The Duggar Family: 18 Kids & Counting

[PSUfan]

I'm just wondering - how in the world would you cover that many children for health insurance? And, are they covered?

Also, what if the husband should die young? Since the wife has no job experience except homemaking, who would support the family? Do they have a great big life insurance policy?

And, even a wealthy man might find it difficult to support that many through college, should they want to go.

Do the children of a family of 19 really have the same opportunities that children from families of 4 or 5 have?

Just wondrin'.

Of course they do. People rise from terrible upbringings (and these kids do not come from terrible upbringings) to be amazing people. Look at Oprah Winfrey. You cant really compare her to this family though.. she had so many odds against her.

 

[JBean]

So that leaves about 13.5 of their kids not alotted for.... hmmmm... my youngest sister adopted already born children... never had any of her own, so I am sure she would gladly alot her full 2.5 to the Duggers, which would leave them with only 10 kids to account for? And I only had 2 children, so I could bring it down another .5 on their behalf. We are nearly there!!

You are a good sport.

 

[PSUfan]

You are a good sport.

well.... if anybody is keeping score, I might not be able to "pay it forward" in this way.. I and the rest of my siblings might have to pay it back, to those sex crazed grandparents of mine!!! LOL!

 

[alpharee]

We are not talking about celebrities here, or the way showbiz kids are raised.

We are talking about "real" life outside of the sheltered community of QF.

Excuse me miss 18 year old girl. Can you come over to our apartment to participate in bible studies, because I am interested in your religion.

Of course the naive 18 year old girl goes. After all she is naive to the real world and the "motives" of some people. So she goes over with bible in hand, full of 18 years of native teaching and 18 years of bible studies.

She feels everyone is as great as her community, her church, her family, because she has been "sheltered" from the real world.

She walks into the apartment with the full expectation of good and a bible in hand. Except that she has no idea that this "husband and wife" have no intention of studying the bible with her and she is harmed.

Welcome to the real world outside of QF. These kids are of course "warned" all of their lives about those evil "outsiders" who live outside of the QF faith to the point where they will want to live in the QF faith, because the rest of the world will seem foreign and scary with all of those non QF people who do not adhere to the Bible. They will stay in the comfort and shelter of what they know, their community, their church and family.

Just like the lost boys of a faith who were kicked out because they were competition for young girls, they literally cannot survive in the world outside of their faith without a significant amount of help to adjust to the real world outside of their community.

QF girls will only meet QF boys and will be expected to be good QF followers and what is expected of them.

Not a chance that an "outsider" will be welcomed and not a chance a man in the real world will want 17 kids with his wife and not be QF.

So they feel they have the right to overpopulate the world and spread the world of the bible and clean living. Then become missionaries in another country, I am sure having 17 kids in any other country beside a first world country will go over very well.

I believe in God, live a good clean and moral life, our kids are not in gangs, do drugs, or another other conduct that causes concern.

Does that make us lesser of humans, because we do not adhere to "their" faith. Because they feel that their faith is supreme and that they have to "convert" people to their faith because they feel it is the right teaching and biblical study. This reminds me of others who want the rest of the world to follow their faith because they feel it is the "right" one. Let these people spread the word in their own community.

Remember anyone outside of the QF faith is seen as non biblical, who do not live a clean live if they do not adhere to their rigid view of what is good and clean living. Let them go to the Prisons, abused women shelters, child abuse centres and see the evils and how good clean biblical living will solve the problems of the world.

Please, I live in reality.

since I WAS one of those 18 year olds I can tell you that your perception of them is not accurate

 

[JBean]

well.... if anybody is keeping score, I might not be able to "pay it forward" in this way.. I and the rest of my siblings might have to pay it back, to those sex crazed grandparents of mine!!! LOL!

Bless your heart PSUfan.

 

[deanws]

since I WAS one of those 18 year olds I can tell you that your perception of them is not accurate

Well then, tell us about it. I would love to hear a first hand account.

 

[PSUfan]

Bless your heart PSUfan.

Just doing my part, JBean. Thanks for the kudos!

 

[JBean]

Just doing my part, JBean. Thanks for the kudos!

I'll be honest. When this has been discussed in the past I have always been opposed to so many children for one reason and one reason only.
I feel that having so many kids makes it impossible for the kids to get individual attention from their parents.
Coming from a family of 8 kids, I still am an ATTENTION SEEKER because I was one of many and had a little bit of a lost in the crowd feeling growing up. But..I am extremely independent and I have always found that to be a huge plus.
My parents were awesome and I LOVE my big family more than life itself, but I do think it is hard to be there for each child.
I have 5 and it was really difficult to give my kids everything I wanted to on a one to one level. Now my kids are ATTENTION SEEKERS lol.
So I worried about those kids in that regard.
But, I do appreciate alternate paths to get where people want to go. My way is not the only way nor is it the right way. Perhaps they give their children attention in a way that I don't understand. They sure seem to be very successful at what they are doing.
I am not worried about these girls and their futures. If they want to grow up to be mommas and stay at home and take care of their families more power to them! I think we need more mamas at home taking care of their hubby's and babies. I think it is the most noble and gratifying life's work one can choose.
I am still gobsmacked at 17 kids, but there are extremists in everything. We have the other end of the spectrum where some of these poor kids can't make a move without their parents in tow and that has it's drawbacks as well with regard to future adjustment in what we are calling the 'real" world.

