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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To like the duggar family

152 replies

McHappyPants2012 · 25/04/2012 20:38

On tv they seem like such a close and loving family.

OP posts:
IAmBooyhoo · 26/04/2012 17:26

what is the father of teh grandchildren called?

Groovee · 26/04/2012 17:28

Josh is married to Anna and they have Mackenzie and Michael.

Moln · 26/04/2012 17:28

i think they said it's because when the named the first few starting with J they felt they couldn't make the next one different in case the next one was the last one or something. However it doesn't explain why the first few had the same initial!

IAmBooyhoo · 26/04/2012 17:34

oh thanks groovee i didn't click that anna wasn't one of the duggar children.

Pandemoniaa · 26/04/2012 17:51

Appalling bunch of fundamentalists who use a combination of literal misinterpretation of the Bible and control mechanisms to keep their women and children just where they want them. Mainly pregnant and in the church or kitchen.

The methods of control used by the Duggars and their ilk are well documented too. From the earlier link on blanket training, I read this paragraph on Church training. Which has a creepiness all of its own. And I quote:

"Every day, we sat them on the couch, within touching distance, (After all, that's how close they must sit in church!), put in a Bible story tape, explained what behavior was expected of them, (sit still, don't touch your brothers and sisters, be quiet, etc) and then I sat across from them in a chair with my little switch. Beginning with just 10 - 15 minutes at a time, we sat together, enjoying the Bible story, and practicing for church! If the rules were ignored, the little switch was a gentle reminder of the importance of obedience."

In my book, little switches are a form of abuse. Especially when applied with such casual forethought.

DontHaveAtv · 26/04/2012 17:58

I hate what they stand for. As a mother of 7 children I certainly wouldn't want to be put in the same category as them.

StateofConfusion · 26/04/2012 18:04

Can someone please tell me what a 'switch' is?

Pandemoniaa · 26/04/2012 18:07

A whippy little stick. Like a cane or riding crop.

flixy102 · 26/04/2012 18:11

I didn't mind them until I read this thread but now they creep me out I'm not so sure.

yakbutter · 26/04/2012 18:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StateofConfusion · 26/04/2012 18:17

Oh!

musicposy · 26/04/2012 18:17

DontHaveAtv as a home educator I wouldn't want to be put in the same category as them either.

paulapantsdown · 26/04/2012 18:18

Did you see the episode where they went to that ridiculous creationist museum creationmuseum.org/, preaching total nonsense to their kids (ie: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden with the dinosaurs!). Chatting away to their kids like it was all absolute truth and anyone who doesn't believe it must be just CERAZZY!

Lifeisquiteabsurd · 26/04/2012 18:37

And for some horrifying humour, here is a video of the Duggars lapping up the educational joys of the

This is the museum where you get to ride dinosaurs with a saddle on just like our ancestors did. Hmm

And whoever mentioned up thread about the girls being able to become nurses or midwives, how? They've apparently followed some strange Chirstian homeschooling program and don't have the official qualifications to get on to courses to become either of those. I believe one of the elder girls was supposed to be studying to become a midwife but apparently not actually through any accredited route so basically she can become a doula at best.

It is the lack of provision of a decent education that I find the worst about the parenting Jim Bob and Michelle provide. They have left their children ill-equipped to deal with the world outside their own family - as I expect was the point.

Lifeisquiteabsurd · 26/04/2012 18:44

paulapantsdown Sorry, you beat me to it with the Creationist Museum. Here is a picture of a saddled up dinosaur to make up for it.

Mrbojangles1 · 26/04/2012 18:45

AvocadoAndFitch that would be octo mum

LadyHarrietdeSpook · 26/04/2012 18:48

That creation museum is a fucking head trip.

Emmielu · 26/04/2012 18:49

If in their vows they said god will give us as many babies that we can have....me thinks god needs to do some logical thinking on this family.

anonacfr · 26/04/2012 18:50

Kitchenandjumble at least the Amish allow teenagers a year of freedom to experience the other side. They can move out drink smoke own mobiles etc and then chose to come back to the fold or not.
Fundies don't allow for that. They're too scared their children might be tempted.

Re the Duggars- the oldest son (the one who's married and told the film crew about his wife's first pregnancy before she even knew) posted a picture of his family at the baby's graveside with a casual little comment (something like 'here's the family burying Jubilee). Their reality TV also aired the moment Jim Bob and Michelle are told the baby has died in utero.

I'm sorry but that is just callous IMO. As far as I'm concerned the Duggars are the Fundies' equivalent to the Kardashians.

Birdsgottafly · 26/04/2012 18:56

Can someone please tell me what a 'switch' is

It's a light piece of young branch from a tree.

Blanket training:
www.ffministry.org/blanket_training.htm

Weddellway · 26/04/2012 18:57

I do find them a lot less worrisome than parents who neglect/abuse their kids, drink at all hours of the day, never worry about rules and education, shout, scream and swear on a regular basis etc etc etc.....the kids seem happy, healthy and well looked after in any case.. The little ones run around, play, laugh and make funny faces ..i.e they seem free to behave and have fun like normal kids. They can all hold a reasonably intelligent conversation..and if it all gets a little too serious..cousin Amy seems ready to inject a party atmosphere!

Birdsgottafly · 26/04/2012 19:00

I suppose having baby after baby is easy, if you beat them into submission with rulers.

www.chicagonow.com/.../are-the-duggars-guilty-of-chil... - United States

LadyHarrietdeSpook · 26/04/2012 19:01

the Duggars are the Fundies' equivalent to the Kardashians

SPOT ON.

LadyHarrietdeSpook · 26/04/2012 19:02

Weddell - they're not less scary than the parents you mention they're as scary - to me anyway- albeit in a different way.

Seabright · 26/04/2012 19:22

Birds - your link isn't working