Duggars make 17!

[barkley]

The older sibling who cracks first and writes the tell-all book will be in high cotton! And the younger siblings'll be able to earn college money by starring in the made-for-Lifetime-TV movie.

Just joking, folks!

they won't need to fund their own college educations-if everything is structured under the 'church' then what little income they likely earmark as personal (so they can take advantage of those child credits and such) should get wiped out for consideration given the number of people in the household.

those kids will likely qualify for the same free or reduced tuition programs the state offers to public assistance clients. at bare minimum you can bet they will qualify for allot of grants.

 

[barkley]

i had a co-worker who was an only child. he always longed for siblings to play with. he and his wife decided to have as many children as possible-last i heard she was close to 40 and had just had #11. i recall once overhearing him bragging to someone about how 'my kids will never lack for someone to play with', to which his eldest daughter (who was standing nearby and had heard this statement over and over in her life) replied 'yeah, dad the only thing we lack is anytime to play-i'm 17 and i've done nothing but change diapers, bathe babies, feed babies, rock babies and clean up after babies since i was 4-when exactly do i get to play?'

 

[Pigeon]

The Duggars are absolutely repulsive in just about every way I can think of.

 

[Smileybug]

i had a co-worker who was an only child. he always longed for siblings to play with. he and his wife decided to have as many children as possible-last i heard she was close to 40 and had just had #11. i recall once overhearing him bragging to someone about how 'my kids will never lack for someone to play with', to which his eldest daughter (who was standing nearby and had heard this statement over and over in her life) replied 'yeah, dad the only thing we lack is anytime to play-i'm 17 and i've done nothing but change diapers, bathe babies, feed babies, rock babies and clean up after babies since i was 4-when exactly do i get to play?'

Wow...

 

[cardaway]

As for the big family thing--this thread is really getting me to wondering if my older sisters all resent me secretly! I am the youngest of 8 and when I was 14 days old, my parents went to Vegas for a weekend. They left me in the care of my older sibs. In kindergarten they left me and my 10 year old sister in the care of my 18 and 16 year old sibs. They all seem to like me

I'm imagine your siblings like and love you just as much as you love them. I even think the Duggar kids will always like and love their siblings just like any other family.

But this is another temporary example (only during a trip) and in a family, that while large, still has HALF the number of kids the Duggars have. Even if mommy Duggar tried to take care of all the younger ones by herself, while letting the olderkids kids go out and have normal lives, it would be impossbile without actually stopping time.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Where they the ones that were all on the baseball team??
See I don't have so much of a problem with those people.. at least they go out and do things and wear normal clothes and don't take care of the younger kids like the mother should be doing. I think if I'm correct, she had all boys. Still it's wierd to have so many kids, but they don't seem like they are the culty sorta people like the Duggars.

Ya know.. I'm suprised with how religious they are, that they allow their life to be filmed on TV.
Did you see that episode when they had the interior designer come in to set up their new house. She was dressed all 'normal' with jeans and high heeled boots. I thought Mrs duggar was gonna pass out when she opened up the door and saw her.

Yup thats them!!! The baseball team.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

I think it was on the original show that she and Jim BOB said that when they got married she was on the pill. The got off the pill and tried to have a baby and had a miscarriage. Well they blamed the miscarriage on the fact that they used birth control. (I'm not lying, this was on the show!) So from then on they vowed to never use B/C.
Well, that makes me feel really bad, cause I had 2 miscarriages and I wasn't on b/c in forever.. Is that the cause of my m/c's??? NO!!

http://www.duggarfamily.com/faq.html
oh geesh...

 

[6TimeMomma]

All I know is - I have 6 kids and when I call the youngest - I literally go down the list of names before I get to his. My kids are Rick, Steve, Julia, Olivia, Isabel and Luke. So when calling Luke - it sounds more like "Ri, Ste, Jul, Liv, Is -LUKE!" I can't imagine what calling their youngest is like!

Than again don't they have all "J" names? So I guess it just sounds like a massive stutter!

LOL!! I so do that too!!

 

[lovetoscrap]

But that's the thing! They don't GO to church.. The "church" is their house! I don't think they are allowed to go to camp. They aren't allowed to get dirty!
I'll never forget, one of the last shows I saw of them, one of the little boys was dragging in the huge garbage can. that was his job. I felt horribly bad, he was only 5 years old!!! Kids should be playing, especially that young, not taking out and in the garbage!!

