I thought this was neat. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070803/ap_on_fe_st/17_kids I think they have enough children for a whole classroom:lol:
The Duggers are legends around here. I saw one documentary on them a few years ago (they only had 14 or 15 kids at the time) where she said once she got past #8 she didn't notice a difference in her work load. But they have quite the set up for all those kids. They have three ovens, washers, and dryers. 2 or 3 dishwashers. Several refrigerators. They have a massive garden where they grow just about everything possible to grow in Arkansas. Oddly enough, they aren't really crazy. I mean, you'd have be to a certain level of crazy to have 17 and counting, but they seem fairly normal other than that.
I've seen shows of them on the Learning Channel (?) or something similar. They are just amazing. I couldn't do it; but have a lot of admiration for any parent who can keep it all together. Their children seem very well-mannered and intelligent.
Their website is www.duggarfamily.com The site is crashed right now (go figure) but I'm sure it will be up soon. As far as how they do it.... they don't.. the other kids do. Michelle has said many times that she only really takes responsibility for the infant until they are weaned. Then they are passed on to one of the older children to be cared for. And it's easy to keep well behaved mature kids when they have absolutely NO exposure to the outside world. The go to school at home (which is obviously NOT a problem for me...lol), go to church at home, socialize at home, etc. For the record, I meant normal in the sense of how they talk.. not how they live.
that is so neat.. but I think thats alittle much.. as long as they all are happy and they look it then let the lord keep them coming..
Wow! Totally different impression here "As far as how they do it.... they don't.. the other kids do. Michelle has said many times that she only really takes responsibility for the infant until they are weaned. Then they are passed on to one of the older children to be cared for." When I watched their specials, I did not hear anyone say that she simply passes the children on once they are weaned! The mother looked very involved with the children's day although yes, the older ones did help out. I also saw that they did attend their community church. In one episode, it was stated that for years, they've been coming out of church to find bags of gently used clothes from parish members, left beside their vehicles. They also traveled together and visited other large home learning families. michelle
Among the "fun facts" listed on Discovery Health's Web page devoted to the Duggars: A baby has been born in every month except June; the Duggars have gone through an estimated 90,000 diapers, and Michelle, 40, has been pregnant for 126 months — or 10.5 years — of her life. I'm not so sure how fun that sounds to me!:lol: Personally, I cannot even imagine having that many kids, but they seem like nice people and they can support them, so I wish them the best.
The most recent TLC special is the one I was referring to.... She goes on about her "buddy system". She said that she is the buddy for her newborns until she weans them at 6 months. Then she passes them to a new buddy. You'd have to see it to get the full effect, I guess. Though I think she might talk about this on their website. And they have been meeting as a home church for at least the last year. Jim Bob has a couple of other adults that come to the home to help him teach. Not really the point, I guess... it's not my family or my cup of tea, but as long as the kids are capable of functioning outside the home, I guess it will have worked.
I've a friend with 9 children. She uses something like that "buddy" system. A few years ago, they got into a much-needed larger house. Instead of putting her oldest two girls together in a bedroom and the younger two, she put Girl 1 with Girl 3, and Girl 2 with Girl 4. She did something similar with her boys. She says it's worked very well, almost like a "mentoring" situation.
Maybe I am just weird or something, but when I have children they are for me & dh to raise and take care of until they are ready to have there own families. Not for my older children to do a lot or most of the work for me while a have another one. I just don't see that as right. But I am not one to tell anyone that there way is wrong, I am just saying that it is not my way nor will I ever do that to my children. A child's job is to be a child for as long as possible not to grow up to fast with having to help raise there siblings.
I love the Duggar family I have been watching them ever since their family was smaller. The last ones I saw were the ones where they help build their new house and when they went to Disney land. They give me so many great ideas for organizing for my small family. They are a loving family. I love the Buddy system they use to keep track of everyone it makes sense. The older boy is so sweet he has such wonderful confidence, you hear him talking a lot in the shows talking about his family. They are an inspiration for Homeschool families everywhere. If you havent seen where they build their house you should...I love their two kitchens! Sam
I have 4 children. I have had my oldest help me whenever I've needed the help....not so I can sit on my behind doing nothing. I let my children BE children, but they have helped with small chores, changing diapers, getting their brothers a snack or a drink. If there is something that needs to be done and I can get to it (or a kid can wait) at a later time, *I* do it...but there has been many times throughout the years when I have required that my children help out a sibling when necessary. When I was pregnant with Jack, I was in bed SICK with flu....the kind of flu where the thoughts come into your mind like 'this is how people died from flu.' I was there for FIVE days. I don't know WHAT happened in those five days, but dh HAD to work. My dd was 10 at the time. She fixed two meals a day (simple things that used the micro if needed), watched over the children, and took care of simple tasks. I remember faintly hearing her singing Bible verses. What a endearing, sweet memory! Last month I was in bed, again, for a day. She is now 14. She fed the three children breakfast and lunch, did simple tasks, did homeschool with them, and even made choclate chip cookies! When I finally crawled out of bed (and onto the couch), the boys were gushing with excitement over what a GREAT BIG SISTER they had and everything she had done for them and with them. I have never required my children to do SO much that they HATED being a part of the family OR resented having a large family. They have pitched in and are wonderful children.
Jenn, Your situation and circumstances are different. You only have 4 children and are able to do most of the work, but a family with 16 children there would never be enough of you to do that. Then the older children are 'raising' the younger ones and they are all just children and should not have to do that I believe. Also I am not saying that some help here and there is a bad thing, but when the children are expected to do it daily I just do not agree.
Choices I see no resentment of the Duggar children taking on a buddy to help them each day with life in fact it seems they can't wait till they are old enough to have a buddy to help. I believe Just because children have chores and responsibilities sometimes more then others dosent mean they are not having enough time being a child. Now if that is all they do and have no time to play or go anywhere then I would be worried. The Duggar family go to church with others, field trips, they have other friends, they seem quite happy in their arrangements, they love their large family and seem to thrive in it. My own daughter and son have more chores and responsibilities on our farm then a normal family would have in the city. Its our choice though and I have no resentment over familys that live in the city that only give their children a few chores or none at all. Its their choice its ok in my book. Sam
My SIL has 7....they are all amazing kids. They sort of have a "buddy" but not really. My SIL is an amazing person. Amazing. She and I are the same age (okay, she's 2 weeks older than me)....I cannot imagine her day to day life, but I know she's amazing
Everyone is going to have a different opinion on how to raise a family and what is right and what is wrong. Bottom line is what works for you. The Duggars obviously are a very happy loving family and the children do not seem to resent the fact that they have to help out at all. That is what families do - they help each other. I think they are awesome! I would love to have several more children but my hubby doesn't want any more.
Okay, I watched the show last night and they really touch my heart. So, I will apologize for my comment. They are a wonderful family and function amazingly, gosh better than my family and there is only 5 of us. They are wonderful children and amazing parents.
