Has anybody had a chance to watch this show. It's on Monday nights on TLC and centers around the Duggar family of Arkansas. They are a family of seventeen kids with another one on the way. The mother Michelle is a stay at home mom and the father Jim Bob owns and rents commercial properties. My first thought about this show was how in the world do you cope with seventeen kids. I was quite surprised. Mom Michelle home schools all the children and dad Jim Bob is right there helping out with her. The children are well-behaved and very polite and each older child is responsible for helping out with the younger children.


There monthly food bills is about $2500 hundred dollars a month and their pantry looks like a grocery store. Each childs name begins with the letter J and there are currently 10 boys and seven girls. ( The eighteenth will be a girl) Michelle obviously enjoys being pregnant and I wonder how she will cope when menopause hits (she's currently 42). I honestly don't know how they do it but God Bless them!

Funny you should bring that up. Me and some of my friends were talking about that show not too long ago. We kind of don't think they are being very fair to those children. And the younger children are being raised by the older sibling, rather than the parents. I mean how much one on one time can you spend with each child when there are 17 of them??

However I will say you are right, they are extraordinarily organized and their household is run like an institution. I really don't understand why they would want so many kids. I think it is strange. Just my opinion.

Floater,

I think I remember you and I talking about this just recently and I completely agree with you.

Every single one of those kids are so darn cute, it would be hard to say, "OK, enough is enough," but someone has to do it!!

It is not fair IMO to keep producing that many children and then have to pawn them off on the older kids.

Yes, I do believe they have a very tight knit family, but don't you think it has to get old sometime or another.

????????

Just my opinion!

If you want my honest opinion although I believe Michelle loves all of her children., I think she is just one of these women that just thrives on being pregnant. I doubt this will be her last child. I think when menopause hits and she can no longer get pregnant she may go through a bit of depression. I agree with you Floater and Tidal Waves I don't think it is fair to the other children to have to have raise their siblings. Just my opinion.

I've watched it a few times. I have an "only", so the thought absolutely overwhelms me.

However, they're self sufficient, don't rely on the government for aid, the kids all seem well spoken and articulate, and look like they're having a blast.

I have a little different perspective about large families because my father hailed from a very large family...almost as many kids as the Duggars. They were spread out over many years, like the Duggers, and remained close their entire lives (they're now in their 70's and 80's). When my grandparents fell ill, the children would come from hither and yon and take turns caring for their parents. My grandfather had a stroke and was never left alone in the hospital, one of the kids was always with him. After he passed, my grandmother eventually had to go to a nursing home because of advanced dementia, and once again, she was never alone, a son or daughter was always with her. That is one advantage of a large family, for sure. Some of the kids have died, but the ones that remain keep in constant contact and see each other quite often even though they live miles apart. I'm always impressed about how much they enjoy each other's company...and they laugh a lot, and it's a pleasure to be at family reunions.

Their life (the Duggers) is certainly different from ours, but I'm not going to judge if it's good or bad...some people think it wasn't fair of us to have an "only"...but it was our decision. For all intents and purposes they look like they're having a ball!

Watch Jon & Kate Plus 8!! It's on TLC and it's a great reality show. The sextuplets and twins are adorable and Kate and Jon are very real. The appeal of this show is that the whole family conducts business as usual with the cameras running. I'm addicted and I know many people of all ages who LOVE this show.

I used to watch the Duggers and I do admire the family because the children seem very well adjusted - but this show doesn't seem "real." For example, Michelle is just way too sweet and even-tempered. It's hard to relate to this family.

Watch Jon & Kate Plus 8 - you'll LOVE it!!!

Helen

Hi Helen

I do watch Jon and Kate plus 8 and just love it. The kids are adorable and say the cutest things!

I have watched this show. And the one thing that I wonder about, is how are these kids going to be when they are adults? I mean, their lives seem to be so structured and scheduled, I have to wonder what they will be like when they are finally out on their own? It seems to me that they are like their own little mini society!

