16 kids and wanting more!!!

[carole]

I think QSA summed it up nicely, it is about personal choice, and yes if they are well cared for and not on welfare, what the heck has it to do with anyone, we are all entitled to our opinions, there are people out there who would consider it ludicrous to own a large group of pets like some of our wonderful Pters do, but as long as the owner takes good care of them it is none of our business.

I know there are welfare mothers out there and here using the system, but I get a little peeved at all the animosity towards solo parents out there,for those who sit comfortably in their two parent families feeling superior, there is no guarantee your marriage will stay together forever , that your partner won't do a runner and you could all of a sudden find yourself in a position to rely on welfare until you get on your feet again, one should not judge so harshly until you have walked in those shoes.

My only concern was just how much individual attention these kids get, It is hard enough when you have two dividing your time between them, your husband, pets, parents whatever, however from what everyone has said they are well-adjusted young people, who knows they may actually be better off than coming from a small family.

I certainly would hate to have a family that large, but if they are happy in doing so, then it is fine with me.

[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.

[lizbud]

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.

Karen, I had that same thought but didn't know how to put it. Oh my,
I'd like to see her interviewed at say, age 50.

[lizbud]

A LOT! For sure, Liz, but as many financial consultants will tell you these days, we need to put more responsibility on the child to earn their college education rather than providing it anyway.......I think there is a happy medium in there, somewhere. Just my 2 cents.

I'm sure there is a happy medium somewhere Logan. Maybe I'm old school,
but I've always thought parents should be thinking & saving for college when
the children are still in diapers.I've always been willing to help with at least the first year or two. Those first years are sometimes the hardest for young
people to adjust to new places, setting good study habits, etc.

[catnapper]

Wow, has this thread progressed! LOL

Ok, from the way I see things (in my own weird little way) I think that in all likelihood, thoe kids are getting as much, if not MORE attention than the average Amrican kid nowadays. From the religious folks in my area, I know of a few with 10,11, 12 kids. They all are GREAT kids. Honest, polite, helpful. The family means a lot to them, and they rely heavily on each other. Opposed to the typical American family with our 2 children, these families with 12 kids get by remarkably well. They rely on dad as the primary money maker, with mom taking in sewing, making crafts, babysitting, etc to bring in additional income. You'd be amazed at how finaincially stable they are. One family I know of through my FIL currently has 4 kids in college, 6 in private school (Mennonite day school... not some fancy private boarding school or anything! ) and they pay CASH for everything. No student loans for the kids at all. Dad owns a small store, mom stays at home and makes jellies to sell at craft shows and such.

Thee religious families with a dozen kids are also are odd... in that they SPEND TIME TOGETHER! No cell phones, no computer games, head buried under a Walkman, no ten hour tv marathons. Mom and dad are there when you need them - instead of half listening instead of dividing their attention between cooking dinner, the scintilating soap opera, and the laundry. Mom has HELP folding the laundry, HELP peeling the carrots for dinner. OMG.... ask any of my kids or their friend to make dinner, you might get them to open a can of corn. Its a completely diffrent mind set and lifestyle. Their priorities are a bit different than you or I. Family is top priority. Everything else is non-existant to them.

Sometimes I think we could all take a lesson from them -- in how they relate to each other and separate the outside "noise" from their lives. We all list things as what we "need" - new computer, an ipod, a new couch. They list NECESSITIES... shoes, pants, coat, food. They get the couch when it falls apart and there's a NEED for it. Until then, they happily exist thanking God they even HAVE whatever it is they have.

All that said, I myself can't see having 16 children. My three are plenty, thank you

[finn's mom]

Ok, from the way I see things (in my own weird little way) I think that in all likelihood, thoe kids are getting as much, if not MORE attention than the average Amrican kid nowadays.

That's what I was thinking, too. Every large family I've ever known has spent more time together as an entire family than the families with two kids. The kids help with everything, and, do it willingly. They help with the younger kids, they help with the chores, all of it. And, what you were saying about not having their faces buried in walkmans or tvs or computers, too...I was thinking that, too. My friend's brother's family is like that, they don't even have a television. They make most of their toys. Brian's brother makes almost all of their clothes, the mother makes all their food food from scratch, everything they eat is something they've grown. She makes their bread from grain from their own property. I mean, it's tremendous what they do for eachother, and, how well behaved and polite these kids are. He probably spends more quality time with his kids than most dads I know with one or two kids. I've always been amazed at large families, but, I definitely see how it can be a much better situation sometimes than the way a lot of smaller families operate. There was a family of many biological and adopted kids that I knew in Germany...I think there were eleven kids total, and, last I heard they were all either in college or already graduated. And, I know the several I went to school with were some of the nicest, most compassionate people I'd ever met.

[Den Anne Pen]

I wonder what religious denomination they are?




I would say the type that don't believe in birth control.

To each there own but the older one's miss out because there raising the younger ones.

[finn's mom]

To each there own but the older one's miss out because there raising the younger ones.

Miss out on what? I know I can only go on the few families I've known, and, not on this particular family because I don't know the details of their situation...but, the older kids in the large families I knew moved out of the home almost right out of either high school or finishing home schooling and straight into dorms for college. They were usually no older than 18, they didn't miss out on much that was legal, anyway. Yeah, they did help a lot with the home and the family, but, they still had social lives (mostly church related, but, they did go to dances and out with kids of the same and opposite sexes). If the publicly schooled ones wanted to participate in extracurricular activities, they could. The only things I can think of that they missed out on were the things that they shouldn't have been involved with in the first place!

