The Duggar Family

[Indiana Rose Lee]

averysmom, your daughter is adorable!

Anyway, badblackpug, my kids will have many choices. Thankfully. I pray daily that they will make good ones.

But! I believe that these kids will too. I think everyone does to one degree or another, and that these kids with their exposure to the world and to cousin amy, lol, will know exactly what is out there. In my experience working with famiilies our family of origin colors our life but doesn't make our lives. I have seen far too many people raised in decent families go bad, and rotten families make good. I have seen sheltered kids rebel, but in no greater numbers than the unsheltered, just making a bigger splash because of expectations. I know that I can do everything in this world to be a perfect parent, but my kids will grow up and make their own choices that I may love, may hate, but are theirs to make. There are no guarantees in parenthood.

If you think of choices, no one really has all options open to them. That doesn't mean that those people live unhappy lives, unfulfilled lives, or worthless lives. I know a lot of really happy people who didn't have a million choices, and and I know many who shouldn't have had any choices but made their own paths. The Duggar kids will be fine, imo. Some may make other choices, some may follow the path their parents have set. In my experience, i'd say that the statistical majority will come out ok. Their odds are so much better than so many people that I work with on a daily basis. Their odds are better than mine were with an alcoholic dad, luvchef's with abuse, and princessmoms with the dysfunction in her early life. But we all made it just fine.

eta: I realize this is a rather big picture way of looking at this. It has very little to do with the day to day life choices. But it is my outlook.

The other thing is that little Josie will live a different life than the oldest kids. I had my first son 22 years ago, and the baby last year. As parents we are not the same people we were back then. DS1 will never know what it is like to have a physically and mentally disable brother, hopefully will never know the life of paying medical bills rather than little league fees, and never know the heartbreak and depression when he passed. His life will be nothing like his sibs. For better or worse.

 

[MaryKLady]

OP- I don't think they are hurting when they make something like $50,000 an episode!

Really? Wow, I need a reality show.

The Duggars? God bless them for making it work. I would have lost my mind a long time ago.

 

[DMRick]

I'm sorry

The other thing is that little Josie will live a different life than the oldest kids. I had my first son 22 years ago, and the baby last year. As parents we are not the same people we were back then. DS1 will never know what it is like to have a physically and mentally disable brother, hopefully will never know the life of paying medical bills rather than little league fees, and never know the heartbreak and depression when he passed. His life will be nothing like his sibs. For better or worse.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I'm sorry

Thank you. i was thinking of how their lives were turned upside down with Josie. You can't come away from that time in the NICU (or PICU in our case) without being affected.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I like the Duggars. There are tons of people that have lots of kids and live off welfare. The Duggars do not.

I dont see why people care so much about the Duggars. They are not hurting anyone and they can afford to take care of the kids.

Why cant people worry about more important things like food drives for the homeless, stopping child trafficking or something else to make this world a better place and help someone.

I think if we put half of the effort we spent on judging people in to something more meaningful this world would be better off.

(none of this is directed to anyone here, i only read a few post)

 

[DMRick]

I do think about those other things. Those are way more important than the Duggars.

That said, the Duggars put themselves out there and are now considered entertainment. Just like we talk about Survivor and Big Brother and other reality shows, we talk about them. As entertainment. One, IMO has nothing to do with the other. Just because I watch and comment on Amazing Race (or the Duggars), doesn't mean I still don't serve at my local City Mission. If no one talked about them, (good or bad) TLC would consider the show a bust, and they would prob end up off the air, just like other shows.

As I've said before, what I don't understand is why this nice, Christian family put their kids out there for our entertainment . Surely there is a lot they can do for this world to make it a better place, other than be our entertainment. A lot of ways they can share the Word, than having their children on TV. It would only take a minute for them to google themselves to see that there are a lot of people that wonder why the heck they are doing this (yes, and a lot who love the show, but the bottom line is, their kids are up there for people's entertainment).

As for if anyone is being hurt..just like with the G's, we'll have to wait for the books...except I don't think these kids would realize they could go against their parents wishes and write one.

I like the Duggars. There are tons of people that have lots of kids and live off welfare. The Duggars do not.

I dont see why people care so much about the Duggars. They are not hurting anyone and they can afford to take care of the kids.

Why cant people worry about more important things like food drives for the homeless, stopping child trafficking or something else to make this world a better place and help someone.

I think if we put half of the effort we spent on judging people in to something more meaningful this world would be better off.