They have others in their church, so they do meet others. And they do go to camp, they have church camps they attend. I am not sure why you think they don't get dirty? If my kids were on National TV I would sure be trying to keep them as clean as I could also!


My 7 year old brings in the trash can every week too--she wants to. She thinks it is fun. It only takes a few minutes out of her week and she has plenty of time to play. My 11 year old is expected to empty the dishwasher and help with the family laundry and clean bathrooms. The 7 year old also sets the table, puts away laundry, helps clean toilets and empty trash cans. They also usually get their own breakfast and their own lunch. AND when they play outside I expect my older one to keep an eye on the younger one, and sometime she helps her pick out her clothes or get her bath. Call CPS! My kids have no childhood because they have to do chores and contribute to the family!

I think that everyone needs to remember that ALL you really know about this family is from a few hours on TV. Filming the kids out playing for hours does not make good TV. Showing them all fighting or wrestling around did not fit the "goal" of what the show was supposed to show--a very positive, upliftine, organized large family. ``` Just because you saw it on TV or read it on the Internet really does not make it true

And a special thanks to all of you that belittled my life goal of becoming a teacher (which I did) and wife and mother (which I did and am completely happy with). I was raised by a feminist mother and went to public school. Yeah, she was really disappointed with me when I choose to get an education degree too. And when I quit to become a SAHM she cried. She still asks constantnly when I will go back to work (NEVER I hope). Don't you just HATE it when those darn kids rebel!


The biggest issue here is that you are all approaching this with YOUR world view. This family does not share your world view. Unless you have lived in their world, or experienced it then you have no real idea what it is like. I have homeschooled (yep, that about killed my mom ) I lived in an area with many Ultra conservative Christians that share many of the same values that the Duggars do. I was friendly with many. While none had that many kids, several did have large families. Many had very long hair and wore conservative dresses just as the Duggars do. They do believe in teaching their girls about the "woman's role" in the family. There are special homeschool curriculum's out there for that. Just because it doesn't fit YOUR idea of normal doesnt' mean it is wrong. Not everyone wants to be a feminist. Not everyone wants to be an engineer. Heck, most think a lot of us on the DIS are FREAKS because of our love of Disney.

They know they are not "normal". They don't want to be normal--or worldly as they call it. Some choose to completely shelter their children from all that is in the world on farms or religious compounds and never socialize with the outside world. The Duggars are not like that. They are not "shocked" by wordly people that dress in jeans, they go to Disneyworld and to the store, to homeschooing conventions and restaurants and other public places. Nor do they judge them. They just do not live their lives that way. They have their own old fashioned Biblical views about how they want to dress, have a family and how they want to live their lives. I have never heard them say that they will require their kids to live on their land, they just have that opportunity if they wish.


They realize that they are an "oddity" --they were already well known among the Internet homeschooling community before the TV shows--and I think they hoped that by going on TV they could help others see that their life is a positive thing and as a means of sharing their faith. Personally I prefer that to someone lecturing me about my wine purchase in the grocery store or asking me in a parking lot if I "know Jesus" or ringing my doorbell to convert me at home.

I haven't seen anything that says that they DON'T socialize with others through sport teams or lessons or classes. Just because they didn't show it in a TV show doesn't mean it doesn't happen. The homeschooling world offers many opportunites to meet all different people, and where we were the Ultra conservatives didn't have any problems being friends with us, jeans and shorts wearing Methodists!

 

[LadyBears]

I have not done maternity care in a long time, but my recollection is that anything after 4 pregnancies is high risk because of the stretching the uterus has gone thru.
I did see their show when they announced that she was pregnant with baby number 17. It showed they had to search for a new doctor because their old one apparently had told them that getting pregnant again was too high risk for him to deal with. They also mentioned that Mrs. Duggar had a C-section during a previous pregnancy and was intent on having a natural birth this time instead of a C-section (can't put in the 'v' word for where the birth comes from, so I have to settle for 'natural'). Doing that would be so far above high risk that you probably can't even figure the odds of her uterus rupturing during labor.

I guess her clown car must be a Toyota - it is possible (maybe not healthy, but definitely possible) for it to keep on running for a few more miles -

Mothers Day Trivia: Highest Recorded Number of Children
The highest officially recorded number of children born to one mother is 69, to the first wife of Feodor Vassilyev (1707-1782) of Shuya, Russia. Between 1725 and 1765, in a total of 27 confinements, she gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets. 67 of them survived infancy.

