The Duggars family TV show premieres this Sat.

[DVCLiz]

I thought they came off as WAY less of a freak show on tonight's show than the one a few years ago. The oldest boy seemed really normal and well-spoken, and even Mom showed a lot more emotion this time around. Gotta agree about the need for a new hairstyle, though.

As far as the rooms go, didn't the mom say the kids CHOSE that option instead of separate bedrooms? And with that gameroom and those other spaces, it seemed as though there were plenty of spaces to go to be private if they needed to. They obviously meant the bedrooms to be just sleeping spaces. And that oldest boy had an AWESOME AV room - did you see all that equipment? And hear him say, "No little ones allowed here!"?

I'm sure TLC had a lot of that stuff comped - after all, they are making a TV show, and even the Trading Spaces people get a new room of furniture!!!

I'm glad they have some help with the laundry - I did wonder how my daughter that same age would react if I told her she had to do ten loads of laundry each day!!!!

I think I'm going to go browse their website....

 

[Snow_White]

I think I'm going to go browse their website....

I just checked their sites out myself and I find them to be very very odd. After reading their FAQ (http://www.jimbob.info/faq.html) all I can think of is the 6 Feet Under episode in which the dead guy was the old guy named "Daddy" with all of those children who loved eating cheese (http://www.hbo.com/sixfeetunder/obituary/episode34.shtml)

 

[Steamboat Marti]

Out of morbid curiosity, I decided to watch the show on TLC tonight and all I have to say is I feel SO sorry for those children. Talk about culture shock when they move out into the real world.

Snow White - that is the saddest part. I don't think these kids will move into the real world. They will build a house on Daddy's land and join the compound.

 

[Snow_White]

Snow White - that is the saddest part. I don't think these kids will move into the real world. They will build a house on Daddy's land and join the compound.

Yes, it would definitely be interesting to see what happens as these children become adults. If that is the case, all I have to say is good luck finding enough willing mates for all 16 children!

 

[graygables]

I thought they came off as WAY less of a freak show on tonight's show than the one a few years ago. The oldest boy seemed really normal and well-spoken, and even Mom showed a lot more emotion this time around. Gotta agree about the need for a new hairstyle, though.

The oldest boy was really *scripted*. I didn't watch the whole thing, it just makes me sad and angry, DH even wanted to turn it off. Like I said, they are just like my nieces and nephew and it breaks my heart. My oldest niece is either going to run away or set their house on fire. You just can't treat kids that way forever.

 

[DVCLiz]

OK, I agree the weirdness comes out on their website. Especially on the Favorite Links page - just not my cup of tea, so to speak. They are definitely a fundamental Christian family, which is far from my own experience. Still, each of us chooses how to raise our own children, and there are many, many families who practice this kind of parenting on a smaller scale - no TV, homeschooling, filtered Interent, music lessons, Bible study, etc. And there are also many families that keep their kids out of mainstream culture and feel their kids are better for it.

Not the way I'm choosing to do it - bring on the MTV! - but not so freakish either.

Won't it be interesting to see how those 16 and 17 year olds fare in the next few years??? I'd say they'll most likely move into a little more mainstream lifestyle, but still be fairly conservative and have larger families.

That oldest boy was a nice kid, though....maybe we'll see him on the MTV awards next year,w ith all that AV equipment!!!

 

[hentob]

Ugh.

A few things that stuck out...

That hair. I am sorry. I know it is very superficial of me, but that hair

Teenage boys sharing rooms with babies? Teenage girls sharing rooms with babies? I see how they can have child after child, I am sure once the child hits a certain age, it is the responsibility of the older children to tend to them at night.

Their diet. "We try to buy as many frozen burritos as possible" I have never in my life seen so many canned items. I said to my DH, "I bet those children will never have a piece of sushi in their lives." Such a horrible, non exciting diet.

The older girls...So pretty. They seem lovely. The oldest boy (the "host" of the show) seemed so cheesy. He'll be just like dad. If I were him, I would be crying on camera that I had to sleep in a cramped room with toddlers.

Could you imagine being a contractor and working with all of those kids under foot? I think it would get old, don't you

Thank goodness Michele and Jim Bob got their "romantic bedroom". I see their old bedroom offered no chance for romance

I guess the whole situation is nice on the surface, I dunno. But, as a previous poster stated, not a ton of hugs being passed around.

Run children. Run. Watching laundry spinning around isn't really that fun, Girls. You don't _have_ to have children..EVER!! You can be WHATEVER you want to be!!! Please don't build on that 20 acres that your dad has already mapped out for you. You will have to help raise children for the rest of your lives!!!!!!

 

[LukenDC]

Sadness is the emotion I feel most when I watch the Duggar family. Yes, the world has a lot of ugliness in it but it also has a lot of beauty and opportunity. I am one of four boys and I appreciate the joys of a large family. But the Duggars seem cultish and I question the amount of real love and bonding that the kids have with their parents. When Jim Bob ran for Senate, the kids were major props in his campaign---front and center. It was exploitive.

