Note to Michelle Duggar...STOP!

Was there any doubt the father was named Jim Bob?

'All smiles' Arkansas woman gives birth to 15th child

Just a little good natured fun. I'm sure they are very nice people and I certianly wish them well.

Update: Please keep the comments civil. I will delete anything that is offensive and ban the person from commenting in the future.

5/1/2006 Update: This post has certainly taken on a life of it's own. I never expected to have a one sentence blog post about Michelle Duggar land in the top 3 on Google.

Here are a couple of other posts related to Michelle Duggar:

Michelle Duggar is back

Comments about Michelle Duggar

Please remember to keep all comments civil. I don't mind opinions on both sides, I do mind offensive comments.

Comments

[Carrie Peterson]

I think you are fantastic.... Multiply and replenish the earth... this is a commandment... I wish that I would of had the health and patience to do what you are doing.... Your new house is beautiful... and you both (all) deserve it... Have a wonderful Day and enjoy those beautiful blessings to come.. :)

[Rabecca]

I am a stay at home mom and homeschool three children. I can barely manage. I think you need to write a book or something for all us stumblers. Help!!!

[Oh Geez....]

Why does the earth need such "replenishing"? There's over 6 billion people in the world. Soon the world won't be able to sustain the human population. There won't be any wildlife left. We'll be overpopulated into oblivion...

[Kim]

Don't be such a downer. There is no reason that you shouldn't have as many kids as you want (whether it's a commandment or not!) as long as you can support them. Jim Bob and Michelle love their children and put a lot of planning into their family. The children recieve plenty of one-on-one attention...much more than many parents can say these days, even with just one or two children. The Duggars are not reliant upon government assistance, in fact Jim Bob was a member of parliament for two terms just a few years back. These are remarkable people with great hearts. We should all look up to them.

[Mrs Shea]

Keep going Michelle! Let God plan your family not society and those idiotic population control people!

[pamela]

if they ever decide to put the children up for adoption i would adopt all of them

[Bethany Allo]

Hi. My name is Bethany Allo.

I live in Arkansas, too, and know how wonderful that area of Arkansas is; I lived in that region a few years back.

I have a great respect for you and what you do for your children. Right now I am blessed with one delightful little four-month old girl, and I must say, you are an inspiration to many mothers out there. I can only imagine how much fifteen times the love you feel for all your children as I feel for my daughter.

I can relate to your blessing. My father's sister, Tally, and her husband, Andy, have ten children, eight of which were all born at home. All the children have been, or are being, home-schooled and the family remains debt-free as you do. They built their own house and encourage each child individually. They all are very delightful, religious people. Tally is very patient and Andy is very firm. They are great parents. Great parents make great children.

Thanks for the prime example to us all.

[Mitsy]

Sorry I don't agree with most of the posters here. It is irresponsible and stupid to breed like wild animals. Why not let "God" control your brain and your sex drive for a change?????

[Bikerchick84]

Okay Misty - TELL THAT to all the teenagers/young mothers out there with pregnancy after pregnancy (as you put breeding like wild animals!!!) whether aborting them or having them by various different men and not being able to support them, leaving our society with some screwed up little kids/turned adults. I look forward to what ALL the Duggar kids will be able to contribute to our society/country and the values their parents have instilled in them!!!!!

[Mitsy]

The Duggar's are idiots who are willing to let "God" decide how many children they should have but unwilling to let "God" help them control their sex drive. Their kids will end up with many problems in life because they have lived in a commune-like home. If you can't see that, then you are just as delusional as they are.

[Adirondack_gal]

This whole thing is so bogus, from the home schooling to the stupid Mother Hubbard dresses. Did anybody actually pay attention to the Discovery Channel program about them? When the "mother of the year" was teaching ten of her then 14 children, ages 5 through 17 in their home schooling exercise, who was caring for the four babies? God? There's a whole lot here that remains hidden from view. I for one would like to know how those kids would really perform in standardized tests, and what they will do when, as is inevitable, they encounter the world that their parents are so determined to keep them insulated from and for which they are so clearly unprepared. I'm a parent and a professional and I say this is all just garbage. Michelle Duggar is a publicity seeker, and frankly, she looks to me suspiciously like a control freak.

[panther24]

To say that homeschooling is bogus is very ignorant of you. Homeschooled kids get more individualized attention and don't get force fed the garbage in todays public school systems. As a homeschooled graduate I know first hand the benefits of homeschooling. And they will suceed more because they are taught to think and lead not follow some idiot blindly.

Homeschooled people are not anymore unprepared to "encounter the world" than the rest of the children out there who go to public schools. IOn fact I would say homeschoolers are better prepared due to the self motivation they acquire from homeschooling.

And people who choose to have alot of children deserve more respect than those who are so self centered that they only have one child so that they can have more time for THEIR career.

Adirondack_gal you need to find the facts on your own instead of jumping to conclusions about stuff you know nothing about.

[Momof2girls]

I applaud Mrs. Duggar! Not many women have the patience to raise this many children so selflessly! I find it funny that most the people on here who are saying how crazy it is and how the kids will be messed up, are MEN!! Instead of being so ignorant about how the Duggars are raising their wonderful children, you people need to read facts about homeschooling, religion and siblings! I have two kids, My oldest is homeschooled as will be her sister! She is 8yrs old and in the third grade! Unlike some moron on here stated, she and other homeschooled children DO have to take standardized tests every year! This is done to make sure her education meets MINIMUM standards. My child tests on a 5th grade level for Math and Science. Her reading and language skills are in the 7th grade range! She does more work in a year than most kids in a public school that only go to school from Sept-May. My kid goes all year round!

You morons need to grow up and realize that just because YOU don't want to have/can't handle that many kids doesn't mean anyone else shouldn't or that they can't raise that many kids!

[Matt]

Its not wether or IF THEY can raise them, ITS if they SHOULD even of had them in the first place. The earth has limited space and resources, how selfess of her to have so many resources gobbeling American children.

[maria schmidt]

I think this is disgusting to keep having children like this, and then to expect help from your community to help with housing them. I think Michelle Duggar is in love with being pregnant and the attention you receive, but that's it!

[eye roller]

this behavior is the height of selfishness. just because you're not in debt doesn't mean you're entitled to exploit the privileges of american excess. some day all of these kids will be old and we'll be paying to keep them alive. not to mention the implications of the 256 grandchildren and countless generations bound to follow...

and having a big family is not some favor to god. he's got enough people to look out for and he's already way behind.

these kids will grow up and hate their parents for limiting their childhood experiences to church and chores. they need to stop kidding themselves and while they're at it, cut that goddamn awful hair.

::blows up the south::

[Sheila]

I fully agree with the negative comments on this site. The Duggars are close-minded and ignorant of the world around them. Maybe it sounds like a cliche, but the truth is, there are children by the millions around the world who need homes. And to those unfortunate children, the Duggars are spitting in their faces. For a family to skip adoption and deliberately reproduce because "they love children" is one of the cruelest sins I can imagine. God have mercy on their souls.

[Matt]

^True that. I mean 10 people are born every second or something like that in the world(?)

I mean if these Duggards "love" children, then why don't they adopted a starving child, that is probibly a greater deed in Gods eyes. And it doesn't add another mouth to the world

[sisof8]

I love children, and I think they ARE a gift from God, but I find it very hard to believe that each of those babies are given time to be babies, and that they are able to be individually cared for and stuff and honestly... as an oldest of 8 children who has had a LOT of responsibility for the younger children I can assure you that unless this family has hired nannies, which i doubt, the older kids are raising the younger ones and not getting a lot of schooling or are TOTALLY stressed out.

[Kase]

To Matt and Sheila: since you're both so concerned about the millions of starving children around the world, might I ask how many you've taken into your own home?

I applaud the Duggards and I think they are doing a better job raising their 16 children than most parents do raising only 2 or 3. They can have as many children as they please, and those who say they "shouldn't" are ignorant because who are they to decide how many children one "should" or "shouldn't" have?

[time2annoyu]

"You morons need to grow up"
and you homeschool? ACK!!!

" and realize that just because YOU don't want to have/can't handle that many kids doesn't mean anyone else shouldn't or that they can't raise that many kids!"

She has children -- not GOATS.

Once again, and you homeschool? You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Shelia]

Sixteen (16)..What in the world is going on? Health wise, is it safe to have that many children? She has been pregnant everyday of her adult life, which has totake a toll on the body.

[amused]

I find it amusing that some of you are so offended by this family's decision to have 16 children. If they really feel that God has called them to do this, then who am I to say that He hasn't? All religion aside, though, 16 IS an extreme amount of kids!

I was homeschooled K-12 and am the oldest of seven children (the younger ones are ages 5 weeks to 13). I work at a law firm full-time and I have a strong GPA as a junior in college (part-time). So the homeschooling-bashing really should stop; no, it's not for everyone, but it's NOT not for anyone either. I quite enjoyed it and I believe it has served me well.

