Duggars excepting baby #17 - Page 5

You might not mind either, if you didn't know any better. I mean, if that was all you knew, what would you complain about? If you have something to compare it to, then you might figure out it ain't all that. If these kids are homeschooled, then they might not be exposed to the things other teenagers of their age are doing, such as getting ready for college, etc. I am not sure how much of the outside world these teenagers even have access to.

You have a problem with girls having to wear a skirt? What about these girls getting an eduction, going to college, and having a profession? What are the avenues open to these young females, or is their future only to be like their mother, such as getting married and keep on having one child after another?

We can't assume too much about what they would choose or not... their lifestyle is somewhat comparable to Amish people (somewhat, only, of course) and teenagers often choose to stay Amish after their Rumschpringa. True, if they don't they might never speak to their family and friends again, but they certainly have a choice and are exposed to more mainstream culture.

Just as many people raised in our mainstream culture (public school and all) choose to become more like the Duggars.

I just wish they were given some kind of choice in the matter but they aren't the only parents in America basically forcing their children to be like them.

It's now to the point that some of the children are becoming young adults. Did the parents prepare them for the life outside of the home? And seriously, how many people exposed to mainstream culture are choosing to become like Duggars? I certainly don't know any. I mean, to me, having 17 children by itself is too much. If some person kept adding cats and was at 17 and wanted more, this might be a concern, as this person might not be able to care for all these cats. At least with cats, all you need is to be able to feed them and provide medical care for them. You don't have to worry about sending cats off to college, cats being able to make it on their own, hold down a job and raise their own family (LOL). As for 17 chilren-it's not just having the children and being able to provide for them (feeding and clothes) as some here suggesting. What about the future of these children? What are these children going to do with their lives? It certainly does not appear to me Duggars are thinking about sending the girls off to college.

I just stopped in to see if baby #18 was on the way yet. It's been a few weeks since #17 was born, so it shouldn't be much longer before they announce #18.

when I saw this thread bump up, for an instant I thought that's what was happening

I don't think their religion forbids them from using birth control. Their own website says the woman was taking birth control for years after they got married before she had her first child. According to their website, after the first child she started taking birth control again but got pregnant and had a miscarriage, and that is when she stopped using it. Well, the mother taking birth control isn't the only way to prevent pregnancy. According to their website, they want as many children as god gives them. So, it looks to me that they are making a concsious choice to have all these children.

I haven't really watched the show, I saw part of a couple. Their house is really large and nice, the kids aren't crammed in there, which is better than some families crammed into tiny apartments. Their family seemed to be enjoying each other, which was nice to see. They looked well taken care of overall. They seemed more loving and supporting than some families that I have known that only had one kid, the parents way more involved/interested in their children's lives. They took vacations on one show I watched; some people with only one kid never even take that one on vacations or get interested in their lives. I don't always believe family size automatically dedicates parenting ability in and of itself.

About them paying for college… many of the students in college today pay/paid their own way if they choose/chose to go, get out a loan, and so forth, this is considered typical. Their parents didn't give them a free ride. I do hope their female children (and male for that matter) get a chance to go to college and have the ambition and desire to complete their chosen degree programs. I hope the females are given as much access as the males to college.
Personally, I hope they all attend and complete college.

I did see in one show that the kids said what they wanted to be when they grew up, I remember noting they said doctors, a vet, teachers, some wanted to go into evangelism, I can’t really remember.

I do think they are sexist, but I think that mainstream American culture is too, as is their religion. There are other things I don’t agree with, like naming them all “J” names, that gets on my nerves, and there are other things I really don’t agree with. But I can’t say they "bad" or irresponsible for having/wanting a large family. It is not something I am at all interested in doing personally nor can I even imagine that path for my life.
Also, I know some couples can't handle one child for a couple hours to baby-sit; some people have many children and don’t do a good job at all, some families have one child and do a horrible job as a parent, some people can handle several just fine and do really well raising their children. Some couples that are perfectly healthy choose to remain childless for their lives, and get bad comments from society as well for their decision not to have children. I say everyone is different, every situation is different, every family dynamic is different.

