Take a good look at this picture. Anyone know who all these people are? Well, have you ever seen the show on TLC called "17 Kids and Counting"? It's about Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar who live in northwest Arkansas (yes, my home state!) and the very large family they're raising...their 18th child was just born in December...EIGHTEENTH!!! Can you even begin to imagine? They have 10 boys and 8 girls. Here are their names in the order they were born...1. Joshua - March 3, 1988
2. John - January 12, 1990/ Jana's Twin
3. Janna - January 12, 1990/ John- David's Twin
4. Jill - May 17, 1991
5. Jessa - November 4, 1992
6. Jinger - December 21, 1993
7. Joseph - January 20, 1995
8. Josiah - August 28, 1996
9. Joy-Anna - October 28, 1997
10. Jeremiah - December 30, 1998/ Jedidiah's Twin
11. Jedidiah - December 30, 1998 / Jeremiah's Twin
12. Jason - April 21, 2000
13. James - July 7, 2001
14. Justin - November 15, 2002
15. Jackson Levi - May 23, 2004
16. Johannah - October 11, 2005
17. Jennifer born August 2, 2007
18. Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar, December 18, 2008
I have such a hard time wrapping my brain around this! I have two children and life can get very chaotic sometimes...I can't begin to grasp adding 16 more to the mix! Wow!!!
Jim Bob and Michelle are of the conservative Baptist faith (I'm Baptist, too!) and have beliefs in Quiverfull, which shuns birth control (ya think?). Jim Bob works and Michelle stays at home and home schools all...ALL the children! They don't own any credit cards, so they pay for everything outright...they are debt-free. They don't have a mortgage and don't borrow money. Michelle sews clothes for herself and the children and they, also, wear second-hand clothing. They buy their household goods in bulk...have you ever seen their pantry? It is huge and so incredibly organized...I've never seen anything like it!
I watched the episode the other night that showed their oldest son getting engaged and married. He popped the question at a seafood restaurant where his girlfriend was having dinner with her parents. They had a rule between the two of them that they would not kiss until they were pronounced husband and wife on their wedding day. However, when they became engaged, you could tell by how they looked at each other that they wanted so badly to embrace and kiss! His parents even gave them "permission" to hold hands once they became engaged! Isn't that something? Plus, every date they went on, they had a chaperone with them. Just imagine having your first kiss in front of an entire congregation? Oh, the pressure!
All of the Duggar kids seem to be well-adjusted and well-mannered, but you have to wonder if "something" is missing. What I mean is are they lacking one-on-one time with their parents? If there are that many kids to tend to, how could you possibly devote quality time to each one of them? I have a hard time working that in with my own two girls! I think the older kids carry a huge burden of helping raise and care for the younger ones.
I heard Jim Bob and Michelle in a recent interview state that they would love to have more children if God sees to bless them, again. She's already 42 years old! My hat's off to both of them, but I have to wonder if they'll ever get to a point when they say, "No more for us"? What's your opinion...I'd love to know!!!
With 18 kids to raise, this would probably be me...
Happy Friday...and enjoy your YOUR family! ♥
P.S. Be sure to check back tomorrow...I'll have a special post for Brittany. She turns 17 on Sunday...I can't believe it.
34 comments:
I just want one :(
I absolutely can't even imagine that many children. I LOVE my one child to death and we still have an occasional "hard" day, but if I had THAT many children I would be in the looney bin!!
No no no! I didn't mean it that way! I've watched the show and I know they are good parents. It's just situations like theirs make me wonder why the fertility bug can't be spread out more evenly to ppl like me!
The thing is, a mom only has so much time in the day and can only speak actual words one at a time. So, it is necessary that the more kids you have, the more your time and words get divided between them. I have six kids, so I'm not saying that families should only have 2 kids and that's it. But, really, with 18, there becomes an assembly-line feeling to family life. I already feel torn about that in my household sometimes.
Also, I'm not one to say that the older kids shouldn't pitch in--they are a family and I DO think kids should have chores, etc. But, I don't think the older kids should parent the younger kids. They should do things like laundry, sweeping, dishes, etc. In the Duggar household, though, they have what they call jurisdictions and the older kids are assigned a younger child to teach that chore and work beside and sort of take under their wing.
But, I will say, if any family ever had 18 children and did a good job with it, these folks do. They do the absolute best possible job they can--IMO. And, those kids are really good kids. I hope it all works out for them in the end and they have happy, well-adjusted families themselves.
I don't care too much for this show. I am not so sure that I agree with their "rearing" techniques. Plus, having that many kids is just insane. But it's their life.... not mine. Of course, you know this is coming from someone who has no children.
