The Duggar Family: 18 Kids & Counting

[Lesleegp]

I saw them and I think that they are very strange. Of course, I am not certain, but I think that some of the older children might be embarrassed by their parents. I wouldn't want the whole world to listen to my mother talking about how all of their clothes are bought from thrift shops, etc. Also, if these parents have a problem with letting their children watch television why do they have them on tv?

My thoughts exactly. The children probably have no social skills because they aren't exposed to anything outside of their home and they only see each other. I posted a story earlier about a family in my parents church.....the kids are home-schooled and go nowhere but to church and back home. Anytime you see them, they have their heads down and do not speak under any circumstance. If you ask "how are you?" they do not respond. It's sad.

 

[englishleigh]

My thoughts exactly. The children probably have no social skills because they aren't exposed to anything outside of their home and they only see each other. I posted a story earlier about a family in my parents church.....the kids are home-schooled and go nowhere but to church and back home. Anytime you see them, they have their heads down and do not speak under any circumstance. If you ask "how are you?" they do not respond. It's sad.

There is a family like this in our church, too...all homeschooled, nothing but church and Scouting...all the kids are painfully shy and the youngest, age 7, is a little brat with no manners whatsoever.

 

[BrendaStar]

Andrea Yeats had all of those kids and homeschooled them also. It seems an awful lot of pressure to put one person under.

I cannot for the life of me understand these people saying they want more children when they just had their 16th. They are dealing with a different reality than the rest of us.

 

[Lesleegp]

I don't want to be misunderstood as implying there is anything wrong with homeschooling. It's not for me, but I think there are great parents who homeschool....and part of that is being sure the children are well-rounded and get some outside activity and interaction with other people and children.

 

[BrendaStar]

I knew one woman who homeschooled two kids thru high school. They were socially adjusted with plenty of other activities.

I just think it is putting a lot of pressure on one person to home school sixteen children with different grades, different subjects, and different abilities. And why would anyone want to take on such a task?

 

[tezi]

I have four kids, and I couldn't imagine having another. These people are nutz. She doesn't seem to have time to suffer from ppd, she always pregnant. I know people thought I was crazy when I had four kids in five years, but the last one wasn't planned, he was supposed to be born five years after his sister. Imagine my surprise when I turned up pregnant when she was four months old. There is 13 months, 4 days, 4 hours, and 10 minutes between #3 and #4. And after he was born I had the worst case of ppd, and had to hospitalized because the doctor thought I was a danger to myself, not to the kids.

I guess because I ppd so bad, I understand a little bit why Andrea Yates did what she did. But, I also hold Rusty somewhat responsible.

I wonder when #17 will come along?

 

[Lesleegp]

I'd say #17 will be here in about 10-12 months.

 

[BrendaStar]

I'd say #17 will be here in about 10-12 months.

That long? How about a good old nine months? :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

 

[Lesleegp]

That long? How about a good old nine months? :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

LOL, I was giving her the standard 6 weeks to recoup and then a month or two for him to shoot blanks.

 

[tezi]

LOL, I was giving her the standard 6 weeks to recoup and then a month or two for him to shoot blanks.

BWHAA!

 

[Sassygerl]

Here's the family's website with lots of pics......

http://www.jimbob.info/

I am speechless...LOL

ETA: I'm still reading the FAQ's...each older child has 1-2 "buddies" (siblings) that they help daily. I don't agree at all with this situation!!!!!

 

[Lesleegp]

That just ain't right. I don't care what is said about it.

 

[Mabel]

.......... Also, if these parents have a problem with letting their children watch television why do they have them on tv?

Mom and Dad should spend a little more time watching TV - it would give them something else to do with their evenings.

 

[Lesleegp]

Snippet for their website:

"Our daily routine begins with personal hygiene (get dressed, brush teeth, comb hair, etc…). Each older child has a younger buddy or two that they help. We eat breakfast & read Proverbs at 8:00a.m., then we ‘quick clean’ the house (older child & their buddy work together to clean their jurisdictions). Throughout the day we try to pickup as we go along, but naturally things tend toward disorder. So, it is a constant training process with ‘quick clean’ times throughout the day. At 9:00a.m., the older children help their buddies with their studies in phonics, math, violin & piano (J-O-Y- Jesus first, Others second, & Yourself last!). Then the older children start their music & individual studies- math, English, spelling & typing. We break for lunch at 12:00pm. Jill (age 13) prepares lunch & we all help cleanup. After lunch we work to finish individual studies. At 1:30p.m. the little ones go down for naps (4 & under). Momma & older children are around the table at 2:00p.m. for Wisdom Booklet group studies - science, history, law, medicine. We work on one subject until we complete the study. We also review & memorize scripture, hymns & operational definitions of character qualities. The children especially enjoy this because they make up motions to help with memorization. At 4:00p.m., we break from group study to complete individual studies, otherwise this is free time. We have dinner at 5:00p.m. Jana (Age 14) prepares dinner & everyone helps cleanup. We do another ‘quick clean’ of the house after dinner & then have free time. Some may still be finishing up music, seeing we have to take turns with one piano to 11 students! 8:00p.m.is snack time. Then we get ready for bed (baths, brush teeth, pick out clothes for next day). 9:00p.m. is Bible time with Daddy. This is probably our favorite time of day. Daddy reads the Bible & we discuss the passage together. We talk about the day & bring out points of how to apply what we have learned. We enjoy making up skits & acting out examples of right responses & wrong responses. Often our little ones will fall asleep as Daddy begins Bible time, still they love to be with us at this special time. Bedtime is 10:00p.m."

