19 kids and counting- Page 2

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 11:06am

What I meant about the c-sections is, unless you choose to have one, they are usually done with risky pregnancies.

Untrue. There are many other reasons why a c-section is done, including multiple births (I believe that's how the first set of twins were delivered 20 years ago) or cephalopelvic disproportion. A lot of doctors also still recommend having c-sections for all births after one c-section is performed.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 11:26am

^ I did not know that.

And to me, because your child is too large to fit, that sounds like you are trying to prevent something from going wrong.

I guess since the Duggar's baby was not even 2 pounds at birth, I would be a little concerned about having kids after that. My dad knows someone whose last child died at birth, and they are pregnant again, and there is a good chance for it to happen again.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 11:29am

There has to be a health risks either for mother or baby before a C-section can be performed due to insurance companies not wanting to pay. Doctors prefer after 1 C-section that mother's continue having C-sections because there could be internal bleeding from scar tissues from the previous one that the doctor cannot detect during natural child birth.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 11:37am

Her last little girl was born vaginally. (I hate that I know that.) They do buy their clothes at thrift stores and things aren't purchased for specific children. They go in on the half price day and buy clothes for the year. If there is a good, sturdy pair of shoes, they buy them. They buy boys polo shirts and khakis buy the dozens. They buy long skirts and long sleeve blouses for the girls, but most of the dresses get hand made because it's hard to find things like that.

They built the house themselves, but TLC stepped in, did another show and finished it up after the dry wall went in. They had been renting a five bedroom house while they were finishing their own place, but it sold and was being torn down. They wanted to be able to wait until they could afford all the finishing touches and furnishings, but it didn't make any sense to make the whole family move twice.

I saw all of this on the second Duggar special on Saturday.

Updated On: 2/1/10 at 11:37 AM

[supportivemom]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 12:54pm

Yeah, the Duggers don't bother me nearly as much as the Gosselin's or Octomom for many of the reasons stated. They are very humble and their kids are very well-behaved even if they are very sheltered. I thought it was kinda sad that Jim Bob kept saying how perfect little Josie is when clearly she isn't. This family has never dealt with something like this. I just wonder how their medical bills will be paid. Kate Gosselin could learn a lot from this family!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 1:06pm

Didn't they declare themselves a church and therefore don't pay taxes? That has to help a lot when it comes to living debt free. And I know they haggle prices a lot. I saw an episode where Jim Bob was haggling over the price of a tire. He said when they need to buy a big ticket item he researches and asks for discounts. And then there was the previous comments about them buying stuff at good will and such. I recall an episode where they were building a house for someone else and went to a store where they could buy doors and stuff cheaper. I remember they refused to look at certain doors for being too "fancy".

Do people who home school get a stipend from the state to help pay for supplies? Computers, books, etc? I know that that you can't just teach what you want when you home school. There is a set cirriculum.

The kids do seem to be really well behaved but I kinda worry about them. Part of the reason to go to school outside the home is to learn different points of view and learn to decide things for yourself. Also, the whole "Nike" thing really disturbs me.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 1:40pm

How can they just declare themselves a church? Hell, I want to declare myself a church!

As far as the home schooling, I have no idea about the stipend?

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 1:46pm

Someone in the neighborhood I grew up in did that. The father deemed himself a Minister and his house as his church. No one from the county board ever went to see if it was for real. He got away without paying taxes on his house for years until his son joined the armed services and went AWOL and they went to find him at the "church" address.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 1:50pm

Hah! Busted!

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 1:53pm

They went to visit the other huge family that they built the room for and they bothered me more than the Duggars. The dad told them to all go get their bibles and EVERY child RUNS to get theirs. The Duggers mentioned that this family was much more organized than they were. It was a little scary. The funniest part was the little girl, maybe 3, just standing with this little pocket bible with THE most pissed off look on her face. Why would a three year old have a bible? All the others looked like Stepford children.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 1:57pm

I think cousin Amy should corrupt some of them. It's hard to believe she's actually related to them.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 1:59pm

I find Jim Bob incredibly smarmy and for someone who now makes his living in front of a camera, he remains incredibly stiff and stilted, much like his hair. What is it about southern conservatives and their Aqua-Netted helmet hair.

Nothing to substantiate it and it's kind of rude to even suggest it since the kid hasn't even hit puberty yet, but most of the gay kid supposition seem to circulate about Jedidiah.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:02pm

I do believe they have declared themselves a church and do not have to pay taxes.
Stockard, I think we should try that. I'll have some people over and pray a couple times a day and then declare my home as a church (or synagogue as is my case).