As an aside, now that my dad is gone, my mom is grateful every day for her 4 girls and 4 boys. Together, we take great care of her and we are her whole world.

 

[close_enough]

After this thread sprang back to life after yet another announced addition to the family I thought, hmm, maybe it's going to become a reality show.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall and see just how these children are being taught an education that would qualify them for anything in life other than how to pro-create, prepare a meal, and do housework.

I wonder how up to date the books are from which they are supposedly learning the academics? Who is maintaining all those acres they live on? How are they learning about current events? Do the children ever socialize with anyone other than the immediate family?

Something is all so 'hinky' to me about this family since the day they found it necessary to have their private life put in the public eye. What was the point/need, to do so...........anyone know?

i don't know the answer to that question TG, but i'm thinkin along the same lines as you.....

 

[PSUfan]

Well then, tell us about it. I would love to hear a first hand account.

See... thats the thing.. a few of us do have, and have sortve shared first hand accounts of very large, very very religious families. If not our own, then our parents, cousins, neighbors, etc. We have been sharing. Okay... so maybe some of us grew up turning out to love Peter Frampton posters... hehe... but really, we, and our parents, are none the worse for the wear, in spite of the "cultish" religions... private church educations... homeschooling... bible college, etc etc.

 

[Texana]

I'll be honest. When this has been discussed in the past I have always been opposed to so many children for one reason and one reason only.
I feel that having so many kids makes it impossible for the kids to get individual attention from their parents.
Coming from a family of 8 kids, I still am an ATTENTION SEEKER because I was one of many and had a little bit of a lost in the crowd feeling growing up. But..I am extremely independent and I have always found that to be a huge plus.
My parents were awesome and I LOVE my big family more than life itself, but I do think it is hard to be there for each child.
I have 5 and it was really difficult to give my kids everything I wanted to on a one to one level. Now my kids are ATTENTION SEEKERS lol.
So I worried about those kids in that regard.
But, I do appreciate alternate paths to get where people want to go. My way is not the only way nor is it the right way. Perhaps they give their children attention in a way that I don't understand. They sure seem to be very successful at what they are doing.
I am not worried about these girls and their futures. If they want to grow up to be mommas and stay at home and take care of their families more power to them! I think we need more mamas at home taking care of their hubby's and babies. I think it is the most noble and gratifying life's work one can choose.
I am still gobsmacked at 17 kids, but there are extremists in everything. We have the other end of the spectrum where some of these poor kids can't make a move without their parents in tow and that has it's drawbacks as well with regard to future adjustment in what we are calling the 'real" world.

As an aside, now that my dad is gone, my mom is grateful every day for her 4 girls and 4 boys. Together, we take great care of her and we are her whole world.

Thanks for saying it so well for me, JBean, I can get to bed a little earlier now....:blowkiss:

 

[CyberLaw]

On the flip side: Knew this guy, he was the youngest of 13. His Mom left his Dad because of abuse and she worked hard to support the kids as best as she could.

Well she had to work. Well the oldest kids "victimized" the youngest kids. They lived in poverty. He was the youngest and suffered the worst.

When the Mom was hit by a car on her way home from work. The Father was like "so what". He did take in a few minor kids as slaves and punching bags. Anyone over 16 had to fend for themselves.

So it shows that not all large families do well. But this women left to protect her kids from her husband. But unfortunately the damage was already done to the older kids.

 

[deanws]

On the flip side: Knew this guy, he was the youngest of 13. His Mom left his Dad because of abuse and she worked hard to support the kids as best as she could.

Well she had to work. Well the oldest kids "victimized" the youngest kids. They lived in poverty. He was the youngest and suffered the worst.

When the Mom was hit by a car on her way home from work. The Father was like "so what". He did take in a few minor kids as slaves and punching bags. Anyone over 16 had to fend for themselves.

So it shows that not all large families do well. But this women left to protect her kids from her husband. But unfortunately the damage was already done to the older kids.

Very sad story.

 

[cenasangel]

Id like to know whos paying for all of this ??? tghey are obviously fundamentalists so is the church paying for this family ???

 

[Mr. E]

I believe the Duggars have their own income and live debt-free. As long as this is true, I say more power to them. I wouldn't want that many kids, but to each his/her own.

