The Duggar Family: 18 Kids & Counting

[tybee204]

The average family if 4 in Tokyo shares about 400 sq ft. The we need sprawling space is pretty much a western thing.

This family reminds me of families of my parent generation and I think its harsh to judge them by todays middle class soccer mom standard. There is nothing wrong with kids working their way through college rather then expecting it. These kids are being raised learning sacrifice, humility and work ethic . They are expected to contibute to their family.
My grandparents raised 9 children in a 3 room farm house with an outhouse. 7 of the 9 put themselves through college . Everyone of them had to work the farm as soon as they were out of diapers and contribute to the well being of the family. I always considered this remarkable but apparantly by mosts standards it was bad judgement and child abuse.

 

[luthersmama]

I agree with Tybee about the space issue and the question of who pays for college. My grandparents' generation raised kids in very tight quarters with outdoor plumbing and no "expectation" of college. I feel that learning a trade (plumbing, electrician, mason etc.) is perfectly honorable and don't regard college as a neccesity anyway.

But I do have an issue with the kids being so close together in age. Seems like there's no time to get to know one before another one comes along. And I sense that the older girls are being burdened with an awful lot of chores. Time will tell.

It is very, very good that they are self-sufficient. I get really p.o'd at the parents of multiples who feel that they are entitled to public assistance after having their fertility treatments.

Not what I would choose, and I wouldn't want to subsidize them. And I do feel for the older girls - I think they are getting the short end of the stick in this whole thing.

 

[sondrad]

Edited for length by Sondrad
So interesting that different cultures see this issue so differently. Amish women pin up their long hair and wear prayer caps. The men keep hats on at all times. But this batch of Christians insists that women MUST have long hair and man must not cover their heads while praying. Common heritage, totally different interpretations....

I am roman catholic. As a child I was required to wear a lace head covering everytime we entered the church. I used to call it a doily, but it wasn't
My mother and grandmother wore hats to cover their head. It was a visual reminder of revereance to our Lord and an interpretation of bible teachings.

 

[sondrad]

The average family if 4 in Tokyo shares about 400 sq ft. The we need sprawling space is pretty much a western thing.

This family reminds me of families of my parent generation and I think its harsh to judge them by todays middle class soccer mom standard. There is nothing wrong with kids working their way through college rather then expecting it. These kids are being raised learning sacrifice, humility and work ethic . They are expected to contibute to their family.
My grandparents raised 9 children in a 3 room farm house with an outhouse. 7 of the 9 put themselves through college . Everyone of them had to work the farm as soon as they were out of diapers and contribute to the well being of the family. I always considered this remarkable but apparantly by mosts standards it was bad judgement and child abuse.

:blowkiss: Yeah Tybee! Agree, Agree, Agree!!!

 

[sondrad]

I think they are independent evangelicals. There are many evangelicals who are into the "modest" clothing and big families and not necessarily part of an organized church.

I have a stupid question: Is it possible to breast feed one or two babies while pregnant with another? I thought most women stop ovulating while nursing?[/QUOTE]

Not stupid at all!

It is a common fallacy. While your hormones levels are reduced during breast feeding it is still possible to become pregnant. Ovulation continues, which if combined with a minimum level of female hormones, allows for pregnancy to occur. I became pregnant with my second son while breastfeeding. My boys are one year apart (Irish twins ).

 

[JBean]

I am roman catholic. As a child I was required to wear a lace head covering everytime we entered the church. I used to call it a doily, but it wasn't
My mother and grandmother wore hats to cover their head. It was a visual reminder of revereance to our Lord and an interpretation of bible teachings.

Trying to get 8 kids out the door to church was a challenge. We girls would forget our doily from time to time. So had to go into the church bathroom and get one square of toilet paper to pin on our head so that we were in compliance!

 

[indigomood]

Trying to get 8 kids out the door to church was a challenge. We girls would forget our doily from time to time. :laugh: So had to go into the church bathroom and get one square of toilet paper to pin on our head so that we were in compliance!

ROFLMAO, now that's one I haven't tried... a two ply, extra absorbency, unscented, Charmin tissue mantilla! Classic JBean! There's a special place in heaven for your kind... :blowkiss:

 

[JBean]

ROFLMAO, now that's one I haven't tried... a two ply, extra absorbency, unscented, Charmin tissue mantilla! Classic JBean! There's a special place in heaven for your kind... :blowkiss:

What?! wearing toilet paper on your head isn't a sign of respect any more? LOL!
:blowkiss:

 

[indigomood]

What?! wearing toilet paper on your head isn't a sign of respect any more? LOL!
:blowkiss:

imo, it's one of the highest levels of respect. It's not respectful to have it tucked into your pantyhose when going up to receive communion... that's a visual most can do without! :silenced:

 

[JBean]

imo, it's one of the highest levels of respect. It's not respectful to have it tucked into your pantyhose when going up to receive communion... that's a visual most can do without! :silenced:

 

[indigomood]

Relax! We've all done it a time or two... nothing to be embarrassed about. It's like going to the movies, you just got to pick your seat and it's all good...

 

[SewingDeb]

I think they are independent evangelicals. There are many evangelicals who are into the "modest" clothing and big families and not necessarily part of an organized church.

I have a stupid question: Is it possible to breast feed one or two babies while pregnant with another? I thought most women stop ovulating while nursing?

Someone may have answered this, but it is very possible to nurse one baby while pregnant with another. Two of my daughters are 13 months apart and I nursed while pregnant (my milk never dried up even after I weaned the older of the two. I would not recommend it, I felt drained all the time...no energy.

 

[GreekSong]

I have scenes from the movie "Cheaper By the Dozen" running through my head, and I wonder what daily life is like in that household. I wouldn't mind having a large family, but not THAT many. But, if they want that many and they're happy, it's not my place to judge them.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

16. dang. that's gotta hurt

 

[Gabby]

they appear to be a functional unit.... and the government is not being asked to care for them... larger families are usually close, and that is a good thing

 

[PrayersForMaura]

I once dated a guy who was 13th out of 26 kids. His mom had 13 with his father, then married her daughter's ex husband and had 13 more.

Holy cow! :doh:
That's a soap opera!!!

 

[PrayersForMaura]

I just don't know how it is physically possible to give them all the time and attention they need. I come from a family of 8 kids and it was pretty tough..can't imagine another 8 on top of that!
How can they actually hold and sit with each one for special one on one time? don't get it.

well, apparently they have time for sex!! :waitasec:
and no lack of sex drive, lol :crazy:

 

[JBean]

well, apparently they have time for sex!! :waitasec:
and no lack of sex drive, lol :crazy:

ROFL! That's not the kind of one on one time I meant!

 

[PrayersForMaura]

ROFL! That's not the kind of one on one time I meant!

I know, lol .... I couldn't resist though :crazy:

 

[Casshew]

Editorial on this family from the San Francisco Chronical