A friend of mine once told me he was in the “Zero Population Growth” movement, which believes that it’s our environmental duty not to have biological children. I’d never heard of that before he told me about it and thought that it wouldn’t deter me from having one or two children, but I didn’t tell him that and just said “mmhmm.” (He was married and it wasn’t like he was trying to tell me on a date that he wasn’t into having kids.) Later I took a sustainable living course and we had a unit on this issue. The chapters were essays by different environmental experts, and the consensus on children was that if you had one or two kids and raised them to be environmentally conscious you weren’t necessarily negatively affecting the environment.
The Duggar Family, with their soon-to-be 19 kids, are another matter. They have more children than handfuls of average families put together, and the environmental impact of all those children is something that many people consider to be a serious offense. E! Online has some more on the Duggar’s huge footprint, along with how much they’re likely to make for their TLC reality show per week – an estimated $25,000 to $75,000. E! kind of glosses over the environmental issue as it relates to the Duggar’s anti-science anti-evolution belief system. This is an argument I’ve heard before about the Duggars, though, and one that isn’t always presented nicely. Some say that statistically half of their 18 kids wouldn’t be living without the advances of modern science they seem to so readily dismiss:
How much do the Duggars get for their reality show? For me, the show is like an accident—you just have to look.
—Nicole_Tafoya, via TwitterAn “accident”? How cruel! Children are a gift from God! Right now, those 18 kids—soon to be 19—are blessing the planet with an estimated 1.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide as an environmental legacy! And just in case you need help with your science homework, every one of those little angels stands ready to explain how evolution is a lie. You’re just mean.
As for how much the Duggars are making off TLC network via their show, 18 Kids and Counting, well, hold on to your Bibles…
Networks usually won’t disclose the deals they make with individual families. But according to reality producer Terence Michael, the general rule of thumb is that reality-show families earn about 10 percent of a show’s per-episode budget. So, if TLC budgets about $250,000 to $400,000 per episode—and Michael suspects it does—that would mean $25,000 to $40,000 in the Duggars’ pockets for four or five days’ work, which is roughly how long it takes to film a typical episode.
If the 18 Kids and Counting show grows even more popular, the Duggars’ pay goes up as the show’s budget rises. The show budget for the Gosselins is reported to be much higher, with some reports estimating that those Plus Eight people rake in $75,000 per episode.
Bonus nugget: Does that mean that the Ace of Cakes dude makes the same kind of money? Not likely.
“If it’s thought that a show is going to bring in more money for the business it’s featuring, the producers get away with paying the star a lot less,” says Michael, currently producing a reality show about Motocross champ James Stewart Jr. and family. “More like 5 percent of the per-episode budget.”
For the record, the Duggars also make money from their commercial investments. But having your own orchestra made up entirely of your own children? Priceless.
[From E! Online]
While I was doing some minimal research for this story, I found an article on Newsweek about the Quiverfull movement that the Duggars follow, which teaches that children are a gift from God and that family planning should be left to Him. Having as many children as possible is viewed as a way to ensure entry into Heaven, with some pro-Quiverfull texts making it sound as if they’re preparing Christian child armies. One author is quoted as writing “Oh what a vision, to invade the earth with mighty sons and daughters who have been trained and prepared for God’s divine purposes.” The movement is said to be demeaning to women, who are left to care for ever-increasing numbers of children, typically under much more meager circumstances than the Duggars. The Duggar family is presenting a happy, financially secure face to Quiverfull, but the reality is much starker for other huge families that follow this philosophy. Are the Duggars irresponsibly populating the overextended earth or is it ok because they have the means to support their family? Some would argue that their environmental impact goes much beyond the 18 children they’ve brought into the world, since they’re making it look deceptively easy to raise huge families. In their case it’s been financially beneficial too.
Photos from TLC. Michelle Duggar is shown next to her also-pregnant daughter-in-law.
less than A Hilton?
more than Sara Snow?
I don’t think that women were created just so they can spit out a baby every year for most of their life. Just because we were blessed with the gift of life does not mean we should abuse it. They are not thinking of the baby’s health risks or hers. Damn shame.
I hope this chick has an open tab at the vaginal reconstruction store.
Well, my first thought is why? My second thought is are all these children really happy? But I was thrilled with two, and more thrilled when the last one moved out for college. To each his own. I don’t watch their show.
egomaniacs…overpopulate the world instead of adopting a already existent child.
Vagina: Not a clown car
first of all, statistics show that in most of the developed countries (like the US and Europe), population is actually at a decline…
secondly, your friend’s lifestyle would just end life as we know it if people didn’t reproduce, so that is kind of retarded.
thirdly, it is really sad what people have become in this country… it’s like they have no real day to day struggles so they attach themselves to these causes and become fanatical about it… because they need a purpose for existing… but it speaks volumes about their actual intent for charity that they are only able to look at these children as sources of carbon pollution rather than human beings… while i don’t agree with having 19 children, i wouldn’t go so far as to say they are causing the destruction of this planet… that is just an excuse to spew out all the hatred in their hearts and mask it as charity or good will…
it’s great to care about the environment, but when you zero in on people and make them out to be the anti-christ then you’re not a charitable person… you’re just a bitch/asshole… hiding behind the guise of someone who is trying to do “good”. and i’m not buying it…
people are just sad and hateful sometimes and it’s a damn shame…
Of course no one resents an athlete making MILLIONS from throwing a ball through a hoop, or an actor making MILLIONS for playing someone they aren’t for a two hour film. If the Duggars make money like that per episode, well at least it goes towards raising their family and not to purchase a Hermes purse or a 1/4 million dollar Bentley or a Rolex.