[moosmom]

WAAAAAAAAAAY to crowded for me, thank you very much!!! As long as THEY can support them all, I say, to each his own. It's the ones that keep popping babies out that expect US to support them that really piss me off!!

*dialing phone..."Hellow Guinness Book of Records???"*

[trayi52]

What did families of long ago do with so many children? Some I know had more children than that and did not depend on welfare!

Me, I could not deal with that many children, I had three, and can't keep their names straight, but I will not say anything bad against these people at all. It is their decision to do what they want! Sounds like they are supporting their children and asking for no help doing it.

Willie

[Rachel]

Ok, from the way I see things (in my own weird little way) I think that in all likelihood, thoe kids are getting as much, if not MORE attention than the average Amrican kid nowadays. From the religious folks in my area, I know of a few with 10,11, 12 kids. They all are GREAT kids. Honest, polite, helpful. The family means a lot to them, and they rely heavily on each other. Opposed to the typical American family with our 2 children, these families with 12 kids get by remarkably well. They rely on dad as the primary money maker, with mom taking in sewing, making crafts, babysitting, etc to bring in additional income. You'd be amazed at how finaincially stable they are. One family I know of through my FIL currently has 4 kids in college, 6 in private school (Mennonite day school... not some fancy private boarding school or anything! ) and they pay CASH for everything. No student loans for the kids at all. Dad owns a small store, mom stays at home and makes jellies to sell at craft shows and such.

Thee religious families with a dozen kids are also are odd... in that they SPEND TIME TOGETHER! No cell phones, no computer games, head buried under a Walkman, no ten hour tv marathons. Mom and dad are there when you need them - instead of half listening instead of dividing their attention between cooking dinner, the scintilating soap opera, and the laundry. Mom has HELP folding the laundry, HELP peeling the carrots for dinner. OMG.... ask any of my kids or their friend to make dinner, you might get them to open a can of corn. Its a completely diffrent mind set and lifestyle. Their priorities are a bit different than you or I. Family is top priority. Everything else is non-existant to them.

Sometimes I think we could all take a lesson from them -- in how they relate to each other and separate the outside "noise" from their lives. We all list things as what we "need" - new computer, an ipod, a new couch. They list NECESSITIES... shoes, pants, coat, food. They get the couch when it falls apart and there's a NEED for it. Until then, they happily exist thanking God they even HAVE whatever it is they have.

Having seen the program on TLC about this family, what you have said describes them exactly. Many of us could learn something from watching how this family functions. They definitely are self supporting financially.
The one concern I had was that with the home schooling and church activities being within a real limited group (their church meets in their home and consists of their family and one or two others) the kids are in some respects being sheltered from the *real world*, and I wonder how prepared they will be in dealing with the outside world.

[elizabethann]

And I thought coming from a family of 7 was a lot!! I once had a friend in high school who came from a family of 12! Personally, I love coming from a big family. And I even wish it was bigger! We may not of had a lot growing up, but we had eachother and that's worth all the tea in China.

[moosmom]

We may not of had a lot growing up, but we had eachother and that's worth all the tea in China.

AMEN to that!!!

[tatsxxx11]

Logan, I think I can answer a few of your questions...saw several programs regarding the family.

The father was a state rep. at one time and he is or was, in insurance sales. Apparently he and his wife had some serious financial difficulties in the past, way into debt, bankruptcy, then finally decided to take control of their finances. They attended some credit managment seminars, financial counseling and apparently have their act together now!

The mother said that they shop for clothes at thrift shops, stating that she will pay 50 cents for a pair of childrens' shoes that others pay 50.00 dollars for and then will hand down outgrown items of clothing to the younger ones. They also shop for the majority of their houshold goods, furnishings, at yard sales and such. I heard about the home they are building, large but simple. She said the kids will be roomed in seperate boy and girl "dorms." I'm not sure what building/housing costs are in their area of the country, perhaps less than in the Northeast. A house that size would cost a fortune to build here, forget about the cost of the land! And it's not totally inconceivable that they are receiving some help from family; a good thing! They did say they will be purchasing 4 commercial washers and dryers, commercial frig and stove, etc. and that certanly is costly!

I have to say that that the children were precious on TV, so polite and well mannered and seemingly very well adjusted...and articulate! The mother said that each child is buddied with a younger child, to help the younger sibling with dressing, bathing, homework; a mentor of sorts. This provides an invaluable life lesson in responsibity, sharing for sure! But like Rachel, I do worry about their relative isolation from the "outside world," but perhaps the parents are compensating for that in ways other than school, church, etc.

If this is the path they have chosen for lives and are able to adequately provide for their children, I say God bless them! And each child is a blessing yes, but for me at least, the blessing is not born of the birthing alone. With so many homeless children in need of a loving family, I would hope that perhaps (considering their apparent financial solvency) they might considering opening up their hearts and home to a homeless child in need. I remember seeing a few programs in the past on families with 10, 15, 20 children, half of whom were adopted, many with physical handicaps, disabilities. Like this family, they were amazing!

It's hard for me to imagine being pregnant 14 of the past16 years! And while the mother's fortitude is certainly commendable, it is really not the best course for her to pursue continued, uninterrupted pregnancies year after year, from a health perspective, especially as she's into her late thirties now. Pregnancy definitely takes it's toll on the body!

Logan, E.D. Hill does "have" 8 children, but hers is a blended family. As I've heard her tell it, both she and her current husband came into the relationship with children from previous marriages. I think she had 3 children with this husband Still, a handful! lol