The Duggars family TV show premieres this Sat.

[chobie]

What bothers me the most about this family is all the publicity they get because the woman is a baby making machine. There is nothing admirable about popping out one baby after another even if you can afford it.

As for the religious element, I think if anything people are being defensive for this family because they are Christians. I'm willing to bet that the same people defending them would not have the same opinion if they were a famiy of Satan worshippers.

 

[DVCLiz]

Well, your not the first person on these threads to try to make this into a religion bashing issue. But it isn't. Nice try at however.

Pot-stirring is the last thing I want to do - just trying to further the conversation, which doesn't seem to be your interest.

The Beardsleys were in fact Catholic, and although faith wasn't prominently a part of the movie (either one) it was definitely a part of the book, and of the family's way of life. I can't imagine where you got "religion bashing" from - my point all along has been that some people who might otherwise approve of the Duggars and their way of child rearing seem to have a distaste for their faith, as seen in their website and on the show - the way the women dress, the isolation of the children so that they only "mix" with others of the same faith, etc. That's not religion-bashing to me, just pointing out that for some the faith part of it is the problem.

For others, it seems to be that with that many children you can't possibly parent them all. This was a case in which another family, famous for having the same number of children, (and they actually had at least one and I think two of their own after they married) seem to have been able to do it. At least they never were criticized for it publically. And I never ehard anything about the Beardsley children being maladjusted because of lack of proper parenting.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

What bothers me the most about this family is all the publicity they get because the woman is a baby making machine. There is nothing admirable about popping out one baby after another even if you can afford it.

Chobie, I agree with you. Having children. be it 2 or 16, does not make you any kind of hero. Good grief, even chimps have sex and reproduce.

 

[dtuleya]

Oh good grief...I'll agree the diet sucks along with everyone else...but they are far from the first and far from the last family to have such a terrible diet. Heck, by todays average american diet they are pretty darn normal.

So before knocking how they eat--don't forget that many share the same horrid diet. Kids will still grow.

Judging their family as horrid for that...you are just creating a tally list as justification for their horrible parenting. The diet proves absolutely nothing on their parenting.


tuckkeys--he doesn't necessarily have his foot in the door at all. He is still in high school (homeschool version anyway).

I am quite aware that many families have similar eating habits; however, I'm sure that alot of this families eating habits are dictated by having to prepare very economical meals - again this is their choice by having so many mouths to feed. What I was stating is that everytime they add to their family they are having to make their children make more sacrifices due to the parents' wishes. Now, this can be argued for every family that decides to have more than one child, but this is the extreme. You have children raising other children, not the parents.

I realize that kids will still grow without a proper diet, there are many children having to do this every day because of their parents' financial issues, but remember this is the Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar's choice for their children by having so many children. It doesn't mean it's right.

As far as religion goes, I don't think that has anything to do with it. It's circus type atmosphere that surrounds them because mom and dad keep the baby factory going.

 

[ducklite]

What bothers me the most about this family is all the publicity they get because the woman is a baby making machine. There is nothing admirable about popping out one baby after another even if you can afford it.

I really wonder what the health implications are. I understand it's a "natural thing", but it really can't be good for her longterm health. I'd be afraid that my uterus would just fall out when I stood up some day.

Anne

 

[DVCLiz]

Chobie, I agree with you. Having children. be it 2 or 16, does not make you any kind of hero. Good grief, even chimps have sex and reproduce.

Aaahhh, LindsayDunn228 giving more parenting advice -always a sign to me that my time on a thread is finished. It's been fun!!!!

 

[chobie]

Pot-stirring is the last thing I want to do - just trying to further the conversation, which doesn't seem to be your interest.

The Beardsleys were in fact Catholic, and although faith wasn't prominently a part of the movie (either one) it was definitely a part of the book, and of the family's way of life. I can't imagine where you got "religion bashing" from - my point all along has been that some people who might otherwise approve of the Duggars and their way of child rearing seem to have a distaste for their faith, as seen in their website and on the show - the way the women dress, the isolation of the children so that they only "mix" with others of the same faith, etc. That's not religion-bashing to me, just pointing out that for some the faith part of it is the problem.

For others, it seems to be that with that many children you can't possibly parent them all. This was a case in which another family, famous for having the same number of children, (and they actually had at least one and I think two of their own after they married) seem to have been able to do it. At least they never were criticized for it publically. And I never ehard anything about the Beardsley children being maladjusted because of lack of proper parenting.

Again, its the Duggar's cutting them off from the rest of the world that is generating the most comments; not the size of the family per se.

Again, the Beardsly's were not subjected to such cloisturing.

 

[hentob]

Again, I am sure these older children work 24/7. They share a bedroom with toddlers. So, while mom and dad have their romantic escape, who is waking up to calm the little ones after a bad dream or just waking up like little ones tend to do?