I think this Michelle chick has a case of pregnantitis-cant live without a babeh in her belly!
Why somebody cares about them again?
She must thank God, today women don’t die anymore by giving birth!
“Children are a gift from God!” Why she doesn’t teach! She’ll be with 20 or 30 kids around her everyday!
Damn!
The world is full of crazies.
To each his own, I say. For everyone like the Duggars, there are plenty of militant feminists who are repelled by the thought of so-called “breeders.”
Somehow, it all balances out.
There are about 7 billion people in the world today. Don´t think the Duggars make much of a difference either way.
This family may have alot of children but at least they take care of them and they are very well behaved. They are NOT on any type of govt assistance, they do Not have any debt, and they pay cash for everything. They raise their children in a Godly home and are excellent examples. They had money before their show came along. Have you seen their house? That was paid for as it was built. They can have 19 more children and no one should care! There are people out there with 1, 2, 3, etc. children who are on every type of govt program, thats who some of you should be worried about!
I think that I’ve heard lots of ‘only’ children complain that they wish they had siblings so they could experience a real family.
I think I’ve heard lots of ‘middle’ children complain about ‘middle child syndrome’ where they didn’t feel as special as the first born or baby of the family.
I think there are tons of women/families with the ‘right’ amount of children that are not taking care of their children at all and are letting tax payers finance it.
I think I have heard (more times than I care to remember) that I should not have had my ‘only’ child because he has special needs. I’ve also heard that those 1 in 150 kids born with autism should not receive health care because their lives are a drain on the environment and health care resources since they aren’t ‘giving back’ to society.
I think I’ve heard enough about people telling any woman what she should and should not do with her body. Everytime a woman becomes pregnant THAT WOMAN MAKES THE BEST CHOICE FOR HER AND HER CHILD. To suggest anything else, even if you do not agree with it, belittles women’s right to choice.
I think it doesn’t matter what I think on this topic because this woman chose 19 times what she wanted to do and if one of those children isn’t happy with her choice they can choose differently when they get their turn to make that choice…assuming their right to choice is still THEIRS!
“first of all, statistics show that in most of the developed countries (like the US and Europe), population is actually at a decline…
secondly, your friend’s lifestyle would just end life as we know it if people didn’t reproduce, so that is kind of retarded.”
wtf? it’s about WORLD popoulation not silly US and europe. and people have to stop reproduce because we have to live with nature and not against it. and the world is not in balance because of so many human beings around the globe. maybe you start read a few studies about that instead of writing something about statistics. i know what i’m talking about because i know these statistics and studies – i have to work with them everyday.
The point that person was making was that it’s not Americans or Europeans who are contributing to overpopulation. The average Westerner has about two kids. So the world is not going to be destroyed if a few of its families have 19 kids. However, the average family size in places like Africa, India, or the Middle East is 6-12! If anybody should cut back on reproducing it’s them. That is where the overpopulation comes from. Furthermore, it is the latter group who can’t even support the kids they are having, and require aid from the industrialized world. At least the Duggars are financially stable and receive no hand-outs. Plus, they seem to be raising kids who are well behaved and with a good work-ethic. I’d rather live amongst them than the typical shallow, trashy, lazy, classless, and shameless youth who burden our society today.
Take into consideration, though, that the carbon footprint left by 19 children in the United States is EXTRAORDINARILY larger than those six to twelve in African countries, when given the industrial status of the compared countries.
I think what is so offensive in this situation is not the fact that this family has so many children, but in fact their intentional ignorance and denial of the effect their family has on the environment. That, and her obliviousness to the fact that within 30 years the Earth will likely have difficulty sustaining the entire human population. Duh. But hey, they’re part of God’s flock, and they probably believe the Apocalypse is going to happen before then, so they’re fine, right? (Sarcasm)
I have to agree, they are financially stable and seem to be a very devoted family. Also…Can I just say that Michelle does not look that much older than her kids! Especially since she ditched that 80s hairdo with the feathered bangs!
I can’t say I want 19 children, and I do think they are the exception, but if they are financially capable of supporting them and their children are turning out to be smart, stable adults…How can we complain? They aren’t Octo-mom. They aren’t John Gosselin partying in Vegas. They are just trying to live their lives as they feel spiritually led. How many people actually can say that anymore?
@Shelby “Vagina: Not a clown car ”
Hah! Funniest line yet.
I don’t see why Jon/Kate+8 and Octomom are so popular with people (freaks? creepy people) like this around. Enough already.
Condoms, hello?
patty, the statement that “the world is not in balance” isn’t exactly a scientific one, nor one which is very illuminating in terms of conveying a plan of action, and the ensuing results and consequences… I didn’t say the actual population of the world isn’t increasing, but it is NOT a problem in the US…
you seem to be pretty angry at this whole population thing but… why?
Im always torn on this family, I dont watch their show mostly because it kinda disturbs me but I do not wish to be hypcritical and say it’s wrong to have that many kids.
