The Duggars family TV show premieres this Sat.

[kimbac3]

I think they do an awesome job with their family. I am truly amazed by them. I homeschool my children too and I wish I could be as organized as she is. As far as the older ones helping the little ones I see nothing wrong with that. What is it with people today thinking that kids shouldn't have responsibilities? As I look at some of the teens today...the "future of our country" well it scares the heck out of me!! They need responsibility and more importantly accountability. I would love to be friends with this family. Actually my kids were quite jealous of their awesome new house! My son asked me to have more kids so we could have a cool house like that.
Bottom line those kids don't look deprived or hungry, totally opposite of that, they all seem happy and normal (as witnessed by the "Rugrats" comment...see normal teenager!!). God bless them!!
Kimba

 

[Planogirl]

Anyhow, who's having tater tot casserole for dinner??

I hope that someone tries it and reports back.

 

[pamlet]

One doing the laundry (FOR 18 people)
One doing the cooking (FOR 18 people)
One washing the dishes (FOR 18 people)

See where I'm going here? *I* wouldn't do the laundry, cooking, dishes for 18 people, why on EARTH would I ask an 11yo to???

You can get to know the nature of the people by reading their own website in addition to all the media they produce.

As soon as baby is weaned, its care (COMPLETE care) is handed over to another child. The older children must completely care for their buddies, which, essentially makes THEM the parent. In addition to the physical care giving, they also have to "help" the younger ones learn violin (and maybe piano, I thought I read that somewhere) and assist with lessons.

It boils down to they wanted a publicity machine and they made one. The level of parental selfishness is astonishing.

You missed the first part of Briar Rose's quote...

Originally Posted by Brier Rose
Like I said before, MY perception of the whole thing was that EACH child had ONE main thing they were responsible for, and the rest kind of helped out as needed. Not each child doing every chore, every day

Actually think about some of the skills these older kids are gaining... management, delegation, organization... hmmm all things that are VERY desireable in the business world.

Also others in the thread have commented on their choices in reading/watching/listening.... they never said the children read NO books... do NOT get on the internet... All they've said is that they monitor the children's choices... ahhhhh yeah.... THERE's irresponsible parenting...

 

[Brier Rose]

One doing the laundry (FOR 18 people)
One doing the cooking (FOR 18 people)
One washing the dishes (FOR 18 people)

But that is NOT how it is!
They each have a certain area that is mostly their responsiblity, BUT,
the others help out as needed !
It even says on the show that Jenna cannot handle the laundry alone, so the mom yells..who's available to help with laundry...and she along with several of the other kids come in and all start helping.

And again at dinner..they are ALL..including the mother in there helping. Some washing veggies, some setting the table, etc.
In SEVERAL scenes it shows the mom cooking.

I just don't see the kids "raising" the other kids. They are helping with them..mentoring them...not raising them.

They said each child has a buddy that they help teach how to do things on the own.

Guess I just don't see what you see.

 

[chobie]

You missed the first part of Briar Rose's quote...



Actually think about some of the skills these older kids are gaining... management, delegation, organization... hmmm all things that are VERY desireable in the business world.

Also others in the thread have commented on their choices in reading/watching/listening.... they never said the children read NO books... do NOT get on the internet... All they've said is that they monitor the children's choices... ahhhhh yeah.... THERE's irresponsible parenting...

Most people are concerned about their extremely limited contact with people outside of their family and certainly they have almost no contact with people that are not of the same belief system.

This is not about homeschooling, a few chores or not being able to read certain books.

If a child has to put out three meals a day for 18 people, or do laundery for 18 people while taking care of a younger sibling day and day out -- they only marketable skills they will have is to go work in a sweatshop in a third world country. Oh and to play a horrible rendition of "Amazing Grace" on the violin.

 

[Planogirl]

These older kids may be learning a lot but they also should have some chance to just be teens and to get away from the little ones. I think that teens need a certain amount of privacy and some time to themselves and don't think that being constant babysitters and workers gives them that chance. JMO.

I see a lot of homeschoolers defending the Duggars which is interesting. I don't see that this has anything to do with homeschooling but only with the Duggars and how they live. I understand that they have stated that the kids get no access to outside influences of any kind but if I'm wrong, so be it.

Anyway, to each their own. I see this family's living situation as a nightmare while others don't.

 

[chobie]

These older kids may be learning a lot but they also should have some chance to just be teens and to get away from the little ones. I think that teens need a certain amount of privacy and some time to themselves and don't think that being constant babysitters and workers gives them that chance. JMO.

