Well, I have no real problem with them. They do always say that they let God determine the amount of kids they have, but at the same time she tracks her cycles to attempt to get pregnant. I don't know if I agree, but it is their life... for the sake of their kids, and future kids I hope her eggs stay healthy. Grade A eggs.

I like that the Duggars treat each other with respect.Unlike another certain large t.v. family(cough,cough).Though i myself would never chose to have so many, the children seem very well cared for, well loved,well spoken and intelligent.
There are little things about them that bother me too. I noticed the older kids did not look too overly excited when Mom and Dad announced another pregnancy. I wonder if the girls in the family have a choice in a career after they finish their homeschool high schooling? Do the girls have a say in how many children they want someday or will they just be "brood mares" for whomever they marry? Do you wonder if they really have any choices at all or do Mom/Dad want them nearby the rest of their lives. Regardless of religion they seem so sheltered from the real world around them.

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"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!!"

Honestly, I feel like "to each their own", but I do wonder about the mom's long term health after having so many kids.

I noticed that too Tanya, that the older kids looked, well.... unhappy about the preg?

BUT they are debt free, loving, and I like watching them much better than many other people. I do worry about her age and her uterus and eggs being good. I thought after the last c section that didnt' go too well, that they would say enough.

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 5 and a pineapple who is just about 2 , mommy to 4 ~angel~ babies

I wonder how the mother is going to cope when she goes through menopause and can no longer have children. Cranking out a kid once a year has been such a big part of her life. Will she be devastated when she can't have babies anymore?

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You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.

I'm not a fan. I may get flamed for saying it, but it is ridiculous to have that many children. I remember watching an episode that contained another large family and they were sky-diving. Jimbob mentioned at some point that he didnt know even know all his kids' birthdays. That's sad to me.
I also can't get over how she pretty much hands them to an older girl to "raise" after a certain point.
ALSO, you can't tell me that you can adequately homeschool each child to their potential, while having so many at all ages. You just can't. How can the high schoolers possibly be getting what education they should be, while mom is teaching the 4 year olds how to count?
ONE MORE THING, if you do the math, and let's just say, hypothetically, all the children wanted such a large family, there's no way in this world one set of grandparents can get to know that many grandchildren.....if each of those 19 kids had 19 of their own, that's pushing 400 grandchildren!! Hell, even if they all had 5, that's 95!!!
I just don't see it as good for anyone. The only positive is that they can take care of them on their own, debt free. Otherwise, I don't see much good in having so many kids.

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Chopey

chopey, I think everything you said is not flame worthy, All facts really.

But, they are happy, they are healthy, not being "abused" and really you just have to hope for the best in their lives. With all kids, whether 19 or 2. :-)

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 5 and a pineapple who is just about 2 , mommy to 4 ~angel~ babies

Chopey, I'll put on my asbestos suit and come stand with you.

If Himself and I had 19 cats in our house, we would be in violation of animal cruelty and sanitation laws because the powers that be would figure that two people could not adequately provide the food, housing space, sanitation, and medical care required by that many animals.
And yet no one blinks an eye at 19 kids.

I don't think that a couple can provide for the emotional needs of that many children simultaneously. They may love them all, but they can't possibly give them adequate one-on-one time. Even if each day, they set aside time to give one kid some undivided attention, each kid would get face time with Mommy or Daddy once a month.

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When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me over!
Any time God closes one door, She always opens another, even though sometimes it's Hell in the hallway.
Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it and walk away.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, prepare to die. (Klingon proverb)
Don't point. You'll poke holes in the air and all the faeries will escape.

Did anyone watch last night's episode? That little Johannah is going to be a handful, she's already a little more "spirited" than the other children. She's acting more like cousin Amy.LOL

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"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!!"

That's it, all I can do is hope for the best. I just couldn't subject children to such a life. It may not be technically abuse, but as a grown child from such a family, don't ya think one would be a slight bit upset that they never had an actual relationship with their parents? And that all the birthday parties had to be shared with 8 other kids that month?? I don't know. They are healthy, phyisically, yes; but mentally, I can't see how they will remain so as they age.

I agree. Whole-heartedly. I find it disturbing, really.

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Chopey