Do you think any of them ever go crazy and just want to be alone for a change? I just can't imagine being around so many people all of the time! Then again, they have never known any different, so that is normal for them.

I see the oldest (or one of the oldest, can't remember) is engaged now. That should be interesting......!!

I've watched the show a few times and really like it. Both my parents came from large families. My Dad was one of 10 children, and my Mom was one of 12. I only have 3 siblings but I have raised 6 children myself. Now one of my daughters has 6, including a set of twin girls, and another daughter has 4. I have 15 grandchildren altogether now. I guess you could say fertility runs in my family.
We had good times when ours were growing up, and some very "lean" times also. The smaller ones did learn from the older ones and it was a great help to me. Christmas was a blast! It still is. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

I was curious so I did a search on the family. The couple look more than capable of brining up a large family and a BIG house to go with it! Those kids look happy and well adjusted - I wish them all the luck n the world! Reminds me of The Waltons

I watched one interesting special about the family's new house. They used to live in a regular sized house (I couldn't imagine)...but they built the big house by using "sweat" equity, for the most part.

I keep wondering how Michelle Duggar's body is holding out. I mean it makes my stomach ache to think of being pregnant and giving birth so many times. Will her uterus or bladder prolapse someday? I have watched their first couple of specials. I like Jon and Kate plus 8 much better, too!

I don't watch much TV, but have managed to catch a few episodes of both programs. I definitely prefer Jon and Kate Plus 8. A wife who gets snippy when her husband doesn't pitch in enough or read her mind - THAT I can relate to. Those Duggars are just not normal.

I don't watch much TV, but have managed to catch a few episodes of both programs. I definitely prefer Jon and Kate Plus 8. A wife who gets snippy when her husband doesn't pitch in enough or read her mind - THAT I can relate to. Those Duggars are just not normal.

I know I wonderded about that two. She has given birth to two sets of twins via c-section. I always thought it was dangerous to try for a vaginal birth after having two c-secions, Usually after two the doctor recommends a repear ceasariaian . However they went to a special doctow who was willing to perform a vaginal birth. If it was me I wouldn''t have risked it, On the oher hand I wouldn't have eighteen kids either. Who knows how many she will stop at.

One night while watching the Duggar family show I thought, how can Michelle be so nice all the time?
A light bulb moment>> she never has PMS! She’s always pregnant!

She has been pregnant 12 years of her life, with the average age of menopause being 51, she’s now 42, they could have 9 more kids.
Her likely hood of having a child with Down- Syndrome will now increase as she ages.
I’m sure it doesn’t matter to them.

Growing up myself in a very religious family, without TV, strict dress code, I can tell you they are NOT preparing their kids for the real world. Except for home schooling> there is my story, my childhood!

For a family who don’t watch TV, why exploit your kids on a TV show? Money?

I still like to watch the show, even though it would never had been the life I had chosen..

They sure have some strange rules.
While their older son was engage> he was only allow to hold hands with his fiancé?
Read they recently where married, so there is a good chance Michelle will be pregnant some day with her dil.

Must say they are very nice children, their oldest son Joshua especially!

I wish him the best with his new wife! She seems very sweet and I think was a only child?

I have to say there is something that "bothers" me about this family. It is not that they have so many kids....they seem so loving and really a wonderful family...what could I have against that?

BUT somehow it is the attitude that pooping out kids seems to be ONLY what life and living is all about.....as a women....I guess this is my beef....the attitude that this is the ONLY worthwhile job of my life, really rubs me the wrong way..... Personally I think that God would like me to contribute a bit more than just to the increase in population.....well, I may have it all wrong, but this kind of protrayal of "womenhood" just bugs me......

I am not what you call a hardened feminist (whatever that means , but something about this just grates on me....still working my opinion all out in my mind exactly why....but at least the reason I stated here...what do you all thinkg about this? Joan

Maybe they are of the old adage that says sex was meant for procreation alone.

