The Duggar Debate

I've noticed that one of my earlier posts on the Jim Bob Duggar Family has been receiving lots of commentary lately.  I know that a number of shows have aired recently featuring this evangelical christian family.  Since a number of comments have been along the lines of "Go Duggars!  They're doin' it for the Lord!" and "Wow, I really admire a woman with such a resilient uterus!"  Ms. Duggar's amazing uterus aside, I think that what this family is doing and the media attention they are receiving is HIGHLY irresponsible.  As I've said before, regardless of whether this family has the financial means to support fifteen children (up until this year they were all living in a small house with two bathrooms), I can't see how anyone can have the mental/emotional/temporal resources to provide the level of attention that a child needs to fully thrive to fifteen children.  These children may be fine, they may even be THRIVING- but because of their own resiliency and reliance on each other as opposed to individual time and attention provided by their parents.

I don't think the duties of raising children should fall to siblings, which undoubtedly happens in this household.  I think children deserve individual attention.  Between laundry, shopping and changing diapers, how in the hell would Mrs. Duggar have any time to provide 'alone' time to her children?  The kids apparently have a closet on either side of the washer/dryer where all the clothes go.  The kids wear whatever fits.  Do these children have anything that is theirs?  Me, personally, I like having underwear that I know is mine and only mine.

Mostly, though, what I object to is putting the idea out there that this is a good idea- to have 15 kids!  Maybe the Duggars can do it, but the majority of families cannot, specifically not without assistance from the state.  Family size is directly correlated with lower education and higher rates of deviant behavior by children of these families. 

Of course the daughters of this family want to become stay-at-home moms: they have no other experience of what opportunities exist for them in the world.  The Duggars may be providing their children with a legacy of 'good christian values' (which apparently means women are meant to squeeze out as many babies as the lord allows them- and not seek to waste their precious resources doing good and effecting change in the world by becoming more than a baby factory) but how about their education? their prospects for the future? their ability to make choices for themselves?

But, you know, come to think of it-- what they are doing is only natural.

Comments

[Andrea Wright]

I think anyone who can criticize this family is jealous that they aren't as calm, organized, unselfish, and unaffected by what the world thinks of them. I think anyone who can criticize this family has no concept of lasting, eternal values and treasures. It is plain to see that these are happy, well-adjusted, joyful children, not your spoiled-brat, materialistic, self-centered variety we are so used to. The secret to happiness is in serving others, not yourself. Having 15 children is not for everybody, but it is very obviously for them. I also think that the real reason someone would be so critical of what they are doing is because they despise their Christianity, not the fact that they have a big family.

[Linda Edwards]

I saw the documentary on the Duggar family and was so impressed that I would love to meet this family. My only wish is that i would have had the knowledge I have now so maybe I could have done something like this with my children. I had such a rough first marraige that the trauma changed me and changed my children. These people are wonderful and are enjoying life as a family and teaching all the children God's values and laws. They have fun, I watched the outings and saw their faces. I wish them the very best and will continue to pray for them and maybe one day I can go and spend a few days in Arkansas and meet this wonderful family. Don't put them down if you do not know what is in their hearts. a friend from afar m

[Emily Elizabeth]

Hi, it's your old buddy Emily Elizabeth here. I liked your juxtaposition of the Duggars with the mother pig. Piglets and the Duggar children are both cute - I've actually gone to a fair, picked up a piglet, and kissed it on the head. Maybe you should have more children so you can do better things with your time that criticizing other people's decisions. And have you actually adopted any children?

[Mary Calvin]

Regardless of one's religion, the reality is that it is not a healthy situation. First of all, it isn't physically healthy for a woman to spend so much of her life pregnant. There are activists who protest such treatment of cows; it is defined as physical torture. Secondly, there is no reason to have so many kids. The world is already overpopulated, and with recent and continuing advances in artificial reproduction it seems that it's only getting worse, even without people like the Duggars. And finally, the way these kids are being raised is very emotionally unhealthy. They are being completely isolated from the rest of the world, hearing and seeing only what their parents present to them. How are they going to form their own personalities and beliefs if all they are exposed to is their parents’ opinions? Of course they’re happy, they don’t know that life can be different. This type of treatment has been defined as brain-washing. In the documentary it was articulated that they only go out as a family, maybe sometimes with family friends, the children are home-schooled; even in their new house that they are building, there will be two huge bedrooms, one for the boys and one for the girls. So a 16-year-old boy is going to share a room with a 2-year-old. A 16-year-old should be socializing with kids his own age, thinking about his future, what he wants to do for a living—not chasing after his younger siblings. Despite what they want us to believe, they are not The Duggar Family-they are 17 individual people with different interests and personalities. By lumping them all together, it is easier for the Duggars to address them as one child without having the intricate individual conflicts that comes with cooping 15 children up under one roof. But raising children is not easy because not every child is the same. The Duggars are raising their children without any sense of individuality, and while family and unity are important, the development of one's personal identity is what makes us people. They share a home, a heritage, and a last name—there is no reason why they should be forced to wear matching outfits and spend every waking moment together.
The Duggars claim that God has given them all of these children. While that may be true, we all know that those kids were not the result of Immaculate Conception. One thing that God expects of us is self-control, and the Duggars obviously have very little. The opposite of self-control is lust, which is one of the seven deadly sins. I myself resent the way the Duggars use religion to justify their lack of restraint.
I also pray for the Duggars (yes, I am a Christian.) I pray that when those kids are released into the real world that they can somehow find in themselves in power to overcome such an upbringing and equip themselves with the capacities that they will need to become strong, healthy individuals capable of living productive lives.

