Arkansas Mom Prepares for Birth of 17th Child. Any thoughts on having such a large family?

Question

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,270554,00.html

Answer 1

I have seen tis family on TLC many times. They seem to be a genuine loving family with good goals and more than enough love to go around. They are very resourseful building their own house to be big enough for the famil. She home schools the kids and think of the math lessons in building a house. They seem like a very nice ordinary family with the exception of the number of children they have. They are happy with this and view each child as a gift. As long as they can afford it, why should we stop or judge them>

Answer 2

They did a documentary on this family when she had the 16th child. They are very self sufficient, and were in the process of building a newer home with more room. They don't buy on credit, something alot of us could learn from. It was really very interesting and those children don't want for attention at all.

I see no problem with having such a large family...you look at some that have only 1 or 2 children and the problems they have. Just like anything worth while...you have to work at it! Some are willing to do all it takes and other aren't.

Answer 3

I've seen the shows about the Duggars, and they are a very impressive family. They obviously somehow have the means to provide for their family, and they seem to work things out so everyone is happy. No one is ever neglected, and the kids have grown up learning a lot and are able to do some things at a young age that some adults probably can't even do. This particular family seems to have a strong handle on everything, so they've obviously been blessed with that gift. Some people aren't meant for it, these people are.

Answer 4

I have a friend who is one of 17.
Her parents were catholic. No twins
She is around about the middle child.
She has memories of her mother always being pregnant and tired. She did not get any time alone with her mother. Her father worked long hours (evidently not long enough)
She says she remembers her mother crying in the night when he got home begging him not to force her to have sex.

They lived in a 3 bedroom house in the country.


getting a little high risk for major life threatening birth complications after that many children.
In Australia you get $5000 when you have a child - this woman could be rich.

Answer 5

I have seen this family on TLC. They are amazing parents. They manage to keep their house running smoothly and spend time with each child. They just built a brand new house that is like a 5 star hotel. Somehow they are able to keep themselves out of debt. The father said that they don't buy things if they can't pay cash. Honestly I wish I grew up in a family as loving as theirs.

Answer 6

That is just ridiculous. Why would you want to do that to yourself? I couldn't imagine having that many children. Good luck trying to put all of those kids through college. Even if I was making the big bucks there is no way on this world that I would have 17 kids. That is way too much stress on your body. There is no way you could give them enough attention either. That must be really hard on those kids.

Answer 7

I cant believe they are having another one. I have watched the duggar shows on like discovery and tlc, but this is way nuts. I would think from a medical point she is putting herself in great danger.
I know they wont fall in debt, because they went to some seminar that changed their lives or whatever, but How are they going to put these kids through college? Some time I ponder how I will do it with two.

Answer 8

Wow 17 kids .... I live in New Zealand, so she would be getting over NZ$1000-00 dollars a week for them from our Social Welfare.

Anyone that has a child over here gets paid weekly for it. It's called "Child Support". The first child is about $65 per week, the 2nd is about $100 per week etc etc etc.

Goes to show ..... why work. I get really fed up with us rate-payers having to pay for some of that.

Answer 9

Not for me. I would see Valium as 'Mother's Little Helper' and not a blessing. I love children (mother of 3 girls), but that has to take a toll on the body and mind. 17 kids home-schooled is the same as an average class. She is 40 and she is more at risk for deformities (down-syndrome 50% chance). But if they are happy, then that is truly what matters.

Answer 10

I think she's nuts! I have 3 boys of my own. Each one was difficult to get here. I would not survive having 17 children physically let alone raising them. They would have to put me away! I love children and wanted more than my 3 I have but 17 is just stupid! She doesn't really raise all of them. They rasie each other. The oldest has the biggest responsibility. No one needs 17 kids. I think the woman needs her head examined. She is catholic-they don't believe in birth control. No smart!