I think I watched an episode about the girls expectations when they grew older. Most wanted to follow in moms footsteps and be mothers and housewives. They stated that they would be happy having the man as the sole breadwinner. I think with today's economy and the increase of the cost of living this is not a reality.
Don't get me wrong I think that there is nothing wrong with being a housewife I just don't think it's a luxury that many families can afford. I wonder if the girls have back-up plans if they may find themselves in the position of sole breadwinner.

Anybody wonder how she finds the time and energy to keep making babies with so many kids to look after? And, I, too have wondered about her poor body! I mean, how can you physically handle having so many kids so close together? You would think your body would just be worn out, in more ways than one! Definitely a rare breed.

I've seen the show a few times. I think they're a little "wierd" but then if they're happy.... que sera sera.

The kids all seem well-adjusted, but of course we only see what they want us to see. I wonder too about Mom's physical health. That really can't be too good for the body.

And how in the world do they afford a family that size? I mean really, we have 5 kids and 2 incomes and things still get tight from time to time.

God bless them. They're doing their own thing and it must be working out for them.

Who's to say they are abnormal? Maybe they just plan better than the rest of us, they don't blow their salaries on luxury items like new cars every couple of years, video games out the wahzing for the kids and so forth. She doesn't have enough time for her kids? Neither do I or any other working mother of 1, 2 or even 3 kids, but if her family is close and happy I don't think we can judge them.

Is it humanly possible to be a good Mom to 17 kids?
OK girls let’s do the math

24 hours in a day

8 hrs of sleep
3 hrs a day to help cook & eat (breakfast-lunch-dinner) I’m being generous!
½ hr for a shower
½ for s*x (must be daily or how else could you be pregnant all the time)
6 hours for home schooling
-------
6 hours left to give quality time to each child?
Plus what about all the other zillion things to do in life?

Does she sit in a chair and give hugs to her children daily and say “Oh what a good boy/girl
NEXT>>>Like Santa Clause?

What about Grandkids!
If each of her 18 children have 2 kids of their own> there would be 36 grandkids.
If each of her children have 18 kids Jim Bob and Michelle will have 324 grandkids!

I don’t see Jim Bob helping out much, he doesn’t work right?

They must make a lot of money from the TV show; rented properties can’t be that much income.

Saw on one show he put a cell phone tower on his property for extra income, yikes what about radiation exposure to the kids?

Don’t you wonder what will happen to Michelle at menopause?
Will she go insane?
Plus I have read that each pregnancy delay your menopause by 9 months.
I know that can't be so>> but what if>>
for Michelle menopause will be delayed by 12 years, she will be 63 y/o?

I have too much time on hand to be thinking of all this!

I'll go against the grain here and say that I don't think it is very responsible for any of us to be bringing that many more humans into this world. They have created their own little village with little regard for the rest of the consequences. Just my two cents.

I also have to stick my neck out and say I think it's socially irresponsible, with our dwindling natural resources, to bring so many kids into the world. And I think those kids are very sheltered, being home schooled and staying at their family compound most of the time. They will be in for a real shock when they get out in the real world, if they ever do. Sorry, but I think it's a little weird, too. How would all those boys handle it if we suddenly had a Draft again, and they had to join the military? I wonder if some of those kids don't wish they had their own bedroom. Or a place of their own to go to and have some privacy. I love how on Jon & Kate, they make time to be with just one child for a special day. I think it's very important.

I would also wonder at how well the mom's body is doing after so many pregnancies. Women did this in the days before birth control, and often died young! For me, there is so much more to life than just having babies. I love mine a great deal, and now that they are grown I miss not being part of their daily lives, but two was enough for me. If her daughters want to marry and have babies great, but really, they don't seem to have a lot of exposure to other things.

Ok. I've said my piece. They do seem to be a loving family that takes care of itself, which is more than many smaller families can say.