My personal belief is that there is something not right about having 18 kids, certainly i beleieve the parents love their kids and try to show that love but with 18 children it’s impossible to say that each child has experienced the same type of love from their parents.
I feel so sorry for Michelle Duggar too….being pregnant that many times you cant tell me she’s happy about it (i refuse to believe that)
It’s so funny to me when there are people who get on a soap box and shout that it’s their choice to have that many children and we should leave them to their choices yet when a woman or couple decide not to have kids it’s a total reversal instead of it being their choice they’re seen as selfish…
Funny that no one mentions the environmental impact of hormonal contraceptives. It is pretty well documented that synthetic hormones are secreted in women’s urine and enter our water table.
Some families adopt a slightly different mindset called providentialism. I truely believe that different people are called to have different family sizes (including having no children at all). It is horribly hurtful to be so nasty to someone about their family size.
And for the record, it isn’t all of modern living that they reject, they are just particular about what parts they find acceptable. Seriously, there are parts of modern living that are critisized all the time on sites like this. It is really no different than anyone else, they just have a more strict filter than many people do.
So they pull in six figures per episode and some of you people think they’re not taking advantage of the situation? Can I borrow your pretty rose-colored glasses?
So, she ditched the 1980 hairstyle for a 1981 hairstyle. As for this family, thank God (no pun intended) they live in the middle of the country and not near me. They are completely unrealistic in their ways, and whether they can afford to have 19 kids is not the point. They are backwards, repressive, irresponsible, and small-minded (kind of goes hand in hand with being a right-wing Christian). I wonder how many Jews, African-Americans, Hispanics, Gays, Lesbians, etc. this family has met or has as their friends? I doubt they even know anyone in these groups.
I would be O.K. with a family this size if the parents were intelligent, open-minded individuals. Does the world really need 19 more fundamentalist religious crazies? I say not.
It is beyond ridiculous to try to transfrom the Duggars into heroes because they have 19 children. No one is saying that children shouldn’t be born, but it would be nice if people were more concerned about the quality of the lives of the children. Oh great, the Duggars can afford to clothe their children in those horrible homemade outfits and the older children are given responsibility for one of the younger children. Oh! great fun because every child wants to raise a sibling. But, hey, as long as Mom and Dad get to make a point about their ability to procreate, and God, blah, blah, blah, anti-science, anti-intellectual nonsense, well all is right with the world.
Have any of you haters even seen the show? I don’t know where they got the “carbon footprint” numbers, but I bet this family lives more environmentally conservatively than any of the people who have commented. They buy used, they recycle, they make their own clothes, they don’t drive anywhere. They are financially conservative, and nothing goes to waste. Also, while I disagree with many of their beliefs, they are doing what they feel is right, and they have raised a happy and healthy family who actually love one another. How about a little tolerance?
i do not watch the show but we have here in israel a lot of religious orthodox families here with this amount of children-they are actually the family bussiness itself because the state pays them child support per each child so the holy father can continue not to work as highly regarded by their community and it is the wet dream and pride of the wives that the husband will continue to study all day instead of working.also the reality is that the older children are raising the little ones, so nothing new here…
I see alot of people on here saying if they use the money to take care of the children-why is that bad?? Well hello, they are exploiting the children for money to take care of them. No can forsee what kind of impact putting your children infront of a camera 5 days an episode will do to them in the future. The only thing we do know is we have a hatred of all the young brats who make it in Hollywood because they grew up in front of a camera with thier famous parents and live off them. How is this any different? We’ve seen how quickly it changes people being in reality shows and now parents are involving their kids in it. It’s just wrong in my book-I have not watched any of the shows and I won’t.
The earth is becoming overpopulated very fast. In year 2050, there will be 11 BILLION people on earth. Do we really want to lose every last bit of wilderness and many animal species so that land can be cleared for human habitation?
I like this family, and I think the parents are decent people, and the kids are lovely and well behaved. But, we all live together and we have just one planet. It’s not right to claim that you can do whatever you want without regard for consequences.
What if half of these kids also have lots of kids? That’s 10 x 15 kids = 250 human beings in 1 generation. Let’s say these 250 grandkids will also find granma and grandpas big family a good idea. Let’s say half will also have lots of kids that’s 125 x 10 kids = 1250 human beings from 2 people (the Duggar parents) in just 2 generations!! The point is, their actions have huge consequences whether they want to admit it or not.
Compare to the typical family 2 parents = 2 kids. Each kid will have 2 kids. That’s 4 human beings! Compare that to 1250.
so disgustingly wrong on every level.
I have been holding back on the topic because of the constant parroting of the “a Vagina is not a clown car” comment every single time the word Duggar comes up. Somebody wrote it on some blog several years ago. It was funny then. It’s not anymore.
and while I’m at it, the “I think I just threw up in my mouth” is so trite you can slice it.
At least write your own comedy.
😉 thanks
There’s a strain in the conservative movement that encourages white people to have many children to counter-balance the rising population of the darker-skinned people they fear in the US. One of the C Street House (Gov. Sanford of Argentina, Sen. Ensign of Nevada) denizens is actually on record saying so.
Finally, some people with commons sense! And mamasnail I second your thinking.
I look at this woman and I just want to kick her in the face! Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should!
