Duggars make 17!

[legalsea]

Mom2mek: great post! My feelings exactly! I wish more families were like these people.

Again, while growing up my best friend's family had ten children. None were fat. All were respectful towards adults. All had chores to do at home. All did well in school, and almost all (my friend was the exception!) went to college on scholarships. Two are medical doctors, while the others are successful in their various endeavors. Many have multiple children (but none have decided to have 10). All still live in the Fort Worth area.

I would rather see parents bring up 10 (or even 17) well-adjusted children, than 1 or 2 brats.

 

[minnieandme]

I have a couple of comments about this family:

1. Having that many children is not good for any woman's body. She's been pregnant for so long, her body probably doesn't know how to react to an empty uterus. Even animals that are over breed will eventually have complications. I know what it's like to not be able to see your feet for that last 2-3 months of your pregnancy. Michelle probably can't identify her feet anymore.

2. I would love to see what the kids lives will be like in 5-10 years from now. Will they move away, will they get married, how many kids will they have, will they have a weekly appt at the psychiatrist's office etc.

3. It's not normal for a young girl to be happy about getting new washing machines and dryers.

4. Someone PLEASE do something to Michelle's hair. Just give me 5 minutes and a pair of scissors. She can at least donate to locks of love. I'm sure they can make like 3 wigs with her hair.

5. Will someone please tell Michelle that we are now in 2007 and to please dress herself and her girls in clothes that are more in time. She seems to be stuck in the 80's with those dresses she makes. Get some new material and a new pattern.

6. It's time her and DH get a new hobby. With all those kids, how do you find the time.

I'm stepping off my soap box now.

 

[cardaway]

Exactly! A lot of cynical and insecure people.

Well isn't that special. The people saying things about the Duggars aren't saying anything about you, why the need to rip on them?

 

[meandtheguys2]

People have children taken away form them all the time, so yes, some ways are indeed wrong. I would ove to see a couple of these kids let free from their jobs and allowed to be kids. Even if it's just in the evenings so they can be like other kids who go to school and have chores.

Why? They are happy kids.

There are many ideas of child rearing that I disagree with. That doesn't make them abusive. If these kids are anything like mine, even with chores and school, they have twice the free time as the neighbor kids. Kids have been helping around homes and farms, and with little ones since people started having kids. Civilisation seems to have been able to develop just fine in the process.

I've three boys raised in the same house with one another as primary playmates, chores, and hanging primarily with other HSers. They have somehow managed to grow into 3 very different personalities. Even the two that play the guitar. Luckily number 3 chose the piano...wouldn't want him to be a drone.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I still am interested in knowing why it is NOT our place to judge a woman who may choose to have 17 abortions, but we are having a field day judging this woman who has chosen to have 17 children? It seems really inconsistent to me. While 17 abortions isn't something I would choose for myself, it's certainly not my business if another woman wants to do it. (17 kids isn't either-YIKES, I'm childfree by choice so this would give me nightmares!!)

Aren't we all supposed to be supporting a woman's right to choose what she wants to do regarding children?

 

[legalsea]

Well isn't that special. The people saying things about the Duggars aren't saying anything about you, why the need to rip on them?

Yet why all the 'ripping' on the Duggars?

I think people have become so conditioned to the '2.5' children in every household that when someone exceeds that number people become outraged.

It was an interesting article about a family of 19. Leave it at that.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I still am interested in knowing why it is NOT our place to judge a woman who may choose to have 17 abortions, but we are having a field day judging this woman who has chosen to have 17 children? It seems really inconsistent to me. While 17 abortions isn't something I would choose for myself, it's certainly not my business if another woman wants to do it. (17 kids isn't either-YIKES, I'm childfree by choice so this would give me nightmares!!)

Aren't we all supposed to be supporting a woman's right to choose what she wants to do regarding children?