I think many more factors are at play for the people who hate them, perhaps they don't think anyone anywhere should have more than "x" number of biological children on purpose (or some might even say by accident), or if they want children they should only adopt children, etc. Makes me wonder if they showed this same family raising that many adopted kids how much they would probably be praised. Life is very subjective. And standards change, large families were considered okay many years ago, now they are very controversial, and so forth.

I thought so too.....

As someone currently paying their own way through in-state tuition... first of all, if their parents don't want them to go, it's probably not going to happen without some serious scholarships, which they're not gonna get because they're homeschooled. Your parents at the very least have to sign your fafsa if you're gonna get any financial aid, including loans. Or you can wait til you're 23, married, or have a child... If they won't do that, you have to get private loans. Without good credit, you're not getting those without a cosigner.

In their situation, it might be completely impossible to go off to college. Take classes at community college and work your way up from there, while working full time... maybe.

It is impossible to work your way through school without some sort of support if you want to be a full time student right out of high school / turning 18. Unless you manage to have a great job for some reason that is willing to pay your tuition-- unlikely for them, as they've never worked outside the home-- or join the military, it ain't happening.

The 'expected' annual cost of attendance at my school is more than 30,000 dollars a year, without going summer quarter... working full time at 8$ an hour (which is actually unrealistically high) you would make 16,000 a year before taxes. And your grades would suffer because you don't have time for your homework (trust me... I've tried).

I remember this thread this morning when I read the news that Josh and Ann Duggar, the oldest son and his bride are now expecting their first child.

Since this thread was started the name of the show has change from 17 and counting to 18 and counting.
When I first heard about the Dugger family I sort of scratched my head and said well to each their own, this was way back when they only had 14 children.

However I am now starting to wonder whether since mom Michelle is now getting to the age were a baby a year is soon going to be impossible they have to decided to branch out with the next generation....

Now it starting to have a publicity stunt feel to it..I.M.O.

It seems entirely possible to me that the mom & dad may also suffer from some kind of obsessive/compulsive behavior disorder.

<And it seems the kids really like the life they live.>
They may indeed enjoy that life, only keep in mind, that is the life they've grown up with, so I believe they might not know any different.

17 children. Huh.

So, if these parents aren't allowed to be judged on principle, then that means what they're doing is (potentially) okay for anyone/everyone to do. It's not like they just get a free pass for being the first to do it, eh? So, what if...

Ah hell, I'll let someone else say it for me; I tend to get myself in trouble when I ramble.

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Population growth drives depletion of natural resources

By Tony Fitzpatrick

Yep and that is the same with all of us, isn't it?

I don't mean to be gross here, but one would think that after having 17 kids, that woman's insides would be falling out by now.

[andrewdiceclay] "There was an old woman who lived in a shoe; she had so many freakin' kids, her uterus fell out! Aaayy!" [/andrewdiceclay]

I thought they had 18 now with a first grandchild on the way!

None of us know anything different from what we're raised with until we get old enough to have more experiences. Those kids are no different from other kids. At least their parents are teaching them to be decent human beings instead of criminals.

Yep! They do. I think this particular thread was started a long time ago.

Many many years ago when I was a teenager, I realized that it's up to us all to practice population control, and it's totally selfish and irresponsible to have that many children. Of course, it's not politically correct to say that, but it's how I felt those several decades ago and it's how I feel now even stronger. Do I have kids? No. I have cats instead.

The issue I have with them is that the kids basically take care of each other. There is NO WAY a mother or father can give 17 kids individual attention. I mean... even to just spend an hour a day with each would take up 17 hours! I think it's important that siblings bond and take care of each other but the older kids pretty much have to help out with the younger kids all the time.

This is kind of like the whole "can you have too many pets?" question. Yes you can if you have so many you can't devote enough time and energy into them. I'm sure the kids love having to share time with their parents, love not having their own rooms, love having to deal with all of their siblings. I for one would not enjoy dealing with 16 other siblings. No thanks.

I'm not saying they are bad people, or bad parents, I think they do well by their kids for the most part. However, I really don't think things are as good as they appear on tv.