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Archive through September 04, 2009

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2007~2010 WrapUps: Archives for 2009 - 5: 19 Kids and Counting - Duggar Family: Archive through September 04, 2009 users admin

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Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 4:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twiggyish a private message Print Post    
hmmm how convenient for another year's storyline.

Jgalt
Member

02-17-2009

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 12:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jgalt a private message Print Post    
Hi Seamonkey, I'm not celebrating this situation, a matter of fact, I can't imagine having 19 or 20 children. I'm just saying, IF you're going to have this number of children, it's a darn good thing the family is responsible, honest, hard working, and moral.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 12:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
I truly don't believe they are getting pregnant on purpose...these people do not believe in birth control and appear to have accepted the "What God wills" line of thought.

I think if a medical professional told them that more children would be dangerous to the mother's health she would have something done to stop getting pregnant...they don't appear to be unintelligent in that regard.

I do think that they must pretty much drop out at this point. She's definitely one who probably gets up at the first sign of labor and hightails it to the hospital...it can't take that long anymore!

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 12:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
Roxip, you're right. Michelle miscarried a baby while on birth control pills. They asked the Dr. if that could have caused/contributed to losing the baby and the Dr. said yes. After that, they decided to go with God's will. They spoke to a church group about it during an episode once. I think Michelle was pregnant with no. 18 at the time. She had tears.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 2:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
She's hoping #19 won't be the last one:

http://www.parentdish.com/2009/09/01/michelle-duggar-chats-about-morning-sickness-and-her-in-house-or/?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl3|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parentdish.com%2F2009%2F09%2F01%2Fmichelle-duggar-chats-about-morning-sickness-and-her-in-house-or%2F



quote:

Some say that Michelle Duggar is crazy. After all, being pregnant with her 19th baby, who's due in March 2010, isn't typical. But the 42-year-old, who herself is the youngest of seven siblings, seems to have everything under control. On her reality-TV show, 18 Kids And Counting on TLC, she exemplifies a remarkably stress-free mom, never letting anything get under her skin.

She talked to ParentDish by phone from her Arkansas home -- secreted away in her upstairs office -- about what life is like as a pregnant mom in a house of 20 and counting.

ParentDish: Congratulations! There must be a lot of excitement in the house right now.

Michelle Duggar: The children are doing their lessons now. Math, English, spelling, music.

PD: Who's running things while we're on the phone?

MD: My 16-year-old Jessa is the school coordinator. I think she's harder on them than I am. With her they have to get at least a B-plus or else they do it again. I'm more lenient; a low B or a C would not be horrible. Some come crying, "I have to repeat another lesson."

PD: How are you feeling?

MD: We are thrilled. I feel sick and tired a lot right now.

PD: How do you handle the morning sickness?

MD: I keep almonds around and protein and pretzels. It keeps it bearable. I don't throw up all the time. I just feel sick on and off all day long. I have a friend who's a doula and she told me to keep protein snacks handy, like beef jerky, cooked chicken in the fridge. It helps. Salty pretzels kind of help, so I keep pretzel sticks around. We all love pretzels, so I keep tons around. It's a favorite snack.

PD: How does it feel to know that your child will be younger than your grandchild?

MD: I am just amazed. Being 42, I was wondering if could still have another. That season of change is happening a bit, so I figured I would just enjoy hugging and loving on my grandbabies.

PD: Now that you're both pregnant at the same time, is the relationship with your daughter-in-law any different?

MD: Anna asked me some pregnancy questions early on and that was just a joy. Now she's asking me, "How are you feeling?" She was really sick every other day, so she can sympathize with me.

PD: How will this play out in the Duggar family?

MD: My mother and my sister got to experience the same phenomena. My mother was pregnant with me when my sister was pregnant with my nephew. I have a nephew and niece who are older than me, so I was an aunt before I was born! When I was younger I would point my finger and say to them, "Remember, I'm your aunt."

PD: Are you doing anything different for Baby No. 19?

MD: At this point I'm just trying not to feel sick. (Laughs.)

PD: Have you picked out the name yet?

MD: Not yet. Jessa gave me a list of name possibilities. She's my organizer. She said, "We gotta start thinking about this."

PD: So? What are your thoughts?

MD: Jim Bob (her husband) says we're open to suggestions on J-names. People can go on our Web site, www.duggarfamily.com and e-mail us at JimBob@afo.net with name suggestions.

PD: Any more kids after this one?

MD: We would love more. We're just so thrilled that God blessed us with another one. So, if he gives us more, we will gladly receive the gift.

PD: As an uber-fertile woman, do you have any advice for women trying to conceive?

MD: God is the one who's the giver of life and opens and closes the womb. I would cry out to him initially and ask him if he would be willing. We only think we have control but in reality he is the giver of life.




