Seventeen Children

[AllyOops!]

I'm just glad Mom & Dad's lifetime career of choice isn't state welfare.

I read about the Duggar family in People magazine a few weeks ago. They seem like a very loving and close knit clan. God bless them.

I'm trying to recall all of their names. I love the name Jill. And Justin. And Joseph. But...Jinger? Like "finger"? Or is the "g" silent like "singer"? I've never heard of the name "Jinger"! Isn't that the name of the lead horse on the King Arthur Carousel at Disneyland?? You know, the pony painted gold for the 50th Anniversary?

Wait, I remember. The Merry-Go-'Round horse is named Jingles. Should they choose to have another child, they should name he or she Jingles.

It sounds almost naughty. "My Jinger got caught in the door!" Or, "my Jinger got stuck in my zipper again".

[Capt Jack]

Originally Posted by AllyOops!

"my Jinger got stuck in my zipper again".

if they had, they'd only have 16 kids

[Babette]

I saw the Discovery Channel program on this family a while back. It really bothered me on so many levels. The girls are thrown into a caregiver/mother role being responsible for their siblings. They are homeschooled so they never socialize with people of other backgrounds and lifestyles. They make those clothes, then hand them down! That woman is constantly pregnant. The hair! Ugh, so many things wrong IMO.

I have to agree with Snowflake. It is their life, but definitely not for me. I do have a big problem with this lifestyle if the family does not support itself. They get donations, aid and other benefits for choosing to have too many children. Then society ends up paying for their children and that is not right. I am not sure about Jim Bob's finances, but they do have a gorgeous home they just custom built.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Babette

The girls are thrown into a caregiver/mother role being responsible for their siblings.

Thing is, that's the way most families used to be. That's the only way a family with more 5 kids can function, and most families used to have that many. Two people simply cannot mother or father that many children. There were four in my family and I was changing diapers, feeding, burping, teaching, entertaining, as much as any 11 year old could. I enjoyed some of it, was annoyed at some of it.

I think that the experience of helping to take care of a baby sibling is very beneficial to future parents. That isn't to say only children would make terrible parents, but any experience helps.

Still, 17, crazy.

[Morrigoon]

My first thought was OMG... is that a Duggar girl wearing *gasp* PANTS?

[katiesue]

I've watched a couple of the shows about them. They all seems so happy and even keeled all the time, like they're robots or something. It's very creepy.

My favorite Discovery Channel multiple kid family are Jon & Kate plus 8. They fight, make snarky comments and just try and get through the day without going bonkers. A little less freaky than the Duggars.

[Morrigoon]

Actually, it's like Ginger... apparently they hadn't thought of Jennifer yet so they got creative.

[AllyOops!]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Actually, it's like Ginger... apparently they hadn't thought of Jennifer yet so they got creative.

Oh!!! Thank you!! I was just on the phone with my boyfriend. "I was like, "Babe, who names their child Jinger (I pronounced it like "finger")?"

I'm smacking my forehead, feeling like the village dolt!

Wait, maybe I'm not. I've never seen Ginger spelled with a "J"! "Jinger"?!?!? It's too much like "finger"!! From now on, Ally will be spelled Aleigh. Or Allea.

They'll have to abandon the whole "J" concept eventually if they plan to have more children. Or maybe not. Welcome, baby Jar-Jar! Or baby Jabba. Or baby Janga. All six Star Wars films offer them limitless possibilities.

[Babette]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Thing is, that's the way most families used to be. That's the only way a family with more 5 kids can function, and most families used to have that many. Two people simply cannot mother or father that many children. There were four in my family and I was changing diapers, feeding, burping, teaching, entertaining, as much as any 11 year old could. I enjoyed some of it, was annoyed at some of it.

I think that the experience of helping to take care of a baby sibling is very beneficial to future parents. That isn't to say only children would make terrible parents, but any experience helps.

Still, 17, crazy.

Oh, yes, I helped take care of my little brother, but I was not assigned to him full time. I had time to socialize with people outside my family. I was able to experience other teenage girl things, and help my parents/brother. I had choices (most of the time).

[alphabassettgrrl]

Frightens me. All of it.