Happy 17th Birthday to Brittany!!!
I have been following the Duggars since baby 14....the news here in Arkansas would do a segment on them.
I personally feel that enough is enough. The older children are raising the younger kids. There is NO WAY to have 1 on 1 time with them.
But, God is in control and knows whats best! I just say BLESS THEM and her uterus and her tummy!! Can you imagine what her tummy looks like?!!
They are beautiful kids though!!
I'm inclined to agree that I think the children lack that one on one time w/ their parents. I can't believe the parents are aware of their 18 children's moods everyday, or notice if one of them happens to be down, etc. And I think kids should be kids - the older kids should not be parenting the younger kids. I know - I'm a meanie! I also think it's a hardship on the planet w/ 18 kids - and also -there are many other children waiting to be adopted out in the world.
I think it is admirable to do what you feel God is calling you to do. However, i don't see how they can possibly have a personal relationship with any of them. And having an older child take care of a younger child essentially robs that older child of his own youth. BUT thats just my opinion! And surely the mom is not that perfect all the time. I guess thats probably one of the things that bothers me most about that show is that she seems so perfect. Know what I mean? Let me see you get frustrated just once. Or upset. Or raise your voice. Or even get firm. It just doesn't seem realistic.
Whatever floats their boatIf they can afford them and not be on public assitance, then good for them...we should wuestion the lady who just gave birth to the Octuplets and has 6 other children at home while living with her parents...that is questionable thinking. No one with more that 2 biological children should be allowed to go on fertility treatments...just in my opinion.
M~
Hi! Great post! From watching Jon and Kate Plus 8....she has said with even that many children they lack one on one time. She said there are times when she doesn't say more than a couple sentences to some of the kids because things get soo hectic! My life is hectic as it is after just 2 children! I wonder how Michelle is feeling. I know after I had my second child my body seemed to go downhill and I developed several problems. I hear that is common after having children...I wonder how she feels after that many! That's just crazy
Wow! My opinion: Two was plenty for me. Somehow God has a way of stepping in and making that decision for each of us. I think He will for them, too. (soon, I hope!) I certainly think they are inspiring, though. No debt? They're doing a LOT of things right! (she needs to write a book in her spare time, methinks!)
I think that they HAVE to run out of names beginning with J.
I too think that is a few too many kids, but I do admire her. She does not ever show a temper. One of the shows I saw the little boys were getting rowdy and she just calmly told them that was enough...several times. Me, I think I probably would not have stayed so calm after 2 or 3 times!! They have a lot of patience. God bless them!! (just not with too many more kids!!)
April, it's hard to believe that anyone could survive giving birth that many times, let alone have that many kids. I know a family woh has 11 kids, and they stopped with the last one. The last one was special needs so I think they decided to devote more time to her. But all of their kids seem so loving and well-adjusted. I think big families are wonderful, but that many kids would be like its own village. Maybe the also adhrere to the "It takes a village to raise a child" concept, too! ;-)
Sending warm thoughts your way...
XO,
Sheila :-)
April, About my Favorite Family Foto each Friday - I don't remember seeing a post from you saying you wanted to participate. I am so sorry!
Each week on Tuesday or Wednesday, I email everyone who participates to ask if they will be posting a family pictures that Friday. You must reply by Thursday afternoon or evening to let me know. I will add your name to my link list.
All you need to do is post of picture of your family member - be it a person or furry family member - and tell us something about the picture....and link back to my blog mentioning Favorite Family Foto (so that others can see who is participating that week).
Sorry to put all this here, but I don't have an email address for you.
Hope to see you next Friday!
Deborah
I do enjoy their show but wow 18! My husband grew up with a family that had 21 single births and all lived!!! They had an 1100 sq ft ranch with 3 bedrooms and 1.5 baths! Can you imagine??? Yikes! He's still friends with one of their boys.
Have a great day!
Kim
i can't imagine having anywhere near that many. i'm unsure as to whether i could handle a second one, lol. and mostly it's because i fear one of them will suffer-lack of attention, etc., and I can't bring myself to take the chance knowing that could happen! but 18? yeah, no way!
They sure seem well-adjusted, and manered. I know I am not called for that! I would look like that cat, too. Matter of fact: that is me some days now, come to think of it!
Wow, I cannot even imagine.
Thanks for sharing this story about the amazing Duggar family. I can't imagine having 18 kids and remaining sane! I do however enjoy watching shows like this as I find them fascinating.
Have a lovely weekend.
