Arkansa Couple Welcome 17th Child

[jundp 191]

My dad is one of 16 kids. One mother, same father, no twins. Yes, Catholic. Not surprisingly, my Grandma died in her early 60's. My Dad's family did not recieve government handouts or donations from the neighborhood. My grandfather worked a few jobs, and when the older kids were old enough they got jobs to help out. They lived in a 3 bedroom home - one room for the parents, one for the babies, one for the girls and the boys lived in the attic. Not glamorous in the least. They've had their share of problems and successes. And like someone else mentioned, family reunions are HUGE. Between grandchildren, great grandchildren and now some great-great grandchildren there are 267.

I am one of 8, though with 2 mothers. My dad was one of 9, same mother/dad, each of his brothers and sisters had at least 4 except for the one sister who died at an early age. None of them (or us) ever got government help or handouts or even donations. It can be done. Oh, and my grandpa was a farmer and very protestant

Back to the Duggars...why did I think they were from Nebraska or Montana and not Arkansas?

[KarenCee 3]

I think the number of kids is more due to the fact that they are probably of the same belief the Catholic Church holds (although they're not Catholic I think) that every child is a gift from God and none should be prevented. Although I have to say, if I had 16 brothers and sisters the knowledge that it was obvious my parents do it A LOT is kinda creepy

It's not just a catholic thing...I know several homeschool families (mostly protestant, baptist) that believe in large families. It's more of a trend in homeschool families to produce large families since there's a passage in the bible that says "be fruitful and multiply" and by using birth control (their words not mine) is "playing God and not fully trusting in God to provide all their needs".

I also don't like the idea that they're trying to beat a record. Those kids can't possibly get the amount of attention and social interaction outside their home that would be considered normal and healthy.

It isn't a child's responsibility to be a parent..... their own days as parents should come.... when the time is right, looking after their OWN children.

I think it's selfish on those parent's part to expect other people's donations to support their choice to have so many children.

I don't really think any of the children act as "parents" more like an older sibling would help out a younger sibling. The one thing they do is a lot of chores. Honestly I can't see anything wrong with that. They all seem to be really happy kids, if that's how they choose to live their life more power to them! They'll just be responsible family-oriented adults, and I can't see a thing wrong with that.

Having older sibs help with the younger sibs has always been the norm, even for large farm families years ago. IMHO I have to agree with Heina here...it helps to some degree with character and learning responsibility. I seriously doubt they keep having kids just so they can have their older ones be "built in babysitters" or extra hands for chores. I had chores as a kid, I had to babysit my younger ones too...didn't seem to detract from who I was back then. I don't see this mom as being one to shove off her parenting responsibilities on her older children so she won't have to deal with it. I've seen large families (not this large) in action...the older kids didn't mind helping, cause momma was doing her share (and more) with the younger ones. Eh, this is just my 2cents though...nothing more.

Well, I found this today, so I don't think they will come anywhere near the record:

The world record for having the most number of children officially recorded is 69 by the first of two wives of Feodor Vassilyev (1707-1782), a peasant from Shuya, 150 miles east of Moscow. In 27 confinements, she gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets. The children were born between 1725-1765.

Did anyone notice the husband's name is Jim Bob?

I knew the "Jim Bob" thing was coming...... Let me just speak for those of us in Arkansas who don't have 17 kids and whose name is not Jim Bob or even know anyone named Jim Bob.... they are the exception to the rule.

Exactly. Oh, and they bought their kitchen equipment through restaurant equipment auctions at a fraction of the price of new, and I am sure they are making money from doing TV stuff. And there's a whole bunch more misconceptions/wrong assumptions in this thread that I won't bother to address. It's their lives, their family, let them be.

I've noticed that too, not to mention the crude comments about the mother. I knew this news story would eventually get posted here and I knew certain comments would be made. It *is* their lives, but because their story has been plastered all across the nation and on TV, it's in a sense no longer their lives. This has opened them up to all sorts of misconceptions and wrong assumptions, and as I've seen here...criticism and crudeness.

I'm *not* surprised.

[Caladan 19]

It was the norm years ago, but I'd worry that homeschooling the kids and preparing the girls especially to be good farmwives might not prepare them well for life beyond being a caretaker of siblings. Chores and responsibility is fine, and certainly as the oldest of four I spent a lot of time babysitting and reading books and helping out. But some of the stuff I've read makes it look as though the girls are being raised to be 19th century housewives and the boys to be homesteaders, and it's 2007.

Nothing wrong with having a big family, but I wonder what happens to the kids if someone doesn't pay for their college education.

[Mark&Steph 0]

Well, I found this today, so I don't think they will come anywhere near the record:

The world record for having the most number of children officially recorded is 69 by the first of two wives of Feodor Vassilyev (1707-1782), a peasant from Shuya, 150 miles east of Moscow. In 27 confinements, she gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets. The children were born between 1725-1765.

Did anyone notice the husband's name is Jim Bob?

Screamin' Jay Hawkins was said to have fathered 55 children, but it could have been up to 75. Of course, there were probably that many mothers too...

[KarenCee 3]

Well, I have to say here that amongst some of the homeschool families that I've known, a lot of the children *have* gone to college and have careers...both boys and girls. As far as paying for their college education, there are lots of grants and loans that homeschooled kids can apply for. Homeschooling, if done for the right reasons, can be a wonderful experience.

[Caladan 19]

Well, I have to say here that amongst some of the homeschool families that I've known, a lot of the children *have* gone to college and have careers...both boys and girls. As far as paying for their college education, there are lots of grants and loans that homeschooled kids can apply for. Homeschooling, if done for the right reasons, can be a wonderful experience.

Homeschooling isn't the problem as much as it is whether they're being homeschooled to a standard that can get them into college.

[Elphie 0]

Oh my word! I wonder if they were all vaginal births? If so, I am sure she's like a saloon door by now

omg...I needed a good laugh. I can't believe you said that.

[KiKi 0]

The older kids weren't "helping out" MY older kids "help out" alot, the older Dugger children were virtually PARENTING the little ones.

Do you think ONE woman can effectively parent 17 children?

[eric&gen 0]

If i had to take care that many kids i would end up jumping off a tall building or a cliff lol one is enough as is lol.