I grew up taking care of little kids and having a lot of responsibility, much more than I should have had. Since I am so much older than my siblings, my parents have realized the effects of this and have changed dramatically with how they are raising the younger ones. While some of my younger siblings are hot-headed (preteens...you gotta love 'em), and they do have their fights, my family's home is, overall, a pleasant environment. I was raised to be an independent thinker, to have my own thoughts and opinions. I have a good life; I work hard, do well in school and am financially independent. No, I didn't get as much attention as I would have liked from my parents growing up, as they had so many other kids to take care of. But overall, I have few regrets about how I was raised. I have a good relationship with both my mom and my step-dad, and the rest of the "clan."

Therefore, due to my own personal experience, I must assume that there is a possibility that the Duggar family is happy and enjoys their life, and without knowing them personally, I cannot espouse too strong an opinion in any direction.

[John]

Its not your problem. Who cares.

If you don't like home schooling then send your kids to a private/public school. You worry about the tax burden? They’re helping by not sending the whole lot of them to a public school. So long as they don't end up asking for assistance they can have 100 kids for all I care.

Should they adopt? That is their decision. If you think they should be and your worried about all those kids, pick up a few, I don't think the world will run out.

For the people that are worried about her health and being pregnant pick a cause, any cause. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, illegal drugs or child pornography. A woman popping out kids and taking care of them should hardly be a concern for you.

So what if the kids grow up not entirely right, if you ask me the parents aren't sane either. I wouldn't do what they are for all the tea in China but why is my idea of what is right anymore important than what they think?

Until they show up on your door asking for help, selling magazines in your neighborhood or in jail, WHO CARES! Did they ask you to build their new home? Did they ask you for diapers or food? From everything I have read they have been self-sustaining. If morons in the community want to donate that is their issue, not yours.

There are people who drop a welfare check in a slot machine twenty minutes after they get it. People sell their children’s food stamps for alcohol, countless runaways, drug houses, illegal immigrants and countless other things in your backyard and yet you find time to bash a family for actually raising a family. I don’t agree with it but if I am going to find a cause to jump on, this won’t be it.

[Suzanne]

I agree with John. I would not want to have that many children, and I am concerned with overpopulation, but they do seem to be doing a much better job of raising their kids than many parents with only a couple kids do. And, there are so many other things in life that are worth getting upset about or concerned about like terrorists, drugs, crime, etc. Many of these people must have a whole lot of time on their hands to get so worked up over this family's size. Also, I'm curious. How many children have some of these other people adopted?

[Kim]

Example of the word APATHY*

*see response by "John" above.

[George D]

Look in the dictionary under irresponsible and you will see Duggard. She should have stopped at two. PS religion is a human invention. Get over it.

[ME]

I believe whos buisness is it of how many children they have! Its there family some say that couples who choose to have an only child is selvish. I applaud the duggars and as far as they dress at least they are not out half naked!

[Erin French]

I agree with John. As long as the kids are happy and healthy who in the world are any of we to say what they can do?? Those kids may seem a little different from the norm today in America but who is to say the way everyone else dresses or styles their hair is better? Mrs. Dugger can't be totally insane if she and her husband banned television. What I wouldn't give to be totally rid of it from my house (hubby watches it, not I).

[Shari]

Undoubtedly the older kids will resent having to have raised the younger kids instead of enjoying time with friends (if they have any) and leading a normal school-sports-music-fun-playtime life like regular kids have. And how can two parents possibly give enough one on one time to 16 kids? I feel bad for all of them-every parent knows kids need a lot of individual time.

[denise ducharme]

will your children be able to go to college?will your husband ever be able to retire? who would care for the children if you or your husband got sick or injured? I know trust in god. he provides miracles; 16 of them.

[John S]

My mother had 3 brothers and 12 sisters that reached adulthood (six additional siblings died at birth and in childhood) - no multiple births. As such I have 55 first cousins, 135 second cousins. My mother only had three children, of which I am the second born. I have three children of my own 18, 14, 12. My mother's (5th born) comment on the big family was always having to miss out for the sake of the younger ones.

[dadof10]

Very interesting! I'm a dad,husband and I have 10 children. Six boys, four girls. My wife and I homeschool. We are not wacked,morons,stupid or what ever name might come to ones mind. I'm not "fixed", I work very well thank you. We planned on having a large family, not 10 but I for one would not trade it for anything. My children enjoy very much their brohters and sisters. YES!!! it's difficult at times.(Yes they are kids and have the same problems as all the kids around the world.)
But being alone, working your job, just living is difficult. I guess I would rather spent it with famliy,than be alone. But my life is not about me. It's about my family, my kids. My teenagers, in fact the five older children (15-21yrs.) can out talk most adults with real conversation, Not, fluff.
I really believe that those of you how have less than three children or who did not grow up in a large family really have only opinion to back you up. That's weak!!! Opinion is cheap and you can get it anywhere. It's also free. So, why judge the Duggar family???? He's a challenge to those of you who believe it's "weird" or what ever label you want to put on it. Why not seek out a family with say 5,6 or even 10 kids, and spend time with them. I mean like real time, one week or try 2. Allow yourself to experience what they experience on a day to day basis. I'll bet your perspective might change. You might even find that the family is just like you. REAL humans, just a lot of them in one house. Then come back and post not opinion but facts.

[Areyoukidding?]

Have you seen their website? The wife is totally controlled by the husband! If you want to email her it goes to him. I'm sorry, but no man will ever control my life like that. These people need to get a life. The kids are never going to have any fun. (Dad says their favorite time of day is when he comes home to read the bible to them) Give me a break. Religion is one thing, but they have a cult. I quite enjoy wearing tank tops in the summer. These girls can't even dress like a human. Sick people. I feel sorry for the kids!!!!! Oh, by the way someone was asking who watches the babies. They have still & quiet time where they have to sit on a blanket and be quiet. Sounds like fun to me. NOT! I am quite happy to have my two children, even if I am a single mom. My children are normal. They play with toys and interact with others.

[Work At Home Dad]

AreYouKidding?,
There is no such thing as normal children with a single mom. Ask anyone raised by a single mom, they will ALL tell you that something was missing from their life. Sorry, you are kidding yourself.

[Momto1+2onway]

As my name suggests, I am a mom to one, a 2 and a half year old girl... but if my body had allowed it i would be a mom to 4 with 2 on the way... and i would have kept every one of them. And i am only 22 years old, but i am happily married

I feel as though these parents should be able to do as they please, My Mother in law and Father in law each have 10 siblings...and at the time they were born it was so normal to have lots of kids...No one has right to judge, they are not asking for help from anyone... until they come to your door and ask you for food and diapers, mind your own dang business...It's not fair for you guys to say things about the way they raise their kids...I'd say people need to grow up just a little bit

[hogo]

Its not about HOW THEY RAISE THEM, its about their responsiblilty they have to their fellow human beings that are on this planet along with them. Do you not see the problems? Are you not paying for gasoline that probibly is over 2.50 and spews out carbon dioxide. Do you not need electicity, space, food, and resources.

They brought 16 kids into the world, each one of them quite possibly makes it so another person somewhere in the world is denied resources to live.

[Frodo]

I think that the Duggar's have misunderstood what God said in the bible. Children are a gift from god but that doens't mean that he wants everyone to have as many kids as they can. That many kids cannot have proper attention and the care that they need. By having that many kids they are forcing the old ones to grow up to fast and keeping them all from living a normal life. Do you really think that those kids have friends? or play on a baseball team? or have quality time spent with there parents. My mother spendings a lot of time with me talking and shopping. I would feel neglected if i was one of the duggar kids.

[Amy Rollins]

Oh my God, are you people serious? You are positively serious that with everything else going on the world, you have negative comments for this family? What a joke. I'm really not that surprised, though. For so many years, it has seemed okay to have as many children as you want out of wedlock, abuse them, neglect them and kill them all while having the governement pay for everything so I am sure that it does enrage you to see a loving family have lots of children and care for them and provide for them by working hard and having faith in God to supply for their needs. To the Duggars, if this is what you want and what makes you happy, by all means, go for it! God not only wants us to have life, but he wants us to ENJOY it and if this is the life that you enjoy then great for you! For you people who are angry about it, get a grip and go find something more suitable to have an opinion and a nasty comment about.

[Don]

If you'd like to see video (Discovery Channel) of the birth, before and after, drop by www.arkansastonight.com -- we put it up last night.

