16 kids and wanting more!!!

[popcornbird]

Did you all read this story on CNN? WOW!!! This family is HUGE!!!!!! Amazing story. I was watching a video interview with the whole family, and the kids all seem to be so well behaved. How could anyone raise and control 16 kids like that? They homeschool them all too!!!! Wow! I keep thinking, "16 kids!!!" and going, "OUCH !!!" LOL! Good that they're happy. I personally wouldn't want to THINK of having half that many kids. Ouch ouch...childbirth 16 times? OUCH! They seem to be such a lovely, devoted family though.


http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/paren....ap/index.html

Mom delivers 16th child, thinking of more

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) -- Michelle Duggar just delivered her 16th child, and she's already thinking about doing it again.

Johannah Faith Duggar was born at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and weighed 7 pounds, 6.5 ounces.

The baby's father, Jim Bob Duggar, a former state representative, said Wednesday that mother and child were doing well. Johannah's birth was especially exciting because it was the first time in eight years the family has had a girl, he said.

Jim Bob Duggar, 40, said he and Michelle, 39, want more children.

"We both just love children and we consider each a blessing from the Lord. I have asked Michelle if she wants more and she said yes, if the Lord wants to give us some she will accept them," he said in a telephone interview.

The Discovery Health Channel filmed Johannah's birth and plans to air a show about the family in May.

The Learning Channel is doing another show about the family's construction project, a 7,000-square foot house that should be finished before Christmas. The home, which the family from the northwest Arkansas town of Rogers has been building for two years, will have nine bathrooms, dormitory-style bedrooms for the girls and boys, a commercial kitchen, four washing machines and four dryers.

Jim Bob Duggar, who sells real estate, previously lost his bid for the U.S. Senate. He said he expects to run for the state Senate next year but isn't ready to make a formal announcement.

Michelle Duggar, 39, had her first child at age 21, four years after the couple married.

Their children include two sets of twins, and each child has a name beginning with the letter "J": Joshua, 17; John David, 15; Janna, 15; Jill, 14; Jessa, 12; Jinger, 11; Joseph, 10; Josiah, 9; Joy-Anna, 8; Jeremiah, 6; Jedidiah, 6; Jason, 5; James, 4; Justin, 2; Jackson Levi, 1; and now Johannah.

[Logan]

I saw part of their interview on the Today Show this morning. WOW!!!!!! Good for them......not good for me!!

[ramanth]

I get everyones names mixed up.

Good for them, but I'd never do that.

[PJ's Mom]

I've seen them before. I wonder if they just keep having kids for the attention.

I have a hard time with my 4 and they're almost grown.

[Almita]

I know I saw that yesterday and I'm thinking she is wanting more jst for the attention! I can't believe she named them all starting with a J!

[Flatcoatluver]

I just read that!! Omg couldn't stand living in that home! I love being where i am a only child with a brother moved out!

[jackie]

I wonder what religious denomination they are?

[ILoveReptiles]

I for one think it's absolutely and positively disgusting.

And my tax dollars will wind up paying for her sorry butt. I just want to slap the woman.

Grrr. Forced sterilization is sounding mighty good about now.

[carole]

I don't have as strong opposed views as the last poster, but way too many kids IMO, but each to their own, who are we to say how many kids they can have, if they are well-adjusted, well taken care of, then I guess it is their business.,if they do indeed rely on welfare of any kind, then maybe it is in the public interest, and to have a say.

I just cannot imagine having that many children, you cannot tell me they all get their special individual time, I mean where does one get that amount of time to spend with them, they do miss out IMO, either emotionally or financially, with that many kids you cannot possibly give them everything, and I do not mean material things, but opportunity's etc.

[Flatcoatluver]

i wonder if they can remember all their names???

[Vette]

I dont think ill have one kid.. let alone 16 of them.
as if the world isnt over populated enough as it is.

[jennifert9]

WOW!! 16 kids!! I cannot even imagine!!