I'm surprised the kids aren't literally falling out of her by now.

My cousin had a c-section with her first born and had the option of having a vaginal delivery for the 2nd child.

"The kids do seem to be really well behaved but I kinda worry about them. Part of the reason to go to school outside the home is to learn different points of view and learn to decide things for yourself. "

While that's true, it doesn't seem like Jim Bob and Michelle WANT them to see any other points of view...or maybe they think that someone will tell them they are being brainwashed by their sheltered life and family (which isn't all that far from the truth.)

I do, however, think that people (ie: Gosselins) could learn some good lessons from them.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:18pm

Sounds like a plan. I mean we do say prayers before dinner. Does that count?

I know someone who had a c-section because the doctor was going on vacation and didn't want someone else delivering her baby. How messed up is that?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:24pm

I'm trying to remember back to a presentation a student did on homeschooling when I was in college. It's been 7 years but something I do remember is that a lot of homeschooled children take field trips and such with other homeschooled children. It's not as if they're cut off from society. They have that social interaction and the chance to see other points of view. The Duggers seem to lack that from what I've seen. I don't watch the show regularly. Only when I'm too lazy to change the channel. But I have seen them going into the public schools. But it seems that they're trying to teach THEIR ways to the public school students and not taking anything away frrom their experience themselves.

it doesn't seem like Jim Bob and Michelle WANT them to see any other points of view...or maybe they think that someone will tell them they are being brainwashed by their sheltered life and family (which isn't all that far from the truth.)

I feel they are definitely being brainwashed. I'm very much a "live and let live" type of person and the Duggers seem to be "our way is right and your way is wrong". I don't really care for that.

I do, however, think that people (ie: Gosselins) could learn some good lessons from them.

As maligned as the Gosselins are sometimes I think they come out on top in some ways. They family just feels more "real". Their kids fight, yell. play, laugh, cry, put on shows, etc. They're kids not kid-bots which is how the Dugger kids seem to come off sometimes.

I'm not defending John and Kate but I think not only could the Gosselins learn from the Duggers a bit but the Duggers could take something away from the meeting as well.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:38pm

My sister-in-law home schooled my nephews for a couple of years. I didn't ask her specifics because I was against it. These 2 really needed interaction with kids their own age. She did tell me that they would meet up with other home schooled kids to socialize. I still don't get it. What about joining clubs in school...having friends of your own. Going to dances....proms...you know all of those social events we did growing up. They are going to miss all of this. Eh maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't give any of those things up.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:41pm

Four of my cousins were homeschooled, and I think they turned out pretty well. The kids were involved with a swimming club or something, and other activities. They certainly were not sheltered, and of course there was fighting going on when we were visiting there about 18 years ago. Because you know, choosing between watching Annie or 101 Dalmatians is such a hard choice when you are a child.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:42pm

I agree with you 100%, Boobs.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:43pm

Going to dances....proms

How are they going to get prom dresses with high collars, long sleeves, and full skirts?

[StockardFan]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:44pm

Have them made?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:48pm

They would have to. Nothing on the market would do.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:54pm

I know! Eris, you saw them on Say Yes to the Dress didn't you? How they kept putting that piece of fabric where the cleavage of the dresses was? Talk about ugly!

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 2:55pm

And I just love this article from People.com about the new baby Josie.

Poor baby
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340731,00.html?xid=rss-fullcontent

And not making fun of what happened to her, but nothing says Merry Christmas like being filmed for television on Christmas a week after you had surgery for a perforated bowel.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 3:12pm

What makes their behavior any different than Jewish families who teach their children only to eat kosher, or Catholics who don't use birth control, or any religion that makes women subservient to men (i.e. all of them)? I think most children are technically brainwashed by their parents into think their way is the right way and all others are wrong, especially when it comes to religious practices. The Duggars aren't very different from many religious families in the country, they're just higher profile.

The church tax exemption turned out to be a false rumor; some fan found their tax information online using some real estate site and they do pay property taxes on their home and surrounding acreage. The 18 dependent tax exemption is probably what keeps them debt free.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/1/10 at 3:31pm

But the difference is that most kids do start questioning their parents eventually. These kids don't seem to do that, and don't realize what else is out there besides having a huge family.

I actually do know a family with 16 kids, and they all went to public school. There were issues with some bad things, but I won't discuss that.