(none of this is directed to anyone here, i only read a few post)

 

[Virgderon]

As I've said before, what I don't understand is why this nice, Christian family put their kids out there for our entertainment .

Money.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

dmrick, I think that it was either a greedy choice, or they thought that they could benefit or bless others with seeing their life. A ministry of sorts.

Amber some could say the same for you. Why would you waste time with Disney when there are really important issues out there.

 

[bettymae1121]

I think at first they thought they'd do one special. That went really well so why not do one or two more. Then the "reality large family" craze hit and TLC approched them for a full series. The specials went well, the extra income is nice, you get free stuff like trips etc. etc. I don't think they woke up one day, looked at each other and said "let's put our family on TV!".

At first glance it seems like an easy way to make money. Let the cameras follow you around as you live your everyday life, answer a few questions, and cash the check. And at first that's how it goes, but as the show goes on I'm sure they get tired of it.

It will be interesting to see if they decide to continue the show once Josie is home from the hospital for good. They may decide it's just too much to handle, or they may be forced to continue because they need the money for Josie's hospital bills.

 

[marie1203]

OP- I don't think they are hurting when they make something like $50,000 an episode!

Not that much. As someone else said $25,000 per episode and they have 77 episodes aired.

 

[MaryKLady]

Not that much. As someone else said $25,000 per episode and they have 77 episodes aired.

Still, $1,925,000.00 isn't too shabby.

 

[punkin]

Still, $1,925,000.00 isn't too shabby.

Not to mention the freebies they get such as appliances.

Look, I don't begrudge them. I just think they are completely insane.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Thank you. i was thinking of how their lives were turned upside down with Josie. You can't come away from that time in the NICU (or PICU in our case) without being affected.

a litttle huggy icon seems so inadequate..you are in my thoughts/prayers even more now congratualtions though on your latest blessing

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

a litttle huggy icon seems so inadequate..you are in my thoughts/prayers even more now congratualtions though on your latest blessing

Thank you. My son brought so much to our lives. He taught us everyday.

The baby is a year old, and just a hoot! Better than the puppy for making us smile.

 

[chimo2u]

dmrick, I think that it was either a greedy choice, or they thought that they could benefit or bless others with seeing their life. A ministry of sorts.

Amber some could say the same for you. Why would you waste time with Disney when there are really important issues out there.

This is the real reason they've expressed when asked why they do what they do.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Hmmmmmmmmmm I wonder if I could get a show I rescued 8 dogs a cat and a horse my house needs repairs and we live paycheck to paycheck..DH has a job (thank God) but is gone driving a truck all the time......nah...who would be interested in this

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Hmmmmmmmmmm I wonder if I could get a show I rescued 8 dogs a cat and a horse my house needs repairs and we live paycheck to paycheck..DH has a job (thank God) but is gone driving a truck all the time......nah...who would be interested in this

lol, 8 dogs? A certain breed, or a variety? I think anytime there is people interaction there is a potential for interest. But if your conversations with the critters is interesting, i might still watch.

 

[arihillfarm]

I have read text from several interviews that wre given before they became as media savvy as they are now. They reveal a LOT about the Duggars that no one sees now. She basically assigns a baby to an older sister as soon as a new one comes along. She is no longer responsible for that child's daily care. The babies are also blanket trained, which she wiil deny doing now, but she explained the method in an early interview. The babies are taught never to venture off a blanket on the floor, using a switch. She siad that you can leave them there for a couple of hours and they will never move! Doesn't sound like anyone is getting quality time to me. More like they are pigeon holed until it is convinent.

I've been watching the Duggars ever since their first show and I remember clearly about the older sibling assignments and the blanket training too. I pretty much despised them at that point but have continued to watch them some over the years and either they have become more media savvy or they have changed their ways. They are definitely more "liberal" in their views and what they show on TV than they were many years ago.

-Astrid

 

[Luvchefmic]

lol, 8 dogs? A certain breed, or a variety? I think anytime there is people interaction there is a potential for interest. But if your conversations with the critters is interesting, i might still watch.

pointers doxies redbone coonhound and one we have no idea..used to be in rescue .nah nothing interesting I say to them..well when they're digging its not a pretty conversation

 

[leahjade]

Well, I admire how classy the Duggars are regarding their beliefs. They never say a harsh or hateful word about others of different faiths which is more than I can see about a lot of folks on this thread.