MHO, I think giving birth to 16 children is a bit over the top...we do have an overpopulation problem in this world. I do agree that it is their business and take no issue with them doing what they want with their lives. And I understand the birth control issue that Finn's Mom brought up also. I don't know the solution...except stop having sex and start adopting!
There are thousands,if not millions of children that need homes. I honestly haven't heard much about this family,just what I saw on TV tonight and what I have read here BUT I did hear the father say that they love children and love raising them. They can do that by adopting as well as they can by reproducing....sometines I think the "self-reproduction" thing is overrated and self-centered...the world doesn't necessarily need another "me" or even another person with my "bloodlines." The world needs to care for the children that need homes and love and TLC and raise them as good, kind, caring, productive members of society. I'm not all that wonderful that I think there needs to be another one of "me" living 200 years from now!! LOL!!
However, that adoption issue brings back up the birth control issue and if they are against it then I don't know....? I read an article in Reader's Digest a month or 2 ago about a family that had 25 children, 3 natural and 22 adopted. All the adopted children had some form of disability, most had Down's symdrome and some had cerebal palsy and a few others had some other form of disability. (I can't remember exactly) So that family is raising even MORE children than this family is, the difference being that most of theirs were adopted. I guess if this family had stopped after 3 there would be room in their home and hearts for 13 needy children...That is just how I see it. I am a huge advocate of adoption in both pets and humans. However, I am also a woman of child-bearing age who does not have any children of her own so, in a way, I am speaking out of turn as I am not in their, or any parent's shoes.

Re: college education costs...I think that the ~$30,000 cost was a PER YEAR cost, not a 4 year cost. So that's $120,000 per child x 16. (I can't even attempt to to the math!! )
Simply mind-boggling!! And Logan, I agree with you to some extent that it is a good idea to have the child contribute to their own college education and that it is in no way entirely the parent's responsibility. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out the way it was intended, to teach responsibility and the value of money and education to your children. I paid for most of my own bachelor's degree, my parents paid what they could and sent me spending money ($20/month 10 yrs ago that was a GOLD MINE!!! ) I also worked on campus while I was in college. I still left school with over $30,000 in student loans which is relatively mild compared to today's figures or what people with advanced degrees are paying but keep in mind,I went to a NY state school, not a private school. My first student loan payment 9 months after I graduated, was more than my paycheck for the entire month of work at my first job!!!!!!!!!! And I had a fairly decent job, comparable with other college grads at the time! I had to get my payments reduced time and time again until my pay caught up with the monthly payment they were expecting from me. Even now, I will easily be paying them for another 20 years. AND, because of those student loans, I lived with my parents until I was 27 years old because I could barely afford the 6 yr old used car I bought to get to work much less my own place to live!! Compared to my best friend whose parents were able to afford to pay 100% of her private school education as well as give her a used car when she graduated. She was living on her own at 22 and just built her own home whereas I hae little to no savings and am still renting. (I love her to death and maybe jealous but I am not bitter, I ADORE my parents and wouldn't change a thing, I'm just making a point.) I guess the parents will still get the "costs" of the education, either on the front or the back side...(That sounds funny!!) But you get my point I think...so I will shut up now...

[QueenScoopalot]

When I was growing up in the 60s and 70s, there were two competing families both with the last name "Mahony/Mahoney". Both lived within 3 blocks of each other, and when I left home at 16, one family had 17 kids, and the other family was 'baking' an 18th! I cannot fathom the chaos all those kids could create, but always found it quite amusing. As long as a family can financially support and educate their kids, and teach them all to be respectable members of society, I don't personally have a problem with that. It's ones that spew out dispicable brats that they think are perfect, and rely on taxpayers $$$ to support them....that gets me. They're the reason our jails are filled to capacity, and then some. It all boils down to personal choice, and I am happy to be mother to many! Animals

[K9karen]

At least they're not abusing the system. But she's probably abusing hers. She won't be so thankful when her insides fall out. But, hey! If they're capable of keeping their life in control, in all aspects, Bless them!

[jackie]

There are thousands,if not millions of children that need homes. I honestly haven't heard much about this family,just what I saw on TV tonight and what I have read here BUT I did hear the father say that they love children and love raising them. They can do that by adopting as well as they can by reproducing....sometines I think the "self-reproduction" thing is overrated and self-centered...the world doesn't necessarily need another "me" or even another person with my "bloodlines." The world needs to care for the children that need homes and love and TLC and raise them as good, kind, caring, productive members of society. I'm not all that wonderful that I think there needs to be another one of "me" living 200 years from now!! LOL!!

Adoption is a truely wonderful thing, but its not for all people. I don't think you can compare the adoption of pets, to the adoption of people. They are on two hugely different levels. Reproduction is not overrated or self-centered, its basic instinct.