Very Cool Family
 

This is a very cool story. I greatly admire big families and wish I could have done it!


http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/279289...uggars_320Flip

updated 9:03 a.m. CT, Tues., Dec. 2, 2008
Raising 17 children — with one on the way — is no easy feat. But for the ever-expanding Duggar family, who deal with chaos on a daily basis, the work is worth it. In their book “20 and Counting!” parents Michelle and Jim Bob share the lessons they've learned about life and love, as well as how they have reacted to the inquiring minds of the public. An excerpt.

Re: Very Cool Family
 

Personally I think they are insane. How can you give true love and attention that is needed to that many kids? Sorry but you can not do it. I have four and think that one more would really be the limit to my ability. Not that I plan to have one more. My parents had 8 and I think that was to many. My father was from a family of 12 and my mom 8. They both got short changed on true love and attention in my opinion. I was the youngest of 8 and I know how it was for me. Though I turned out fairly decent I still think that it is to many kids so I am sure that 15 or 20 plus is WAY to many.

personal opinion

Re: Very Cool Family
 

I had started another thread on this clan.... There is just something that creeps me out about them.

Re: Very Cool Family
 

I have seen a couple of programs about this family. On the surface, they seem very organized and together. I kinda agree with Randy- it is almost too organized and together. I wonder how the mother can physically give birth, take care and meet the needs of all those children. The father does seem to be very hands on- and I do appreciate the moral standards they portray on TV.

Re: Very Cool Family
 

I don't know. My mom came from a family of fourteen and my dad from a family of five. My mom only has good things to say about being raised in her family, although she did say her mother would cry in the outhouse and beg her father to stop having so many. They were Catholic. I do think though, that even though you may be right about much of what you say that we've lost something in having smaller families. Maybe I'm just romanticizing it all. :)

Re: Very Cool Family
 

I would like to think that I could handle 17 children (gulp!), but I don't think I could, really. However, most of the kids I've known from REALLY large families (I'm from a family of 5) are very happy and loving, and don't resent it at all--quite the opposite in fact. My aunt had 13 children, and they are all very close even now that they're all in their 50's.

Large families aren't popular in the secular world for various reasons, and because we have the idea that children must be raised with a silver spoon in their mouths in order to be healthy and happy, but that really isn't true--or even a biblical point of view. :coffee2

That said. I have a love-hate relationship with the Duggar family-show. I prefer Jon & Kate plus 8, because it seems a little more on the realistic side. I stated this on Randy's thread already, but I think one thing that bothers me is the "too-perfect" presentation. There HAS to be some chaos somewhere over the Duggar rainbow, and they really ought to allow it to be captured. I think it would make them more endearing--not less.

JEFF--HE thinks they're wonderful. LOL!!!! I've informed him that I canNOT live up to the standard Mrs. Duggar has set. And I really can't wrap my brain around how she keeps up with their homeschooling. I can barely keep up with my three!

Re: Very Cool Family
 

I haven't seen the show. But I love the fact that kids are loved and appreciated rather than being treated like a headache. I'll have to check out Randy's thread.

Re: Very Cool Family
 

I like that, too. They definitely don't begrudge having a lot of mouths to feed!

Also, the Duggars use tips/programs from www.titus2.com to keep organized. I've been pondering whether to order the "Managers of their Schools" organizing packet, but it seems to be specific to Abeka curriculum. Jeff ordered a video from titus2 about husbands...well, I don't really know what it's about, because he's kept it carefully under wraps. :D But he's been making some positive changes around the house lately, trying to help me with the kids' schedules and make sure everyone does chores so I don't end up having to keep everything clean at the end of the day, after teaching all day.

Re: Very Cool Family
 

Sounds like whatever Jeff is reading is good stuff! :)

Re: Very Cool Family
 

He's hilarious...if he finds a really good book or video (of the motivational/self-help sort) he won't let me read/watch it, because he knows I'll start asking him to do the things in the book, and apparently that [nagging] is de-motivating, but if I leave him alone and resist the urge to sneak a peak and start asking to do things he already has planned to do--wow, what a run-on sentence!--*big breath*, anyway, he does better if I let him read the books and keep my nose out of it.


I really forgot my point.

:coffee2

Pretty much, I can be a nag (I know, surprise, surprise, who wouldathunkit?), and Jeff does better if he keeps my nose out of his business. :D