Lindsay
April,
I always love watching this show!! I am a firm believer in the womb being His and Him being the knitter of all children so I'm pretty in line with their philosophy. I have two children and suffered many miscarriages and know that God in His infinite wisdom knew I could only handle the two He gave me!! I look at the Duggars and I am amazed at her patience!! I can't speak about the one on one time...I'm sure it has to be difficult but I see them petition the Lord for all things and truly believe they are seeking Him and I look up to them for that.
Can't wait to see your tribute to your precious daughter! Happy 17th Brittany!!
Isn't that just the craziest thing? I feel like I am going to pull my hair out some days with just 4 kids. I don't know how they do it!
Have a great weekend April!
Jen
Hi April, I've watched the Duggers on TV too, and I cannot imagine this many kids. I agree that they do all seem happy and well adjusted. I know that I couldn't manage such a large family and I would worry about spending enough time with each child.
I've watched the show and I've heard other people talk about this a time or two and it make me uncomfortable. Somewhere in my mind I just don't think that having 18 kids is OK. Sorry.
April I'd look the same way! I don't even have kids....I was afraid I couldn't handle one! Actually...I was always afraid I would be a paranoid parent but life happened and the timing wasn't just right. Jim has two girls so that's fine with me..and we have them part time so that's perfect! Lol! Heck I can't even keep an eye on my two cats. Anyway, really enough is enough. They need to build their own compound....city....country! Ohmigosh, did she have every one of those kids? Her body has to give out at some point!
I am a Baptist too and happily only have two children, a boy and a girl.
My (younger than me) sister on the otherhand is a primitive Baptist and one of her teen daughters just announced that the family email address will be changing in July. That was her way of announcing #10 baby will arrive then. How personal, huh! One every two years. Ten kids!!! You can see a picture of their family of 11 on my blog on right-hand side column towards bottom.
I must absorb this now.
Have a great day!
Jamie
www.oktxok.blogspot.com
I just love the Duggars!
They are wonderful! :)
I'm so happy that Harper is doing better! She is a cutie pie.
With what I'm about to say, I just hope that I don't offend anyone. This family is happy. You can see it in each face on this picture. You can hear in their voices when they speak on T.V. Large families always seem so happy. I believe that today people don't understand that because the normal is to have 1 to 3 children and be done because we have birth control, and medical intervention. Not to mention that children are expensive. There are women that would have between 8 to 12 children when my grandmother was a child and nobody saw that as different or weird. Granted that a lot of children didn't survive past the age of 2, again medical intervention. I'm sure that with society today that to anyone this would seem like a daunting task. Raising 18 children, wow. However, these two haven't referred to it as raising or trouble...just as a blessing. Isn't that what children are, a blessing to a home? These children are well mannered, respectful and kind. I think the parents are doing a great job teaching their children what the Bible would want taught. As for how and what they decide is proper "birth control" and what is not (none but God's will), I believe is their choice. They have no debt!! How many families can say that? They buy things outright? How many families can say that? They feed their children, dress them and love them. I'm not sure what more a child could ask for. There are many children that grow up without parents just because their parents didn't want them, or thought that it would be too much trouble, or couldn't support them. I myself grew up in a single parent household. The brothers and sisters love one another, they help one another. They are learning skills that a lot of people...NOT JUST CHILDREN...never learn in their lifetime. God wants to bless us and give us happy homes. I think that he has blessed this family with a loving and happy home. Period. (and I am sure that these parents make time to show each child that they love them and think they are special, otherwise these children would be acting out for attention, I know...I did in many situations with my mother) Its not our right to judge them anyhow. Have an opinion yes but judge them for their personal convictions...absolutely not. Thanks for letting me share my opinion I loved this post!
Happy Birthday Brittany! I hope it is a great one!
Happy Birthday Brittany...have a wonderful day!! Enjoy the weekend with your birthday girl, April!
Jennifer
I don't understand that movement at all. I have never. It blows my mind. I am glad they are happy and serving Jesus. I am thankful that I did not grow up in a home like that. As loving and God centered as it is, 18 siblings just seems like too many. What kind of job does the dad have?
Hi April,
This is so interesting. They have done a wonderful job with the children and adjusting to a lifestyle that most people wouldn't choose!
I've always thought big families were nice. I have some cousins that have 8 siblings in their family, and they all seem so close!
Thanks for posting.
Frankly I think it's just sad. The older kids DO do alot of the housework and childraising of the younger ones, and that just isn't their job. Yes kids should help out, but not on this scale. Everything is just so insanely strict that you just know someone is going to rebel...eventually and bigtime.
Just my two cents.
Oh and one more thing. Don't doubt for a minute that they aren't getting BIG BUCKS for turning their family into a reality show. This also sickens me.
Frankly....I think they're freaks.
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