I'd certainly have an opinion on someone who had 17 abortions,just like I have an opinion on the DUggars..I wanted a large family.I admit I didn't want 17... There was a TV series on Discovery about large family and I really liked most of those failies.. There is something about this family that just seems off to me...It's not the fact that there are 17 of them, it's the way they live their lives.

 

[MareQ]

People have children taken away form them all the time, so yes, some ways are indeed wrong. I would ove to see a couple of these kids let free from their jobs and allowed to be kids. Even if it's just in the evenings so they can be like other kids who go to school and have chores.

We're talking about the DUGGARS not other people that get kids taken away @@ Just because they have choosen a different route doesn't make it WRONG. You thinking it's wrong - doesn't make it wrong.

I don't see anything wrong with parents choosing to raise their family this way. They are CERTAINLY not suffering because they don't have cell phones and ipods. The girls are doing JUST FINE without hoochie mama clothing and makeup. The lack of violent video games seems to be working well for them...

My way of raising children is definitely the more popular route - but I am open minded enough to take an honest look at their family and respect the choices they are making for themselves.

Now - how does everybody feel about Amish people and the choices those parents are making?

 

[LukenDC]

I still am interested in knowing why it is NOT our place to judge a woman who may choose to have 17 abortions, but we are having a field day judging this woman who has chosen to have 17 children? It seems really inconsistent to me. While 17 abortions isn't something I would choose for myself, it's certainly not my business if another woman wants to do it. (17 kids isn't either-YIKES, I'm childfree by choice so this would give me nightmares!!)

Aren't we all supposed to be supporting a woman's right to choose what she wants to do regarding children?

We all judge at one point or another. I am pro-choice, but even I would make a judgement about someone who had multiple abortions. And while I disagree with how the Duggars are managing their family, my support for their right to make those choices is unwavering.

 

[cardaway]

Why? They are happy kids.

I'm willing to bet most of the kids that live in cults think they are happy. It will not be until they get out in the real world that will realize how the rest of the world was allowed to grow up.

 

[freckles and boo]

Now - how does everybody feel about Amish people and the choices those parents are making?

The Amish don't put themselves out there for public consumption. They also give their children a period of complete and utter freedom so they can make the choice to commit to the faith as adults. Frankly, I don't know enough about how they raise their kids to comment otherwise.

 

[Laura]

I still am interested in knowing why it is NOT our place to judge a woman who may choose to have 17 abortions, but we are having a field day judging this woman who has chosen to have 17 children? It seems really inconsistent to me. While 17 abortions isn't something I would choose for myself, it's certainly not my business if another woman wants to do it. (17 kids isn't either-YIKES, I'm childfree by choice so this would give me nightmares!!)

Aren't we all supposed to be supporting a woman's right to choose what she wants to do regarding children?

Do you really think nobody on the DIS would judge the hell out of a woman who'd had 17 abortions? I tend to think DISers would.

The biggest thing that bothers me about this is their glorification of overpopulating the planet. I saw one show where Mrs. Duggar says that saying you can have too many children is like saying there are too many flowers. Of course you can have too many flowers in the world and no room to grow food. I couldn't say that there should be a limit on the number of children you can have, however. And I do know that while the Duggars aren't alone in choosing to breed like crazy, they are a very unusual family. I don't think this kind of family will become the norm in this country.

 

[cardaway]

Yet why all the 'ripping' on the Duggars?

I think people have become so conditioned to the '2.5' children in every household that when someone exceeds that number people become outraged.

I don't get outraged at large familes. Even one with six kids is a lot, but the Duggars have almost three times that many! Do the math.

 

[cardaway]

I still am interested in knowing why it is NOT our place to judge a woman who may choose to have 17 abortions, but we are having a field day judging this woman who has chosen to have 17 children? It seems really inconsistent to me. While 17 abortions isn't something I would choose for myself, it's certainly not my business if another woman wants to do it. (17 kids isn't either-YIKES, I'm childfree by choice so this would give me nightmares!!)

Aren't we all supposed to be supporting a woman's right to choose what she wants to do regarding children?

