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Original poster

16 kids and a new house

56 replies

Yorkiegirl · 22/11/2006 21:55

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Original poster
Yorkiegirl · 23/11/2006 16:29

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NomDePlume · 23/11/2006 16:31

All the kids help out. They are all given chores and 'jurastictions' (as they call it) so Mum doesn't seem to do any more than a mum of a smaller family.

They are V religious so I suspect that they are governed by a vey strict 'moral' and behavioural code (they certainly seemed to be on the prog). I suspect that helps them keep their tempers in check. They come across as weirdly zombie-clonelike. I know that sounds awful, and I'm sure that they are for the most part completely harmless but they do come across as an odd family group.

moljam · 23/11/2006 16:34

i think they seem lovely!although some bits are slightly odd,it works for them and they all seem happy!imagine being that organised though!ive only got 3!

NomDePlume · 23/11/2006 16:35

I thought their lives looked extraordinarily boring tbh.

morningpaper · 23/11/2006 16:37

I was horrified that they seemed to use DISPOSABLE cutlery and plates

That mother would NOT pass the Mumsnet Food Guilt Test

NomDePlume · 23/11/2006 16:39

They do use disposable cutlery etc.

I was quite impressed initially that she and her H coped with such a large family, but the more I watched the less impressed I was tbh. Although 16 births ?! In fact, I think it was 15 because they have a set of twins

moljam · 23/11/2006 16:40

disposable cutlery!?i missed that!

pamina3 · 23/11/2006 16:41

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morningpaper · 23/11/2006 16:42

Here are tater tots on Wikipedia

I'm sorry Mrs Duggar you have failed your Mumsnet Food Guilt Test and will have to stand in the McDonald's queue with Emkana

MammyM · 23/11/2006 16:45

just to be pedantic, they have two sets of twins I like them and always become wistful for more children but then I worry that the kids are neglected a little and how can Mum and Dad even know their kids?! However, they all seem happy with their lot, I like the opening of it where they said they've got 20 acres (or something) so that should the kids want to they can build their own houses on the land! Dh thinks they're weird and will never leave home, I basically like them! They're fascinating.

morningpaper · 23/11/2006 16:48

The father will probably turn out to be a drug-taker who's been having an affair with a rent boy since 1976

moljam · 23/11/2006 16:53

;o

Original poster
Yorkiegirl · 23/11/2006 21:18

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ameli · 24/11/2006 19:38

yorkie girl, well would you prepare fresh mjeals for 18 peple every day? easy to judge, i cook fresh food for my family, dont know how i'd cope with doin it for 18 every day..

ameli · 24/11/2006 19:38

meals, lol

ameli · 24/11/2006 19:39

so what, to the cutlery

NomDePlume · 24/11/2006 19:44

'so what to the cutlery'

What a horrible waste to throw all those paper plates away and all those plastic knives and forks away.

The mother doesn't do all the cooking,it is shared between her and the daughters (6 of?) it isn't like she is doing it all on her own. The family are very pro-active in getting the kids involved in the day to day running of the household

PeachyClair · 24/11/2006 19:46

My dad was second youngest of 16 . A few sets of twins in there too.

nan was bedridden before Dad was born and spent 40 years there, so older girls cooked etc for the little ones (Grandad useless waste of space I am told- never met him).

It was before welfare state so theya te what they could. salmon and rabbit as they could poach it, oh and hedgehog.

Dad started work at 5 years old, and wasn't allowed to go to grammar despite passing 11+ coz of uniform costs. But he describes it as a very happy childhood, and those of his family still alive are friendly and quite close.

Original poster
Yorkiegirl · 24/11/2006 19:50

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morningpaper · 24/11/2006 22:05

'so what to the cutlery'

If they used disposable cutlery and plates every day, each year they would throw away:

  • 65,000 plastic items of cutlery
  • 20,000 plates

For ONE family

How can that possible be justified?

ameli · 25/11/2006 00:30

oh call the cutlery police, how sad that u actually sat there calculating lol

doyouwantfrieswiththat · 25/11/2006 00:57

Was interested that the girls want to start big families when they're young, there could be hundreds of Duggars in a couple of generations.

Always fascinates me how distinctive facial features show up in the peoples children too.

doyouwantfrieswiththat · 25/11/2006 01:01

mmmmm tater tots - according to wikipedia 'a means of utilizing the potato shreds left over from french fry production' -now that's more environmentally sound than plastic cutlery ( & at least paper plates are recyclable)

NorksBride · 25/11/2006 01:38

Didn't watch it/don't know them but what's with the

'The mother doesn't do all the cooking,it is shared between her and the daughters (6 of?) ' What are the 10 boys doing meanwhile?

Perhaps they could wash up real plates and cutlery?!

NomDePlume · 25/11/2006 09:13

I have no idea. The boys do have chores to do, but I can't recall what they are.

Ameli - you are either taking the p*ss or you are one naive bunny.

MP, those numbers are horrendous

They have all that land and yet they don't appear to grow one single edible thing on their land. Surely it would not only be cheaper and healthier to grow some fresh produce, but it would also form a nice part of the kids home education.....

God knows I'm not perfect but the food thing seems to be a bit of a no-brainer.