The Duggers are expecting # 20

[dawny0826]

I was watching the today show today and the Duggers were on and had the news that they are expecting child number 20.

I cannot even understand how after the birth last year of their 19th child, they now are expecting again. Their last child spent countless months in the hospital after being born 3 months early.

It all seems to be left up to G-d as to how many kids they have.

What is the reasoning behind this and what is your opinion of having so many kids?

The Duggers amaze me, to be honest. They seem to genuinely love their kids and they do provide for them. I don't have anything against them, personally.

My overall opinion of baby making is that people should bring children into this world when they're capable of providing a loving, nurturing environment for them and are able to financially provide and meet needs. The Duggers seem to accomplish this.

I can't fathom what it's like to have nineteen kids. My only concern would be how you'd give enough attention to that many kids. But then, if you have a strong family unit, I suppose, children are getting what they need from within that network of family support.

 

[Tamar]

Thanks for all the responses. I was really curious though about the Christian belief behind it that the Duggers follow. I have heard it called the quiver full movement. So what do you all know about this movement.

 

[Songbird]

Thanks for all the responses. I was really curious though about the Christian belief behind it that the Duggers follow. I have heard it called the quiver full movement. So what do you all know about this movement.

Oh, that's pretty much what I was thinking of when I posted. I'm not a fan of the Quiverfull movement or its leaders. It's been a while since I've heard about this group, but I discussed a few years ago on another forum. Maybe I'll try to dig up those posts and refresh my memory.

 

[Tamar]

Another thing I have noticed about these very large families is that the children don't leave home until married and that allows the older children to become childcare providers to all the younger ones. That is one of the reasons Michelle Dugger was able to spend as much time with her sick premature baby for so many months. She has many older teenagers who basically took over the care of all the younger children, ran the home and carried out the home schooling.

It is absolutely amazing though.

 

[Kathryn]

Personally I think they are off their rockers, but it's their life and they seem to be a loving family and fully able to provide well for their many children.

 

[Songbird]

Another thing I have noticed about these very large families is that the children don't leave home until married and that allows the older children to become childcare providers to all the younger ones. That is one of the reasons Michelle Dugger was able to spend as much time with her sick premature baby for so many months. She has many older teenagers who basically took over the care of all the younger children, ran the home and carried out the home schooling.

It is absolutely amazing though.

I'm really impressed with them. I think my main issue is people who grow up in the movement and feel pressured to have babies like that but can't/don't want to/aren't equipped to. My parents joined a similar group, and it seemed to exacerbate an already dysfunctional and abusive family dynamic.

 

[Tamar]

I'm really impressed with them. I think my main issue is people who grow up in the movement and feel pressured to have babies like that but can't/don't want to/aren't equipped to. My parents joined a similar group, and it seemed to exacerbate an already dysfunctional and abusive family dynamic.

The one thing I find difficult to understand is that the older daughters haven't gone to college. They will probably be homemakers so there probably isn't a need. I am a stay at home mom and my mother never understood why I chose this but I did. I think her daughters don't have much choice. But I may be wrong.

They do seem to be happy and the family does seem to function.