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Mothers Day is generally a day that goes by, celebrating with little family gatherings and quiet afternoons. For the Duggar family, they found themselves on the TODAY show, and heard their mother announce she was pregnant- with her 18th child! Michelle Duggar, 41, surprised her other 17 children, with another sibiling. “We’re expecting!” the happy mother told co-host Meredith Vieira, “Number 18!” The new baby due around new years, 10 months after their last child was born. The Duggar’s kid range from ages 9 months to 20 years old, with all the names starting with ‘J’. There are ten boys, seven girls, and two sets of twins. Michelle has gone through 15 pregnancies, with 13 natural births, and 2 C-sections. Michelle’s husband, Jim Bob, and herself are both real estate agents, who pay for everything in cash, and essentially are debt free. They are currently building a 7,000 square foot house over the course of two years, which will have 9 bathrooms, and 13 rooms dormitory style, in Tontitown, Arkansaw.
The couple belongs to a evangelical Christian movement called Quiverful. The claim that children are the lord’s blessings, and should accept them as they come. The lord will determine how many kids. “We just let the Lord decide,” Jim Bob, 42, told Vieira, on the TODAY show. Married in 1984, Michelle was 17 and Jim Bob 2 years her senior. They did not have kids for four years, until Michelle stopped taking birth control to have their first son, Joshua. Michelle returned to birth control but still got pregnant. Unfortunately, she suffered a miscarriage, which was because of the pill. Because of this, the Duggars prayed for more children, as many as the lord would allow them to have. Seventeen kids later, they are still praying for more.
Although it is good that they are seemingly out of debt and can afford to feed and dress seventeen kids, there is more at stake than the physical. With seventeen kids outnumbering two adults, it is impossible for the parents to give each one the attention that they need. The kids must feel left out and with all the demand of seventeen kids, the parents must get exhausted, which is neither good for the health of the children or the parents. As Michelle keeps getting older and wants to have as many kids as the Lord wants her to have, the babies born in her older age may develop mental or physical deformities due to her age. The older children have to focus more on their younger sibilings which yes, developes character, but it prevents them from having a normal life. While I think its great that the Duggar’s feel like they have so much love to give out, but they need to stop focusing on how many kids they are going to have and focus on the children that they have and what is best for them.
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This is crazy, 18 children, absolutely ridiculous, but good for her that she can keep herself sane with all those kids. I know my mom would probably go insane if she had another kid, and we only have five children in our family. I agree about children always needing attention, but maybe there’s always another kid around who can provide that attention that the child needs. Now, I know that a brother’s or a sister’s attention isn’t the same as a mother’s or father’s attention, but still, I know that I always liked spending time with my siblings a little more than my parents. Great story, Tory.
Comment byI fully agree with your last paragraph. I would be interested in seeing studies done on cognitive ability and general success of children who are raised with lots of siblings compared to those with few. When looking at this we must also take in to account population issues the globe is currently facing. Due to over population China has had laws implemented regulating child birth for many years. I believe the U.S. must find a healthy balance between China’s clearly oppressive rules and our policies which allow fruitful reproduction. Maybe a tax break for families with fewer than x amount of children, or other less radical solutions might also suffice.
Comment byThis is a very interesting blog. I never knew that it was possible to naturally have 18 kids. It is remarkable, I do not know how the parents can handle that. I definitely agree with your last paragraph about the matter. I don’t think it’s healthy to have that many kids solely based on the fact that parents can not give each child enough individual attention. It’s extremely impressive that they have no debt and great credit and that they only pay with cash. They appear to be very organized and have everything in their lives in order. However, I feel like the size of their family causes a lot of stress. I know that things can get a little crazy for my parents when dealing with me and my two older sisters, especially when they were younger, so I can’t imagine what it’d be like for a soon-to-be family of 20. I’d be interested to hear how the kids feel about having such a large family. Great find, Tory.
Comment byI wonder if they ever go out to dinner. This is a peculiar obsession but I know many big families and they do seem to have much more good than bad to talk about. There must be much cooperation in that home. Wow!
Comment bythis is insane! it souj
Comment byThis whole situation is just plain crazy, sounds like something off of the Jerry Springer show. I am not surprised there is at least one family that huge though, especially in this country, where there are some weird people. I don’t know who in their right mind would have 18 kids, and what further amazes me is that they can handle it without going crazy.
Comment byI can’t ever imagine having a family that huge. I bet it’s impossible for the parents to delegate attention to all of the children fairly. I mean even I sometimes feel like I don’t get enough attention and I’m only one of 3 kids in the family. I honestly don’t think it’s fair for the family to continue to welcome more kids because some might not get what they need. I think they need to stop having children so that they can raise children by quality not quantity.
Comment byI respect the religion that they follow and I respect the fact that they want to have as many kids that they Lord wants them to have. However, 18 kids is just ridiculous. I agree with all of the points that you make. How are the parents supposed to care for all 18 of them? And when is it going to stop? You have to consider the health risks of having kids in your late ages and you have to consider the fact that you won’t be able to care for all your kids when you have 18 of them. Someone needs to get it through these people’s heads that the Lord is satisfied with them having 18 kids and that they should be very proud of it. Nice blog Tory. You construct your paragraphs together really well.
Comment by[...] on the TODAY show, and heard their mother announce she was pregnant- with her 18th child!? Michelhttp://tory.edublogs.org/2008/05/11/women-welcomes-18th-child/Oh baby, baby, baby: Finally a family The Times-NewsAre you ready for this?” Aubrey Olson asks an [...]
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