You must really not think much of the people who are pro-choice if you think they would not think something is wrong with a woman who had 17 abortions.

 

[cardaway]

We're talking about the DUGGARS not other people that get kids taken away @@ Just because they have choosen a different route doesn't make it WRONG. You thinking it's wrong - doesn't make it wrong.

People who leave their kids in the care of their other siblings get their children taken away, why not the Duggars? IMO what they do is wrong. It doesn't matter that they are "nice" people, wrong is wrong.

 

[Mkrop]

I wonder if they act the same when the camera's go off.

My thoughts exactly. I wonder how much editing goes in to having them depicted as such the "perfect" family. Mom never flips out (although maybe if I had built in nannies I would not either), the kids never argue????? I dont buy it!

They are entitled to live there lives as they see fit but if you put your life out there for everyone to view then dont expect people not to comment!

 

[Mkrop]

:

I want to get into that racket. I would call my church "The Shrine of the Dust Mite - Holey Couch branch". We do have many pilgrims in and out praying at the kitchen door hoping God (or his high priestess) will drop a Freezer Pop into their outspread hands.

Too funny!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

People who leave their kids in the care of their other siblings get their children taken away, why not the Duggars? IMO what they do is wrong. It doesn't matter that they are "nice" people, wrong is wrong.

I think that is what bothers me so much about this.It is how the kids are being treated.I mean they dont have a childhood,they go from 5 to 25 and that is not fair for any child.I dont care if they just had 3 if the parents are getting the siblings to raise the other children it is just wrong.
I just dont see how a 6 and 7 year old should be responsible for giving the brothers or sisters that are 2 and 3 a bath.
I dont care how many people have but if you are going to have them,take care of them yourself instead of having your other kids do it for you.

 

[legalsea]

I don't get outraged at large familes. Even one with six kids is a lot, but the Duggars have almost three times that many! Do the math.

I must admit, your post made little sense.

1. You do not get outraged at large families.
2. "even one with six kids is a lot".
3. The Duggars have almost three times that many!"
4. do your math!!!

So, let us see if we can get some of the posters on this thread to clarify his or her position. Posters: please let us know the point at which you become outraged:

1 child: Nope. Not outraged. Two parents, one child, equals a decrease in world’s population by one.
2 children: Nope. Not outraged. Two parents, two children, world’s population remains stable.
3 children: Not outraged. Mistakes happen.
4 children: Not really outraged, but someone’s been careless.
5 children: Starting to get miffed, but not outraged.
6 children: a little more miffed, mixed with a little outrage. Do the math.
7 children: supposedly a spiritual number, so let it pass.
8 children: loved TV show ‘eight is enough’, so let it pass.
9 children: ok for a baseball team, but not for parents!
10 children: Ok, now I am starting to get outraged!
11 children: Didn’t you hear me!
12 children: the movie ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ was NOT funny!
13 children: unlucky number, hence must be haven of witches!
14 children: Getting more outraged! Uterus collapsing! Can’t see feet!
15 children: Stop it! Stop it right now! You Children of the Corn!
16 children: Tax fraud! Call the IRS! Tax fraud!
17 children: Outraged! Children are spawn of Satan and shall end up in psychiatrist office! Children being made to do chores! Warning Dr. Smith, Warning!

Now, I feel better.

 

[Fitswimmer]

You must really not think much of the people who are pro-choice if you think they would not think something is wrong with a woman who had 17 abortions.

It's not what I think about anyone, that's my point. I was under the impression that a pro choice person would support a woman's choice to have 17 kids in the same way they would support a woman's choice to have 17 abortions. It seems more acceptable to judge this woman than it would be to judge a woman who had multiple abortions. First of all, I can't imagine that a thread about a woman having multiple abortions and what a disgrace it is would even be STARTED. Sure, people might have opinions on it, but in the end I think most people would believe that it is her choice, even if we might personally find it distasteful.

I can't imagine making either choice, but I also don't believe that I have the right to judge another woman's decision about what is right for her.