I see a lot of homeschoolers defending the Duggars which is interesting. I don't see that this has anything to do with homeschooling but only with the Duggars and how they live. I understand that they have stated that the kids get no access to outside influences of any kind but if I'm wrong, so be it.

Anyway, to each their own. I see this family's living situation as a nightmare while others don't.

Exactly. And because I love to repeat myself -- no one has suggested that there should be laws or constitutional amendments to stop them from raising their family the way they want. We are just commenting about one family that has sold their story to tv.

 

[dtuleya]

These older kids may be learning a lot but they also should have some chance to just be teens and to get away from the little ones. I think that teens need a certain amount of privacy and some time to themselves and don't think that being constant babysitters and workers gives them that chance. JMO.

I see a lot of homeschoolers defending the Duggars which is interesting. I don't see that this has anything to do with homeschooling but only with the Duggars and how they live. I understand that they have stated that the kids get no access to outside influences of any kind but if I'm wrong, so be it.

Anyway, to each their own. I see this family's living situation as a nightmare while others don't.

 

[Brier Rose]

These older kids may be learning a lot but they also should have some chance to just be teens and to get away from the little ones. I think that teens need a certain amount of privacy and some time to themselves and don't think that being constant babysitters and workers gives them that chance. JMO.

I see a lot of homeschoolers defending the Duggars which is interesting. I don't see that this has anything to do with homeschooling but only with the Duggars and how they live. I understand that they have stated that the kids get no access to outside influences of any kind but if I'm wrong, so be it.

Anyway, to each their own. I see this family's living situation as a nightmare while others don't.

I don't think this is about the homeschooling issue either.

With me..I guess I just find myself defending them, one because I don't see things as cut and dried as some here, and two, because I think this is more about people coming down on them because they are so different than the norm.

I think "most" people have a problem with things they don't understand, be it homeschooling or homosexuality, and tend to make assumptions based on that.

It seems like that even when there is evidence to the contrary, people tend to ignore it and stick with their original opinion.

I don't know these people, and they may be weirder than I ever imagined, but based on this one show that we're talking about..I just don't see it.

Just goes to show how different people are. Some more than other I guess.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I am not bothered by the homeschooling thing..I was a homeschooler..I am not generally bothered by kids having jobs around the house and looking out for younger kids..I don't have problems with people that are highly religious either.
I have a problem with the total isolation these kids seem to have.I have a problem with the fact that some of the girls seem to totally care for the younger kids..It wasn't on this special but I read somewhere else that along with with the tube for the boys,leading to the playroom,the girls also have a tube that slides them right down to he laundry room..Lovely

 

[Brier Rose]

..It wasn't on this special but I read somewhere else that along with with the tube for the boys,leading to the playroom,the girls also have a tube that slides them right down to he laundry room..Lovely

I hope that's not true!

I have to say that would somewhat change my opinion.

 

[chobie]

I don't think this is about the homeschooling issue either.

With me..I guess I just find myself defending them, one because I don't see things as cut and dried as some here, and two, because I think this is more about people coming down on them because they are so different than the norm.

I think "most" people have a problem with things they don't understand, be it homeschooling or homosexuality, and tend to make assumptions based on that.

It seems like that even when there is evidence to the contrary, people tend to ignore it and stick with their original opinion.

I don't know these people, and they may be weirder than I ever imagined, but based on this one show that we're talking about..I just don't see it.

Just goes to show how different people are. Some more than other I guess.

You did not see their first show? That went into more detail about their isolation from pretty much anyone except for another quiverful family here or there. That's what most of us are talking about.

I can understand you thinking that people are assuming things about them because of the homeschooling issue. And I know that some people do have misconceptions about it.

But this is about the whole picture they have presented along with the idea that they should be held out for admiraton because they have reproduced so many times.

Again, I beleive that people here would have been more kind to them overall if some of these kids were adopted hard-to-place children. Although most of us still would be critical of the cloisturing. And by putting themselves on tv they have asked to be criticized IMO. It goes with the biz.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Brier Rose,
Have you seen all the shows on them and read their site? The earlier shows and the site are what formed my opinion. I think TLC tried to show a kinder and gentler Duggar family in this episode.
All the kids go with the mom to find out the babies sex. This was on the previous episode.

 

[Huggles]

In an earlier post someone had quoted Michelle Duggers words when she was exhausted after doing washing at 2 am and then having the kids at their piano lessons AT 7 AM! Is that not classified under cruel and unusual punishment? If the kids have to share rooms with tots and look after them too, how on earth can they get to piano lessons at that time? Unless of course the piano teacher comes to them, I suppose

 

[mickeyfan2]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060105/news_lz1c05duggar.html

Highlights

Oldest son was done with school at 16. Took the GED. Is thinking of going to California Law school because they permit distance learning.

