14 Children and Pregnant Again!

[shesings]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:02pm

I just watched this program on TLC with this family in Arkansas who had 14 kids, and the mom was pregnant. They reminded me of an amish situation in many aspects (especially physically). The kids are home schooled, each older child has a younger one to take care of, they can only wear conservative clothing, they are building their own house, and each one has a name that begins with the letter J. They are a very religious family who said they had so many kids b/c they want as many blessings as God is willing to give them.

Has anyone else seen this? I was completely blown away, and at times quite amused. What do you think of having 15 kids? Good? Bad? Fair to the kids? How many kids would you think is ideal?

edited for spelling Updated On: 11/6/04 at 04:02 PM

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:05pm

I saw this show too and was amazed!! As a woman, I don't think having that many children can be the best thing for your body. This woman only has TWO c-sections!! I really don't think so many kids is a good idea, but, the family seems very happy and the kids seemed well-adjusted and are well taken care of, so I say, more power to them! What AMAZED me is that they have no debt. NONE!! That is increadible.

Updated On: 11/6/04 at 04:05 PM

[beacon1]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:05pm

I know of amazing couples who have raised huge numbers of children--both those born to them and those they've adopted or cared for as foster parents.

And, I know of some couples who barely take care of just one child.

As for this situation, my first instinct is "oh no!"...but how did the children sound?

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:07pm

If they can take care of all 15 kids and stay out of debt, then more power to them! I personally think 15 kids is too much, but if they can deal with it, that's great!

[BroadwayMonkey]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:12pm

That's crazy. Wow. But good for them!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:14pm

15 children? OH MY!!!
I personally feel one is too many, so I guess it just depends on the woman.

[shesings]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:18pm

They all seemed very happy and well adjusted. And they were debt free which is amazing. I did have a few concerns though. The kids didn't really get to interact with anyone except their siblings, and that other family who they have religious services with. And they pretty much want the children to marry people with the same beliefs that they have, which seems pretty limiting to me.THe kids do seem happy, but they have no clue as to what the real world is like. They don't even get to go to school. They all seems very happy and well taken care of, but part of me just feels like they are missing out on so many life experiences. I just feel bad that they don't have any interaction with other views, people, ways of life, etc. And those poor kids were dressed so sadly. Maybe next TLC can do a "What Not to Wear" episode on that family!!!

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:21pm

that's a good point, Shesings. Those kids really have no idea about what the outside world is like and don't know how to deal with different kids of people. When asked what whey wanted to be when they grew up, all of the little girls said "I want to be a mommy with at least 10 kids!" At that rate, those parents could end up with as much as 150 grandchildren!! LOL Yikes!!!

Updated On: 11/6/04 at 04:21 PM

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:22pm

both famlies are Christian I believe, with VERY strict values.

[shesings]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:33pm

very fundamentalist. I guess the kids can't go to college or anything. I almost had the impression that they already had ideas of who the kids could marry, which is a little scary to me too. They really did seem like happy kids, but they just have no clue! They don't even have the internet or TV. NO BWW! How could you survive?!?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:39pm

What interest would a family with no TV have in being documented for TV?

Updated On: 11/6/04 at 04:39 PM

[shesings]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 4:41pm

good point Rath!

[Plum]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:15pm

Most kids from huge broods turn out just fine, and have for many generations. It's a bit of a shame that having large numbers of children is now associated with religious fundamentalism- one doesn't lead to the other, you know.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:20pm

Ok, I'm just wondering how there were able to find 15 names that started with J.


I am racking my brain--and can only think of like 6.

And how old was the oldest and young was the youngest child? (beside the baby) and how old were the parents? Updated On: 11/6/04 at 06:20 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:24pm

Really? I think I can come up with 15.

1.Janet
2.Jason
3.John
4.James
5.Jeanine
6.Joseph
7.Jennifer
8.Jessica
9.Jane
10.Jillian
11.Jasper
12.Jacob
13.Jebediah
14.Jenna
15.Jeffrey

Then there's Jeremy, Joy, Jerome, Joanna, Joshua, Jocelyn, Jonathan, Jordan... Updated On: 11/6/04 at 06:24 PM

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:28pm

Ok ok, you proved your point.

[TGIF]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:29pm

Are there any twins or triplets? PLEASE tell me there are multiple births. All I can say is "ouch!"

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:34pm

there are only two sets of twins!! In case anyone cares, here are all the kids names and ages:

Joshua, 16
Jana and John-David, 14
Jill, 13
Jessa, 11
Jinger, 10
Joseph, 9
Josiah, 7
Joy-Anna, 6
Jeremiah and Jedidiah, 5
Jason, 4
James, 2
Justin, 1
and the baby, Jackson

Updated On: 11/6/04 at 06:34 PM

[TGIF]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:41pm

why not jenny .. much better (legit) J name

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:45pm

I agree with Beaver..."Jinger" is just as bad as "Gennifer"! lol ugh, people need to stop being creative with spelling names.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:45pm

Oh Jill!!

Represent!

[shesings]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 6:59pm

They were going to name the new baby Johanna if it was a girl. Ok, so thats a fine name right? Not when you already have a kid named Joy-Anna. Johanna and Joy-Anna?!?! I mean come on! I can think of a couple more J names! I have to admit I tivoed the program and made my boyfriend watch it and it was even more amusing this time. Having a large family is great, but the way these kids are sheltered from the real world is so strange. Even their church is at their house. It's almost like a mini cult. Like they're starting their own little colony. Too weird for me!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 7:10pm

Like Jeremiah and Jedediah sound so different?

[Plum]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 7:11pm

They make totally different nicknames, though- Jerry and Jeb.

[shesings]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 7:11pm

and poor Jeddidiah couldn't remember his name in the beginning!