[Donna7]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

That's your opinion and of course you have every right to it. But I don't think those children have lives of slavery/drudgery. They have chores and responsibilities. They live lives that are strictly structured, but many children thrive in those conditions. These children have a profound sense of family. That is not a bad thing. I in no way advocate the Duggar lifestyle, but it is their choice, and it has both positives and negatives to it. And the cha-ching, cha-ching with every new baby is really a misrepresentation. The media attention might have some short-term benefits financially, but long-term there are tremendous costs to raising such a large family. They do it without state assistance, and they do it cheerfully and well.

We'll see how well these children "thrive" when they're outside their parent's highly structured home and into the real world. Wait for a few books to be popping forth - some real best sellers. My husband is the youngest of 9 children. His older siblings had a lot of work put on them as young girls, doing a lot of work in the house, taking care of the younger ones. Today, not one of them has more than 3 children. My mother is from a large family. We have a large family. We can also take care of our children quite well because my husband is as well-paid medical professional and I have my own business. I know how much it costs to raise a family our size, much less a size like the Duggars. We raise our family quite cheerfully, too, mate. The duggars of Arkansas don't have the inventory on parents of the year. By the way, there's a Russian couple in CA that has as many kids as the Duggar. I don't see their family all over TLC. Maybe they're not the right ethnicity and don't have that white Christian conservative appeal that's been so all the rage of the last 8 years. Yes, that appeal has probably lost it's mojo at this point.

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by Donna7

We'll see how well these children "thrive" when they're outside their parent's highly structured home and into the real world. Wait for a few books to be popping forth - some real best sellers. My husband is the youngest of 9 children. His older siblings had a lot of work put on them as young girls, doing a lot of work in the house, taking care of the younger ones. Today, not one of them has more than 3 children. My mother is from a large family. We have a large family. We can also take care of our children quite well because my husband is as well-paid medical professional and I have my own business. I know how much it costs to raise a family our size, much less a size like the Duggars. We raise our family quite cheerfully, too, mate. The duggars of Arkansas don't have the inventory on parents of the year. By the way, there's a Russian couple in CA that has as many kids as the Duggar. I don't see their family all over TLC. Maybe they're not the right ethnicity and don't have that white Christian conservative appeal that's been so all the rage of the last 8 years. Yes, that appeal has probably lost it's mojo at this point.

I just don't get your antipathy toward them. They aren't raising their children as slaves. They have very conservative values and are struggling to instill those values into their children, the same as all parents do, mate. I never claimed they were parents of the year, so get over yourself, mate. I'm not a fan, but I don't think they are monster-parents of the year, either. You disagree with their values, fine. But this is America, mate, where we can all pursue our lives according to our values (barring lawbreaking) freely.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by bobbbbie

What I was referring to was the fact that certain religions believe in populating the earth and that that is one of our responsibilities. So be it that you do not agree with me. The point I was making is that too many people are critical of how others are when they should worry about themselves. If you do not realize it yet seventh day, catholic, mormons, and others believe the way I said and I was not referring to their actions but the amount of children.

Bobbbie,

I still have to ask, where did you get the idea Seven Day adventist believe in having large families. I have known several in my life, none had more than a couple of children.. Mormans and Catholics, yes, even they do not always produce a houseful, especially Catholics.

Nita

[Cunucu Beach]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Are they normal?
They are an interesting family
a good family
a conservative family

a normal family? NO

Nita

No, not really "normal" in many ways but "above average" in that they have a devotion to their children and a family cohesiveness that is absent in many millions of families in the world today. I admire them for that.

What causes me raise my eyebrows is that I have never before seen a woman who, quite literally, thrives on pregnancy the way Michelle does. Few women who have that many children that close together are as youthful looking and healthy as Michelle. Almost any other woman would be old, haggard and worn out from the stress of 17 pregnancies so close together.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Cunucu Beach

No, not really "normal" in many ways but "above average" in that they have a devotion to their children and a family cohesiveness that is absent in many millions of families in the world today. I admire them for that.

