Arkansas Mom Prepares for Birth of 17th Child

[nova147]

TLC did a special at some point on how they finished the house. They did a lot of the work themselves, but they were renting a house that was going to be demolished and had to get the new house done in a short period after baby 16 was born. TLC (or someone) sent in some people to help finish the house (including a lot of decorating and the piano that someone mentioned).

Also, the OP’s list is missing 4 children: Joshua (19), Janna (17), Jill (15), and Johanna Faith (19 months)

MJ

 

[Cobbfmly]

I’m not sure about that. I’ve found nothing about the Duggers and Extreme Makeover Home Edition…Okay, I just found the wikipedia entry for Jim Bob
I remember on the show TLC the struggles they were having the steel frame part - all the individual screws and bolts. They did get some decorating help (according to TLC) and a piano donated but the majority of the work was done by the family. I think it took them two years to finish.

ETA: I realise they already have #17 named but I would be willing to help, even with more “J” names. Because, I’m sorry, but am I the only one who reads “Jinger” wrong every time?

I stand corrected

 

[isabell]

They are remarkable and I would like to see this show on TLC. I am not that alarmed to hear of someone having their 17th though. My 11-year old son goes to Catholic school and one of the kids he’s been in school with since he was four is in a family in which there are, I believe, 16, 17 or 18 children. I have lost count so it could be more than 18 now. I know the mother and she shares the same philosophy as the Duggars in that she will love and accept as many children as the Lord sees fit to bless her with. By the way, the woman looks incredible to have had this many children. Also, wanna’ know what’s even more remarkable? They don’t have their own T.V. show and they live similarly to the Duggars as far as caring for the children. They live a much, much more humble life. They do not have a house anything close to what I’ve heard people describing to be the Duggars. My mother is number nine of 10. She did not follow in my grandmother’s footsteps as far as having children though. I am almost 30 and I only have one sister who is 10 years younger than me. My mother hadn’t planned on having any more and along came my sister. My grandmother had 8 girls and two boys. I have three boys. I remember being devastated when I found out that number two and three were boys. I so wanted a little girl. I actually got really upset especially when my mother told me that God knows what he’s doing and there is a reason. I did not want to try again and ended up having a hysterectomy at 27 due to problems with my uterus. I know now that my mother was right, because I’m so very happy having three boys that I don’t know what I would do with a little girl!

 

[aboverubies]

Plus my personal rule has always been “no more than one person wearing diapers in the house”

Yikes! We have three. What would we do if we were following this rule? Send a couple of them to live out in the chook house?

 

[kamz]

I just wish they were Catholic They would be good witnesses!
But, one can pray that they will be Catholic someday:thumbsup:

 

[CatholicSam]

Wonder what people would think of St. Catherine of Siena’s parents in this day and age…25 would blow their minds :dancing: :bounce: teheeee

Absolutely! And that was without all our modern conveniences! Wow, 25 labors without epidurals What a brave woman!

 

[puppylove]

I know a family around where I live with 10 awaiting arrival of #11 and they are not Catholic, although the parents were both born Catholic. I pray for their conversion also!!!

 

[PattyPryor]

I actually know this family and the system they have is not as crazy as everyone thinks

the kids are not unloved or feel they don’t get attention

They are debt free but have a few medical bills

They are sooo sweet kind and generous
no they didn’t afford the trip to disney
disney was wanting a family to promoted the 50 years so they asked the Duggars if they wanted to be thier 'guests"

Michelle even said she wouldn’t be able to afford the trip otherwise.

I think the one ‘problem’ I have with them is they are not Catholic but they are 100% the nicest family and they have sooo much faith. The children were brought up so well

 

[OldAgeGuru]

According to the show, she weans them at 6 months, and hands them off to one of the older girls. That girl is then responsible for caring for and raising the child, while mom and dad start working on the next one.

They also stated that they built the house so that when the sons get married each son and their family can live on their “compound”

Now, don’t get me wrong, I totally think it’s great to relatively live near your family. They are close by in case of an emergency, provides an external support system for both you, your spouse and children. I mean someone you trust to come by and water the plants, feed the fish, walk the dog, get the mail while your on vacation. Have a nice family dinner etc. I love my boyfriends family (even his obnoxious teenage brother), but, if we got married and told me me we’d be moving in/next door, around the corner from his parents, I would be, well, not pleased. Not because I dislike spending time with them, but because as an adult, I do not want to live where potentially prying eyes might be. Also, if his parents or my parents say they are going to come visit, I know I have a minimum of an hour to get the apartment cleaned up, and it forces them to call, not just stop by.

I also for the longest time pronounced “Jinger” as though it rhymed with “ringer”

I also thoroughly loathe fake names/creative spellings/naming children as matched sets. Which is what they have done with the ENTIRE family.

 

[masondoggy]

They also stated that they built the house so that when the sons get married each son and their family can live on their “compound”

What about their daughters?

Sorry, but that’s really just…wrong.