[Heather Duncan]

I'm a 30 year old woman,( a mormon in Utah) I have never been marired and have never been on a date, never had a boyfriend. When I heard of the Duggards, I had a stange feeling.I always wondered how people have sex so much, people in Utah have sex all the time. I don't think I will be ever be able to have sex. I do not want people to see me naked. Mr. and Mrs. Duggard, did you force yourself to have sex or did you want to have sex. That is alot of sex, plus if you are always pregnant, that is alot of people looking at your butt. I admire the Mrs. Duggard that she was able to overcome those fears.; May God bless you. If you are able to have 16 kids, and you are able to support them and get them all of the attention and love, then good for you. SOme people have so many fights when they have a sexual partner, and ofter have several children by different fathers. God said that we do not have a specific amount of children, he just wants us not be be against having any children at all. The person who had 16 children is no better tan the person who had 1 child. Love Heather Duncan

[Lela Neisler]

I'd love to know how the older girls really feel about this situation, as the work falls on these children to care for the little ones. Dolly Parton was the 4th of 12 children, and the oldest girl, and she left home when she turned 18 and never had children of her own, because she says she raised 8 kids, so she never missed anything. I wonder if the Duggar girls will feel the same way.

[Shelle]

I am not so freaked out by the Duggar family having 16 children as I am of the comment that Heather Duncan publically makes about sex and her inability to have it. WHOA!! is there a better place for your odd comments.

And if the Duggar family is having sex (obvioulsy as such) why is it any of your matter?

[Jaime]

Michelle Duggar can have as many children as she wants.....I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I don't have a right to be critical of her or of anyone really. If she can do it and wants to do it? Why not? I think that children are blessings and with all of this death and destruction in the world, she's bringing life right back into it. Has anyone actually seen any of the interviews with her and all of her children and see how incredibly well-behaved they are? I thought that it was pretty refreshing to see that, especially with all of the crying, whining, disrepectful little punks that we all get to see on any given day. God bless you Michelle (and family)!

[Dawn]

We are a homeschooling family who currently has 4 children with another due in January. Those of you who don't understand homeschooling should educate yourselves. We buy all our own curriculum without help from anyone and still pay taxes to help support the public schools. Our children have chores they have to do, but have plenty of time to be outside with the neighborhood children. As far as taking too many of the world's resources, these children will all, one day, be adults and will have to pay taxes just like everyone else. Look at it this way, there will be at least 10 more men out there who will be part of the workforce. These people are not asking for you to support them, so get off their backs!

Oh, and as far as being "controlled" by her husband, you've got to be kidding! Just because her email goes through him doesn't mean he controls her. A lot of families have only one email address.

[Dawn]

We are a homeschooling family who currently has 4 children with another due in January. Those of you who don't understand homeschooling should educate yourselves. We buy all our own curriculum without help from anyone and still pay taxes to help support the public schools. Our children have chores they have to do, but have plenty of time to be outside with the neighborhood children. As far as taking too many of the world's resources, these children will all, one day, be adults and will have to pay taxes just like everyone else. Look at it this way, there will be at least 10 more men out there who will be part of the workforce. These people are not asking for you to support them, so get off their backs!

Oh, and as far as being "controlled" by her husband, you've got to be kidding! Just because her email goes through him doesn't mean he controls her. A lot of families have only one email address.

[Deborah]

Wow, where the heck would you even start commenting on this subject? I think the Duggars ROCK. I think they are courageous enough to stand up for what they believe in, even in the face of nonsense criticism as seen here. I can't believe (and yet I can) how people have such a hardened opinion about this family when they obviously have no real knowledge or experience of what goes on in a family like this.
Can anyone tell me what's so horrible about teaching a child responsibility? How to take care of one another? How to love others more than yourself? If you see children misbehaving, teenagers acting up, adults committing crimes, do you think it's because they've been taught the kind of things the Duggar children are being taught? I don't think so.
Who is to say how much one-on-one attention a child needs from their parents? Who's to say a sibling can't be a dear and beloved friend? Why all the emphasis on the self-centered attentions that a child in a large family "misses out on"? What is it that you think the child is really being denied? The chance to be the center of the parents' universe? Do we really need more people out there thinking the world revolves around them?
I applaud the Duggars. I applaud my own family (I have three children). We are both families that live by what we believe in, despite facing hardships and worldly disdain. We both put our faith in God to supply our needs. We both love and adore our children. We both are trying our hardest to raise up valuable contributers to society.
For those of you who are hung up on the resources those dang Duggars are using up, who is to say that in 15 years or so, one of the Duggar children doesn't come up with a perfect solution to, say, the energy crisis or world hunger?
I think people need to think a little longer and a little harder.

[Shannon Allen]

Mr. Duggard obviously has brain washed his wife into believing that she was sent from God to have as many children as he can impregnate her with. This is abusive- It is also a shame that you have your 13 year old children preparing meals for the entire clan. I find it quite interesting that the male children are not in charge of preparing meals. It is probably because they have been taught that women are only good for having babies and preparing food! How sad is this. I hope the daughters can escape this abusive situation and somehow learn to function in a world where woman have choices and are intelligent and can thrive even in a world where people like ignorant Jim Bob live. I am proud to say that I have raised a smart, beautiful, independent daughter that would never allow herself to be the property of a man. This story truly saddened me. This is not a normal situation.

[Independant free thinking woman]

No older siblings should be responsible for their younger siblings I'm sorry. Children should be allowed to be children. I can see playing with their siblings, but being forced to dress them, change their diapers, feed them and in a sense "parent" them 24-7, ummmm....NO. I come from a family of 6 and my older sister lost her teenage years because she had to watch my younger siblings and I. Additionally she had to cook dinner, clean, and break up arguments between us younger kids. She resents that she had to do it and doesn't do the same to her own three children.
I just feel it's not fair to make the older children have to play house because the actaul baby making machine is too busy with her newest addition to the family who she will eventually have to pass on to the older siblings because of another new addition a year later and on and on the cycle goes. Those poor kids are being isolated from the 21st century and forced to live in the olden days. How about letting your girls have dreams and goals outside of having babies and being wives. How about teaching your sons that women are free thinking individuals who also can work outside of the home. Why homeschool the girls if they will never be able to use their brains? Those kids are slaves. If they experienced childhood outside of their home they would never choose to go home I can assure you. Would you blame them? Hmmmm....hanging out with friends, learning, growing, dreaming about what you'll be when you grow up or constantly being around your family 24-7 and being forced to gorw up at who know's what age,having to cater to your mother's 10 children a year apart while also doing chores and teaching? I wonder which one they would choose if given a taste of 21st century life? I wonder..........

[Shari]

When I saw the video on cnn.com, it reinforced the view that most people are taking here- the older children to me, looked miserable. Yes, they were smiling but they were forced smiles, truly the children of a politician. To all of you who think this is a normal family, think back to your teenage years. Were you able to go out with friends, join sports, just sit in the yard and daydream, lay on your bed and write in a diary, read a good novel, or did you change diapers, teach the younger children their school lessons, cook every day for a herd of 18 people, get up and go to bed at exactly the same time as the younger kids,and share a room with them as well...while your mom popped out one baby after another? Which of these childhoods or adolescences would you have preferred? And where are the jeans and teeshirts and playclothes? What children feel comfortable in look-alike dresses and dress clothes every day? (by the way I am the mother of five beautiful healthy well-adjusted children!)

[My sons' mom]

I have a question for all of you with negative comments about this family...which would you rather have in the world...a Christian family raising a population of children to live holy lives using the character and moral code Jesus taught or a family of Muslim terrorists teaching a generation of children to hate and kill as many people as they can with a homicide/suicide bomb? We have a country killing more babies every day in abortion and the Muslims population on the rise all over the world are having as many children as possible and some, not all, are teaching hate and murder as part of their upbringing. Does anyone remember Sept. 11, 2001?
I believe the Duggars are doing an outstanding job staying out of debt, showing moral character, and living the life God wants them to live. Why should we worry about these children who have a mom AND dad at home teaching and loving them. Too many children are dumped in daycare because selfish parents have to have their careers and those daycare kids are worse off for it.
The Duggar children will be best friends to each other for life. That is the best thing about it! Children need boundaries and responsibilities and this family is a wonderful example of how large families can do anything together!
The boys are learning construction and architecture at such young ages!! Excellent for future career possibilities!
And since when is it evil to be happily married and a mom with a MAN as the head of the household? That IS God's design! Wives have brains and contribute ideas, plans, and opinions so that we help husbands make wise choices! The Bible says we are help-mates for our husbands not servants or doormats! Women have power over the happiness in the home. It's a woman's choice to battle her husband over every decision or give him the proper authority under God he deserves to establish peace in the family.
As for the girls, they are as intellegent as the boys I am sure and will have choices when they are grown at to whether or not to seek higher education, get a job, or be a wife and mom. Every young woman has these choices so what's going to be different with these girls? If you watch the Discovery and Learning Channel's specials about this family you will learn that chores are rotated and all kids participate in household duties including cooking, and laundry! Boys will typically do more "manly" outdoor chores (like help build a 7,000 square foot house) while the girls cook or sew new dresses. I tolerate cooking but like to sew, does that make me a substandard woman because I'm a traditionalist? I had to learn to cook when I got married because I wasn't taught how by my divorced over-worked mother and I hate t.v. dinners now because of it! Those girls and boys will be able to successfully live out on their own because they will know how to keep their home in order, cook, clean and manage a schedule.
Bravo Duggars!

