The Duggar Family: 18 Kids & Counting

[Knox]

I sometimes watch the show. For me it's kind of like watching the Walton's and I must say in this day and age of sex, gore and guck, it's refreshing to see old fashioned morals. It can be a little cheesy but that's the beauty of it right? The family is completely self-sufficient and lives a zero debt lifestyle, so who cares if they have eight more kids before menopause remedies that issue for Michelle. Most importantly all eighteen of these children appear to be healthy, happy and most of all LOVED!!!!

John and Kate ... Take a page from the Duggar book!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mr. E]

Knox, I agree. I am not a religious person at all, but one of the things I appreciate about the Duggar family is seeing the kids play together without screaming, hitting, cussing (like Octomom's kid!), melting down, etc. They're not nicey-nicey all the time, but they just act like regular kids. In one episode Michelle took the kids to a store for shoes, and they ran wild. Like normal kids would. But they weren't screaming for stuff at the top of their lungs, and Michelle wasn't berating the other adults around her. Although I came from a much smaller family, the Duggars remind me of me and my siblings and cousins when we were kids.

Also, Michelle is not always trying to hint at things that she "needs," or talking about constant trips to the spa. Michelle and JimBob don't take the kids on lavish vacations every other week, and they treat each other with respect. For that, I respect them. I do watch the Duggars; I've stopped watching J&K+8.

 

[txsvicki]

I think the Duggar's are such an inspirational family whether they had 6 kids or 19. I hope the new pregnancy goes smoothly and everyone is healthy. I know they will all do well and welcome the new baby.

 

[Knox]

Mr. E, one of my pet peeves in this crazy world we live in is "lack of respect and rudeness". Parents who do not teach their child respect and proper manners are doing them a huge disservice. Our boys (all in their 20's now) were taught respect and manners from the getgo. We reaped rewards for many years in the form of compliments "Oh, are those your sons? They have the nicest manners, great kids!". Not saying they were perfect, each of them had their moments as teens (one thought he was Dale Earnhardt Jr.), lol. Our youngest and only girl is also a great kid, she really takes care of her elder relatives! I see the basic tenants of good child rearing missing in many kids today.

 

[Shecky]

I just can't bring myself to dislike the Duggars. I don't agree with some of their beliefs, but I respect their right to live their lives the way that they choose.

And unlike some reality tv families *cough* Jon & Kate *cough* you don't see Jim Bob or Michelle letting the fame go to their heads and turn them into complete brats with entitlement issues. They seem like a kind and humble family, and what is more, they truly seem to love one another and enjoy being together, which is quite refreshing.

 

[AmandaBrown23]

I dont dislike them but I think enough is enough really. She needs to think about her health and that her children would be without a mommy if she died. They seem like a great family though.

 

[wildTrose]

I like this family, they are self sufficient depend on noone but them selves to care for their family and they seem to be more wholesome family then any other reality family!

 

[gitana1]

The Duggars do seem like a nicer family than most reality families. I do agree that they all seem pretty happy and well adjusted. However, the face shown to the public does not always reflect reality. Just recently, the blonde gal from Extreme Home Makeover announced that she had been suffering from intensive depression for years, all the while smiling like she was the most upbeat, cheery person on earth. The fact is that after researching the Duggars and their beliefs, I became a bit turned off. That Gothard person they follow is a creep. They also believe in blanket training which essentially involves training a baby to stay on a blanket for long periods of time by placing them there with toys, and then smacking them with a wooden spoon whenever they try to get off, graudally increasing the time they must be on the blanket until they know to stay there. Look it up. The Duggars don't mention corporal punishment much publicly, but they have in the past and if you read their book, that's what they mean by "correction". Watch the show carefully and you can sometimes see that with a whispered word or two, Mama Duggar can instantly control a crying toddler who wants to go with her to the store, or something. Watch also how the older kids quickly surround the child, IMO to cajole the kid out of his or her mood so the kid won't get "corrected".
I also have a real problem with the Quiverful movement. Children are wonderful. BUT, in this day and age, overpopulation is the root of all of our problems, from the amazing strain on our natural resources, the impact on rapidly disappearing and polluted natural areas, wars, which are really just people fighting for resources, etc. Just washing cars, doing the wash, watering lawns, causes our oceans to become filled with dangerous nutrients and pesticides which is causing huge dead zones in the oceans around the world and ruining our fishing industries and the wild animal populations that eat ocean fish (whales, sea lions, otters, etc). The Duggars are refreshing in that they break the mold from the rest of the reality families. They seem moral, simple, and to really be about family. But, I don't think they should be a role model for the rest of the world. There is a huge price to pay for such large families, in terms of impact on the kids themselves and impact on the world at large. JMO.

 

[MarleneM]

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They seem moral, simple, and to really be about family. But, I don't think they should be a role model for the rest of the world. There is a huge price to pay for such large families, in terms of impact on the kids themselves and impact on the world at large. JMO.

I don't know, personally I'd rather have to work, teach or supervise someone who had punctuality, attention to detail, pride in work, ethics and maturity instilled in them - regardless of how many are related - than I would want to deal with a room full of unrelated individuals with "only-child" syndrome and huge self-entitlement issues.