The link with this article has another set of J names in a poll on that site.. some good choices there.. Actually it is pretty amazing just how many J names there are out there.

Carlpsmom
Member

01-03-2004

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 3:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Carlpsmom a private message Print Post    
I was thinking that, yes, they may have an impact on the resources of our planet to a certain extent. However, balance it out with the folks who do not have any children or those who only have one(like me). I also have a feeling these children are raised with a great appreciation for everything around them and will respect the earth and her available, valuable resources.
I could not imagine being a part of that family. It is just not my thing! But, I applaud their self-sufficiency and the joy they seem to have. They seem to be a bit of positive in a world that seems to focus on the negative.
JMHO, of course.

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 6:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twiggyish a private message Print Post    
I'm sorry, but when I see her smiling each time she gets pregnant..I can't help feeling sorry for the ones who will be taking on another responsibility. Her kids do the work in the house, so I guess it gives her time to herself. I bet the younger girls are secretly groaning with another one to care for.
Sorry, I hate to be so cynical. But, this family has to seriously consider the workload on their children.
When does the sixteen year old daughter get to be just a teen? No, she's in charge of the homeschooling. It takes most teachers years of education and testing to qualify to teach youngsters, and they put their 16 year old in charge. Yes, I know they have books, but I wonder at the level of their education. What about the girls who do the laundry and cooking? Those are all day jobs! When do they get an education, or a time to play and be kids?

I am all for discipline and structure, but I don't think it's fair to require your kids to work and be the house servants. All children NEED time to be kids. They need time to play and imagine. It just seems only the LITTLE ones get that time. After a certain age, they all are required to take on a younger sibling and begin working.
Also, they aren't around other children except those in their belief system so they aren't aware of what they are missing, which means to them this is all normal. I'm sure most of us would not like to take on the workload that those girls carry.

Sabbatia
Member

08-15-2005

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 6:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sabbatia a private message Print Post    
Twiggish....you DO have some good points there.

My biggest issue is just the fact that she's playing russian roulette with genetics. I'm a firm believer that all things happen for a reason, and I don't know anyone that has a special needs child that doesn't believe they are a blessing, but it REALLY wouldn't be fair to the older girls to take on that kind of responsibility. I know they would do it, and never complain....but it would be very difficult for them. Michelle has been blessed with 18 healthy children so far.....I'm just worried about the next few.

I'm just gonna say that my niece has gone to a very small private school all of her life. She just moved here to start college. Talk about a shell shock!! She's got as many people in one of her classes as she had in the whole school. She's adjusting and doing well....but large groups of people still kind of freak her out. Reality can be quite a concept sometimes.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 7:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
I don't think Michelle is kicking back watching tv and eating bon bons while the kids handle all the chores.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 8:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
The reason they keep having kids is because that's more kids for God. That's also the reason the girls all wear long dresses and long hair. Don't they remind any of you of Polygamists except for the multiple wives? That mother does not care what her girls have to do in a day as long as they are preaching at the same time.

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 4:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twiggyish a private message Print Post    
Exactly Twinkie!!

Annie, I don't think she's eating bon bons, but she said herself that her main duty in that house was to homeschool the children. She's not able to do that because she is pregnant yet again. The older girls have to pick up the slack.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 5:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
I have always compared mother's to CEO's. Sure, the employees 'appear' to be doing all the work, but they would be no where without a leader giving them direction.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 7:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
I just can't see anything wrong in teaching children the values of being a close family, working hard and learning to pitch in and help one another. Is this an extreme case? Definitely. But this is the life that they chose for themselves...when the children are older they can choose whatever type of life they want. In the meantime they have learned some life skills that would make a lot of parents envious. You don't see them having a problem with their children with drugs, drinking, etc. They all seem very happy and very well-adjusted.

I think my daughter would much rather I be at home all the time than the years she has had to spend in day care and/or coming home by herself in the afternoon...but that is a choice that I made a long time ago. I pray that when she gets to be an adult she makes the choices that are the best for her family.

Terolyn
Member

05-06-2004

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 10:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Terolyn a private message Print Post    
I think they love each other and love children. They seem like an extremely balanced loving family. From the families I know (including mine) I think we can all learn alot from the Duggars.

As far as the children go, They seem happy well adjusted kids. Granted I don't really watch the show, but the bits I have seen I have never seen them oppressed, married off, going around preaching to people. I have just seen normal kids with chore / jobs to do in the home.

Maybe if I had instilled this type of work/family ethic on my kids they would not be the spoiled things they are now.

Kittyab
Member

07-15-2005

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 11:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kittyab a private message Print Post    
I wish I was that fertile.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 12:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
I wish I had a husband that could support that many children and who was still that attracted to me after all those years...LOL!