[Melanie]

I read all the comments previous and was literally taken back by some of the comments of people. I think it is wonderful that they have such a close and loving family, something most people miss out on during childhood. I had cancer and was told I would never have children and the Lord blessed me with two beautiful babies. I am amazed at how well Michelle handles all the children and it is so amazing to me. As far as homeschooling and the clothes they wear--some of you people need to try leaving the blinders you wear daily at home. I would rather be with my children teaching them and spending time with them than having them in gangs, on drugs etc. All the people worried about how many people are on the earth--get a grip. The time is coming and the Lord will return and maybe you need to start getting ready.

[Sheesh]

I think this thread is incredible.

My favorite are the posts talking about how sad it is that the older children are preparing the meals and doing the laundry. GOD FORBID they have responsibilities and are FORCED to contribute to the household! What abuse!! Would you rather have them sitting in front of the television or video games while Mom slaves away cooking and cleaning? Or wandering around the mall learning about smoking, drinking, and sex from strangers and advertisements?

People who condemn this family are jealous. They're jealous that their lives are not as full, fruitful and balanced. They cannot comprehend the faith or love that would go into having and managing a large family. I just hope they find SOMETHING that fulfills them in life so they can quit bashing people who do follow their instincts and beliefs.

[Latise]

To even question if it is right, wrong, responsible, or irresponsible to have 16 children is not a question any of us should be asking, let alone attempting to answer.

God gave us each the ability to think freely and make decisions for ourselves. If you dont believe in God, that's fine because even still, somehow, someway, you are a human with a brain and the ability to formulate a thought. You have the ability and the priviledge to choose. How dare any of us begin to pass judgement on another for exercising their god-given ability to choose?

The Duggar's are not forcing any of their beliefs on any of us. They are not asking for our money, our symptathy, or our criticism. That being said, there are definitely a lot worse things to deal with on this earth then a family of 16 providing for itself.

Furthermore, no parent knows how his or her children will turn out when they are older. All we have is the hope and faith (in whatever you believe) that the upbringing we are providing will be a good foundation for a promising and fullfiling life for our children. The Duggar children may grow up to be rocket scientists and solve the world's most complex problems, or maybe they will be screwed up adults and the excuse will be, "Oh, those kids are crazy because they didn't have a 'normal' life." Maybe these children will prove the skeptics wrong and set a new standard for what is "good" and "normal."

The reality is this: we just don't know. It is no more fair for any of us to judge this family as it for someone to judge a single mom, a mom who choses to pursue a career, or a family that is forced to have 2 working parents and put their kids in daycare. We all make choices and we all do what we can with what we have. Instead of being so busy looking at someone else's life and being so concerned about someone else's children, perhaps we could all do well to spend that same energy examining our own choices, paying a little more attention to our own children (since they need so much of it anyway), or focusing more on those issues that are much more important then a family that seems to be doing fine without us.

[Janet]

Perhaps the Duggars don't care what anyone is saying, but this is, after all, a site to post blogs- we are all entitled to post our opinions. (for those of you who cut down everyone with a negative comment). But tell me this; if they are not seeking attention, why do they get so much coverage every year with each new birth? I grew up in the 60's and attended Catholic schools where many families had upwards of 12 children (one classmate came from a family of 19!) None of those people got national news coverage. If the Duggars don't want negative attention , perhaps they should keep the family away from the press. I can't help but wonder why they feel the need to get so much coverage for something that really isn't a great accomplishment-almost any fertile woman could do the same if she so chose. Every family is special whether they have one child or twenty-it's how you raise them and live your lives that is important.

[EML]

There could be many reasons for the Duggars having 16 kids.
1.) Politics. They are republicans, on a one issue stand. The stand is against abortion. By having this many kids, they could be trying to prove that they don't believe in abortion and "care for every child".
2.)Publicity. Sometimes this goes with the politics. You get the publicity, it helps you with your votes. Sometimes it's just merely the attention from the publicity.
3.)Simply enjoying a large family. This is one I don't quite understand, but it may be just her religion as it seems to be. Personally, I don't believe it's completely God's choice to have all those kids- after all, it takes a sperm and an egg.
4.)Lust. Or a combination of lust and love. Wouldn't it be hard to keep having kids like that? but you can still provide for them if you have a large income. You have to have a large income to be a politician. He could also be trying to be a politician to get enough money for his family, but I doubt it.
5.) An easy way of spreading God's word, and adding conservatives to the world. This goes without saying.

Now, I think that yes, the Duggars have a lot of money. Yes, they indoctrinate their children with I have no idea what religion. I tried to look it up, but I cannot find it out for myself. I think it's also wrong to tell your children that everyone else is going to hell. Have you seen the websites they use for their education? And I do have to admit, even being in a two-child household, we got angry at each other because mom kept buying us matching clothes, and I did not appreciate the hand-me-downs. My sister used to babysit me even though I was only 2 years younger than her, and she would take advantage of me.

I also don't like the way religious people condemn single people. Do you ever think that maybe it's not their fault? Or that there are two sides to the story? Or perhaps that a widow is not such a bad person after all? Tell my mother that she can't raise good kids. Plus, you can't credit the childrens' doings completely to the parents. If I came up to you and said that your parents were the only thing that made you successful, wouldn't you be offended? That's like saying the only motivation, and the only credit should be given to your parents- but in fact, it was all your work. People just end up doing what they want- parents and environment throughout life do influence a person. Some people want to fit in, so they change themselves, and sometimes they begin to like that change. That is not the parents' fault.

What I don't get is why a family has to have 16 kids and then make a public statement about how there are so many unfortunate kids out there that can't be provided for. Stop looking down on people like that; if you pity them, go buy one.

I know this is kind of immature, but it's just a question: When's the last time Mrs. Duggar has had a hair cut? There don't seem to be any if you look at the family photos.

[MomOfSixSoFar]

HA! The world is not over-crowded and people don't have to starve to death...kill the millions of sacred cows in India that are eating up all that grain, and think of how many people could be fed!!!! You could fit the world's population in the 2 biggest states of the United States, and by the world's standards, they would have quite a bit of room! Having more children ensures more workers to build up social security...not that I think that should be done mind you! The French are paying their people to have more children!

How dare any of you talk about how they shouldn't have more children...who made you the judge and jury? Have any of you self righteous people adopted children?!?!? I doubt it! Those children have been taught to contribute! They are being taught as our grandparents and great-grandparents were taught. I wouldn't make any snap judgements about where the little ones are during school time either...where are your children while you are typing those nasty comments?!?!?

As for standardized tests, homeschoolers score on average 30 points higher that public school children. Get your facts straight before you type...your public school education is showing!

[EML]

MomOfSixSoFar, isn't that an assumption you're making that homeschooling makes your children better than everyone else's? I do honest work, and I was never homeschooled. I also have values. Don't tell me that my work is in vain because it's not done at home. Comparing schooling to homeschooling is just like comparing apples and oranges. They're both fruits, but yet, they are different. Tests don't necessarily prove anything either- as I've seen people cheat before and it annoys me.

By the way, statistics are often manipulated, what what test scores are you going by? I do have homeschooled friends and it really depends on how good the teacher is, I think. There are good and crappy teachers everywhere. Who says that homeschool or public school is perfect? What's the big deal?

Sometimes daddy's care is better for the child, but sometimes it ruins the child. It really depends on who daddy is. If you're going to use statistics, put the website up so we can view it. Don't they teach everyone here to cite their sources in some form or another?

[MomOf7HappyChildren]

OK......first I have say I was just dying laughing as I read all the negative comments from those you of you about large families. Obviously you do not know what you are talking about. Your ignorance is showing...really it is! I know many families like this one. They are great, wonderful families. Now, I'm not saying that you are a wonderful family *only* if you have more than 3, 5, or 10. I'm taking everything into context here. So, before making such negative comments...you might want to get a little more experience!
Yes, you can have 1 child, send him/her to public school and have a great, wonderful family...but, don't assume that just because a family is large and they homeschool it's awful either!
Second...who said that just because you have 16 children you have sex all the time? That makes *no* sense! Does this mean that marriages that have two children have only had sex twice....gotta think about that one, don't ya?
Third...Did ya'll notice the only people that spelled the Duggar's name wrong were people that had negative comments? Hmmm, if someone doesn't even care enough to spell something as simple as a name right...I wouldn't want to listen to what they had to say...
Fourth...do you really think the Duggar's are going to listen to ya'll? I mean...think about it. The horrible nasty comment about Michelle Duggar....stop...umm...that was before child 16...don't think she took your advice!
Fifth...way to go to all of you that say (to the affect) I can't believe ya'll have negative comments about that.... you want the opposite? Unresponsible, video watching, rowdy, etc kids? Hmmmm...
There are lots of good postive comments here. It'd be nice if the ones who wrote the negative comments would read those...but, somehow I don't think they have the stamina for that...
Of course...this family makes mine-which is seven precious, happy, well adjusted blessings...look small!