 

[gitana1]

By the way, Andrea Yates and her husband were also part of the "Quiverful" movement.

 

[Disguiseduser0308]

By the way, Andrea Yates and her husband were also part of the "Quiverful" movement.

Rusty Yates believed in the Quiverful philosophy. His wife was far too ill to believe in much of anything that wasn't delusional. He should have known when to stop for the health of his entire family.

That does leave one to ponder: if Michelle had suffered any mental illness following the birth of her children, would they still subscribe to being Quiverful? Or would they instead preserve the mental health and safety of Michelle and the entire family?

 

[oh_gal]

I've watched the Dugger's from time to time. They really have running that household and raising those kids down to a science. If anyone can do it, they can.

 

[Lola]

I've watched the Dugger's from time to time. They really have running that household and raising those kids down to a science. If anyone can do it, they can.

Unfortunately, for the children they are not lab experiments. Boot camp crushes the spirit. Fine for a soldier and understandable, hardly recommendable for a child.

 

[oh_gal]

Unfortunately, for the children they are not lab experiments. Boot camp crushes the spirit. Fine for a soldier and understandable, hardly recommendable for a child.

I'd hardly call them lab experiments.

They seem very well adjusted to me. They are well mannered, talented, respectful, and family oriented.

Perhaps what makes so many uncomfortable with them is that they can't conceive of living a life where one is not always trying to aquire the newest "toy" or promotion, or (insert here what you feel would make you happy, if only you had it.) THAT way of living is far more troublesome to me than the improbable threat and/or effects of "overpopulation." We're not all going to live forever. That's where the natural laws of attrition come into play.

Personally, I wouldn't choose to have 18 children -- I don't have the patience. My point, however, was that if you have the inclination and patience, and the Duggars certainly show that they do, who are any of us to pass judgement? They're certainly not costing you or me any money or resources through federal or state aid.

 

[PeteyGirl]

Unfortunately, for the children they are not lab experiments. Boot camp crushes the spirit. Fine for a soldier and understandable, hardly recommendable for a child.

I agree completely. I think if the Dugger kids were indeed raised in a boot camp atmosphere, they would behave and "be" very different. They don't behave fearfully, sneakily . . . and one of those teenagers would have gone over the Wonder Wall by now and exploded the Dugger myth.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I'm going away from the current topic of this thread, but just because I'm curious. Any guesses on the sex of this new child? My bet is female.

 

[RJA00]

I agree completely. I think if the Dugger kids were indeed raised in a boot camp atmosphere, they would behave and "be" very different. They don't behave fearfully, sneakily . . . and one of those teenagers would have gone over the Wonder Wall by now and exploded the Dugger myth.

what going to happen if one does rebel ?

I was raised sorta old fashioned. my mom does not believe in sex before marriage, not kissing lol

she raised 5 girls 2 out of 5 followed her beliefs, but she didn't think an less on the ones that didn't, she made it clear, she did not believe in living together before marriage, she would not come to the home they lived at but they were welcomed at her house just could not spend the night lol

the grandkids that were born out of wedlock are treated no different then the one that were.


I guess she did not believe in birth control because she has never used it, but she knew when she could get pregnant, she had 5 girls spaced about 4 years part, she was going to try one more time for a boy. dad said no lol

she is 78 and she is still old fashioned but has came around a little bit lol

 

[Spangle]

I could be in the total minority here, but I actually like the Duggars. I'm not huge fans, or anything even remotely close, but I like the fact that (unlike Jon and Kate Plus 8 and other reality TV families) they don't let the fact that they have a TV show effect their morals and values. Some of their morals and values, I may not agree with, but I absolutely respect them for always staying true to what they believe in, no matter what anyone else thinks.

I'm all for big families (my husband and I have 7 very young children, and would love more) but 19 is just insane..I don't know how she does it.

She doesn't. The Duggers raise their kids the old method. Where all members have responsiblities in order for the family to survive. Her only real responsiblity is the last born child. When she has another, the other child gets paired up with an older child. And becomes the OLDER CHILDS RESPONBLITY.

She does not have to do all the chores or take care of all the needs of the small children. That is all divided up amongest the children. When you have older children, the more adult responsiblities they are suppose to take.

It keeps the kids to busy to get in trouble in the neighborhood, etc. the kids learn responsibility for themselves and others.

Modern parents don't pass that many responsiblities on to their children. Some don't pass ANY responsiblities on to their children. Many children grow up not knowing how to clean the home or cook a meal. Next comes responsible shopping, etc. These are skills that must be taught. But teaching childrens such things are only done by lazy parents giving their kids chores... aghm.. Totally stealing their childhood. Ah.. yeaa.. right.

I've met Mom's that have taken great pride in being able to be super Mom.

Anyway, that is how She does it. She doesn't. The kids do it. They are all part of a team and they get attention for it.

 

[Spangle]

I don't watch this show. Because I don't believe in teh Quiver full idea. And I believe they are getting paid for this show. So It's one that I rarely, and I do mean rarely watch.

 

[Hopeful One]

By the way, Andrea Yates and her husband were also part of the "Quiverful" movement.

With all due respect, what does that have to do with the Duggars??? I realize they may share the Quiverful philosophy but still... I don't get the correlation.