[jetta]

I am actually watching the documentary of the Duggars now, and had to come searching out comments on this situation. Good for them that they have faith, unity as a family, organization, and the love to go around. But dressing them all the same? The girls have probably never got their haircut in their lives. I know many of the outfits are made, but do they have to wear the same patterns as their same sex siblings (I could understand dressing the younger ones like this for easy identification if they were in a crowd) But they are so isolated from other kids, and it is an injustice to them, especially the older ones who will lack real world social skills (if) they ever get out into the real world. I think they should DEFINATLY stop having kids, and encourage the ones they have to get the hell out of arkansas, find a career (go to college!) and not just become baby breeding factories!

[rwheeler]

I think that Mrs. Duggar is an incredible woman. Praise God for her and her family. The world needs more women like her. Any woman that can do all she does is amazing. I have only two children and don't do a fraction of what she does. She is really an inspiration!

[Dona]

If you continue to watch the show you will see that its the kids who are stuck doing all the work.

[KBracht]

I wish the people that critisize the Duggar Family would just be quite and stay to their own lives. I'm glad they are raising their kids like they are. The kids don't need to be spoiled brats and have to deal with all of the EXTRA trappings that kids NORMALLY have to deal with. I have 2 of my own and I wish they didn't have to deal with all of the pressures of a normal upbringing. But I'm glad we have God in our lives to pray to to help guide us through our daily life. As for Mr. and Mrs. Duggar, you keep doing what you're doing. Beside which, Ive seen their program several times, they get out, they do things out side of the home, the kids act like they are fine to me.

[Amy]

Yeah, I guess I just better be quite.

[Grandma of 4]

Yes, but quite what?

[JeanMarie]

I am obsessed by the Duggars. They seem so happy, yet creepy at the same time. But it is strange that the older ones wouldn't be a bit curious about the outside world. I wonder if they plan to go to college? I thought it was a bit odd too how Michelle was teaching them about bankrupcy law in their home schooling lesson, are their more appropriate topics for elementary students. I wonder how the kids will function in society w/o the family with them. I also think Michelle doesn't look that bad for having so many kids. If she got an updated haircut she is actually pretty.

[k]

you wonder how they can provide for 15 children's emotional needs? By NOT allowing them to think they are the center of the universe - that's how. Stop and think about it... most people 'shelter' their kids by showering them with attention and stuff.
I have looked at the curriculum the Duggars use - it's very interesting. All you saw was a 10 second clip - how can you judge it in that time? There are provisions for younger children - but she can't teach it all at the same time. There are 3 different levels of instruction.
As far as dressing them all the same. The only time's I noticed them all dressed alike were when they were at formal events (family photo above, ceremony at the state house).
We also have trusted God for our family - in 12 years we have had 3 children even though we don't use birth control. I don't consider myself irresponsible or sex crazed. I could just as easily have had 12 kids in that time but that wasn't God's plan for us. God has different plans for everyone - don't judge. I would never go on a website and say "I think it's irresponsible for that woman to have just one (or two) children JUST BECAUSE she thinks the planets over-populated or JUST BECAUSE she wants to shower them with attention and stuff and she can't afford to support any more, or she CAN'T BE BOTHERED to budget any more time in her day for her kids. That would be judgemental.
Our kids share everything but underwear when it comes to clothes too. Alot of families do that - it's very thrifty. They don't want their clothes in their rooms, they'd rather have room to play or do whatever. I think it's BRILLIANT to keep the clothes near the washer/dryer. She'll never have to worry about kids clothes all over the floor.
And that leads me to one more CRAZY idea... kids should actually be expected to do housework. YUP - because someday they will be on their own and will have to do it. As for her being LAZY and making the kids do all the housework - take a few minutes to read their website. She does alot.
I could go on but will end there... for now.