I did see a special on TV (a repeat, I think) where the Duggars went on vacation from their home to California. They traveled in a big RV, with their van following, and they seemed to have a lot of fun. However, I was a little shocked at their sleeping arrangements. There were kids sleeping on car benches, and it looked at one point as if Mrs. Duggar was sleeping sitting up on a car bench. The kids discussed not being comfortable at night or getting a good night's sleep. Their home, though, is lovely and looks very comfortable, so I'm sure a few nights discomfort was worth a really memorable vacation.

Speaking of which, I asked my husband how a family of 18 (Jennifer had not been born or conceived yet) could afford Disneyland -- the Disney tickets are soooo expensive -- and he said he suspected they had been comped. This does bother me, as I don't see why people with big families should get special treatments just for having big families. Kind of like those families of multiples who get new houses and cars and such. Why does having a bunch of kids mean you get a free house? (Not speaking of the Duggars; I know they built their house themselves and paid for it themselves.)

 

[FlowerChild]

Id like to know whos paying for all of this ??? tghey are obviously fundamentalists so is the church paying for this family ???

The Duggars Are!

They have income - they own income producing real estate, buy and sell real estate and also buy items at auctions, fix them, clean them up and re-sell them. There is no central "church" to support them financially, they have their own services at homes - them and other like-minded QuiverFull families. They live very frugally for a family of 18 - NO DEBT! Pretty amazing but they manage. Plus they do get paid for the TV Specials on TLC/Discovery. - seems usually one every 2 years or so.

Why is everyone having so much difficulty with the idea that a family of 19 can live debt free on a modest income? It CAN be done, they save in lots of ways - they buy only thrift shop clothing or make their own and their kids don't have every toy and computer game on the market. Their home is fully paid for (and the land) and they don't have new cars or a car for every child at 16.Their grocery bill is about $2K a month - probably their largest single expense.

And if they were being filmed going to Disney then the PRODUCTION COMPANY paid for their admission tickets if Disney didn't comp them. And they weren't comped because of family size, but because of the PR Disney was getting by being featured on the show. The production company probably paid for their travel expenses as well. The trip would have been essentially free for the family.

Most of the people I know can barely handle the 2 or 3 they have - much less 4 or MORE. I am not worried the Quiverfull movement is going to spread much beyond where it currently is on the extreme fringe. Having 17 children is NOT something very many women in America would even consider, much less try for.

And as for "attention" I think the family style has a LOT to do with that. The Duggar kids are with at least one parent and often BOTH 24/7/365. They probably get MORE individual attention than many only children who are at school or doing activities from 7 AM till 7-8 PM every night and many hours per weekend. Their Mother gives them music lessons daily as well as home-schooling - how many "regular" mothers are doing THAT? Their Father is home often and at least is home for dinner (and beyond) nightly - and their day ends with the older kids doing a Bible study and singing or putting on skits or talking with their parents DAILY - once the under 5 kids are in bed. No TV to take up family attention - just each other. I think every Duggar child gets plenty of attention - as well as being looked up to by the younger ones and mentored by the older ones. And the kids are so close in age, they have plenty of sibling peers to spend time with too. They seem pretty well adjusted for now - based on what we know and are shown on TV - which a a LOT more than we would know about any family outside of our own.

My Opinion

 

[kazzbar]

Each to their own but this is not for me....would not even contemplate it. I am happy with my 2 and they are loved,cared for and wanted totally.I can provide for them and do not need any government help for schooling or insurance. If my hubby dies suddenly we are provided for...
Good Luck to the Duggars :clap:

 

[wildTrose]

Speaking of which, I asked my husband how a family of 18 (Jennifer had not been born or conceived yet) could afford Disneyland -- the Disney tickets are soooo expensive -- and he said he suspected they had been comped. This does bother me, as I don't see why people with big families should get special treatments just for having big families. Kind of like those families of multiples who get new houses and cars and such. Why does having a bunch of kids mean you get a free house? (Not speaking of the Duggars; I know they built their house themselves and paid for it themselves.)

havnt you heard of group rating? lol

 

[wildTrose]

way back when when the world was fairly normal and not as much violence Id say more power to them....but in this day and age...I really dont think I would have any kids...I have three 2 grown, one left at home...starting on grandbabies now and I worry about what their world and their childrens world will be like...that is my only objection to this or any family having this many children
this family supports itself, seems to be raising good kids, obedient, polite, honest...you dont get that in too many smaller families now a days!

 

[Hopeful One]

The Duggars amaze me. While the lifestyle is certainly NOT for me (I have all I can handle with two kids and a husband), I admire them. They seem like wonderful parents and live what they preach. It takes a rare woman to have that many children and be happy, calm, patient, etc. God bless them. I find their family and their whole situation simply fascinating and inspiring.