[MomOfSixSoFar]

Mmmm mmmm mmmm! EML, you know what assuming does don't ya? I never
said that there weren't good, smart, well adjusted children that go
to public school or that there weren't horrible homeschool teachers!
However, it isn't easier on Mom and Dad to do, and it is hard work to
homeschool. I have found that most homeschool kids are more
motivated, self starters, do better on tests....but that is most, not
all. For statistics, check the HSLDA website at:
http://www.hslda.org/research/default.asp. They have plenty of
research there.

As for Dad being better than Mom to take care of the children, yes
sometimes that is true...but for the most part, Mom is the one who
should be at home with the babies...that is what the Lord made her
for. Eve was made to help Adam, not vice versa. Read Genesis in the
Bible...there is my source.

You know, people make comments all the time about us having six
children and stare...it is like living in a fish bowl. You don't see
me going around making snotty comments like, "poor pitiful
family...only 1 child, they are ruining that poor thing, making him
selfish." How dare anyone think it is okay to comment on another
persons fertility!!! If we have the financial resources to take care
of our own chidren without taking Government assistance, then who are
you to tell us not to? We don't take any money from the government
and we do just fine. The good Lord provides!

We have happy, smart, friendly children. They don't have any problem
talking to children of any age, or adults! And on that topic, in
what job will you ever herd a bunch of people the same age into a
company...you won't! Public schools haven't been around since the
dawn of time, only the last two hundred years, give or take...my
source, any history book! God forbid anyone not wanting to subject
their children to all the crap that goes on in public schools! Do
you really know that teacher?!?! Hmmm...I think not! The teacher
may be pushing his/her agenda or beliefs on your child.

As for the Duggar children being responsible for younger children, or
doing chores...what is wrong with that? I entered marriage being
able to boil water and wash laundry...that is it! Boy did my dear
Husband have a time teaching me! I don't want my children to enter
into marriage unprepared. When I had my first child, I was
scared...I had no idea what to do. My parents hadn't put any value
on being prepared for marriage or life...just education! My children
do help with the littles, but they aren't solely responsible for
them, and I would venture to say that the Duggar children aren't
either. Also, the Duggar children didn't look unhappy to me. I saw
a light in their eyes and a smile...a big genuine smile on their
sweet faces.

Ok, enough for me. Off to homeschool my sweet babes!

[EML]

MomOfSixSoFar, If your toilet is overflowing, are you going to fix it yourself or hire a plumber? How much math, english, science, etc have you had? You cannot teach what you do not know.

[MomOfSixSoFar]

Mmm mmm mmm! That is all you could come up with EML!

Tsk tsk...I warned you about assuming EML! You don't know me, so why do you make assumptions! Because I have 6 children, you assume I started having babies in high school? Wrong! I was in college for 7 years, chasing 4 different majors...only finished 1! I started in Mechanical Engineering, and when I became bored I moved on to Computer Science. I finished that, but decided that wasn't what I wanted to do, so went to nursing school. I became pregnant with my first child while in nursing school...yes I was married at the time. I quit nursing school, stayed home with the baby during the day, and went to school at night while my dear husband was at home. I was an education major at the time. I was only 2 semesters away from graduating when the Lord laid it on my heart to not become a public school teacher. Why on earth would God want me to put my sweet babes in daycare to go teach someone elses children?!?! So to answer your question, I am VERY capable of teaching my children any academics they require! Math, science, history, english...they don't scare me! On top of that, I am a published poet, although nothing you would have seen! All this said, I don't believe you need a degree to teach children at home...there is such awesome curriculum for homeschoolers. The Lord commands us to train the children up, how can you possibly do that while they are with someone else for 7 or 8 hours. Also, I know for a fact that most teachers can't pass a high school exit exam now...what does that tell you?

Aside from my capabilities, my husband in a project manager for an enviromental engineering firm. He is absolutely brilliant! Aside from being smart, he is very handy! He can fix just about anything! The man knows electrical, automobiles, plumbing, etc....if I don't know it, he does!

If my toilet is overflowing, I reach down and turn off the valve...grab my handy dandy plunger and make haste! If that doesn't do the trick, then my dear Husband takes over, as he is a very handy man! I haven't had a plumber here in more than 10 year!

~Daughter of the King

[MyGod..]

I find this whole thing bloody hilarious :>

There are so many things wrong about this. The names, that awful awful hair, the awful clothes, the list goes on.
Tip: Mullets are so 80's.

A thing that annoys me is their religion. On their website, they say 'God' or 'Lord' or some sentence from the Bible, whatever their called, every third word it seems like.
Another tip: Kids don't come from 'God'. They come from an egg and a sperm :rolleyes: That fact when JimBobbyBob said if the lord wants them to have more, they will. Give me a break. You have kids because you want to, not because some invisible person wants you to or not.

And it's unfair on the older kids, wasting their childhood looking after their zillion young siblings. It's also unfair making the girls prepare and make everyone's lunch and dinner, coz that's a shitload of food for 1 or 2 girls to make themselves. People who have posted before go "OMGZ what's wrong with the children doing chores?"

An 11 and 13 year old girl cooking for 17-18 people is not a chore, that's f***ing slave labour.

MomOf6SoFar - Homeschoolers do 30 points better? Where was your source? Shouldn't you know when putting forward an argument with so called facts, you need to put a reference? Otherwise, what you have said is invalid and untrue until you post your source.
Also, the fact that you said "get your facts straight - your public education is showing" - is an absolute insult. While it wasn't directed at me, I find it apalling, offensive, and frankly, very immature, for an adult and mum such as yourself. There is nothing wrong with public schooling, unless it's just America's schooling system. Which is probably crap due to your loser President. I went to public school, and I'm now at one of Australia's top 8 universities studying Education, to be a teacher, so that there is more public education so we can teach children and adolescents more common sense and manners than you obviously do in your adulthood. Many public schoolers (from my school) have gone to universities to study medicine, law, accounting, business, etc. All reputable careers, so don't tell me home schooling shits all over public schooling. Take your head out of your arse.

Michelle wrote her little diary thing and the FAQ on the website, saying the girls do this, the boys do that, etc. What the hell does she do? Apart from be pregnant and give birth what seems like every 5 minutes?

As weird as his name is, at least the husband works and is building a house :/

How are the kids going to make any friends if they don't go to school to meet any? They don't even have music classes outside the house, so they can't meet any other people their age who also learn an instrument.

And their clothes are awful. Have they never heard of a pair of jeans before? It's not like they're expensive or revealing (last one refers to girls). Instead they have to wear homemade clothes which look like something from the 1930's, except anything from that decade probably would've looked better.

And I bet their strict christian religion prevents the kids, especially the older ones, having any fun.

@ Sheesh: "People who condemn this family are jealous" - Lollerpotato! There is absolutely nothing to be jealous about. I don't come from a bogan town with bogan mullet families who wear homemade and matching clothes everyday of the week (see website's laundry 'diary' thing).

They said wearing matching clothes makes them feel united. Um, hello? Most united families do not wear matching clothes for gods sake.

Jim Bob & Michelle - stop having unprotected sex. Spare us from these boring, dull, repetitive news stories

[EML]

I agree with MyGod... on most points. My father came from a farm family of 10, where nobody was indoctrinated that badly. They are all well-adjusted, even though they weren't homeschooled, and they ALL helped out with the farm. And sorry, but if there wasn't enough food to go around, you had to beat everyone to it. There was only 1 toilet in the house also. And plenty of fights.

However, I don't see how these 16 kids will fit in, being that they are wearing completely different clothes and are told that everyone is going to hell. What if some Jehovah's witness knocked on your door and told you that you weren't going to heaven because you didn't know the real Jesus?

And, I may be young, but I haven't failed a class, nor have I been confined to my own home. In fact, I'm well traveled, and even so, a lot of my teachers believe in God- but that has nothing to do with how well my education is. Don't put me down because I'm still learning. And don't put my mother down because she was once a teacher too. By putting that last letter down, you have put my mother down.

God taught that you should love your neighbor, but telling them that they are stupid and incompetent against your children is not love. God's children are not superior to each other. Sorry to dash your hopes.

I've been in a foreign country while my dad died, and guess who comforted me? My public school teacher. And I know that most of my teachers would pass a standardized test, because I can, and I can see that they genuinely care about their student's education and not their religious background. They make sure that the student makes it through ok, if there's a problem they talk to them and genuinely care, they can make extra time to see the student- this has happened so many times with these teachers. They will go out of their way to make sure someone is ok. And they want the student to experience life. How can you learn anything if you don't go out into the world? There is a point where everything just stops unless you do something. You don't know what a country is like until you visit it. You don't know what surgery is like until you have it. In order to know the evil, one must see it and refuse it by choice, as it has been done through centuries. This argument has also been used during the middle ages to stop the government from banning books. If you don't look at it, you are just living in ignorance. If you do something, but refuse to let others do it, you are a hypocrite.

