The Duggars family TV show premieres this Sat.

[GoofieRuthie]

I haven't read every post. I have to be at work this year, lol.....but when I was watching the show I was wondering how they could afford all of that stuff! I'm assuming that most of it was donated. The rest paid for from the tv shows.

I asked my oldest daughter if she wanted me to give her 15 brothers and sisters. The look on her face was priceless. I have 3 girls and they fight constantly. I can't imagine having 16 kids and them all getting along so well. I know we only see the good stuff, but come on, I want to see the REAL family. We are in a 3 bedroom house and 2 of the girls share a room. When they saw that all of the girls were going to be in one room, they were blown away.They really want their OWN rooms. I give that family credit though. I wish that I could be that organized and keep such a clean home. My house looks like a tornado hit it.

As for the food they eat. Well, I hope no one here ever opens my cabinets or freezer. I have one daughter that could live off of frozen egg rolls, another on cereal, and the youngest on veggies and ranch dip.

I don't think the family is creepy. I could never live like that personally, but if it works for them.....

 

[LiteBrite]

My 9yo dd would be in heaven if Daddy would let her have her own drill. She has had her own tool box for years, with real tools, not toys. She loves going to the shed and building things. She has built a dog house (a rather large one) for her stuffed dogs, a stable for her horses, and a doll bed for her dolls, plus many other things. I guess if that makes us weird then you wouldn't want to hear what she just got her for birthday. Even I thought it was weird.

Come on now, you can't just leave us hanging like this - I don't care how weird it was, please, please tell us what she got for her birthday!

 

[pixiemomma]

I w atched the first half an hour of t he show before I fell asleep and I have to say they were nowhere near as odd as I expected. They actually seemed like a nice family.

 

[Albertan mom]

I guess it just seemed more old fashioned to me than downright creepy, like others are suggesting. My great-grandma was one of 7 children, and they all quit school in the 8th grade- IF they made it that far, and they all did chores (NOTHING wrong with kids doing chores and helping take care of siblings, IMO)... So yeah- they're outdated. But who cares. Their kids aren't in jail or pregnant.

And the perpindicular thing- um, the stud was perpindicular to the ground, was it not?

And so what if they are taking crap from Maytag- I would too if I could get it. It's not like my taxes are supporting them- they aren't on welfare. They work and make do with awful clothes and bad haircuts, but, MAYBE there is more to life than great clothes and beautiful hair. Many people have both and still have made messes of their lives. And I don't know anything about their religious practices, and frankly, I couldn't care less. I just think they seemed like decent people. And to the people whohave commented about how unhealthy their food choices are- PUHLEASE. I'm glad no one is policing my pantry. Jeez. I saw them eating trays of fresh fruits, and they had some frozen burritos- BIG DEAL. They're cheap, and kinda tasty...

And their kids seem FINE. I don't think they were beaten into submission to behave on camera. I really don't. Honestly- with the "no attention" thing? I bet they wish they had no attention. Privacy, perhaps, would be nice.

I'm just not sure why everyone wants to hate them. Heck, even I wanted to. I just found it hard. I guess it's because they are so different and so out of the mainstream. I don't know... I don't want to run out and pop out 16 babies, and I certainly wouldn't want their lifestyle, but why is it SOO awful for some people to take in?

Good post!!

 

[JennyMominRI]

You guys need to watch the originalspecial,14 and pregnant..It was very different from this one.It almost seems like they saw all the controversial stuff in the first one and made sure that stuff was left out of this one..They came off much better in this one..
I wil say one thing.I have 4 children in my house and they are far better organized than me.

 

[punkin]

You guys need to watch the originalspecial,14 and pregnant..It was very different from this one.It almost seems like they saw all the controversial stuff in the first one and made sure that stuff was left out of this one..They came off much better in this one..
I wil say one thing.I have 4 children in my house and they are far better organized than me.

Yeah I saw that one. I though it was really creepy. This one seemed a lot more edited.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

You guys need to watch the originalspecial,14 and pregnant..It was very different from this one.It almost seems like they saw all the controversial stuff in the first one and made sure that stuff was left out of this one..They came off much better in this one..
I wil say one thing.I have 4 children in my house and they are far better organized than me.

I agree completely, Jenny. They really toned down the stuff that unsettled me on the first show. But if they're as organized as they seem on tv I tip my hat to them.

 

[Galahad]

Yeah I saw that one. I though it was really creepy. This one seemed a lot more edited.

It entirely possible though that they were both "edited". The first one could just as easily been edited to make them look creepy as the second one was edited to make them look normal.

 

[JennyMominRI]

It entirely possible though that they were both "edited". The first one could just as easily been edited to make them look creepy as the second one was edited to make them look normal.

That's true also so maybe I should have said edited differently

 

[chobie]

It entirely possible though that they were both "edited". The first one could just as easily been edited to make them look creepy as the second one was edited to make them look normal.

This one was edited for more effective product placement.