That said, the parents have a right to raise their kids as they see fit.

 

[LukenDC]

Their diet. "We try to buy as many frozen burritos as possible" I have never in my life seen so many canned items. I said to my DH, "I bet those children will never have a piece of sushi in their lives." Such a horrible, non exciting diet.

The Duggars could benefit from some nutrition counseling. The quality of their meals is something that I noticed in earlier shows about them. It surprises me that they eat so many canned and frozen foods. Very unhealthy.

 

[A4Disney]

Its just downright creepy!! That poor girl that gets stuck on laundry duty does 10 loads A DAY! When does she have time for school or any fun?? All the girls are in one room and all the boys in the other..no where to go for privacy and no real space to call their own...I got a kick out of them saying "moms kitchen" has this or that when in fact one girl cooks breakfast, one girl cooks lunch and one girl cooks dinner...each kid does more work than mom whos only job I guess is to get pregnant and have babies to then pass on to the older kids. The father said he bought 20 acres so each kid could build a house for their familes on the same property...their poor husbands and wirves!! Seems like they are just waiting for the kids to get married, have babies and add more people to their cult!

Yes that cracked me up too!And while the Mom was holding her baby she said she can't wait to hear the sounds of grandchildren in the house!

 

[Equidae]

I guess I don't see what the big deal is with them. So, they have a large family, shelter their kids (although I bet they aren't as sheltered as we think they are) and are pretty conservative in most of their ways. So what? They are free to raise their family the way they see fit. I know I would hate it if someone tried to tell me how to raise my family! As far as the kids getting into the real world, well, there is a large community of like minded people out there. They never have to be in the 'main stream' if they don't want to, but I'm sure they are are aware of it. There are colleges that even further this lifestyle. Pensacola Christian College, Bob Jones University, and to a lesser extent Liberty Univerisity to name a very few. This family just isn't outside the norm for me (although 16 is a bit extreme.. I wouldn't want a family that large!) so I guess I'm just amazed that anyone would be able to make this all work. Just because someone is different than you are doesn't mean it's wrong.

 

[cstraub]

I just don't see the point. It all just seems so routine and boring.
It's just a matter of time before the girls start singing this:


There must be more than this provincial life

I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned

From Beauty and the Beast.

 

[solotraveler]

I thought they came off as WAY less of a freak show on tonight's show than the one a few years ago. The oldest boy seemed really normal and well-spoken, and even Mom showed a lot more emotion this time around. Gotta agree about the need for a new hairstyle, though.


I'm sure TLC had a lot of that stuff comped - after all, they are making a TV show, and even the Trading Spaces people get a new room of furniture!!!

I think I'm going to go browse their website....

I totally agree. It's as if they really made a concerted effort to appear "more normal" then the original special showed. (Lack of matching clothes this time, completely devoid of mentioning their religious affiliations and their basement chruch, etc.

I'm sure TLC paid for a LOT. Wasn't the designer on "In a Fix" at one point?

For a master class on the Duggars' personal beliefs, google "Quiverful" and check out some of the message boards. Just wow.

 

[Snow_White]

It's just a matter of time before the girls start singing this:


There must be more than this provincial life

I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned

From Beauty and the Beast.

What a great quote!!! This cracked me up (in a sad sort of way)

 

[Snow_White]

I'm sure TLC paid for a LOT.

Undoubtedly (I also noticed lots of product placement--i.e. the washers and dryers)! Man, what I wouldn't give for a free baby grand piano!!

 

[solotraveler]

There are colleges that even further this lifestyle. Pensacola Christian College, Bob Jones University, and to a lesser extent Liberty Univerisity to name a very few. This family just isn't outside the norm for me (although 16 is a bit extreme.. I wouldn't want a family that large!) so I guess I'm just amazed that anyone would be able to make this all work. Just because someone is different than you are doesn't mean it's wrong.

(Slightly OT)
For a college that REALLY furthers this lifestyle check out: http://www.hylesanderson.edu/

This place makes Bob Jones look like Grinnell.....

 

[3princesses4us]

I'm sorry but I thought they came across as way worse than I had originally thought! When she equates lessons learned from building a house to real school work, I laughed. When are they probably ever going to build another 7,000 sq. ft. steel home? And DH and I lost it when she interrupted the building process to define the word "perpendicular" and then made the kids repeat it. Weird!

 

[cstraub]

For those of us that missed it earlier tonight there is another showing at 12 midnight tonight. can't wait!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

(Slightly OT)
For a college that REALLY furthers this lifestyle check out: http://www.hylesanderson.edu/

This place makes Bob Jones look like Grinnell.....

HOLY COW!!! That place is downright scary!!

 

[ducklite]

The oldest boy was really *scripted*. I didn't watch the whole thing, it just makes me sad and angry, DH even wanted to turn it off. Like I said, they are just like my nieces and nephew and it breaks my heart. My oldest niece is either going to run away or set their house on fire. You just can't treat kids that way forever.

I agree. They'll end up coming home with boyfriends like this:

Anne