I’d be more critical of having this many children if they weren’t so well behaved and brought up. I’d rather criticize women that keep popping out babies with different fathers and no hope of providing for them without government help. Now that is disgusting!
Why should she be singled out and paid for having so many kids? Single mother’s with ONE or TWO kids don’t get those kind of rewards. Teacher’s don’t even get a tenth of the type of money this family gets for popping out a crazy amount of kids. I wish the media would STOP paying these types and take away any press coverage and then see if they continue to go about all of these pregnancies.
They do it for the money and noteriety. That’s basically the bottom line. It’s almost like a new form of prositution only this time women are using their uterus for monetary gain. WTH?
Many of you love to use science to form a condescending argument against people like this, but how much more than this family do you really know about science? based on the average person’s knowledge of science, I bet you it’s not much more.
Everyone loves to scream and shout about the environment, but it’s ultimately going to be scientists who once again save our asses… not the average self righteous hippy touting the next ugly fashion line (see Heather Mills). If you really want to make a difference, then stop demonizing people and go to school, learn something and change the world… become a researcher that advances solar energy or makes the next fuel efficient car…
people seem to enjoy patting themselves on the back for screaming out against big families or pointing fingers at people for trivial things… but how much is that really benefiting the world? Not much… unless you count the ego stroking factor… :/
AJ, where are you getting your information? Everything I’ve been reading says that the world’s population is in decline overall. That sounds like someone’s projections if x and y and z all happen, but its most likely that they won’t. Its also true that the entire world’s population can fit in the state of TX, with 10 square feet to themselves. The world is huge. Don’t panic.
I think plenty of people would adopt children if it were doable here. It actually costs less to have invitro than to adopt, not to mention a lot less effort. Its not as easy as people claim.
I think I have a solution to this overpopulation problem: anyone who says the world is or will be over populated should volunteer to give someone else their place and resources on the planet, rather than trying to dictate how many children others should have like the People’s Republic of China. How much do you care about YOUR “carbon footprint”? Why is it always up to SOMEONE ELSE to fix the problem?
@ girl: excellent point! Major kudos to you for knowing that. That’s why tourists in Florence (where the birth rate is the lowest in the world) are told not to drink the water. Its loaded with female hormones.
Not having children isn’t the solution to the “carbon footprint” issue.
OK I watched this show one time where the Duggards went to a summer retreat of other Quiverers/Quiverites families. I couldnt help but notice other mothers of other huge families were not as happy and chipper as Michelle. They looked worn out and miserable. They were NOT smiling at all.
Baby, 10 square feet sounds lovely! Would you like to live in such a world because it’s already a reality for many people living in impoverished 3rd world urban centers.
Take a look at this picture of a major city. The very picture of paradise:
http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/.Pictures/vistasaereas/Megalopolis.jpg
This article has a point. They make it look easy to raise such a huge family. I don’t care if they provide for themselves, there is no reason to have so many kids! There’s a lot of crazies out there that will start having kids just to make money off of them… just look at Octomom!
Are the girls in the family not going to be allowed to go to University? Someone posted that – not sure if it’s true. Michelle “home schools” them but I doubt that’s up to par with school standards. Perhaps the girls’ role is to get married and have their own families.
For those of you who say that the Duggars are having children so they can get a reality show you are very wrong. They had lots of children before anyone even noticed them. This is in their religious belief system.
When did making fun of people’s religious beliefs become acceptable?
When we got the 1st Amendment?
She is totally addicted to having babies and they both disgust me on so many levels. Why these people are being promoted is beyond me.
Yes Miss Thang (Hi by the way! I know you from another site! : ) ), they had a large family and held the same beliefs before TLC noticed them.
Also, those who say that they do not have a good quality of life. what shows you that these children do not have a good quality of life. They are loved, they have each other and they seem well taken care of, healthy and somewhat nice people. I know two families with ONE child a piece and those only children have NO QUALITY of life. Quality does not come in the form of numbers or lack thereof, quality comes from the love, support and care those children receive. If two parents can ignore ONE child, I assume two parents can love 19 children. It is the parents who provide the quality of life.
I was somewhat anti Duggar until I did a bit of reading about them and I have changed my opinion. No, I do not consider them heroes for having a large child army, but I do think that they are decent people who have a belief system and lifestyle that works for them.
Let’s not start parroting that crap about birth control pills poisoning our water. Some of you people sound like the Vatican.
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/01/08/vatican-misleads-calling-contraception-environmental-toxin
Thanks GG for giving props where due. That was the line from the no longer availble Dvantev.
Secondly, why is this still an issue? I thought the consensus on yesterdays blog pretty much agreed on forced abortions for this poor woman and public scorn and ridicule for the children? Or did I miss something?
You see, this is why I hold societies grace to such low standards. I bet most, if not all, commenters would never dream of saying such things posted here in public to another’s face, but to look in your hearts and see it blacker than tar would not be a surprise.
Re the overpopulation arguments:
1. A child raised in the US or Europe will on average consume many more resources than those in the rest of the world.
2. If people wait longer to have children, the generations are spaced out and thus use resources more slowly
3. Most of the literature on this I know advocates reproducing yourself (2 children per couple) for sustainable growth.
That said, there are also many other ways to work toward environmental balance.
I don’t agree with the Duggers on the number of kids they have or the quiverfull theory or much else, but that’s why I don’t watch their show.
