16 children - Page 2

[BookGoddess]

I opened a thread about Duggars in the television forum.

The new home was shown on TV last night (16 Children And Moving In on one of the cable channels). As one might expect the house is huge. There's a giant bedroom for all the boys and a big bedroom for all the girls. The Duggars had a NY interior designer decorate the place and the result was lovely. The new kitchen has industrial ovens, ranges, dishwasher (it washes dishes in 3 minutes). Their laundry room has 4 washers and dryers. In short, there's a lot of room in the house and yard for the 18 member family.

I wonder how they afford everything.

[PrettyBird]

Originally Posted by Irishmommy

I don't think they are as bad as they are made out to be, but I don't think they are as good as they try to seem.

My butt hurts on this fence!!

I agree. There are certain things I disagree with, but they seem to be doing a better job than a lot of parents. And even if she does only nurse for 5 months (although that doesn't seem to be verified), that is still more than most American women.

But I don't think parading them around as the best family on earth is really accurate either.

They can afford everything because they own a lot of real estate. They actually have no debt!

[Irishmommy]

I could have conceived 4 weeks post partum after my first, and ten weeks after my second, with full bf on demand. So it is possible, though I know Michelle does wean them about 5-6 months, which, as PB said, is more than most go for.

[LIZnCHAD]

I don't think they are as bad as they are made out to be, but I don't think they are as good as they try to seem.

My butt hurts on this fence!!

:

I also saw the show "15 kids and pregnant again" or something like that. I'm wondering if she weans them so they can become somebody else's buddy. When explaining the buddy system she said that the newborn is her buddy until it is weaned (although she didn't say when on the show) then one of the older children becomes his/her buddy.

The dad is a realtor. They either get A LOT of help from other people or he is one hell of a realtor in order not to have any debt. Most people can't even go debt free without any children, no less a 7,000 sq ft house.

I'm also positive they didn't pay for the NY designer, 4 brand new sets of washer/dryers, and commercial shelving in their pantry. (dh is in the grocery business, and they are beyond expensive) Although they did say they got the commercial style appliances in their kitchen at an auction for a fraction of the price brand new.

[Boobiemama]

At the end of the show in the credits it said "thanks to" and listed some manufactuters and stuff, I bet alot of special goodies was donated.

[JamesMama]

Originally Posted by BookGoddess

I wonder how they afford everything.

I heard them talking about their kitchen and how they afforded it. They went to auctions when businesses closed down and bought them there for a fraction of the price. Everything was used, I think they said the washers came from an apartment complex or a school or something.

My aunt and uncle bought a stove and a washer and a dryer from the school in our area last year or the year before. They bought all 3 of those things for the price of just one new washer.

[Montessorimom8]

Originally Posted by redwolf2

Though I do think it was eerily *perfect*. She read 5 or 6 girls a story at bedtime and they just crawled in bed and went to sleep???? yeah right!

What do they do for a living? They had like 6 washers and 6dryers and an entire grocery store sized pantry.

The nighttime part had to be staged. The girls had their clothes (not pj's or nightgowns on) and that's why they were semi-laughing.

In the credits they listed the washing machine companies, I'm sure a LOT of the things they had were donated in exchange for advertising.

Personally I thought it was pretty interesting...I can't imagine it but then I am no one to judge!!

[flyingspaghettimama]

I looked at the site - they do "blanket time." With seventeen month olds. http://www.duggarfamily.com/articles...ional-tips.php

Ezzo-ites! Ew, ew, ew. What does anyone wanna bet that this family makes liberal use of the wooden spoon? Why have that many kids if you're not going to let them be kids? I would have enjoyed an actual childhood, myself.

Signed, the oldest of six/"little mama"
Flyingspaghettimama

[Alana]

I enjoyed this one thoroughly. It was funny watching the kids this time..because I think they are more comfortable with the camera. In the shopping trip scene, one of the girls had a foot on 2 different carts and was hanging on. I also thought it was neat that they put a slide from the boys room going into the play room, and the rope ladder. The fact that the whole family worked together on that house is pretty special too, they will always remember that...and did you notice..even the girl's got drills? I dont totally agree with their parenting methods...but they do seem like a family that knows how to work together, compromise, and has fun. I like seeing that.

[Lizzo]

I watched this too.
Intense, I don't know how I feel about it/them. I feel like it's not really fair to the kiddos, IMO.
The oldest boy was bornt he same year I was!!
I feel like they miss out on childhood. Who knows though, Ya know?
I guess what got to me was the mother saying "Too many children are like saying there are too many flowers". This struck a Mother Theresa string in me. Children are wonderfull and beautiful, but damnit there are SO SO many unwanted, unloved, uncared for children in this world and they do not deserve that. Not at all. I guess I just don't agree with their mindstate on having children.
And that doesn't mean I am against big families.

[the_lissa]

I have nothing against big families or lots of children, but I think this family is creepy and disturbing.

[No2Circ]

Originally Posted by LIZnCHAD

I saw a special on TLC last night about a family with 16 children`aged 17 to newborn. I have no idea how on earth the parents are able to remain sane.:

Apparently they find time for sex!

[LotusBirthMama]

As far as the nursing...I remember in their first show she (the mom) said that each child was her "buddy" for the first two years...so maybe she weans at two?? I don't think its ever anything I would want, but I wouldn't say they are doing their kids harm....just my .02...

[No2Circ]

Originally Posted by LotusBirthMama

As far as the nursing...I remember in their first show she (the mom) said that each child was her "buddy" for the first two years...so maybe she weans at two??

No, I think that means that she actually parents that child until he/she is two. Then she hands him/her off to an older child.

[Itlbokay]

Originally Posted by Irishmommy

I don't think they are as bad as they are made out to be, but I don't think they are as good as they try to seem.

My butt hurts on this fence!!

Right there with you....

[Ruthla]

Why does everybody seem to want to judge other families so much?

These children are not being abused or neglected and their parents can support them. Why is this offensive to anybody else? Sure, I don't personally agree with their parenting style and I know that I wouldn't want to live my life that way, but who am I to judge another family's choices?

[Sharlla]

My grandmother was one of the oldest of 14 (the oldest died) I guess she's lucky she was a twin because the majority of the parenting was up to her and her sis. She was not homeschooled nor did she go to school. When she was 14 she and her twin were institunionalized for 2 years and nearly steralized because they were thought to be mentally retarded (both had studdering problems and dyslexic)

I guess it's not that way for all large families, I'm sure many have nannies etc to help out, but often it does fall on the shoulders of the older child and I just don't think thats fair.

[Itlbokay]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Why does everybody seem to want to judge other families so much?

These children are not being abused or neglected and their parents can support them. Why is this offensive to anybody else? Sure, I don't personally agree with their parenting style and I know that I wouldn't want to live my life that way, but who am I to judge another family's choices?

I agree.

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by Montessorimom8

The nighttime part had to be staged. The girls had their clothes (not pj's or nightgowns on) and that's why they were semi-laughing.

That's what I thought too!!

[flyingspaghettimama]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

These children are not being abused or neglected and their parents can support them. Why is this offensive to anybody else?

Well they do serve their children tater tot casserole and they did name all of them with names beginning with the letter "J." Not outright abuse, but something bordering on a disrespect of both the individual and the arteries.

Just kidding. Although to me, the blanket time is a huge warning flag that the nice, well-mannered behavior is likely enforced with something not so nice. Blanket time is - well - creepy. Especially if forced on a toddler, and rationalized that God wants you to stay on your blankie. As Michelle says, "The key words are ‘sit’ & ‘quiet’!"

I am sure that the Mommy Dearest tell-all book will be a hot commodity, if it happens.