Mothers Day Trivia: Highest Number of Children in Modern Times
The modern world record for giving birth is held by Leontina Albina from San Antonio, Chile. Leontina claims to be the mother of 64 children, of which only 55 of them are documented. She is listed in the 1999 Guinness World Records but dropped from later editions.


That being said, I too think this is a cult family sponging off the rest of us in the name of God. I don't think they are parents - they are 2 "adults" who are in charge of a bunch of babysitters. More like bosses & employees instead of parents & children.

They remind me of the Manson family - only the Duggars don't murder for money, they use tax breaks instead.

 

[6TimeMomma]

They have others in their church, so they do meet others. And they do go to camp, they have church camps they attend. I am not sure why you think they don't get dirty? If my kids were on National TV I would sure be trying to keep them as clean as I could also!


My 7 year old brings in the trash can every week too--she wants to. She thinks it is fun. It only takes a few minutes out of her week and she has plenty of time to play. My 11 year old is expected to empty the dishwasher and help with the family laundry and clean bathrooms. The 7 year old also sets the table, puts away laundry, helps clean toilets and empty trash cans. They also usually get their own breakfast and their own lunch. AND when they play outside I expect my older one to keep an eye on the younger one, and sometime she helps her pick out her clothes or get her bath. Call CPS! My kids have no childhood because they have to do chores and contribute to the family!

I think that everyone needs to remember that ALL you really know about this family is from a few hours on TV. Filming the kids out playing for hours does not make good TV. Showing them all fighting or wrestling around did not fit the "goal" of what the show was supposed to show--a very positive, upliftine, organized large family. ``` Just because you saw it on TV or read it on the Internet really does not make it true

And a special thanks to all of you that belittled my life goal of becoming a teacher (which I did) and wife and mother (which I did and am completely happy with). I was raised by a feminist mother and went to public school. Yeah, she was really disappointed with me when I choose to get an education degree too. And when I quit to become a SAHM she cried. She still asks constantnly when I will go back to work (NEVER I hope). Don't you just HATE it when those darn kids rebel!


The biggest issue here is that you are all approaching this with YOUR world view. This family does not share your world view. Unless you have lived in their world, or experienced it then you have no real idea what it is like. I have homeschooled (yep, that about killed my mom ) I lived in an area with many Ultra conservative Christians that share many of the same values that the Duggars do. I was friendly with many. While none had that many kids, several did have large families. Many had very long hair and wore conservative dresses just as the Duggars do. They do believe in teaching their girls about the "woman's role" in the family. There are special homeschool curriculum's out there for that. Just because it doesn't fit YOUR idea of normal doesnt' mean it is wrong. Not everyone wants to be a feminist. Not everyone wants to be an engineer. Heck, most think a lot of us on the DIS are FREAKS because of our love of Disney.

They know they are not "normal". They don't want to be normal--or worldly as they call it. Some choose to completely shelter their children from all that is in the world on farms or religious compounds and never socialize with the outside world. The Duggars are not like that. They are not "shocked" by wordly people that dress in jeans, they go to Disneyworld and to the store, to homeschooing conventions and restaurants and other public places. Nor do they judge them. They just do not live their lives that way. They have their own old fashioned Biblical views about how they want to dress, have a family and how they want to live their lives. I have never heard them say that they will require their kids to live on their land, they just have that opportunity if they wish.


They realize that they are an "oddity" --they were already well known among the Internet homeschooling community before the TV shows--and I think they hoped that by going on TV they could help others see that their life is a positive thing and as a means of sharing their faith. Personally I prefer that to someone lecturing me about my wine purchase in the grocery store or asking me in a parking lot if I "know Jesus" or ringing my doorbell to convert me at home.

I haven't seen anything that says that they DON'T socialize with others through sport teams or lessons or classes. Just because they didn't show it in a TV show doesn't mean it doesn't happen. The homeschooling world offers many opportunites to meet all different people, and where we were the Ultra conservatives didn't have any problems being friends with us, jeans and shorts wearing Methodists!

Just have to interupt this thread to make a comment on lovetoscrap's sig because EVERY time I see your name, yup, I think of the OTHER thing. Just never wanted to say that, but now that you have, I can confess!!