And honestly, Michelle has been pregnant every single year for 16 years. For one, that has got to suck, and there must be a reason behind it- not just God.

MomOfSixSoFar- "Because I have 6 children, you assume I started having babies in high school?" I never said that. On the other hand, let's see what you've said about my education and how inferior it is.

"I know for a fact that most teachers can't pass a high school exit exam now...what does that tell you" -again, statistics. Most teachers where? What kind of sample? What kind of community were these teachers in? High school exit exams have been dumbed down for immigrants now you know. Every time I've mentioned what was on them with my teachers, I'm pretty sure they waid it was the dumbest thing they've ever heard. So what does that say about my teachers? It says you shouldn't be putting them down with a cover statement of "most".

btw, Why don't you show some statistics from gallup and not some site that is not objective?

"We have happy, smart, friendly children. They don't have any problem
talking to children of any age, or adults! And on that topic, in
what job will you ever herd a bunch of people the same age into a
company...you won't! Public schools haven't been around since the
dawn of time, only the last two hundred years, give or take...my
source, any history book! God forbid anyone not wanting to subject
their children to all the crap that goes on in public schools! Do
you really know that teacher?!?! Hmmm...I think not! The teacher
may be pushing his/her agenda or beliefs on your child."- These are all assumptions about how superior your kids and teachers are. Anyone can push their beliefs on your kids.

"I have found that most homeschool kids are more
motivated, self starters, do better on tests...."- By saying thins you are also saying that you have found that most public and private school kids are less motivated, not independent, and do poorly on tests. I must say that is not the case with me and my friends. I hang out with the right crowd and I make my own choices. Sometimes teamwork needs to be learned also. You can't work with others if you don't have the right attitude for it, and you can be the most otivated person, but you will still have to learn to work with others.

Since I am typing this from another computer, I must go because it is a lot slower on here and I have things to do- like the laundry, crocheting, quilting, building the garden in the backyard. You can learn a lot form having a widow as a mother. I'm sorry if the bible doesn't condone that. There must also be moral reasoning in one's life and not just "put down the guy who doesn't go completely by the bible" or "kill the infideles". If we went completely by the bible, we would still have slaves. There isn't a word against them in the bible, at least to my knowledge- only rules on how to treat them.

[My sons' mom]

To EML, whom in your life claimed to be a Christian and treated you and your mother badly? The Bible doesn't condemn widows or belittle them as bad mothers. I don't understand your comment about "You can learn a lot from having a widow as a mother. I'm sorry if the Bible doesn't condone that." Please explain. I am sorry for whomever treated your mother with disrespect for the Bible teaches we should have compassion for the widowed and their families, not feel sorry for them or treat them as second class. We should lift you up in prayer and help in any way we can.

And as for slavery being condoned in the Bible I don't find that anywhere. Jesus spoke of us (who believe in Him)being "baptised by one Spirit into one body whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free..." I Cor. 12:13 and John 8:33-37 in which Jesus describes those who don't believe in Him as slaves to sin and He can set them free, providing them with everlasting life in heaven. These passages and others do not condone slavery, only describe how we can be free in Christ Jesus no matter what rank we have in society (which in His day slavery was widely practiced in many societies in the world).
We are also told to love others as we love ourselves and treat our neighbors in a way we want to be treated (you remember the golden rule?) and I believe this lesson would include condemning slavery and treating others as inferior to oneself.

As for the difference in homeschool vs. public school, it is like comparing apples to oranges. Each have their positive and negative sides and can be benefitial to children. The important fact is we have the choice to use the public education provided by the government, pay for private school, or homeschool our children. I choose to homeschool for many reasons but do not condemn anyone who chooses not to. I am a mom with a wonderful husband and we try to make the choice that best fits our family situation.
I would also like to ask you where you (and our early American government) formulate moral choices and laws? If not from the Bible then where?
I am being sincere here and not crass or sarcastic. I am truly curious why you have such a negative view of the Bible and Christianity.

[Jennifer]

One thing I find rather interesting is that some of my high and mighty former "friends" who were at one time so proud of themselves for taking their children out of public schools, home-schooling them or sending them to religious schools, are now the parents of some very wild late-teen to mid-twenty year olds. Some friends of ours turned holy-roller Baptists and dropped us as friends because we would not give their church a try, attend their Bible studies, or listen to their preaching. Their son, who was forced to do all of the above, is now proudly strutting his stuff at the most flamboyant gay bar in town, and has been seen wearing pink boas and other women's clothing. Another family who did the same and home schooled their children, had one get kicked out of college for drug use and who-knows what else, and is now in boot camp. The other son sports a purple mohawk, tattoos, piercings, and does not have a job. Another family has kids who have been caught driving while intoxicated...the list goes on. Meanwhile, my children,who are being educated in public high schools and college, wear normal clothes, partake in sports and music activities, have no lower than a 3.5 GPA among all of them, and have no interest in drugs, drinking, or anything else to make me ashamed of them. Gives me quite the laugh to think of all those Duggars rebelling when they turn 18 and running around Arkansas with purple hair and tattoos, maybe some behind bars, and others working in the strip clubs. (does Arkansas HAVE strip clubs?) The more one suppresses the kids, the wilder they will be when they do get out on their own.

[MomOfSixSoFar]

EML,
The Bible commands us to take care of widows and the fatherless. I am not sure why you would assume that we wouldn't have compassion for either. I am sorry you have been hurt by someone in your life.

You take my general quotes and make them sound as if I am putting you down, or as it this is an attack...maybe I should try that myself! "How much math, english, science, etc have you had? You cannot teach what you do not know."-are you calling me dumb EML??? BTW, I am not attacking you or anyone else, I just like a good debate! Maybe my 5th major should have been law!

You say, "However, I don't see how these 16 kids will fit in, being that they are wearing completely different clothes..." and then you say, "God taught that you should love your neighbor, but telling them that they are stupid and incompetent against your children is not love. God's children are not superior to each other. Sorry to dash your hopes." What is so wrong with being different? You put down the Duggars, and then tell us not to put you down...not that I did that directly! I never even said that my children were superior...I just prefer my method of teaching to the public school system. I thought in the US I had the freedom to choose...or would you take my educational freedom and my womb!?!? And, homeschool families don't sit in a closet hiding from the world. We (we meaning other homeschool families) get together, play together, learn together, travel together...and so much more. The world is our textbook, and there is so much to learn without sitting at a desk! I prefer Marine Biology being taught on the beach, than sitting in an artificially lit classroom with a textbook and an over-worked teacher. I prefer geography being taught with a map, a plan, and a family vacation across 5 states!

You seem to feel attacked, but how do you think it feels to homeschool families, or large families, when we see you putting others down??? Because we are the minority, you seem to think it is the wrong way. Our parents (to a lesser degree), granparents, and great-grandparents that had large families went through the depression. Those times were HARD!!! But, even with the gas prices that we have now, is not happening. We are a FAT nation, in more ways than one...if you catch the pun. We have so much in comparison to the rest of the world. If the Duggars want 30 kids, more power to them!

BTW, I went to public school myself...the best one in our state! That said, it had so many problems! I know well what I speak of, and I wasn't putting your educational experience specifically down. You take to literal what I say...not every teacher or school is bad.

As for statistics, Gallup polls are not objective, they are opinions. I will do you one better...I will give you statistics from a government funded project! You must not take one or two sentences out of context...read the whole thing!!!

From ERIC

The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a digital library of education-related resources, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education. When the ERIC digital library opened to the public on September 1, 2004, the collection consisted primarily of electronic bibliographic records describing journal and non-journal literature selected by ERIC from 1966 - 2003. The collection has expanded to include full-text articles. In years ahead, the collection may include other electronic resources such as audio and video materials.

Here is a 1995 study, though a 2004 report shows no significant difference.

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/content_storage_01/0000000b/80/26/e5/fc.pdf


1990 Masters Theses An Analysis of Home-Schooled Children's Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills Results and Demographic Characteristics of Their Families.
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&eric_viewStyle=list&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=home+school+test+scores&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&eric_displayNtriever=false&eric_displayStartCount=11&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900000b8004d9ba

AND HERE IS SOME MORE:
http://www.act.org/news/data/04/pdf/data.pdf

2004 Homeschoolers 22.6 Total Students Tested 20.9, page 17

http://www.act.org/news/data/03/pdf/data.pdf

2003 Homeschoolers 22.5 Total Students Tested 20.8, page 15

This article was written by Clicka from HSLDA, but I used it to find the above Profile Reports.

ACT Inc., producer of the ACT college entrance exam, reports once again that homeschool students scored an average of 22.6 for 2003. This compares with 20.9 for public school students for the same period.

This is similar to past years. According to the 1998 ACT High School Profile Report, 2610 graduating homeschoolers took the ACT and scored an average of 22.8 out of a possible 36 points. . . . This was higher than the national average, which was 21.0 in both 1997 and 1998.