Sherbabe
Member

07-28-2002

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 3:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sherbabe a private message Print Post    
I love the Duggars, as well. They include extended family in the reality show, including his mom, his niece, the entire Bates family, and now their new daughter in law. These are some value Miss Kate should have.

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 4:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twiggyish a private message Print Post    
Would any of you want to step in and do the work of those kids for a day? They do it day in and day out without a break.
I forgot about the kids who sew and make the clothes for the family.
Are these children, especially the girls, being given a choice of their future? Are they told their only duty is to be a wife and mother?

I think if this family was more normal I'd feel better about them. But, they look more like the Stepford kids in their robotic but happy motions.

Beekindpleez
Member

07-18-2006

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 4:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beekindpleez a private message Print Post    
Are these children, especially the girls, being given a choice of their future?

Twig...I don't really watch this show much, but I have seen it a few times and the Father has had the girls come and work in the office and such. I don't think they will be forced to be wives and mothers if that is not their calling.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 5:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
But that will be their calling. I'll just betcha.

Texasdeb
Member

05-23-2003

Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 9:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texasdeb a private message Print Post    
I agree with Twiggish and Twinkie. I especially feel like the older girls are being robbed of their own childhoods. Even Michelle brags about her being a cheerleader in high school and actually having a life as a kid. The older Dugger girls are being groomed (not educated) to be: day care workers, pre-school employees, motel maids, cooks, laundry workers, etc. You get the drift! Those kind of jobs just don't pay very well. Not wishing bad karma on Michelle, but if she shuts down that baby factory, maybe she can actually be a "MOM" to the other 19 kids. I still think Michelle keeps getting PG because of this show & it means big bucks to the family to keep having the show continue.

Sugar
Member

08-15-2000

Friday, September 04, 2009 - 12:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sugar a private message Print Post    
I seem to remember reading something about the Duggars following the Quiverfull movement. It does seem to push the women to a more submissive role and constant baby making. It is far to patriarchal for me and quite frankly I don't understand the appeal.

I rather like Michelle Dugger and think overall the family seems happy. At least what we see on tv. If you pretty much only interact with your family, how do you know what other choices life may offer? The kids are homeschooled, spend all their time with each other, I don't recall seeing any friends and they seem to have a lot of parenting responsibilities. The little kids run to the "buddy" for comfort instead of the mama or daddy. Yes, we've seen them visit or host with a couple other large families, but it seems to be a lot more work, not much play or fun interaction. I think Josh and Anna are terribly awkward with each other and I'm not sure Anna is happy.

I always got the impression that Jim Bob found this fundamentalist viewpoint as an adult, wasn't raised in it but made a choice. I hope his children have some choices in their lives. So far the kids seem to spend most of their time raising the other kids, IMO.


Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, September 04, 2009 - 4:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
This family is not in debt.
The children all play musical instruments.
All the children (especially the girls) have been taught how to change tires, change the oil ect on their cars.
All the children know building skills...the girls know how to lay tile. They learned to build a house from the ground up.
They travel.
how many of us can say we provide all that for our children? i know in this economy people who have skills, will get farther than just those good old business, poly sci and history majors.
Jim Bob was raised in the church, Michelle was not.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Friday, September 04, 2009 - 5:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
I do think that this family is a very happy and content group. While I haven't seen any pushing one way or another as far as what they will do with their lives, I believe they are steered in a certain direction just by the way that they are raised. One of the girls mentioned being a veternarian or something, but I don't think we will ever see anything other than marriage and children in their futures. It's a shame that the only people they socialize with are those in very similar large family situations.

One thing I always think of when I watch the show is sort of strange... I would like Michelle to record reading a book (uh no...not a religious one, lol), and I would listen to her as I fell asleep. I think her voice has to be one of the most soothing I have ever heard. She is so incredibly calming to me. O.k., I'm strange, lol!

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Friday, September 04, 2009 - 11:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
LOL Huk! I agree, her voice is very soothing. I think Amy Roloff's voice is very soothing too. (except when she loses her patience)

Twiggy, I used to feel the same as you pretty much. But after watching as many eps as I can, I have really changed my mind about them. I see Jim Bob and Michelle more as partners and I think they are raising their kids to be good partners for their future spouses. I no longer see the girls wearing only dresses as a symbol of being subservient to men. (not that you said that Twiggy). Not that I really saw them that way...but I just don't feel like taking lots of time to explain what I mean, and I am not very articulate especially today.

Re Anna, I think maybe she was raised to be subervient to men. But I somewhat thought that about the Duggars too until I saw more eps. We haven't seen that much of Anna's family.