 

[pigletgirl]

Ok, so I just did the math, if each of their kids had 6 children themselves, then they would have 102 grandchildren. Their names will all start with the letter E.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

The bolding is mine
The Duggars are not the family with the court reporting company. That is another family with 15 children(I believe) that TLC featured. I believe their name was Arndt.

You're right. I get the mega families mixed up.

 

[cardaway]

I don't think they are parents - they are 2 "adults" who are in charge of a bunch of babysitters. More like bosses & employees instead of parents & children.

Agreed. That FAQ on their site reads like a bunch of job descriptions.

 

[freckles and boo]

They have others in their church, so they do meet others. And they do go to camp, they have church camps they attend. I am not sure why you think they don't get dirty? If my kids were on National TV I would sure be trying to keep them as clean as I could also!


My 7 year old brings in the trash can every week too--she wants to. She thinks it is fun. It only takes a few minutes out of her week and she has plenty of time to play. My 11 year old is expected to empty the dishwasher and help with the family laundry and clean bathrooms. The 7 year old also sets the table, puts away laundry, helps clean toilets and empty trash cans. They also usually get their own breakfast and their own lunch. AND when they play outside I expect my older one to keep an eye on the younger one, and sometime she helps her pick out her clothes or get her bath. Call CPS! My kids have no childhood because they have to do chores and contribute to the family!

I think that everyone needs to remember that ALL you really know about this family is from a few hours on TV. Filming the kids out playing for hours does not make good TV. Showing them all fighting or wrestling around did not fit the "goal" of what the show was supposed to show--a very positive, upliftine, organized large family. ``` Just because you saw it on TV or read it on the Internet really does not make it true

And a special thanks to all of you that belittled my life goal of becoming a teacher (which I did) and wife and mother (which I did and am completely happy with). I was raised by a feminist mother and went to public school. Yeah, she was really disappointed with me when I choose to get an education degree too. And when I quit to become a SAHM she cried. She still asks constantnly when I will go back to work (NEVER I hope). Don't you just HATE it when those darn kids rebel!


The biggest issue here is that you are all approaching this with YOUR world view. This family does not share your world view. Unless you have lived in their world, or experienced it then you have no real idea what it is like. I have homeschooled (yep, that about killed my mom ) I lived in an area with many Ultra conservative Christians that share many of the same values that the Duggars do. I was friendly with many. While none had that many kids, several did have large families. Many had very long hair and wore conservative dresses just as the Duggars do. They do believe in teaching their girls about the "woman's role" in the family. There are special homeschool curriculum's out there for that. Just because it doesn't fit YOUR idea of normal doesnt' mean it is wrong. Not everyone wants to be a feminist. Not everyone wants to be an engineer. Heck, most think a lot of us on the DIS are FREAKS because of our love of Disney.

They know they are not "normal". They don't want to be normal--or worldly as they call it. Some choose to completely shelter their children from all that is in the world on farms or religious compounds and never socialize with the outside world. The Duggars are not like that. They are not "shocked" by wordly people that dress in jeans, they go to Disneyworld and to the store, to homeschooing conventions and restaurants and other public places. Nor do they judge them. They just do not live their lives that way. They have their own old fashioned Biblical views about how they want to dress, have a family and how they want to live their lives. I have never heard them say that they will require their kids to live on their land, they just have that opportunity if they wish.


They realize that they are an "oddity" --they were already well known among the Internet homeschooling community before the TV shows--and I think they hoped that by going on TV they could help others see that their life is a positive thing and as a means of sharing their faith. Personally I prefer that to someone lecturing me about my wine purchase in the grocery store or asking me in a parking lot if I "know Jesus" or ringing my doorbell to convert me at home.

I haven't seen anything that says that they DON'T socialize with others through sport teams or lessons or classes. Just because they didn't show it in a TV show doesn't mean it doesn't happen. The homeschooling world offers many opportunites to meet all different people, and where we were the Ultra conservatives didn't have any problems being friends with us, jeans and shorts wearing Methodists!

I praise my children's teachers almost daily. Ask my sister - she is probably sick of hearing about them. Nobody belittled your goal of becoming a teacher. Where on earth did you get that? Maybe your mother had a problem with it but I don't and I don't recall anyone else bashing teachers either.

