that. I don't know if it is their choice to dress that way or not. I know nothing about the show except the 15 minutes I saw. My first impressions would fall along the lines of brainwashing or for the cameras but that was just my first impression. Since I don't ever intend on watching the show again, I will take your word that they dress alike because they really want to.

I've managed to pass on to my children that they don't need "oodles of money" to be happy and I did it all without cameras following us around 24/7. I am not a fan of reality shows and think they should all go away. But that is just me. I am thankful for my remote control.

Although I'm repeating what one of the Bates DD's actually said, the term "brainwashing" is interesting.. If we were to turn that around, the Duggars/Bates families may view us (general "us") as brainwashing our children as well - just in a different manner..

I also don't think either family has cameras following them around 24/7 to prove to their children that they don't need oodles of money to be happy, but rather as an opportunity for these families to convey that message to the viewers.. The content of the Duggar's show is so dramatically different than other reality shows it's like night and day.. They're delivering a message about their beliefs; their values; the concept that working hard for what one wants/needs (as opposed to someone just hand it to them) is the road they have chosen for the happiness their family feels.. They're delivering spiritual and moral lessons.. I'll never forget the episodes when Jim Bob Duggars dad had come to live with them - when he was dying of cancer.. He was constantly surrounded by love, caring, faith, and prayer - exactly what you would expect from the Duggar family.. It comes as natural to them as breathing..

As long as their show remains a message of love, hope, faith, hard work, and respect, I will continue to watch it and support it.. Should the time ever come that it turns into Jon & Kate Plus 8, I will not only stop watching, but I'll do whatever I can to encourage TLC and the sponsors to get it off the air..

I could say a lot more about what the Duggars and the Bates are really all about - and what the message is that they are trying to get out to the public - but unfortunately, that's a topic we can no longer discuss on the DIS..

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I cried and cried when Grandpa Duggar died, the Bates family was there when it happened too. They were cutting down the trees after the big ice storm. Jim Bob looked so lost but the families really rallied around him and I know their Faith helped him get through the pain. I wonder if Grandma Duggar still lives with them.

I would actually love to spend some time with the Duggars just to really grasp how they live first hand. Other then the fact that they are late going anywhere, they really work well together to get things accomplished.

 

[C.Ann]

I cried and cried when Grandpa Duggar died, the Bates family was there when it happened too. They were cutting down the trees after the big ice storm. Jim Bob looked so lost but the families really rallied around him and I know their Faith helped him get through the pain. I wonder if Grandma Duggar still lives with them.

I would actually love to spend some time with the Duggars just to really grasp how they live first hand. Other then the fact that they are late going anywhere, they really work well together to get things accomplished.

Wasn't it sad? But again, the family rose to the occasion.. Just imagine having all of those children - and still having the love and compassion to take in a dying grandpa taking on all of the extra work involved in his care during his final weeks.. What a wonderful example to set for their children..

I think it would be neat to spend time with them as well.. They exhibit so many of the values that are missing in todays society.. We could both probably learn a thing or two..

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if they let people come in to learn about how to raise a family that size.

the only thing that really bugs me is the buying of used shoes. Shoes adjust to the shape of the wearers foot and the kids might have messed up feet when they are adults.
I know my mom does, my Grandma always bought her shoes and her brothers shoes at the thrift store and my mom has terrible feet now.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

We could both probably learn a thing or two..

I want my kids to learn something about respect and kindness. They are good and nice to other people, please, thank you, holding the door, etc. But they are horrible to each other! I don't see that in the Duggar household.