WriterMom

I saw a photo in TV Guide and Michelle had the baby, number 18. She was in the hospital when the photo was taken, and the whole family except one son was gathered around. It looked like a class field trip. I guess this bothers me a bit, having so many children. Some might say it's none of my business, and I guess maybe it isn't. But the reason people had so many kids in the old days was because there was a high mortality rate. They didn't have medications like we do, and life could be very short sometimes. It was a challenge to make it to adulthood. Think of all the illnesses you've had that might have taken your life if it weren't for medication and the advanced knowledge we've gained in the last 100 years. There was also the daily threat of an accident. They didn't have speeding ambulances and emergency rooms. People could die from getting a simple cut that became infected, or they could fall and die. Or just not have enough food. Parents hoped to have two children live to adulthood to replace them and carry their family name. Now the chances of living to adulthood are pretty good. The number of people I know with grown children far exceeds those who lost one.

WriterMom, I agree with you--our resources are dwindling. It bothers me when people have so many kids. How can they do so with apparently no thought as to the future for them and for our world? My son-in-law has a sister who has 10 children the last I heard, and her husband said they plan to have 12, like it is some kind of agenda. He had to build an addition on to their house. One of the babies was born with fatal health issues and died--her intestines were outside of her body. I think if it were me, that might have been a wake-up call, but the mother just got pregnant again. It's great if you can have healthy kids, but if they are born with serious issues, it means a lifetime of caring for them. I tried to picture the Duggar family just going out to eat at a restaurant or going to a movie together. They'd have to make reservations at a restaurant, or the manager would need to move tables together to seat them. They'd take up a whole row at the movies. They could not even ride in one car except some kind of bus that could seat 20 people. It would seem that so many people might be a bit of a burden sometimes. My son-in-law's nephews are very angry kids; I've seen them throw temper tantrums over nothing and they are hostile and aggressive toward anyone outside their family. I've wondered if they just feel overwhelmed. Their mother is always having another baby. How much time could she have for them? A baby would take all her time, and then when it grows up a bit and learns to walk, she has another. There's always a lot of noise and commotion; meals are chaotic and I don't think either child has ever known what's it's like to be alone. They are always with a lot of people. I don't know what the sleeping arrangements are, but I'm sure they have to share their bed with several siblings. I wouldn't like living that way, that's for sure. And only their father is earning wages to feed everyone and clothe them and pay all the bills. If he loses his job, what will happen? They would likely need assistance, which makes it everyone's problem and everyone's business. I wouldn't like living that way, that's for sure. Oh well; just my two cents.

Sorry, I think this is nuts. I would elaborate but suffice it to say this exceeds any "worst nightmare ever imaginable" for me as a woman: a human baby machine!

Hmm like I said before God Bless her. She looks so peaceful and serene. My body hurts just thinking about eighteen births. Anyone want to guess how hold Jordyn-Grace will be before she gets pregnant again? I say about seven or eight months old.

I do not agree that the younger children are being raised by the older children.
The younger children do have parents that are rearing every single child.

Each child has certain chores that go along with maintaining a certain order and standard of family.

Yes, I'm sure that the older kids are expected to keep a watchful eye at times on their younger siblings, but that's not the same as being raised by them.
It's not as if the parents are off living it up and leaving the kids on their own to be aimlessly looked after by the older ones.
That's not the case at all.
From what I've seen about the Duggar family, they work well together and have instilled a good work ethic as well as love within their family.
Also, the term "large" family has a different perspective for everyone.
If I run into a family of 3 children, I think it is a small family.
But to the single child family, 3 is a very large brood!

And when I heard she delivered her recent baby and that she was 42, my first thought was, "oh, she's young.
She's only 42. But to many other's they might think, Gosh, she's OLD at 42!
So, it's all a matter of perspective and I honestly believe they are doing better with 18 than most are doing with 1 or 2 or 3.....
Puts me to shame seeing how ordered they are and how respectful and well-behaved their children are compared to mine.

I have watched the show once...maybe 2 times.I didn't like it,i don't know anyone who lives/acts that way so it was of no interest to me.