The 1996 ACT results showed that in English, homeschoolers scored 22.5 compared to the national average of 20.3. In math, homeschoolers scored 19.2 compared to the national average of 20.2. In reading, homeschoolers outshone their public school counterparts 24.1 to 21.3. In science, homeschoolers scored 21.9 compared to 21.1.

Over the years there has been concern that homeschool students would not be able to compete effectively for places in colleges. It was said that homeschool parents simply couldn't educate their children to the college level. This is false.

Even if an individual family is unable to provide every aspect of a high school education, the pooling of resources among homeschool families and the availability of classes from private resource centers have enabled families to continue homeschooling until high school graduation.

To which we at Homeschool World add:

Don't forget high-school courses on DVD, video, and computer software . . . and online distance learning courses as well! Check out the ads on our home page and in our Mall area for many good examples.

The only area in which "average" homeschoolers are slightly worse off than public schoolers is math. Which is really not that great, considering how poorly American students fare at math compared to the rest of the world. So we'll be addressing how to improve high-school math scores in upcoming issues of our magazine, Practical Homeschooling. We know how to help you with this, because two of our children (so far) are National Merit Finalists, with outstanding math scores. Bill Pride, who will be writing these articles, holds the B.S. in Math from M.I.T. and is currently enrolled in a Master's degree program in Applied Mathematics.

AS FOR TEACHERS:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041212/NEWS/412120357/1060

A state education official said Friday a recent study confirms that student learning suffers under teachers who repeatedly fail the tests.

The Department of Education study, the first of its kind, found that students learn less under teachers who had failed more than three times, said DOE spokesman MacKay Jimeson.

http://www.education-world.com/a_admin/admin109.shtml

http://images.suntimes.com/special_sections/failing_teacher/part1/cst-nws-main06.html

Happy reading!

[EML]

With Bush in charge, we basically do have god in charge of the country. Look at his policy.

examples showing the bible and slavery:
http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/slavery/erica.html
http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news0401/answers.html

Just look up the words bible and slavery, and there are plenty of links floating around.

...And since we're on the subject of accepting people because of their differences: Would it be right to accept someone who blows himself up in the name of muslims everywhere? Just a question. I suspect not, because we have to use good moral judgement. But what would you do if you met a family of someone who gave himself up as a human bomb?

MomOfSixSoFar, that wasn't actually me that wrote the letter about the plumber and your education. Mom wrote that, and she only read one of your letters because she hates the internet.

I go to these "Christian" sites all the time to see what these people are thinking- and I find that being a single mother is a sin. Please explain.

You have the freedom to choose, and I have the freedom to take a stand if I feel that I want to or need to. Isn't this fun?

I've traveled to most staes already and been outside of the country 4 different times and am going outside the country again next year. It's nice to be able to pay for school and travel despite my hectic schedule.

Yes, I felt attacked. And you're not the only one who gets attacked for her lifestyle. Being a college student myself, I get told all the time by mom's boyfriend that I have a drinking problem (I never drink, alcohol is disgusting), and that since it's college, I've got to be experimenting with something. All these wrong assumptions put me down, and being the youngest, I'm not given the chance to defend myself because "I'm not as experienced as everyone else." Well, I have to go now because I'm going to get picked on again. I will finish this later.

[my sons' mom]

EML:
What is your definition of a "single mom?" You said your mom is a widow. There is a major difference between a woman who gets pregnant out of wedlock and chooses to keep the baby and raise it without a father (when adoption to a married couple is available) and a married woman who has children with her husband and has the misfortune of him dying (which is not in her control). You have a widowed mom who has raised you and your siblings the best way she could after your father's death. She should be commended for it not attacked or put down. If she had produced all of you with different men and no husband, now that is immoral and improper in the eyes of most Christians. Women who do this are usually dependent on the government for everything and we (tax payers) carry the burden of paying for these children's housing, food and education.

Divorced moms also carry a stigma with them in trying to raise children from a broken home and I don't consider them as "single moms" either. They are "divorced moms" and I come from that sort of family situation. My mom did her best to raise my brother and I as best she could after my dad moved out of state and only saw us over summer break. You were lucky to have an intact family and a father who didn't physically and knowingly abandon you for his career opportunities away from the family.

To lump all unmarried moms into the category of "single moms" is wrong. Some are widowed, some divorced, and some chose to bring children into "single" parent home instead of putting them up for adoption.
As for being a "single mom" as a sin, I believe any sexual contact outside of marriage is a sin, as well as choosing to keep a child born out of wedlock and raising him or her without a father a sin against the child. Especially if the mom is a teenager! Many married couples are waiting to adopt from unwed moms and too many young girls and women are having abortions or trying to be mom and dad to a child and failing miserably at it. What happens to these kids who never have a father to help guide them? Many end up in trouble with the law if they do not have the guidance they need in their lives.

I believe if more people showed restraint and self control before marriage we would have a healthier society with less STDs, fewer children murdered in abortions, fewer children abused or neglected because they were born to unmarried women, and more marriages would last longer because the couple would marry out of love and respect for each other not because they produced a new life after having sex outside of marriage.

Don't you wish more people had self control and self restraint, not just in terms of sex but in anger, pride, greed, jealousy, etc.? The Bible teaches us how to overcome all of these sinful temptations we are born with and treat others with respect and dignity. Crime statistics would definitely improve if more people could control themselves.

[Ruby]

Oh. My. Goodness. Sooo many thought colliding in my brain....

Michelle, honey, what is this rabbit-in-heat reproduction doing to your poor body? You look rosy-cheeked enough now; how about after, say, 7-10 more kids? After all, your own physician highly recommended that you cease & desist after Child #10. I hope your faith in the Lord is still strong when your innards start to give out.

What if one of your little gifts from God is born with mental or physical disiblities which requires extra medical attention? Will you just "put your faith in the Lord"? What if the child has learning disabilities that require different schooling methods for them to learn, methods that you are not even remotely prepared to provide? I fear that will be the child that is kept 'on the farm' for the rest of his/her life. All in all, perhaps the best choice for the poor mite.

I've not read what educational level you two have topped out at or - more importantly - what sort of open-minded world view you can offer your children. Home schooling is a noble thought, but how much interaction do the kiddos get with their peers outside of your family circle?

How will they learn conflict resolution?

Will your children be understanding of another's point of view?

Will they be equipped to deal with all the variety - positive & negative - the world outside of your fence has to offer?

Sending a 18 year old out into the cold without basic social skills is unconscionable.

(shaking head)

Well, Mr & Mrs Duggar, best of luck. It's all fun and games and cable TV specials under the happiness train derails~

[EML]

Single mom- a mother without a man to be married to.

The only problem is that people see those from single households as problem children. Actually, it gives me more of a chance to learn how to fix up the house and pick up a hobby. However, I still miss my dad.

As far as teenagers being mothers. I wouldn't know what to do if I was a pregnant teenager. If you kept the baby, it wouldn't be able to have the life that it needed. If you gave the baby up, then you would be considered irresponsible and you'd have to deal with the fact that you had that baby later on in life. Or if you aborted it, we all know that's probably the darkest area- knowing that you killed a baby and everyone thinking that you're a murderer. Which would you choose (And don't say abstinence, because that doesn't count.)? I am sad to see that there are so many 11 year olds online who are getting pregnant/having sex and their parents don't even know it. It should not be surprising, because didn't Aristotle used to complain about youth all the time? And numerous other figures in history also?

Every poll is opinionated, but I'm not sure that the margin of error would account for that part. There is no way to completely prove everything. If we didn't have opinions, we would be maybe grass or bugs. That's kind of depressing.

Grandma had started miscarrying after 10 babies, and they were "God's gift" to her. The dr. secretly prescribed her birth control pills and called them fertility pills, because she'd otherwise be bringing very much dead or harmed babies into the world if she kept reproducing. That would be quite a burden.

Oh and we are children of the same mom and dad, made in marriage. So we are legit.

As far as the ACT goes, we have to keep in mind who is taking these. Practically everyone. Lower income, upper class, middle class, maybe some people who shouldn't bother taking it, and some geniuses. Personally, I've never taken the ACT- it's not used in all colleges, but I would have taken it. I took the SAT, and I think I ranked higher than average. I tend to rank higher than average on most things. But there's always got to be someone below average and above average. I recall my public school as being above average, and having overprotective measures put on its students. In fact, I paid $2 for my locker and they wouldn't even let me walk to it during breaks or in the morning because you're not allowed to be in the hallway. Of course I had to explain. They also put up a fence with barbed wire around the school, and didn't allow people to congregate anywhere because they thought we had gangs. There were not gangs at school, we were all just friendly groups. The only person I disliked was my principal, and those who enforced the rules on certain people but not others. For example, no sleeveless clothes were allowed. I had a sleeveless dress on. I took my jacket off for a second and one of the administrators got angry at me and lectured me. That afternoon, I walked outside and a well-endowed student was wearing a tank top and short shorts. There were at least 3 administrators there, and they did not do a thing to her. I looked up my principal and he has a bad reputation for being over-restrictive. That's about the only problem I've had.

