17 Kids!!!

[sparks19]

I know one family with three kids who are home-schooled; thank goodness both parents are educated and disciplined - the kids are great.

But too often, you can tell the HS kids by their lack of discipline. Sad.

I agree.... there are plenty of really good homeschooling programs out there to help get parents started and I know many homeschooling families and those children aren't "missing out" on anything and they aren't poorly socialized like some people assume homeschooled children are. I will be sure not to come and post here if we decide to homeschool.

As for 17 kids.... YIKES. Not for me lol. We would prefer two maybe even three children but we will see how this delivery goes before I commit to THAT LOL.

I just think it is admirable that with all the parents out there that can't keep one child under control and teach them respect that this family has managed to have 17 respectful well raised children.

[Catty1]

Sparks - I think more and more people are deciding to homeschool, with increasing drugs and violence in the public system.

I think if it were better funded, standards could be formalized a bit more.

If you do decide to homeschool, it would be fascinating to learn about it along with you!

[Edwina's Secretary]

......even if I thought they could support all these children without ANY assistance (which I don't believe for one minute) imagine what it would to this planet if everyone had 17 children and each of those children has 17 children and each of those children and so on and so on.

The same as cats and dogs who are allowed to breed too much.

[lizbud]

I really don't think it's anything to be proud (or praised ) about.It's a
tremendous responsibilty & then there's the Mother's health to consider.

Can you imagine getting 17 kids really for College?

[dukedogsmom]

My grandmum had 11 kids, and I always thought that was a big family..

And she did it on her own, which is to really be admired. Not depending on news and tv programs to support the family.

I really don't think it's anything to be proud (or praised ) about.It's a
tremendous responsibilty & then their's the Mother's health to consider.

Can you imagine getting 17 kids really for College?

Someone else will more than likely foot the bill for that, too. I guess she's just going to keep breeding until her body gives out on her. Then she'll have all those kids to take care of her. As for all the kids, she's not thinking of anything else except what she wants. Who cares how many thousands of Pampers, etc go to the landfills. I read that the count was 90,000. It's all about her. It disgusts me. And there's no way she can be schooling them all properly. There's just not enough time in the day.

[Twisterdog]

I do think overpopulation is a problem.

I also think that people should be able to do whatever they want to do with their own lives, as long as it harms no one else AND they can pay for it themselves.

So, I suppose, as long as they are not asking for hand-outs or getting welfare, it's no one else's business but theirs. It would REALLY irk me if WE were supporting seventeen kids with our tax dollars.

I, like others mentioned, simply do not understand why the public is so fascinated with stories like this. If they want to have litters of offspring, so be it, but let us not glorify the choice.

[crow_noir]

17 kids... They have a few more to go to catch up to my high school French teacher. OMG, where do they all come from? Yikes.

I went to school with one of the guy's sons. Nice enough kid... strange family.

I'm not even going to get on my soapbox.

[Miss Z]

What is the problem with them having such a big family? It's their choice, and all the children look very well-cared for and happy. I see nothing wrong with that.


They don't need admiration, quite, they could easily opt not to broadcast their family life. But the fact is it makes good television and people, being inquisitive in nature, are always going to be intrigued by such stories. I don't find them particularly fascinating, but I find how each sibling helps each other out in education and housework very endearing. How many families do you know of with one, two or three kids who are as well-behaved and organised as the Duggars? I am certain my brother and I have, and will never, work together as dilligently and as maturely as those kids!

It may seem very odd to see such large families now, but remember that in our grandparents generation, the majority of families had well over 5 kids, many into double figures. True, perhaps not all survived childhood, but my grandmother can recall her uncle being from a family of 16, and her friends coming from families of 10+. The world is over-populated, yes, but I doubt that their example is really going to catch on in the developed world.

[Pam]

As for 17 kids.... YIKES. Not for me lol. We would prefer two maybe even three children but we will see how this delivery goes before I commit to THAT LOL.

I just think it is admirable that with all the parents out there that can't keep one child under control and teach them respect that this family has managed to have 17 respectful well raised children.

Agreed Sparks. I am not their judge and neither is anyone else. Last I checked we had freedom to do as we please here in this country and that includes having large families if we want. Personally it would not be for me. I feel it is much the same with people who have multitudes of pets. In both cases surely there isn't much *one on one* time with either the kids or pets in such situations. I would rather watch a program such as this than some of the shows which almost glorify dysfunctional families (druggies and the like...not mentioning any names here... cough cough).

[jackie]

Are they part of a religious group?

[dukedogsmom]

Are they part of a religious group?

Oh, don't yu know it? Quiverfull. Now why am I not surprised?
http://www.quiverfull.com/articles.php/id20/

[inlovewithanimals]

My grandmother had 14 kids but 2 died at birth but she suported them all on her own and it was always the children come first she would do whatever she had to do for them.


Justin

[columbine]

I know a bunch of people who were homeschooled, and who had a hard time getting the hang of the Code of the Playground (might makes right, lying's cool if you don't get caught, ridicule the one the others ridicule or you get ridiculed yourself, etc.) because they were raised with stuff like the Golden Rule instead. One thing they've all told me is that summer activities, like sports or drama, and Scouts/Guides were integral to their development, because they could find "translator" buddies who could help them avoid the worst abuse and come through with integrity.

It's true that homeschooling is becoming more popular among those who are afraid to send their kids to public schools because of drugs and violence, but can't afford private school. Because of that, there are lots of parents' groups, online and local, springing up where homeschooling parents can share ideas and resources and moral support.

But it's also compounding the ghettoization of public school unleashed (at least here in the USA) by the No Child Left Behind legislation, and concentrating the low-income kids with health and social challenges in schools that burn through teachers like matches, moreso because it's young, inexperienced teachers who have to prove themselves in the trenches before they can get a job in a safer school where they can teach instead of just put out fires. Few make it that far before deciding to switch careers.

So, I guess, homeschooling's a good option if you can manage it, but make sure the kids get to play with hard-knocks kids too... and that, if they want to be teachers, that they put in boatloads of volunteer hours in a nice PRIVATE school so they'll have an in when they graduate!

[Edwina's Secretary]

Last I checked we had freedom to do as we please here in this country and that includes having large families if we want.

Except get married and/or raise a family if you are gay.

If this family would be black or hispanic...would it make as good a television show? Or would the response be..."why do those people breed so?" I hear that about families a lot smaller than 17!

Once upon a time large families were important. You had high infant mortality, needed more hands for the farm, needed the kids to support you in your old age.

Now a family this big is a drain on the planet and society.

And I am free to find it disgusting!

[jackie]

Except get married and/or raise a family if you are gay.

If this family would be black or hispanic...would it make as good a television show? Or would the response be..."why do those people breed so?" I hear that about families a lot smaller than 17!

The truthfulness of that made me LOL! I could just picture someone tut tut tutting about "the immigrants who pump out babies to get more welfare".