My favorite - Discovery Health is sendin the family on a vacation to Disneyland and a dude ranch.

 

[disykat]

It wasn't on this special but I read somewhere else that along with with the tube for the boys,leading to the playroom,the girls also have a tube that slides them right down to he laundry room..Lovely

I don't know why I'm wasting my breath defending them, when I think they're weird too - but I think people are picking on details that are just silly.

A slide has to go down to the room underneath it. I guess if you really want to read something into the fact that the girl's bedroom is positioned above the laundry room while the boy's room is positioned over the playroom - Okay.

If people really want to assume because someone has canned food in their pantry and high fat recipes on their website they eat nothing else - Okay.

If you want to assume that one child does each job and the mom does nothing but eat lunch in peace and relax in her private bedroom, despite the actual footage we saw showing otherwise - Okay.

Personally I'll stick to thinking they dress funny, have an odd amount of kids, and isolate themselves. They make very different choices, but I didn't see anything abusive.

I'll add another thing to my list of previous "abuses" I suffered during my childhood. I shared a room, I cooked dinner every night from the time I turned 12 (my mom worked in the afternoons), AND I took piano lessons at 7:30 in the morning!

 

[Planogirl]

We all have our own philosophies and there's nothing wrong with that. I always exposed my son to different places and people because I believe that's important in growth. I understant that others may not feel this way. I also encouraged him to develop critical, independent thinking. I can't imagine how these kids would ever be able to think outside the box but again that may not be as important to others.

But again to each their own. The prior special about this family did go over the isolation and large amount of work to a great extent. Does any of this point to abuse? No but it flies directly in the face of what I believe and since this family is showing themselves off to the public, I'm simply saying that I disagree with their choices.

 

[chobie]

We all have our own philosophies and there's nothing wrong with that. I always exposed my son to different places and people because I believe that's important in growth. I understant that others may not feel this way. I also encouraged him to develop critical, independent thinking. I can't imagine how these kids would ever be able to think outside the box but again that may not be as important to others.

But again to each their own. The prior special about this family did go over the isolation and large amount of work to a great extent. Does any of this point to abuse? No but it flies directly in the face of what I believe and since this family is showing themselves off to the public, I'm simply saying that I disagree with their choices.

ITA. And no one that is critical of them has said they were abusive. Or that they should not be allowed to make those choices. We just think they are creepy and possibly irresponsible. And we're having some fun at their expense, because that is the point of watching a TV show to be entertained.

It's the people that are defending them that are reading too much into the comments.

Those harping on a few of the comments made on this thread is no better then what they are accusing people of, picking out little things and not seeing the big picture. No one is aghast at this family simply because the kids have an all-tatertot diet, or because the kids have chores. It's the whole compound mentality and everything that goes with it that bothers most.

 

[taeja71]

I hope that someone tries it and reports back.

I've been sifting through the posts and had to reply on this one. I am a Southern gal who now makes Tater Tot casserole on a regular basis WITH canned green beans for my family (its tough getting fresh veggies here w/o them being black spotted or wrinkled).

Any way, imagine a plain cheese burger with your french fries (the tater tots) on top with no bun. We like to have our tater tots nice and brown and we some times put extra cheese (pepper jack or or more American cheese) on top. It is pretty good. I wouldn't have it on a regular basis however. For feeding a a family of five, it's a quick meal to make and its filling too.

To defend myself from flaming. I do make my kids eat other uncanned, un packaged, and fresh foods. It just depends on what is fresh here. I'm sure in AR where they are resources for fresh food can be harder to get.

I DO AGREE, she (Michelle) needs to start a veggie and fruit garden if she can. But hey, that would be one more thing she'd have to maintain.

And Planogirl posted,

I still wonder how the girls will meet all of these future husbands as insulated as they are. I can't imagine them being allowed to go to college no matter how religious the school is but I suppose that I could be wrong.

In the first Dugger show Michelle/Jim Bob (can't remember which) talked about how there may be possible matches for their children with another family they are close friends with. That family had a large number of kids too. I can't remember the exact number right now. If I recall correctly, the camera showed the oldest boy and the other family's eldest girl together in scenes. Hmmmm.

And, I know there are computerized home schooling programs out there. Michelle needs to get with it and get connected (internet wise) if they aren't already. She'd save time and her voice if she got her kids to do their schooling via computer.

 

[Laura]

Hmmm... I didn't watch this yesterday. I think I'll catch it when it's on tomorrow. Should be interesting.