The McCaughey Septuplets

[sharbear]

In this month's Ladies Home Journal they have an article on the McCaughey Septuplets.

God bless this family and I know that they have a lot on their plates (8 kids, 8 and under) but some of things that the mother Bobbi says really bother me. LHJ has documented these children as they have grown up and I know that the McCaughey's are a committed Christian family. Bobbi always wanted to homeschool her children but they have decided to send the children to school which I feel is a good choice seeing as some of the children have special needs.

But, these are some of the comments that she made. She makes the statement that the children have made many friends at school and want to play at other childrens' houses. But Bobbi says, that they can't accomodate them very often. "Kenny and I are very close to our brothers and sisters and want to spend weekends with them and their kids. She also talks about the children participating in sports. One of the children wanted to play baseball but she cites the costs and how it would cut into family time. "My Dad didn't allow me or my five siblings to do sports for the same reasons.

She then comments that she and Kenny are going on a cruise to Alaska or the Caribbean.

It bothers me. I know that a magazine writes articles because they feel that the public is interested. But sometimes I feel that it becomes a forum for Bobbi to express her opinions of what a good Christian family should do.

 

[Cindy B]

I got my LHJ a few weeks ago. That article bothered me. Yes, she has a lot on her agenda, but the article seemed very self serving and I thought it was me.

I gave the issue away!

 

[TerriP]

I just read this article last night (it's in the Christmas edition of LHJ with Kathie Lee Gifford on the cover). I thought Bobbi's comments about not allowing friends and sports to interfere with family time were a little, ummmmm, extreme. To each his/her own and all of that, but I think interacting with friends and being part of a team are valuable growth experiences for children.

But, to be totally honest, I've never been a fan of the McCaughey's and the attention/profit they have gained off their children.

 

[kasar]

So, tee ball once a week would take away from family time but a weeklong cruise wouldn't? I would think they'd want the kids to spread their wings a bit and have a seperate life where they're not always "one of the McCaughey septs". I can only imagine how hard it would be to have everyone going in different directions but they must have known that would happen with all those kids. I've always felt that Bobbi was not comfortable in front of the camera until they needed something.

 

[Pete's Mom]

I think because they have so many children, their situation is unique. It's hard to accommodate that many kids. Remember they have an older daughter too.

Can you imagine shuttling 9 kids around to different houses for play dates?

Pete plays baseball in the spring and in the fall. It costs $ 125.00 a season not counting the equipment, trophy, snack, etc. Can you imagine multiplying that 9 times?

How can you tell one child yes and then others no?

So far as the parents going on cruise, good for them! Everyone deserves a break every now and then, especially the parents of 9 children.

 

[Lucky4me]

Neither have I Terri P.
They have been given much more charity than anyone should have in similar circumstances. I feel very bad for the two children who still suffer the consequences of their parents decision to first use fertility drugs and then to continue a pregnancy with 8 babies.
I try not to read anything about them anymore because I get too riled up.

 

[bubba's mom]

Originally posted by sharbear
One of the children wanted to play baseball but she cites the costs and how it would cut into family time.

She then comments that she and Kenny are going on a cruise to Alaska or the Caribbean.

It bothers me.

umm, hello??? they were selfish enough to want all their kids, they should give them everything they possibly can.....take the money for the cruise and spend it on exercise and socialization for your kids!!!! take an overnight trip if you need to "get away".... i think that's selfish to deprive them of sports and "normal" kid stuff because of finances...but turn around and want to take a cruise.....come on!!

 

[phorsenuf]

Originally posted by Pete's Mom
I think because they have so many children, their situation is unique. It's hard to accommodate that many kids. Remember they have an older daughter too.

Can you imagine shuttling 9 kids around to different houses for play dates?

Pete plays baseball in the spring and in the fall. It costs $ 125.00 a season not counting the equipment, trophy, snack, etc. Can you imagine multiplying that 9 times?

How can you tell one child yes and then others no?

I know exactly what you are saying and agree with the logistics of it however, IMHO these are things they should have planned for ahead of time. I don't think its fair to the kids to deny them these things because of choices the parents made.

Plus she said only one of the kids wanted to do sports.

What are they going to do when the prom rolls around? What about college costs. There is alot to consider.

I have 4 kids. They all want(ed) to do various things. I made the choice to have 4 children so I need to be able to provide adequetly for them, whether financialy, physical or emotional.

 

[mickey4ver]

They strike me as publicity hounds, who come out whenever it suits their purposes..JMHO

 

[my3kids]

They only have 8 children; the septuplets and a singleton daughter. "Only 8"......doesn't quite sound right, does it?