I do agree with previous comments that the feminist movement is all about choice. It is a woman’s choice, so if she wants 19, go ahead. It doesn’t mean that everyone has to make that choice.
that woman should superglue her legs closed.
A freak show. Makes people with Roman Catholic values look crazy. I am a Catholic but I have a brain and I know that the Lord does not want me to reproduce like a hamster. He wants me (and my husband) to love our three and raise them to be good people, and that requires time and attention. Sending people the messege that this can be done correctly with 2 parents and 19 children is dead out bogus. I know this is the P.C. Era and supposedly all things are possible and okay, but NO. And subjecting your children to a reality show based on their lives is WRONG WRONG WRONG. Would I do it for all that moolah? Am I jealous? The answer is NO. I would not risk my marriage. I would not auction my kids’ privacy. My dignity is not up for sale and my experiences and memories are not for public scrutiny. No normal, well-adjusted and mature couple would agree to have their family life filmed. Case closed. Besides, once a camera is rolling in front of people, it is no longer reality. it is a person or persons reacting to a camera. I think anyone who does not realize this is a complete dope. That’s why I don’t watch reality shows.
“people are just sad and hateful sometimes and it’s a damn shame…”
Like when you accused a dead man, whose family and fans are aching with grief, of having “crack-mouth” which you admitted is a term that you invented and your only experience with crack is knowing someone who does heroine? And implied (by agreeing with viper) that the suicide of a man is not tragic if he is an addict?
Is the Mother wearing bronzer or does she just have all the time in the world to lay out in the sun? Oh, right, she has the time because the older siblings are caring for the younger ones.
why complain about them. at least they are not dependent to the govt. from where i came from theres a man who got 87 children from different women. duggars are way better than some guys and women who scatter their seeds everywhere, not even knowing who and where are their bio kids.
hatsumomo, what happened to vdantev?
Wif… that quote is taken out of context… I plead the fifth and I want my lawyer… lol… jeez, get a life dude… you’re seriously gonna follow me to another thread and call me out on some statement about a crackhead? you need to chill out and take it easy… I can openly admit I don’t really care all that much about DJ AM… if you do, then good for you but seriously learn to let things go… at least between different threads… My statement wasn’t even all that harsh… yikes:/
RIP Vdantev!
Unfortunately,I think he/she froze to death.
Judging mere mortals with cool disdain from the Olympian heights and all.
i would have thought you got it out of your systems yesterday but apparently not.
I don’t understand why most are so hateful towards this family? I have no comprehension as to how a woman can tell another woman what to do inside her own uterus. For Pete’s sake!
They had most of these kids before the show and if the cameras stop tomorrow they will keep having kids. They do not have children for tlc (UNLIKE OCTOMOM) They have children because, bless their hearts, they love children. Not many of us have the tolerance to be constantly surrounded by 2 0r 3 kids let alone a couple dozen.
_Look, this family is not trying to convert you. They are not trying to talk you into having a child army. They are simply explaining to you what they believe. Why they believe it. How they live and try to be better. They are not living off the government. Actually they are working a good deal on living off the land. If you’d bother to watch the show, before judging, you would know they are not excessive in their consumption or waste.
They give back. Alot! More than most of us do. They are using the show and the cameras in their own small way to bring focus to children in Mexico with AIDS or a church in floodplains trying to help the community recover. They are teaching the children, ALL of the children to be respectful and kind and gracious. That there are others in need. Good work ethics. Strong values.
So they have 19 kids. So you don’t want 19 kids. Great, don’t have 19 kids!
Do I believe in Science? Yes
Do I believe in Evolution? Yes
Do I believe in birth control? Yes
Do I believe in God? No
Do I believe they have the right to believe, whatever they want to believe, even if I believe, that most of what they believe is wrong?
Yes
I didn’t follow you to another thread, I read the other thread first, was struck by how uncompassionate your comment was, and then found it ironic that you are calling others here hateful when you have made hateful comments yourself.
I don’t know anything about DJ AM except that he died. I like to keep to the adage, “there but for the grace of God go I.” I’ve have never had the misfortune of being an addict, I’ve never known the depths that a soul can plummet to, so when it happens to others, I feel bad for them and their loved ones.
And I will not “let go” of treating others with dignity, regardless of whether they are a crackhead or not.
I’m sorry, but if my mom were pregnant at the same time as me I’d be mortified!
I’m sorry but if you have grandkids, you probably should stop having children of your own just because you still can.
I read somewhere that she’s still looking to expand! She’s currently preggers and wouldn’t mind another one?
I don’t care how well-behaved these children are, or if they are financially stable enough to support them enough is enough. It’s time to close the baby factory down.
Well Lizzard if you were 16 and pregnant and your mom is only 37, i’m sure that would mortify her as well. But teen pregnancy seems to be more acceptable than this.
Success as a mother/father is such a subjective topic. How can you say that this couple is a failure because they have a large number of children they care for when others have children they don’t give a damn about and never care for. If a woman had 10 illegitamite children she all gave up for adoption, would you call her a failure.
It seems to me that there is no right answer for when it is appropriate or right to reproduce. Parents are judged for their children’s actions, rightly or wrongly, and that is all the benchmarks we have. As long as the Duggar children act happy and healthy and do not exhibit signs of being mal-adjusted psychos, who are we to say the Duggar parents had no right?