My mother grew up in a family of 13 that treated the girls in the same manner and let me tell you, it destroyed her self-worth and self-esteem. Something that still severely affects her to this day.

It just makes me very angry to hear about people treating their daughters that way.

 

[wifenmommy]

What about their daughters?
:

I have watched all of the “Duggar” shows several times. As for the land, it is for all the kids~I think they have around 20-25 acres and they said that all of the kids would get an acre each if they wanted it for when they married and wanted to build a house. That included the sons and daughters…Talk about having your own villiage! I think that in this day and age, society has no respect for life and for people in general, it is wonderful to see a family like this.

 

[OldAgeGuru]

I have watched all of the “Duggar” shows several times. As for the land, it is for all the kids~I think they have around 20-25 acres and they said that all of the kids would get an acre each if they wanted it for when they married and wanted to build a house. That included the sons and daughters…Talk about having your own villiage! I think that in this day and age, society has no respect for life and for people in general, it is wonderful to see a family like this.

Nope, they’ve definetly stated that the land is for the sons and their wives. I recall being completely repelled by the statement. I was almost as disgusted with that as I was about handing off the infant to an older daughter to raise.

My feeling is if you want to have a big family, go for it. If you feel that YOU can raise the kids. While I believe it is important to actively engage and involve older children in the care of the younger ones, I think it is entirely different to more or less say " He/She is off the breast, time to pass it off to ____ (insert J name here), and start working on the next" It actively appears that kids specifically the older ones are VERY isolated, and stuck. They don’t have outside jobs because they have to care for the little ones. They are all homeschooled* They don’t even eat in a healthful manner. EVERYTHING is canned or frozen They ate tator tot casserole several nights a week ** etc It doesn’t even seem like the parents really know the kids as individuals. To me it’s just like the whole giving them all matchy matchy names. The kids are not salt and pepper shakers they are individuals!

• I get that when you have a busful of children it would just be easier to have them homeschooled, simply because dropping kids off and dealing with potentially kindergarten-12 grade homework, athletic, and projects. would be at best a pain in the tush. But again, the older kids are teaching the younger kids.

** Don’t get me wrong, I love me some tater tots, and I could eat them every day, but they are not filled with nutrition.

 

[AnnaTherese]

I love large families and believe that children do better when there are more people in the house. Family life is certainly full of memories for those folks. I definitely long for a large family myself, but I would worry about the lack of spacing and the impact of that on the children’s health and well-being. Spacing is not unimportant. You can still have a fairly large family with proper spacing if you get married early enough. I would love to have a family of 12 kids, each spaced about 3-4 years apart. But I guess that’s biologically impossible at my age…

 

[AnnaTherese]

I think that in this day and age, society has no respect for life and for people in general, it is wonderful to see a family like this.

Yes, but I actually have a problem with that way of thinking. We seem to be living in an age where there is so much disrespect for life, as you said, that some good faithful Catholics have run too fast in the opposite direction. We have to be discerning God’s will in all of this. We can’t just pop out baby after baby without a care in the world. The question is, what does God want us to do? Not, what would make the world think twice about abortion? Actually, I don’t think that pro-choice people are necessarily all that likely to change their thinking on the subject just because they meet a few large families, or even if they find themselves surrounded by large families. I would think such a person would be on the watch and would jump at any opportunity to criticize them. And perhaps, they may have a small point. The truth lies between the two extremes, unless you very clearly have a calling from God to go closer to the extreme. If we really respected life as much as we should, we would give having a new baby much more thought----not anxious, worried thought, mind you, but serious prayerful thought, always trusting in the Lord. I’m not saying this particular family has gone against God’s will. I don’t know what God’s will is for them. But I do think that far too many people think that the way to defeat abortion is to constantly pop out baby after baby and act as if it’s nothing. That’s not respecting life, really.

 

[st_lucy]

What I don’t understand is why is everyone judging this family? Are we paying for their bills? They seem to have a good system going on that works for their family and you know what it really should not require anyone from the outside to judge. All the children are feed and educated properly.

It just boggles my mind to try understand why so many people feel it is there personal duty to give advice when none was asked for.

I am happy for this family because they seem very happy and well adjusted. Good for them.

 

[PattyPryor]

Nope, they’ve definetly stated that the land is for the sons and their wives. I recall being completely repelled by the statement. I was almost as disgusted with that as I was about handing off the infant to an older daughter to raise.

My feeling is if you want to have a big family, go for it. If you feel that YOU can raise the kids. While I believe it is important to actively engage and involve older children in the care of the younger ones, I think it is entirely different to more or less say " He/She is off the breast, time to pass it off to ____ (insert J name here), and start working on the next" It actively appears that kids specifically the older ones are VERY isolated, and stuck. They don’t have outside jobs because they have to care for the little ones. They are all homeschooled* They don’t even eat in a healthful manner. EVERYTHING is canned or frozen They ate tator tot casserole several nights a week ** etc It doesn’t even seem like the parents really know the kids as individuals. To me it’s just like the whole giving them all matchy matchy names. The kids are not salt and pepper shakers they are individuals!