 

[missypie]

They've also irritated me from the beginning. Lots of large families limit kids' activities. I'd see no problem with them saying one sport (or whatever) per child....but none? Ever? As well known as they are, I bet that lots of "scholarships" would come available if they really couldn't pay. And I also bet that lots of parents would be willing to pick them up for practices, etc., car pool, etc.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I really think they are doing a disservice to their children by not allowing them to participate in play dates or sports. Obviously they can't be running ragged but one or two sports and an occasional weekend playdate away from their families doesn't sound so extreme. I think they are a little bit selfish wanting to spend all their weekend time with family with little regard for allowing their kids to be able to be involved with their friends. I have seven children so I know it can be overwhelming running here and there but I always tried to accomodate whatever was reasonable. Also, we rarely get to go away by ourselves, so I think you have to decide what's important. My youngest is 5 and we are just being able to go for the first time away alone this weekend.

 

[Pam]

Hmmmm..... in our local newpaper last night there was an article about a family with 8 boys and 1 girls. All 8 of the boys play football, the oldest 3 are now in college, as is the daughter, who played another sport.

And the parents raised their family of 9 on their own, without a house or a van being donated.....

 

[sharbear]

I don't think that money had anything to do with Bobbi McCaughey's decision. I think that it had everything to do with control. They want to limit their children exposure to anyone and anything that is not a part of their family.

I am very glad that I am not the only one that is bugged by this family.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Another thing that really bothers me is that were so willing to accept all the donations (even a huge house) from strangers and then act like they can't allow their children out in the world around these people. BTW when I decided to have seven children I made sure I could support them. I don't want to sound mean but this family has had everything handed to them (even their kids college educations) while most people with large families fend for themselves. If they are so afraid of the outside world then they shouldn't have accepted all those donations.

 

[bubba's mom]

HERE HERE!!!

 

[Chicago526]

Originally posted by DisneyMomx7
Another thing that really bothers me is that were so willing to accept all the donations (even a huge house) from strangers and then act like they can't allow their children out in the world around these people. BTW when I decided to have seven children I made sure I could support them. I don't want to sound mean but this family has had everything handed to them (even their kids college educations) while most people with large families fend for themselves. If they are so afraid of the outside world then they shouldn't have accepted all those donations.

Well, it is a little different, you had seven kids over several years, they had 8 all at once! Diapers alone would bankrupt anyone but a millionare!

That said, you do have a point, other families with lots of kids manage just fine without donations, and once the family got past the diaper stage and settled into a more predictable (realitivly speaking, nothing is predictable with 9 kids!) situation they should have stoped taking donations. And they should certainly let their kids go on play dates, at least.

 

[missypie]

Originally posted by sharbear
I don't think that money had anything to do with Bobbi McCaughey's decision. I think that it had everything to do with control. They want to limit their children exposure to anyone and anything that is not a part of their family.

I am very glad that I am not the only one that is bugged by this family.

I'll try to say this very carefully so as to offend anyone, but there are families of evangelical Christians who really try to limit exposure to the outside world. (There are probably families of other faiths who do this, but I don't have any personal knowledge of them.)

Throughout Christian history there have been people who think that segregation from society is best...from orders of priests and nuns; to utopian communities; to the Shakers and the Amish...Now we're seeing families who home school, limit play dates and outside activties, and if their kids go to college, they send them to very small colleges run by their own religious denomination. Often these kids end up working for a church or Christian school as adults.

What I don't know is how this all works out in the log run. Maybe kids raised that way end up happy and well adjusted in their small world...maybe they resent their upbring and go wild as asults...I don't know. (I have heard that Andrea and Rusty Yates were this type of parents; that situation, of course, had tragic results, but there was mental illness involved.)

But I think that the family with the septuplets is of that way of thinking....it just happens to conflict so much with all the publicity and help they've received.

 

[TerriP]

Originally posted by missypie
there are families of evangelical Christians who really try to limit exposure to the outside world. (There are probably families of other faiths who do this, but I don't have any personal knowledge of them.)

But I think that the family with the septuplets is of that way of thinking....it just happens to conflict so much with all the publicity and help they've received.

I understand the desire to focus on family and faith and limit exposure to others, if that is your desire (personally, I think it's unhealthy...but that's just me). BUT, why did they take handouts from every Tom, Dick, and Harry if T,D, & H are to be avoided??? Like you said, that's where the conflict comes in for me.

 

[Pete's Mom]

The McCaughey used fertility drugs to conceive their first child. They used them again to have another child. Instead she became pregnant with 8. What do you do? Do you terminate the other seven fetuses?

I have a friend who is married with 3 boys ages, 12, 8, & 5. She and her husband run themselves ragged taking them to sporting events, school functions, play dates, helping out with homework, etc. They have very little time together as a "family". Seldom do they ever get a chance to sit down and enjoy each other because one child if of here and another child is off there.

I work 40 hours a week, once I get Pete off to school, work, pick him up, cook dinner, help with homework, take him to basketball practice, laundry, bath, pay bills, clean house, & bedtime I am beat. At times, it is very physically and emotionally draining. I couldn't even imagine having 8 "Petes"!

Unitl you have walked a mile in their shoes, I really don't think it is fair to judge them. Just my humble opinion.