Gluttony’s a sin, right?
So I have to say a couple of things. I have never really followed much of the Duggar family until their oldest son got married, which I didn’t even see that episode until 3 months ago and just found out that Anna is pregnant.
First, women were given the right equipment to produce children. I understand the movement she is following says to leave that in God’s hands. I believe he plays a role in it whether you try to prevent it or not, he controls what will happen. I agree with everyone who says that just because we have the equipment that doesn’t mean we have to use it until it breaks. But also on the other hand why is it that we have a right to judge how someone else uses that equipment. What decisions you as a women or you as a couple decide is strictly up to the two of them.
I’m getting married in 5 months and am so excited to start having babies. I want more then my Fiance, and I stand on the ground that we will take it one day at a time, I do believe God will make whatever happen that is his will, however just because I want 4 or 5 kids doesn’t make me wrong nor does it make me right. It’s what’s right for my fiance and myself.
Second, I don’t see why these kids have to be looked as Carbon pollution, I mean come on, they are still children, each and every one of them. They will probably offer greater things to this world then people’s kids that have or will grow up to be drug dealers, strippers, hookers…that is all behind the parenting. They do a better job raising 18 kids, then some parents do with one child. There are far greater things then the Duggar family that will cause the downfall to our planet and I think everyone should stop being so hateful, and think, “What could people say about you?”
Third, As for the issues people have with Anna being pregnant at the same time Michelle (her mother in law) is, leave those emotions up to the two of them. Anna knew what she was marrying into, and she should at least rightfully own the emotions based on her being pregnant at the same time that her new mother in law is. I personally don’t see anything wrong with it. It is what it is, and the both of them are sharing in a time of blessings, both children will be a blessing. Who knows, Anna might enjoy it as well, not only does she get to seek advice from her, but she gets to share in the experience of pregnancy with someone who has been there done that, and they can share a lot of things in common, not because of experience, but because of common ground.
I am slightly envious of them. I only wish that I could be that calm, and I don’t even have kids. I can only hope my marriage will be as successful as the two of them, and that when we involve maybe 1/6 of the amount of kids they have. I applaud them for doing such a fantastic job at raising their children and being so successful at their marriage when that is more then most people can say.
Honey, do you even know what “carbon footprint” means? It sure doesn’t mean the kids themselves are pollution. It refers to the amount of pollution they WILL produce over time.
::Funny that no one mentions the environmental impact of hormonal contraceptives.::
As someone suffering from a severe hormone imbalance that nearly killed me, I can’t thank doctors enough for creating hormonal contraceptives so I can live a healthy normal life, and to give women out there more options.
I strongly question the happiness in these children’s lives. I remember everyone making the same kind of comments about the Gosselin kids and look what was really going on behind-the-scenes. If people don’t get it yet, just because it’s called ‘reality TV’ doesn’t mean it’s real. There is nothing healthy about raising your children on television (or sending them hypocritical messages like not letting them watch TV when it affords their lifestyle). Those kids are going to get seriously messed up at some point like every other kid in front of a camera.
I feel bad for the oldest girls in that family because they are the ones who bear the brunt of the responsibility for caring for the young children–not the mom. Also, I saw on an episode of their show about the way they divide up their chores, and it is decidedly sexist. Girls do laundry, cleaning, and meal preparations. Boys do work outside and in the garage (none of which could take up as much time on a daily basis as what the girls do). Michelle even said something to the effect of girls are naturally better at domestic work than boys.
Also, the new hairstyle is just an imitation of her daughter-in-law’s. Creepy how much they look alike now.
Has anyone heard that their elder children are unhappy and miserable because they have perhaps had some responsibility placed upon them? It is so easy for everyone to sit and judge what type of people they are and how the level of happiness in that family must be low and so on and so forth. We don’t know if they are happy or not, but from my perspective and the things I have read, everyone seems just fine.
It may not be the way that some of you like to live. It may not be the type of family that some of you want or have, but that is you and not them. Not everyone has to live according to how we want them to live or how we ourselves live.
They make loads of money off the show. The show sells their family’s private life for public consumption. That’s wrong. The kids have no choice in this. It’s just as wrong as when the Gosselins do it.
It’s not just the number of kids you have, but go out further and begin to extrapolate the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren these people will have. My husband and I intentionally had one child. That means we cut our numbers in half. A couple who has two children are just replacing themselves in the population pool. The Duggars? I can’t even begin to describe what they’ve done and continue to do. If each of their kids averages only ten kids of their own, that’s 190 GRANDCHILDREN. 190!!! Now go out to great-grandchildren. It’s exponential.
Don’t tell me a family like that doesn’t use a huge amount of resources. They do. They HAVE to. I don’t care if they aren’t on the public dime, I don’t care how they make their money, they are still putting far too many people in this world for just two people reproducing.
And if it’s hunky dory that they can do this, then it’s hunky dory for me to point and say “that is WRONG. And ridiculous.”
Because it is. What, is their DNA so super special it has to be replicated over and over and over again? Why don’t they just do in vitro or ovarian hyperstimulation and get 10 in one pregnancy?
I mean, the only point to their philosophy, literally, is just to HAVE a lot of kids. Period. That’s it. Just as many as possible. Why? You tell me. It’s ridiculous. I’m Christian, too, but I believe we have to be responsible stewards of the world we’ve been given and not just breed indiscriminately like a fish.