• I get that when you have a busful of children it would just be easier to have them homeschooled, simply because dropping kids off and dealing with potentially kindergarten-12 grade homework, athletic, and projects. would be at best a pain in the tush. But again, the older kids are teaching the younger kids.

** Don’t get me wrong, I love me some tater tots, and I could eat them every day, but they are not filled with nutrition.

I have just talked to jim bob PERSONALLY and the land is for ALL the children.

The 3 oldest have OUTSIDE Jobs!

I really feel that people need to talk to them before JUDGING them their phone number is on thier site www.duggarfamily.com

drives me crazy I know this family, I am catholic and see NOTHING wrong with them

• they don’t eat trash at all practically. just cuz you saw ONE or two meals doesn’t mean you have any clue what they eat.

as for home school thats thier choice

stop being so mean and get your facts straight!

 

[PattyPryor]

Yes, but I actually have a problem with that way of thinking. We seem to be living in an age where there is so much disrespect for life, as you said, that some good faithful Catholics have run too fast in the opposite direction. We have to be discerning God’s will in all of this. We can’t just pop out baby after baby without a care in the world. The question is, what does God want us to do? Not, what would make the world think twice about abortion? Actually, I don’t think that pro-choice people are necessarily all that likely to change their thinking on the subject just because they meet a few large families, or even if they find themselves surrounded by large families. I would think such a person would be on the watch and would jump at any opportunity to criticize them. And perhaps, they may have a small point. The truth lies between the two extremes, unless you very clearly have a calling from God to go closer to the extreme. If we really respected life as much as we should, we would give having a new baby much more thought----not anxious, worried thought, mind you, but serious prayerful thought, always trusting in the Lord. I’m not saying this particular family has gone against God’s will. I don’t know what God’s will is for them. But I do think that far too many people think that the way to defeat abortion is to constantly pop out baby after baby and act as if it’s nothing. That’s not respecting life, really.

God brings a child into the world! he wouldn’t place them in the womb if they had NO purpose! to believe anything is is somewhat ignorant in how a baby actually comes in this world. Unless you are athist

 

[st_lucy]

Yes, but I actually have a problem with that way of thinking. We seem to be living in an age where there is so much disrespect for life, as you said, that some good faithful Catholics have run too fast in the opposite direction. We have to be discerning God’s will in all of this. We can’t just pop out baby after baby without a care in the world. The question is, what does God want us to do? Not, what would make the world think twice about abortion? Actually, I don’t think that pro-choice people are necessarily all that likely to change their thinking on the subject just because they meet a few large families, or even if they find themselves surrounded by large families. I would think such a person would be on the watch and would jump at any opportunity to criticize them. And perhaps, they may have a small point. The truth lies between the two extremes, unless you very clearly have a calling from God to go closer to the extreme. If we really respected life as much as we should, we would give having a new baby much more thought----not anxious, worried thought, mind you, but serious prayerful thought, always trusting in the Lord. I’m not saying this particular family has gone against God’s will. I don’t know what God’s will is for them. But I do think that far too many people think that the way to defeat abortion is to constantly pop out baby after baby and act as if it’s nothing. That’s not respecting life, really.

I find the bold a rather offensive statement. Do you not believe that God knows what He is doing? Do you believe that some children just were never supposed to be born?

By not killing their children, as the world (and it seems a lot on this thread) would prefer they are doing Gods will. God has a plan for every one of those children. They are perfect and they ARE God’s will, plain and simple. Any one who would say other wise is only thinking of their own will.

No one has ever said having more babies would defeat abortion, but I can tell you one thing abortion kills off a family, births help a family grow.

 

[dranzal]

I have just talked to jim bob PERSONALLY and the land is for ALL the children.

The 3 oldest have OUTSIDE Jobs!

I really feel that people need to talk to them before JUDGING them their phone number is on thier site www.duggarfamily.com

drives me crazy I know this family, I am catholic and see NOTHING wrong with them

• they don’t eat trash at all practically. just cuz you saw ONE or two meals doesn’t mean you have any clue what they eat.

as for home school thats thier choice

stop being so mean and get your facts straight!

Thank you.

 

[OldAgeGuru]

I have just talked to jim bob PERSONALLY and the land is for ALL the children.

The 3 oldest have OUTSIDE Jobs!

I really feel that people need to talk to them before JUDGING them their phone number is on thier site www.duggarfamily.com

drives me crazy I know this family, I am catholic and see NOTHING wrong with them

• they don’t eat trash at all practically. just cuz you saw ONE or two meals doesn’t mean you have any clue what they eat.

as for home school thats thier choice

stop being so mean and get your facts straight!

I don’t believe I said anything mean at all. I even said the homeschooling thing was fine and I understood that logistically it was probably the easiest thing.

I can only judge by what I saw on the tv show. If they don’t want to be judged by others, than they shouldn’t put themselves on tv, and they TLC can only edit what the Duggars gave them.

The three oldest may have outside jobs, but that doesn’t mean the oldest kids still living in the house aren’t completely isolated.