 

[Debbie]

OK, I watched both specials the other night. Found them interesting because DH is one of 17 (3 sets of twins)

I've read the thread, and a few of the "problems/questions" were addressed in the one link to the SanDiego.com site Jan. 2006 article Counting Their Blessings

Here are a couple of interesting quotes (not noted (alt least by me) in the specials)

The sameness of their attire helps with laundry and organization.

The girls do most of the cooking, though they've been taught to change a tire and check the oil. The boys are trained to fix the cars and make home repairs, though they cook occasionally – mostly on the grill.

The Duggars met as teenagers. She was a cheerleader at the public high school here. He attended a private Christian school.

Together, they launched a used-car business, then towing and real estate businesses. Both are licensed real estate agents.

"This place is like Grand Central Station," said Jim Bob's mother, a real-estate broker who often lends a hand.

There are squabbles. But amid the chaos, there is a vibrant rhythm to life.

Television is watched sparingly. There are rambunctious little boys chasing one another through the house, climbing onto furniture, balancing themselves on the arms of chairs.

They don't have a precise budget, Jim Bob said, but it takes about $5,000 a month to operate their household. They live off the rental income from commercial property they own debt-free.

They eat out occasionally but take advantage of the dollar menus at fast-food restaurants or the 49-cent children's meals at AQ ("Arkansas Quality") Chicken

(Joshua's) political interest was stoked during the two terms his father served in the Arkansas House. The Duggar family relocated to Little Rock during the sessions – and young Joshua often went to the Capitol with his father, where reporters dubbed him "the governor."

I have 5 kiddos, and I know that my greatest challenge (not counting financial-but I don't own real estate, or have a politician's salary) is making sure that each gets some personal, 1 on 1 time (DH, too!) since I work outside the home (DH is a stay at home Dad-supervising the kids and their chores ) THAT would be among my concerns for these children. They seem happy, healthy and well-adjusted to their situation. Time will tell if they can or will become part of the "outside" world.

 

[Mom21]

Come on now, you can't just leave us hanging like this - I don't care how weird it was, please, please tell us what she got for her birthday!

Okay, okay, I'll tell you!!! She has been begging for a cash register for over a year. When she didn't get one at Christmas she actually cried. I am not talking a play one as she had 2 of those. So my hubby got her one for her birthday. One of those industrial, professional ones that in in stores, complete with tape and everything. I think it way WAY, WAY too expensive and way too heavy. It is on a table in the playroom and can't be moved, it is so heavy. I have a weird child and a weird hubby. They are both so happy with this. My dd couldn't be any happier than when she opened that box. She squealed like nothing I have ever heard. I think she is going to grow up and own her own business so she can play with a cash register......

 

[ElizaB39]

I am sad to say I also know what TaterTot casserole is. Never even heard of it til I came here for college. But to truly be a Minnesotan you have to call that TaterTot HOTDISH!!

Every TRUE Minnesotan knows what a HOTDISH is. Where I live now, people ask me if I actually ate that stuff growing up?! Heck yeah, they were staples in our house. We had the regular Lenten Friday Tuna Noodle Hotdish, then we had Jon's Favorite Hotdish...

Also, you can't be a real Minnesotan if you can't make a hotdish with Campbell's soup!

 

[ElizaB39]

Okay, okay, I'll tell you!!! She has been begging for a cash register for over a year. When she didn't get one at Christmas she actually cried. I am not talking a play one as she had 2 of those. So my hubby got her one for her birthday. One of those industrial, professional ones that in in stores, complete with tape and everything. I think it way WAY, WAY too expensive and way too heavy. It is on a table in the playroom and can't be moved, it is so heavy. I have a weird child and a weird hubby. They are both so happy with this. My dd couldn't be any happier than when she opened that box. She squealed like nothing I have ever heard. I think she is going to grow up and own her own business so she can play with a cash register......

I LOVE it! What a unique idea...

 

[ElizaB39]

Oops double post.

 

[Chicago526]

I only saw the first show with this family, not the second (I'll keep an eye out for when it re-airs, though). So I'm only commenting on the first program.

I thought at first the family seemed okay. As the show progressed I started to feel uneasy about it. The parents seem to take what started out as good ideas, and take them a little to far over the edge.

I have nothing against homeschooling, I'd do it myself when I have my own kids except I don't think I'd make a good teacher (or be able to stay home to do it). I'd be interested in seeing what the lesson plans look like, and how un-biased things like world history are. Do they learn about non-Christian religions, or even differances between Christian demoniations? How is science adressed (or is it adressed at all)?

Limiting tv and internet aren't bad things (not even close). Ecouraging the kids to read is wonderful! Again, curious to know what books they are allowed to read though. I some how get the feeling that the books are censored, too. Not in a "Catcher in the Rye" way, but a "Harry Potter" or "No books about dinosaurs" kind of way...

