Duggars have 18th child

[juuule]

www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2008/dec/19/duggars-babies

Juules no, not on the face of it. They all look happy and well rounded and their home is indeed lovely. How they will feel about being one of so many children when they are grown will be interesting. I wonder if they will make the same choices for themselves and for their own childreN?

How can they possibly make quality time for each and every one of them when there are 18! I dont understand and question whether they can. There simplay arent enough hours in the day for them all to have 'time', no?
Someone mentioned their buddy system, that an older child is responsible for getting a younger one up and dressed and to take care of them. Isnt that the job of the parents? To what extent do they do this? I think its great for children to have a sense of responsibility, looking after and caring for others but think there should be limits to how much they have to do this.

Well we don't know what extent they do this to but from watching the tv program (which I know is only a snapshot) Michelle seems very involved with all of them.
As they are home-educated they possibly spend a lot more time together as a family than children who go to school.
I think it's excellent that they all learn about running a home and having responsibilities for things from an early age. Perhaps every child feels that they are wanted and necessary to the family.
And whatever size family you grow up in, you make your own choices once you are old enough.

I would have put the catwalk further to the side and used some of the eaves space to have more bedrooms. From the photos it looks like they have 1 boys bedroom and 1 girls bedroom. With each bedroom serving children from late teen to infant. I honestly think that the older children could possibly do with own space. Particularly as is evident from the photos that more space could have been provided relatively easily, but a conscious decision was made to have the dorms.

she's 42 melly...probaby not 10 years left....
i think they would grate on me if they were my neighbours..but hey they seem happy

i havent seen it, probably should before being 'judgey'

Just, my initial reaction is 18 kids=almost a whole class

I'm sorry to lower the tone but all I can think of is

They still have sex??????

We've got 2 and 1 on the way and it's all just too knackering.

lol melly, they probably DO have a gong, yes

I also kind of think-well I am sure I could do a glossy website advertising the Fillyjonk Family. Would have lots of Bodenesq pictures in it and shots of our house after MIL has come and pottered about putting things away.

God the NOISE level in that house must be unbelievable.

I want that house!!! (but without that many children)

Just read they are home schooled, they can't ever have any peace. I like homeschooling btw just couldn't do it myself and certainly not with 18 of them.

How lovely to grow up with so many people around for love and support though, they look happy

dropdead - I would think they would be great neighbours - they surely wouln't notice a couple of extras if I dropped mine in and popped to the shops?

I can't believe they keep having more. Am amazed at their energy.

I notice in the newer photos that the girls aren't wearing those awful old fashioned dresses any more. They look a little trendier.

THey do all seem happy.

they are home schooled...
they spend a lot of time looking after siblings/doing chores

I do wonder how much they get to socialise with other children outside their environment.

They do look like theyve reached this century int he latest pics. And if anything Michelle looks younger

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They give me the creeps to be honest, like they are breeding their own religious cult.

she had trouble finding a doctor willing to deliver her.

she had to have a csection this time, her uterine walls are dangerously thin.

I can't imagine the toll that 18 (to term) pregnancies has on your body

Expat how is your LO doing?

he's 17 weeks and over 14lbs, Astarte, thanks for asking.

he's been smiling and cooing which is wonderful!

To be honest I'm impressed she still gets to term. they have been very lucky really that in 18 children they've not had any major problems.

Crikey! 17 weeks, that's flown by.

Does he still do the arched back stretch with a pouty lip thing at 17 weeks? That's my favourite thing that babies do.

sorry, he's SEVEN weeks!

I THOUGHT!!

but ya know, one doesn't like to say anything, and being pg myself and feeling like time was passing slowwwwwwwly I did doubt myself there

Expat this report says that the cs was necessary because the baby was lying sideways. Where have you seen that her womb was very thin?

''The other Duggar children, in between Joshua and Jordyn-Grace, are Jana, 18; John-David, 18; Jill, 17; Jessa, 16; Jinger, 14; Joseph, 13; Josiah, 12; Joy-Anna, 11; Jeremiah, 9; Jedidiah, 9; Jason, 8; James, 7; Justin, 6; Jackson, 4; Johannah, 3; and Jennifer, 1.''

must be really strange having siblings the same age as you!!!

the children the same age are twins.