<p>So I just read on my news scroll on my computer that the Duggar family of Arkansas are expecting again. They have 18 children, the youngest is only 6 mos. They are of the “17 and Counting” fame.</p>
<p>The oldest just married recently. It is the oldest and his wife who are expecting. They were married in September and are due in October. The younger two have said they will have as many as God wants, same is his folks…</p>
<p>You know, some of the best years of my marriage were the six years without kids . . . . </p>
<p>Both the elder Duggars and the newly weds have said they will leave it up to God to determine how many children they have.</p>
<p>I have to admit I am a closet Duggar fan - I will take them over Octomom any day of the week…</p>
<p>I am amazed at how they can manage to run their family debt-free (wonder how much they are paid to do the show??). I have actually used a couple of their tips to save some money myself - that tater tot casserole isn’t that bad, and I used their homemade laundry detergent recipe. I don’t agree with all of their views, but all in all I think they are doing a wonderful job raising their family, and I am sure Josh and Anna will do the same…</p>
<p>I think most people would be able to live debt free on the income from a tv show.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I think I would want to spend more time and attention on my kids than what is possible to do with 18 kids. And how many of those kids are going to college? Seriously. I’m asking. I don’t know the educational plans of that family.</p>
<p>Josh, the oldest, who’s the father of the baby-to-come, is ~20 years old and has not gone to college. I believe he works at a car dealership but I could be mistaken.</p>
<p>BTW, I do find it wonderful that all the Duggar children seem so healthy and normal. There don’t seem to be any medical problems among them – at least none that are apparent.</p>
<p>I heard the oldest went to RPI.</p>
<p>No Duggars have gone to college.</p>
<p>Can you imagine, if 18 kids each end up with 18 kids, that’s 324 grandkids when all’s said and done. Or 360 kids (with spouses) and grandkids…that’s more than a birthday every day of the year! In a few more generations they could take over the world.</p>
<p>Really funny 2231!!</p>
<p>I watched the episodes leading up to and including the oldest guys wedding and I believe that he owns that car dealership; it’s a used car dealership, I believe. </p>
<p>I wish them the very best.</p>
<p>This is not on the issue of multiple kids but I always thought it must be kinda odd to have a grandchild and child who are about the same age…as will be the case with the Duggar’s youngest child (six month old baby) and their impending grandchild. Same with Sarah Palin and her baby Trig and her grandson Tripp who are less than a year apart.</p>
<p>Who is the better decider of family size? God or the fertility doctor?</p>
<p>The Duggars have been out of debt for years before the TV show. They made that commitment years ago. And more power to them. This isn’t my lifestyle choice, but they have decent kids who care about each other, are polite, down-to-earth and a whole lot better than some of the college-educated people I have met.</p>
<p>I like Cousin Amy. She’s semi-normal. I wish the girls wouldn’t always wear skirts, though. Pants are nice, lol.</p>
<p>Actually, Cousin Amy creeps me out a little. She’s a bit too hyper and in-your-face for my taste. I get the feeling that she’s posing for the camera.</p>
<p>I’m sure TWOP exploded with this news. </p>
<p>The Duggars are interesting to watch. If you get the opportunity, catch them from the original show, 14 Kids and Counting to the present.</p>
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<p>Well, soozie, we have that exact situation in our family. My parents divorced about the time i graduated from college and my dad remarried to someone a good bit younger than he was at the time. They had a child together (she was in her late 30’s) one year after my oldest was born (I had two after that). So my oldest son and his uncle were actually college roommates for a year. They have always gotten a kick out of the situation and have enjoyed explaining it to their mutual friends. And we are all very, very close.</p>
<p>Not the same as the same set of parents just having that many kids (would seem much harder on the mom, I would think!), but pretty close!</p>
<p>I would like to see Michelle Duggar just lose it at some point. The way she is so calm and talks so sweet creeps me out. I’m thinking along the lines of the Stepford Wives.</p>
<p>While Josh and Anna seem like a sweet (although very young) couple, I just don’t like how Anna seems to be the next brood mare. They found out she was pregnant by taking her third pregnancy test. At her age, I would think it would be apparent if you were pregnant, which leads me to believe she was taking very early tests. I wonder how the family would be if she had fertility problems. I just have a problem with so much emphasis being put on the girls in that family that having children is the main priority in their life. I can’t imagine what it would be like if one of the now 19 children didn’t have children, either through choice or through fertility issues. I can see them feeling as if they had failed somehow.</p>
<p>Children can disappoint parents in infinite ways.</p>
<p>Their attitude would be, we’re leaving it up to God, and He has a plan. I think they’d be disappointed but I doubt strongly that they’d seek infertility treatments.</p>
<p>That said, it’s interesting how Michelle Duggar has had three C-sections–one for a set of twins and two from babies lying transverse. If they really wanted to leave it in God’s hands . . . well, you get the idea.</p>
<p>I don’t understand how people can pick and choose what God wants.</p>