I was uneasy about the way the kids have little contact with "the outside world". The kids can only play with other kids that share the parent's values and religion. Again, nothing wrong with some limits on who your kids are exposed to, but there is something to be said for diversity too. I get the sneaky suspision, based on the very last part of the show what dating was addressed (the parents don't allow it, period) that while they won't exactly arrange their children's marriages, that they'll limit potential sutors so that the kids pick from a carefully controlled pool of prospects. Afterall, if the kids are only allowed to be with other kids from families "of the same values" as the Duggers, then where else will the kids meet potential spouses? They didn't come out and say this of course, but that seems to be where things are going

I didn't care for the way the girls dresses all matched. Using the same pattern, sure. Using the exact same colors and fabrics, it's a bit much. Even the boys looked too much alike with the khaki's and "polo" shirts. I know the reasoning is organization, but I think clothing, to a certain extent, allows a child to show their individual personality.
It did make a heck of a lot of sense to keep all the socks the same type and color, though, I'll give the mom credit for that!

Nothing wrong with kids helping out with chores, or older kids watching younger kids, but again, these parents tend to take things just a bit too far. The kids are responsible for just a bit too much.

Do I think these kids are in anyway being neglected or abused? No. Overall they have food, shelter, clothing, and if they don't get one on one time with their parents the way kids in a smaller family would, well, the kids all seem to love and care for each other, so I guess their emotional needs are being met for the most part. There are certainly thousands of kids all over this country, and millions in the world, that don't have it as good as these kids do, so I guess it's all relative.

I just don't think it's the best way to raise kids. But to each their own. The Duggars are doing nothing remotely illegal and have the right to raise their kids however they see fit within the bounds of the law. I just don't think that everything they do should be held up as an example of how to raise children.

 

[LiteBrite]

Okay, okay, I'll tell you!!! She has been begging for a cash register for over a year. When she didn't get one at Christmas she actually cried. I am not talking a play one as she had 2 of those. So my hubby got her one for her birthday. One of those industrial, professional ones that in in stores, complete with tape and everything. I think it way WAY, WAY too expensive and way too heavy. It is on a table in the playroom and can't be moved, it is so heavy. I have a weird child and a weird hubby. They are both so happy with this. My dd couldn't be any happier than when she opened that box. She squealed like nothing I have ever heard. I think she is going to grow up and own her own business so she can play with a cash register......

That is fabulous! Thanks for letting us in on the secret. I understand what it's like to have a kid with very "different" interests - my 18yo DD was fascinated with mummies and all related topics for years, all through her elementary and middle school years. She read every book she could get her hands on on the subject, and actually mummified several dead things herself. I know that sounds weird and creepy, but at least we only let her do it when she had the luck to stumble on some small animal that had died of natural causes (usually little green lizards - we have a ton of them here in Florida, and they do tend to sneak into the house and die in out of the way places).

Oh my gosh, reading over what I've just written, this is sounding worse and worse! What can I say, I have a brilliant weirdo for a daughter.

 

[3princesses4us]

I didn't know that as a Christian I'm not supposed to believe in dinosaurs or science in general?

 

[Chicago526]

I didn't know that as a Christian I'm not supposed to believe in dinosaurs or science in general?

Some really don't beleive! My DH was brought up this way, fortunatly he was too smart to buy it when his Sunday school teacher tried to tell him that dinosaur bones were fakes, put on earth by the devil to tempt people into not beleive the Bible when it says the world is only 5,000 years old. His mother actually beleives this. She wasn't so far gone as to refuse modern medical care, but she doesn't like where a lot of the scientific research is going (cloning and things like that), and she had DH pulled out of health class when they taught sex ed, and also had him sit out of biology when they talked about evolution. DH was also prevented from watching a lot of tv (Seasame Street, Mr. Rogers, Muppets, Charlie Brown specials) and reading lots of books (Dr. Suess, anything about dinosaurs) because they were "an evil outside influence". Yes, that's right kids, Muppets and Mr. Rogers are evil!!! At least he was allowed to watch "Wonderful World of Disney"

Did she have the right to raise DH this way? Yes. But she didn't do him any favors by doing so.

 

[jennobrn01]

I guess it just seemed more old fashioned to me

I think the above quote is one of the smartest insights on this family.

I am very surprised at the self-righteous under tones that are abundant in this thread. Generally DIS'ers have a kind, open, "live-and-let-live" outlook on life. Sure, the Duggars do open themselves for criticism by being so public. Yet there are many people in the public eye who have downright rotten behavior, and I have not read nor seen such resentment.

Do people such as the Duggars deserve respect?

I will admit that I am sensitive to this topic because I was raised in a Mennonite church. There was a time in my childhood where we outwardly looked very much like the Duggars. Even the teaching is very similar. I have faced rejection, taunting, and even hostility simply because I looked different. I was raised to show all people respect, but often faced ridicule.

Sure you may disagree with the parenting methods. But let's be more tolerant and kind. The external does not matter, only the heart.