One thing for your children to have "chores". Ten loads of laundry is beyond that in my opinion.

Safety also didn't seem to be important, either. As someone mentioned before, a toddler was jumping on a TOP bunk. There weren't a whole lot of safety glasses being used. And one particular thing made me cringe--a VERY young boy right in front of a stove with several HUGE pots.

And I thought I was the only one that noticed the dropping of that poor kitty

Hentob

--Off to buy as MANY frozen burritos as possible

 

[chobie]

Aaahhh, LindsayDunn228 giving more parenting advice -always a sign to me that my time on a thread is finished. It's been fun!!!!

Aaah, another YAGE. See you later.

 

[ducklite]

Again, its the Duggar's cutting them off from the rest of the world that is generating the most comments; not the size of the family per se.

Again, the Beardsly's were not subjected to such cloisturing.

I find that part the most disturbing of all.

Anne

 

[kdibattista]

What I want to know is where the parent's were conceiving all these times in a 3 bedroom house!!!!

 

[dtuleya]

So true - it's a compound in the making. Remember they bought the 20 acres so all the children could eventually build around the main house when they marry.

 

[ducklite]

So true - it's a compound in the making. Remember they bought the 20 acres so all the children could eventually build around the main house when they marry.

And that is where the situation becomes a bit cultish. Closing themselves off from the outside world, and keeping the clan at fingers length at a time where they should be experienceing their own lives as adults...

Anne

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Aaahhh, LindsayDunn228 giving more parenting advice -always a sign to me that my time on a thread is finished. It's been fun!!!!

Was that really necessary?? I wasn't giving parenting advice, I was giving an opinion. Simply responding to another poster.

 

[dtuleya]

And that is where the situation becomes a bit cultish. Closing themselves off from the outside world, and keeping the clan at fingers length at a time where they should be experienceing their own lives as adults...

Anne

True, the oldest son is what, 16, 17? They better start building his house if he ends up getting married at 19 like his dad did.

 

[tevagirl]

I was glad to see they have a 'game room'. Let's just hope they get to use it.

 

[Mary Anne]

The difference between the Duggar's and the Beardleys's are night and day. The Beardley's for the most part lead a normal life, their children participated in activities out of the house and interacted with other people. I found a wonderful website on them:

http://cda.mrs.umn.edu/~webbrl/YoursMineOurs/

 

[ducklite]

True, the oldest son is what, 16, 17? They better start building his house if he ends up getting married at 19 like his dad did.

I think it's generally natural for parents to want to cut the apron strings and kids to want to make their own way in life when they become adults...

My son is 20, and due to some disabilities might never be completely independent, but if he was able to support himself and came to me with a suitable housing alternative, I would support his leaving home in a heartbeat! Dont get me wrong, I love him and I'd miss having him around, but IMHO it's normal for kids to want independence as they become adults.

Anne

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I watched it last night, and the only other times I had heard of this family was on the DIS boards. I'm sorry but I find them scary. Now I have 7 children, not in their league but certainly someone who knows what it's like to have a large family. I raised all my children, I didn't expect the older ones to be almost solely responsible for raising the younger ones. Not that its wrong for all kids to help out in the family but I cringed when I saw that little girl almost solely responsible for all the laundry. I just do not think that its a good thing for any children to be sooooo isolated.

I can't imagine what it will be like for these kids when its time to go to college. I doubt they have very many life coping skills since they only interact in a very small "safe" environment.

Flame if you want but it seems like the mother loves to be pregnant and have a baby but then tires of it and passes the work off to the older kids.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am quite aware that many families have similar eating habits; however, I'm sure that alot of this families eating habits are dictated by having to prepare very economical meals - again this is their choice by having so many mouths to feed.

Some do it because they have to.

Others do it because they want to go to Disney world.

Why you do it is irrelevant as they are no different than the average family.

Pouncing on their parenting skills for it---just looking for an easy way to attack the family IMHO.

Do we eat this way? Heck no. Would I? Heck no.

But there are people out their regardless of family size, regardless of reason who see nothing wrong with eating this way.

Who's to say they didn't eat this way when it was just the two of them?

Heck--some of my church potlucks.....man some of the stuff people bring I am left wondering when did the heck they think to mix these items together and think it was palatable let alone taste good.

My point is that we have no way of knowing if this eating lifestyle is this way b/c of the family size or just b/c they like it and economics is just a side benefit.

While my hubby's family doesn't do the tater tot casserole bit--their food is much to be desired....but aside from cost--they just think it tastes good. Many of their meals are monochromatic. BLEK!!!

One does not need to be a familiy of this size to eat crappy food--and picking on them for it is nothing more than grade school antics.

And FTR--the Duggar food choices are gross...but to attack their parenting and perceived "irresponsible" way of life for it....it is just mob mentality trying to stretch for another difference which isn't really all that different from most.