Crime statistics in Japan, I hear, are pretty low because they don't think of stealing or anything. We'll have to look that one up.

The only thing I object to about mom is the fact that grandma is pushing her to get married within the next year, and move out of our house. I don't think that marriage should be pushed, because that doesn't give mom the chance to be a mom to me- and I really miss it.

a lot of couples today think they are marrying out of love today- but the statistics about divorce are terrible. People just can't seem to stick to one partner, and I wonder why? There are so many "easy" women out there.

Have a nice day!

[My sons' mom]

EML:
You are so right about your mom getting married again would decrease the time she could or should spend with you and your siblings. Are all of your siblings grown and out of the house? If not, a new spouse can through a wrench into the family relationships. Plus women have to be careful whom they bring home around the kids. I was molested by one of my mom's boyfriends when I was 11 and many other children fall victim to such treatment and far worse abuse because a new "mate" is brought into the home. Hopefully your mom will always make time for her children even if she decides to remarry. I for one because of my experience would probably not remarry until all my children are up and out.

You are also correct about "easy" women out there. If more women closed their legs and waited for an honorable man to pursue a relationship with, and date without sex, then men would wise up to how to respect women and not use them as pleasure toys to be disguarded like a used car. The same can be said about men as well, looking for the right sort of woman to be the mother of his children.

As for answering your question about teenage pregnancy, if I had become pregnant too young I would have chosen to give the baby up for adoption, which IS the most responsible and honorable choice to make after creating a new life outside of marriage. Adoption is a very unselfish and loving choice when teens find themselves in that situation. It is not irresponsible, it is right and reasonable to give life a chance and allow another family the joy of raising that child as their own. It would make me proud to know I made the right choice.

I believe having the same religious convictions and beliefs as your spouse will help strengthen and prolong your marriage. Praying together for each other and the children as well as attending church and Bible study will keep the marriage focused and centered. When God is the center and binding core of your relationship, it becomes even more difficult to choose to sin against each other, whether it is in the form of lying, cheating, gossiping, arguing, dishonoring, etc. We have respect for each other and we are constantly striving to better ourselves as spouses and parents. When you lose focus on your commitment and each other, then the marriage will slowly unravel in time. We take our vows seriously and too many in society do not.

Have a great day yourself!

[My sons' mom]

EML'
I also believe it does you mom a disservice to include her into a category of moms who choose divorce or not getting married and having children.

Your father's death was not her choice, just an unfortunage circumstance she was faced with. Widows are in a category all their own.

[born okay the first time]

Funny how it's perfectly okay to indoctrinate someone else's kid on these comments, but yours have to be sheltered in homeschool.

Also: most people who are in college for 7 years are called DOCTORS.

[my sons' mom]

To Born Okay...
To whom are you directing your comments? And whose kid is being indoctrinated? I am not following your meaning in your comments. Please clarify.

And yes I want to protect my boys from immorality, pornography, tolerance for immoral behavior, ungodly character, and many other things that are accepted in society but unacceptable to our Christian faith. What parent doesn't want to protect their children from evil in the world?
If you want to call it "sheltered" fine, but we don't stay at home and become hermits either. Lessons are taught anywhere at any time, museums, art galleries, super markets, outside under the willow tree, zoo, library, bakery, restaurant....anywhere. The world is our classroom as was stated before.

I believe it doesn't matter how much education someone has. Anyone can homeschool and delegate to tudors or tutorial programs the areas they don't know. I can higher a piano teacher to teach music like any other parent, or a coach to teach soccer skills. I have many outside sources to use to teach what I don't know and learn along the way myself. Plus I can take my kids to a local apple orchard to see how cider is made and apples get to market instead of only reading about it in a book. Same can be applied to any subject we study. Kids will retain much more about what they are studying if they are able to see, touch, smell and hear about the topic in the real world.

Doesn't that sound more interesting and exciting than sitting in a classroom with 25 other kids day after day?

Plus did you stop learning when you left school? You continue learning throughout your life whether at an institution of higher learning or job experience or owning your own business or from reading books. Get my point? Does it really matter in teaching and raising children if one has a college degree or not? Most people learn new things all the time and you don't have to go the college to do it.

[Flat stomach]

My husband ran across this story and woke me up in a tizzy.

My two cents - We live our lives responsibly and ethically, we pay our taxes, we give 20% of our income to charity, we are debt-free and we both work at non-profit agencies.

Here's the kicker. We are very happily without children. We have been married for 10 years now and if we ever do decide to bring a child into our family, we will do the only responsible thing available. Adopt one of the numerous unwanted, neglected and/or abused children already populating our crowded world. Anything short of that is sheer selfishness, period!

Let's face it. Mr. Duggar has turned his wife into an easy bake oven. No matter how well meaning they might be, they are slaves to their own biology. I sincerely pity them.

Personally, I love the utter freedom and joy my marriage provides. We are able to dedicate our lives to making the world a safer, cleaner and more happy place. Travel, intellectual pursuits and community service have become the staple of our lives. I wouldn't change one thing.

The sad truth is, though, it is the breeding ignornant who will inherit and eventually destroy our earth. I weep for the starving children of the world of our generation and next.

Thanks for reading my post.

[mamasheehan]

I realize this thread is about the Duggars, but I feel compelled to comment on the input provided by others on single mothers. I am, according to one of the posters, the worst sort of single mother - the "never married" mother. Do I regret the circumstances of my son's conception? Certainly. Would I recommend this approach to others? No. Would I trade my son for anything...anything in this world? Absolutely not. Am I a perfect mother? Hardly. But show me someone who is. I have committed my life to my son, and he has received more love and nurturing than many two-parent families I know have given to their children. Not having a father in the house does not mean male guidance has been absent. It's just taken a different form.

Do I consider myself immoral? No. Human and fallible? Certainly. Two parents can screw up a child just as easily as one. The key is commitment, the daily unspoken promise to your child that you are going to do your best to help him or her become a responsible, productive, honorable member of society. If two parents make that commitment, great. But to state so vehemently that one parent can't make...and deliver...that promise, is judgmental and self-righteous, and sends the message to the children raised by these single parents that they are "less than." And that, I believe, is the biggest shame of all.

[di]

Why did God have to send 'an angel' to help Michelle with the laundry? Why couldn't her husband help?

[Kevin Callahan]

Anyone who supports this family has totally lost the right to complain when the worlds food supply is no longer sufficient enough to feed us all.

[My sons' mom]

Hey mamasheehan,
I didn't state that a single parent can't make a commitment to raise up a child in the best way he/she can, you did. I also didn't state that children who are raised by one parent are "less than" any other child. Don't give me credit for those words when I didn't say them.

My whole point about "single" vs. "married" parents is what God views as ideal for the family unit. The Bible describes in detail the ideal "family" for raising children in the book of Ephesians. Read it sometime. That is my standard and anything other than that is less than "ideal" in a Biblical sense.

I agree we are all fallible and sinners, likely to make many mistake in our lives. I am not on the attack of any divorced, widowed, or never married moms. I am simple providing the Biblical truth that children should be raised in a loving home with a mom and dad committed to each other and children in marriage. I do not have a perfect marriage, but my husband and I never consider divorce, quitting, or cheating to get away from problems; instead we work through them as they come and keep our focus on God and His will for our family.

The reason I strive so hard to center my life around my husband, children and home is because I am one who was raised by a divorced mom. Believe me, it was less than ideal! I have chosen to counter the lie that a woman can "have it all"- full time career, motherhood, husband, home, socal life, PTA activities, church involvement, hobbies, two cars, vacations, etc. I am exhausted at that list! I can't have it all like the feminist quacks suggest. Some things suffer if I ever tried and for many women what is neglected? Usually the most important duties: of being a wife and mom. Then all the stress and arguments cause women to look older, file for divorce, become estranged from their kids, gain weight, and many other issues arise.

I'll keep my life simple and uncomplicated, with less stress and energies pulling me in a million other directions. I have joy, peace and security in my family and that beats a full time career and more money any day!

[JC]

This is an amazing debate. Lots of points of view to this topic. I think I'm more apt to say 'if you can handle it then go for it' myself.
They seem really really happy - as a couple, as a family and as future productive members of their community. If they're very religious, then cool. They should be as good in their faith as possible because it's what they want to do. They don't seem to do things half way and that shows a lot of conviction and determination. I guess looking at environmental inpacts of overpopulation is a reasonable idea, but taking into account that there are millions of people in the world that have lots of children, they live in abject poverty in some 3rd world country, I don't hear too much being said that they're 'bad' or 'wrong'. Is it because the Duggar family is a middle class (white) American family that they would get such a visceral negative response? Maybe. Maybe not. But the fact still remains that they seem devoted to their marriage and children and faith and that is a rare thing to see.

Ohhh so many comments to comment on, so little time!

Flat stomach said, "Here's the kicker. We are very happily without children. We have been married for 10 years now and if we ever do decide to bring a child i