I also completely disagree with your use of the word feminist. Why is a woman who chooses something other than a traditional role a feminist? You made a choice to pursue teaching - others choose to pursue engineering or law enforcement or medicine. All are noble careers that in no way conflict with "family values". Those choices aren't available to girls whose "world view" is limited. They don't have the option of actually choosing to be a wife and mother because that is the only option on the table. That is why these people are not saintly to me.

 

[chobie]

And a special thanks to all of you that belittled my life goal of becoming a teacher (which I did) and wife and mother (which I did and am completely happy with). I was raised by a feminist mother and went to public school. Yeah, she was really disappointed with me when I choose to get an education degree too. And when I quit to become a SAHM she cried. She still asks constantnly when I will go back to work (NEVER I hope). Don't you just HATE it when those darn kids rebel!

Who belittled your choices?

I was a SAHM for 11 years. My husband is a teacher. I am a feminist. But I
think trying to limit your children's career choices by only exposing them to a few is unfair to those kids.

Yes, they should be able to raise kids however the want. But since part of their "traditional" lifestyle is pimping the kids on tv, I am free to opine just as I am for any other tv show.

Just saw the post above me: well said Freckles and Boo.

 

[freckles and boo]

.

Just saw the post above me: well said Freckles and Boo.

Thanks. I am feeling more articulate than usual at the moment but I am sure it is just a passing phase. I will be my usual mumbling self before the evening is over.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think some posters may be misled when it comes to the chore thing. My kids all pitch in around our house. We are a family and watch out for each other. We are a team. I DO NOT however make my oldest raise my youngest. I also am not waiting to assign all our laundry and cooking duties to my dd when she turns 7 (or any age for that matter!) I think it is important to teach children to be independant and they should all learn domestic skills (boys included) but I do not think that should be the basis for everything they do. At 9 or 10 they should not be planning what they will make for dinner each day as soon as they get up.They have plenty of years for that when they grow up. The impression that the TV show gives is that the kids are raising the kids. I don't care what anyone says that is wrong. Those kids are being deprived of being kids. It's great to be organized, but when do those kids get a break?!!! I also have to wonder what Michelle does when she is pregnant and not feeling well. Although I suppose it doesn't matter since the kids are all assigned a "buddy" (AKA parent). I have no problem with big families at all. In fact I think it is great. I do however have a problem with people "breeding" just for the sake of it and not being an actual parent. Abusive? I don't know. Sad is more the way I feel about it.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Who belittled your choices?

Agreed. Shall we all meet back here in twenty years to see if any of the girls made it to college and pursued microbiology or physics or engineering? I hope so, but I doubt it will happen.

but not nursing, midwifery or teaching?

No, the worst is not exposing/encouraging the girls to pursue careers other than midwife or teacher.

Yeah, that wasn't insulting to us teachers or to midwives.

I agree. Rather than encouraging the girls to persue careers that they have an aptitude for, or a true interest in, they are sending them down a narrow path that allows them no options and basically indentures them to whatever man is chosen for them to marry.

Anne

you mean the aforementioned nursing, midwifery, and teaching? Gosh, I never realized I was indentured until now.

The girls are being encouraged to pursue a career that they know would be "acceptable," and know to not even consider any career that they know wouldn't be acceptable for women to work in by their father. Frankly I think he'd be just as happy to marry them off and have them start making babies in a house built on his property as soon as they are 18.

Anne

You asked why I felt that some had belittled the choice to either become a teacher or become a wife and mother??????



I also remind you that you are making these judgments based on several hours of HEAVILY edited television. You have no real idea about the hopes and dreams of these children and this family and what their plans are. It is very possible that some of the girls will go on to become doctors and lawyers and scientists. Maybe some of the boys will be teachers, maybe they will all be farmers, or go into real estate. Or become fire fighters. We just have no idea and only time will tell.

 

[bigmerle1966]

And, how the heck did they come up with names like Jinger and Joy-Anna before going the obvious route of Jennifer??

I don't know but there are plenty of nice J names for girls out there. For example (looked up baby names, some may be the girls names, didn't feel like going to look for them )

Jacqueline
Jane
Janet
Janette
Janice
Janine
Janna
Jean
Jeanine
Jenna
Jennifer
Jessica
Jillian
Joanna
Jocelyn
Jody
Jolene
Jordan
Josephine
Joyce
Julia
Julianne
Juliette