Warning: Long post coming.
Melissa @ “I think I’ve heard enough about people telling any woman what she should and should not do with her body. Everytime a woman becomes pregnant THAT WOMAN MAKES THE BEST CHOICE FOR HER AND HER CHILD. To suggest anything else, even if you do not agree with it, belittles women’s right to choice”
I think you might be slightly muddled as to the definition of ‘choice’. If you live in an area of the world or a community or family where it is difficult to obtain birth control or terminations whether that is because of cost, your families’/countries’ religious beliefs, or another issues, this rather reduces the level of ‘choice’ women have when it comes to pregnancy. 15 year old women who become pregnant and are unable to decide whether or not to have the child are NOT making the ‘right choice’ for themselves or their child. Women for whom another child will push them beyond their mental, physical and emotional resources and have no alternatives are NOT making the right ‘choice’ for themselves and their child. I could go on ad infinitum…
I have HUGE difficulties with people and institutions who advocate a kind of heavy handed right wing rhetoric around women’s sexuality and reproductive capability and choices. They do ALL women a tremendous amount of damage with their self-righteous, judgemental stances. Women having the right to CHOOSE, (as I did to have four children and then one termination), whether or not to progress a pregnancy is the best outcome for all parties.
It would be really good to live in a world where terminations weren’t necessary because we had stopped being so completely ‘effed up about women’s sexuality and made having sex, and obtaining birth control an every day choice and occurrence rather than a moral argument and a physical battleground (with women’s bodies being the battleground). But that doesn’t exist, so we have to deal with what IS, not what we might LIKE reality to be.
Choice is just that CHOICE…mine might be different than someone elses but no-one should have nay say in what I ‘choose’ to do with my body and life. And the same is true in reverse.
I would not have 19 children and yes there are environmental and social concerns but in the end it is the Duggars’ choice to have as many children as they do. They have considerable financial and intellectual resources. If they wanted birth control they could get it. They don’t obviously. They raise their children and are by all accounts very responsible parents. ‘Nuff said.
DrM: standing ovation! Very, very, well said. Thank you. 🙂
With all the money Jim and Michelle get from TLC, how come none of their kids went to/are going to college? I would think they are smart enough to get scholarships or they get enough money from TLC to help pay for college.
Oh, I just remembered. The girls don’t go to college. The only purpose they have in life is to procreate and obey their husband. I guess we’ll see a couple of Duggars marry a couple of Bates (that would explain all the shows with them) next year.
I can’t believe how GOOD she looks after having so many kids. Some women lose their figure and go gray just after one or two.
Yeah, their religion is creepy (so terribly creepy), but it really seems like they’ve raised a family chock-full of love and happiness, and in this day and age that’s such a rare thing. Just as long as they’re not pressuring others into joining their Christ-cult all the time, I say let them be themselves because it’s obviously working.
Cheers Boomchaka 🙂 No worries just airing an opinion or five 🙂
I think it’s a cult!
@ Ellen Smith, who said: “They are backwards, repressive, irresponsible, and small-minded (kind of goes hand in hand with being a right-wing Christian).”
I really wonder how you sleep at night with all that hate for other people inside you. Bigotry against religion such as yours is so very ugly and immature.
If they’re paying for their own way its no one else’s fucking business how many kids they have. Global warming bullshit idiots!
On whether it’s too many kids or not, whatever, they’re willing to trot them out in front of a camera and take the cash on the backend, so ok.
But on the science issue, this family like so many others is completely hypocritical. Don’t believe in science? Then don’t use a refrigerator. Don’t use a telephone. Don’t have electricity in your house. Computer, it will have to go. And, oh yeah, get rid of that television & cable that you’re trying to make money off of! They’re house and lifestyle is chockful of science. Get a grip!
I think this couple is disgusting. And they should be ashamed using their children in this manner. This is crazy!
Not for nothing, but none of them ever said they think ALL science is bunk. Just the evolution/creation issue, which is their religious belief. While I don’t support that, it really has nothing to do with cars, lightbulbs, telephones, etc., it’s just offhand comments a blogger made.
I wouldn’t take as gospel every single word some blogger says (their opinion) as fact. Get real.
i think a Lot of YOU need to MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS,if they want to have more kids and they can take care of them, well thats them and if religion is your big worry then maybe you should find your way to the LORD OUR SAVIOR. an one more thing the the kids ans well behaved and have great manors and respect for there parents, thats more then can be said for alot of kids i see out and about.
I have a few points to make:
1. if a family can take care of themself then who cares whos having kids and how many.
2. just because a family has a lot of kids, they shouldn’t have their own show. i don’t care who has kids or how many they have, but they shouldn’t be put on tv to broadcast their life. noone should make thousands of dollars because of how many kids they have.
3. My MAIN point being who cares anyway? Everyone on here complaining about this family and how they live should find a hobby- it ain’t anyones business and it is rather pathetic how much time people waste blowing hot air!
makes me sick to my stomach, but i can’t turn away! why do we always give the most money to the people who least deserve it? athletes included.
i wonder if they’d be able to afford sending all those kids to college without that $40k a week salary.
fat chance.
oh wait, i forgot, they don’t believe in facts.. god forbid they go to school and learn science!! :O
wear a fucking condom, asshat.