What causes me raise my eyebrows is that I have never before seen a woman who, quite literally, thrives on pregnancy the way Michelle does. Few women who have that many children that close together are as youthful looking and healthy as Michelle. Almost any other woman would be old, haggard and worn out from the stress of 17 pregnancies so close together.

I agree with what you are saying, I just simply think it is far from normal. I admire many people including this family, but that doesn't make me think they are normal or even right for that matter. I would like to see what life holds for the children when they are grown and out of the house. We may never know..

Nita

[Luvvarkansas]

One thing life will hold for the children is that they will understand that the world is not "all about them". They will also understand how to organize their time and get things done, and they will not be allergic to work. They will most likely be positive contributors to society. Of course, personalities come into play here, and there will probably be one or two rebels who will write a book, emphasizing all the negatives of their upbringing and none of the positives.

I'm sure this family is not perfect, that's impossible. As for what is "normal"....well, 100 years ago they would have been perfectly "normal". And people as a whole had better character back then, I believe.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Mormans and Catholics, yes, even they do not always produce a houseful, especially Catholics.

Mmmmm.....gotta disagree with ya somewhat, Nita.

I worked in a 90% Catholic area for a long time, my wife is from a *Catholic* family, and I hung out with a priest for years until he passed.

The general rule is, "Go forth and be fruitful", and I knew very few families that didn't have at least four kids, and a large number with 6-8.

They went to Catholic schools, where they regulary were assigned cases of candy, cookies, whatever, to sell for the church, which weas usually just bought by the parents.

There was great dissapointment on my wife & I wedding, as there would be no child-bearing. The good Dr. took care of that *years* ago.

Yes, there's very much a push to have children, keep them in the church, and then they have children.....

That's a pretty good plan to survive and grow.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Donna7

We'll see how well these children "thrive" when they're outside their parent's highly structured home and into the real world. Wait for a few books to be popping forth - some real best sellers. My husband is the youngest of 9 children. His older siblings had a lot of work put on them as young girls, doing a lot of work in the house, taking care of the younger ones. Today, not one of them has more than 3 children. My mother is from a large family. We have a large family. We can also take care of our children quite well because my husband is as well-paid medical professional and I have my own business. I know how much it costs to raise a family our size, much less a size like the Duggars. We raise our family quite cheerfully, too, mate. The duggars of Arkansas don't have the inventory on parents of the year. By the way, there's a Russian couple in CA that has as many kids as the Duggar. I don't see their family all over TLC. Maybe they're not the right ethnicity and don't have that white Christian conservative appeal that's been so all the rage of the last 8 years. Yes, that appeal has probably lost it's mojo at this point.

Donna, I agree: my husband's mom came from a family of 7. Her oldest brother did have 6 kids, after him, 2 had no kids, 3 had one and 1 had 2. The same in my moms family, 7 kids and the only one that had more than 2 was my mom, there were 4 of us. Oh, I take that back my Aunt had 3 cause her last 2 were twins.

Nita

[gimme it]

Originally Posted by Cunucu Beach

No, not really "normal" in many ways but "above average" in that they have a devotion to their children and a family cohesiveness that is absent in many millions of families in the world today. I admire them for that.

What causes me raise my eyebrows is that I have never before seen a woman who, quite literally, thrives on pregnancy the way Michelle does. Few women who have that many children that close together are as youthful looking and healthy as Michelle. Almost any other woman would be old, haggard and worn out from the stress of 17 pregnancies so close together.

Michelle looks youthful and not stressed for 2 reasons. First, she is obviously getting a lot of sex Secondly, her children do most of the caretaking and housework.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by OhioUberAlles

You come off as spiteful, hateful, and bitter, especially given that you are claiming (falsely) that these people are making money off of their kids. They're not on any sort of government programs. They raise their kids with their own money.

I agree Donna does come across as very narrow minded if nothing else, but I think what she meant when she said, they are making money off the kids, refers to the TV program (which by the way I have never watched) she is correct there.

as for not watching the program I did see a couple programs about them before there was an actual show..My granddaughter does watch.

Nita