The older children help the younger ones with their studies?

Poor Jill prepares lunch for everyone? Poor Jill!

Poor Jana (although I have seen it spelled Janna) prepares dinner for everyone? Buffet maybe? Geeze!

 

[Jules]

Mom and Dad should spend a little more time watching TV - it would give them something else to do with their evenings.

 

[jannuncutt]

I've just finished viewing their website...............

 

[Jules]

The older children help the younger ones with their studies?

Poor Jill prepares lunch for everyone? Poor Jill!

Poor Jana (although I have seen it spelled Janna) prepares dinner for everyone? Buffet maybe? Geeze!

I don't agree with this at all. Oh, there are so many things wrong with this whole thing... on so many levels.

Those poor kids. When exactly do they get to be kids?

 

[Jules]

From their website:

Laundry- Hanging clothes are kept in the ‘family closet’, a room converted into closet space just off from the laundry room. Socks, underclothes, etc. are sorted into clothes bins on top of the dryers (large square plastic dishpans) that are labeled with each family member’s name. When laundry comes out of the dryer it can quickly be put in the clothes bins or family closet. No more shuffling clean clothes from one end of the house to the other. (They never seemed to make it to the dressers or closets, & frequently clean clothes ended up back in the dirty basket!) When we need clothes, we simply go to the family closet. Seasonal clothes are boxed or hung in ‘off limit’ closets. Also, laundry is made easier when we wear matching colors (Mon- red, Tues- blue, etc …We call it our ‘homeschool uniforms’. We feel unified & more serious about school, like a team!) We keep socks simple, too. The girls wear white & the boys wear black.

Child Training Tip-With 6 little boys age 5 and under we’ve enjoyed much more peace, harmony, & order in our home since a friend shared with us about ‘blanket time’. We began this training four years ago, when our second set of twins were 17 months old. They started learning self-control & obedience by sitting quietly on a blanket playing with a few toys. The key words are ‘sit’ & ‘quiet’! At first, we practiced 5 minutes, 2-3 times a day, & worked up to 10-20 minutes at a time. This one tip has changed the atmosphere of our home tremendously. We don’t have little ones tearing up the house as often & getting into things while we are busy. Occasionally, we still have those moments, but over all the little ones are content. This frees us to be able to accomplish more in our day! We have since, transferred this training to other areas, such as sitting during worship services, shopping trips & when visiting with company…etc. It’s teaching them responsibility (knowing & doing what both God & others are expecting of them) at an early age.

Jim Bob, you are in the process of building a 7,000 square foot home for your family and are committed to building it debt free. Why the commitment to debt-free living?

14 years ago Michelle and I went through Jim Sammons’, “Financial Freedom Seminar” on video (available from IBLP Publications @ 1-630-323-9800). It was life changing! He teaches practical Bible principles of finances that have made us thousands & saved us thousands of dollars. He teaches how to get the best buy, learning to live within your income & purposing to get out of debt, to name a few. Our whole family loves to watch these tapes! We took Romans 13:8 literal which says, “Owe no man anything but to love one another.” We purposed to get out of debt & stay out of debt. We have witnessed, God is faithful & has always met our needs! We have paid cash for some small real estate investments & God has multiplied our income to take care of our growing family. He also enabled Jim Bob to have the freedom to run for & serve in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002 & to run for the U.S. Senate in 2002. We are currently building a 7000 square foot all steel home, as the Lord provides. It is our family project & we hope to be in by the end of this year. Jim Bob & the two oldest sons have built it from the ground up with the help of a friend who is teaching them about construction as they go.

OMG these people are nuts.

 

[deanws]

This ought to be against the law!



Michelle, are there any special luxuries that this dream home will have?
Our current home is about 2400 square feet. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 washers & 3 dryers. Every morning there is a long line outside each bathroom. Our new home will have 7000 square feet with a big dorm room for the boys and another for the girls. It will have a 2000 square foot living room (which will be great for our home church meetings), a commercial kitchen similar to that of a restaurant with a dining hall, a big pantry, a play room, a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, a sewing room, an office, a laundry mat with 4 washers, 8 dryers and 10 bathrooms, all of which sits on 20 acres. To God be the Glory!

http://www.jimbob.info/faq.html

Somebody should have turned them into cps a long time ago for having that many children in a 2400 square foot house. :doh: IMO this is child abuse.

 

[tezi]

Good Grief, I'd be in the looney bin if I spent day in and day out with my kids. Just exactly when does this mother get a break?


It's wrong on a lot of levels. I can't imagine my 14 year making lunch for everyone, heck she still thinks I should wait on her hand and foot.
I do like the idea of quick cleans, though, maybe I should start that in my house. I doubt it would work though, I'm considered the maid around here, just ask the dogs!