Go hug a tree and leave them alone.
Do you really think they care what you think? Obviously not!
It’s not like the young teen Duggar children are out bucking like funnies like most of the teens in the world. I have 5 children and I could care less about Carbon Footprints. Children from large households learn so much more about sharing, caring and making things work. Taking used materials, reusing them, including clothing, vehicles, books etc. Also carpooling, sharing living quarters. Where “only” children are spoiled and careless. We’ve had several children live with us that were from single child households and small families.
Besides, do your homework…global warming is bs! A JOKE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Go vote another left wing monkey into office and have THEM screw up our world. IT’S NOT THE DUGGAR’s THAT ARE THE PROBLEM TODAY!!
No couple should display their children and children’s live in order to make money. Each time she drops a kid they make more money. And we all know exactly what Jim thinks of Michelle the only thing she is good for is in the sack. Obviously he doesn’t respect her or her health. BTW this is not reality or real life. In real life people are struggling to support a couple of kids since they aren’t making money from them. This is socially irresponsible of the Duggers and they should find better things to do with their time. If they want to display their family, they should not accept any payment and donate all of the money to programs to help the poor. But they are not going to do that, now are they? They want that money regardless of how much they cry God made them do it.
Oh, I love how everyone is so concernced with the environment in these posts. There are many other things we can do to help the environment besides tell someone what they should do with their body and beliefs.
I love the Duggar family and their ability to live a life free of everything we’ve become addicted to. It’s so nice to see our Christian values being lived out by others so faithfully. Although I love children dearly and work with them on a daily basis, it’s never been my dream to have any. However, this family has really made me examine my life and relationship with God and come to the realization that it’s not our choice of what we want in life, but our direction to follow His will.
Thanks to the Duggar family for their insight into life and I hope they continue to bless the lives of others, like they have mine.
I think all these people complaining about how “weird” this family is, needs to look at their own. I can’t count how many times I’ve been in a store or out in public and someone’s brat has been shouting at his mother and father, cursing, hitting/ biting them or other kids, and crying for something they want. Just because their children are well taken care of, loved and are not brats people feel it is their duty to criticize them because of THEIR own inadequacies. It really has nothing to do with the Duggars at all! I personally think this world would be a much better place if more people raised children like the Duggars do. Putting their faith and family above high-paying jobs, new cars, and shopping spree’s. And so what if they don’t want their kids listening to the radio where every other word is either cursing or sex. Same way with TV and the internet!
I think the people who should really be criticized are the ones raising the brats with the dirty mouths and no values wearing tank tops and mini-skirts to kindergarten! Shame on you! Not the Duggars!
what a shame, imagine how much money they receive in food stamps that the tax payers have to pay for, plus what about the kids? do they not believe in actual education or is the mom a certified teacher? i doubt it. I am sure that she doesn’t even teach them science because it would contradict their religion. Poor kids will never know how the real world is like. what a shame, what a shame.
If they can actually afford to raise these kids on their own (before TLC and w/o Govt. assistance), then to each his own.
Oh, how original, a racist (Robert Williams) making racist comments aimed at Obama instead of contributing to the ACTUAL topic!
PSALM 127:3&5 – Children are a gift of the LORD. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. MATTHEW 19:14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” GENESIS 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. EPHESIANS 5:22-25 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
The Duggars are not part of some Quiverfull movement or cult. They do not believe in oppressing women. They are Christians who are following the commands of their Lord. They base their life on biblical teachings and they follow what they are taught. Yes, they get paid a lot of money to make their show. They also own a cell phone tower and commercial real estate and save money whenever they can. They buy every thing used and pass clothing down until they are unusable anymore. I commend them for living what they believe and not being afraid of self-righteous hypocrites (like the author of this article) who want to make them feel bad about loving God. And for the record, they had more than 10 children before they were signed to this show. They were already living under the belief system of allowing God to decide how many children they will have, long before they started getting paid to do so.
Also, for those of you who think that Michelle is being oppressed and taken advantage of, I would like to say that a wife submitting to her husband is a beautiful and joyous thing that she chooses to do because she loves God and her husband. She trusts him and she wants to follow him. It brings comfort and security to the marriage, along with glory to the gospel and God’s divine plan. I can personally attest to this statement because I am 22 years old, married with 2 children and pregnant with my third. I am not ashamed that I love God, my husband and my children. I live to serve them and I am proud of it. God Bless all of you and the Duggars 🙂
Personally, I am not a big religious follower as they are. I think the thought of being required to do anything to get into heaven is simply crazy…be it wives, babies or jihad. But realistically…This family had a means of income prior to this show, so Jim Bob is up-standing in that regard for sure. They are not a drain on any system, then to each his own…go for 40. The kids are not seemingly being harmed in any way. They all seem like kids who would not spend time in jail for murdering prostitues…They are doing a good job from what I can tell?
There are 147 million orphans in the world. I will never, ever, ever understand why families who have the means to adopt have child, after bio child and claim to be doing God’s will. Seems more like ego (my genes are better than theirs) than biblical piety. Last time I checked the bible directs us to care for orphans. Or maybe this is just capitalism at it’s best. And if so, well then wow – you absolutely found your niche market.
im rich and i have 17 kids but i dont make epasods so i no what michel fells because my kids are veray good like the duggars