[kiki]

There are so many things I have to say about this family and when I was watching the special there were also many emotions but none of them were of good.
I do not think that these children are children, I believe that they are not given the chance to be kids, they are being parents to the younger kids but the mother called it the buddy system which makes you think when do the kids have time to be alone, to do things that they want to do or to even find out what the like and dislike, are they even given the chance to be an individual?. They all do the same thing, from dressing to playing.
The things that really got me was when the girls were speaking and every one of them said (that could talk) that they wanted to be a stay at home mom and have lots of kids when they grow up (omg will someone give them a mind of their own)
What was the thing that one of the girls said about the larger house they are going to move into? Oh yeah the thing that she is most looking forward to is a larger laundry room so she can get the laundry done faster, and she was like 11 years old. Is this something that an 11 year old should say?
If the kids are doing all the cooking and cleaning what are the parents doing other then reproducing? Obviously they have time for that.
To me these kids are being deprived of a lot of things that a child needs to grow. They probably don’t even have the chance to make mistakes which is important in learning.
Let them watch TV and play video games, give them a drum set. Allow them to dress themselves and be alone when they want and need to be, they should be able to spend 1 on 1 time with their parents when the need, They need to know that you don’t need to have a large family to be happy and that there is more to life then cooking and cleaning.
I really can’t see any of those children becoming a doctor or lawyer because if they leave the family and enter the real world they will have the shock of their life. It’s sad that they don’t have the opportunity to discover who they are as an individual, its amazing what children can do with their life if they just had the time and encouragement.

[Deborah]

I agree with the person who started this dialogue at the top of this page.

One of the most unfair things a parent can do is force some of her children to raise the others. SHE got a childhood. On one documentary I saw, there was a picture of her in a cheerleading outfit. Now, if she had been stuck at home being homeschooled and raising her MOTHER's children, she wouldn't have been a cheerleader or have met her husband probably.

Children should get to be children. I believe that they can live psychologically healthy lives as long as their environment is loving, as the Duggars' appears to be. BUT, kids shouldn't have to "buddy up" with SOMEBODY ELSE'S KID and help raise them. Don't have them if you can't do it without forcing the older kids into parenting the younger ones. It's selfish in the end.

Furthermore, life ain't a big, rosy bag of "Christian values." Life is a wonderful mix of people, cultures, experiences, sorrows, successes and desires. These kids need to be around WAY more people than just their siblings. They need to go to college or at least be able to strike out on their own. They need to be able to experience LIFE and not just Christianity.

And to Andrea Wright: People who criticize this family are NOT jealous and disorganized. I'm a trilingual law student and mother who also works and whose child has special needs in school but is doing GREAT because I love him and life and I'm basically NEVER lazy and mostly organized. I'm not jealous of the Duggars (although I think you might be). As a person who had lived in three countries on two continents by the time I was 23, who spent most of my 20s living overseas and who has had the fortune to have a couple of good careers, I FEEL SORRY FOR THESE KIDS who are getting NO exposure to the great wide world there is out there! There's much more to life than the Bible. It's a shame these kids will only know about childbirth and more childbirth so that they can grow up and experience even more childbirth.

I'm agnostic, but if there is a God, don't they think he or she would want their kids to explore all of the wonderful facets of this planet he or she created? If there is a God, I can't believe he or she would want us to live such LIMITED lives. And regardless: Life is just way too short to waste it raising your sibs and standing in line for a bathroom, while having no school experiences that expose you to life and other kids.

[roy]

I've read that Michelle is about 6-7mths. pregnant with their 16th. child. (Just saw the repeat of their show on tv this morning)

[Sherry]

One comment here just jumped off the screen at me: the derisive one Kiki made ("omg will someone give them a mind of their own") in reference to all the girls wanting to be stay-at-home moms when they grow up. Somehow I doubt she'd have made the same comment (at least, not in that tone of voice) if ANY other child on the face of the globe wanted to be, for example, a legal secretary, or an exotic dancer, or a flight attendant, or whatEVER...just because her mom had found fulfillment in that career choice. There's nothing wrong with a child admiring his/her parent and wanting to be like them. Why on earth would it be preferable for them to admire/emulate a total stranger?

Why do so many people feel so THREATENED by this beautiful example of Christian child training? Or by the fact that they actually seem to enjoy, even prefer, each other's company to that of the entertained-to-death, sex-crazed, MTV-watching ps teenagers?

How many of your own kids do you wish could match socks, or iron a shirt collar properly, or mix a batch of cornbread from scratch? All this talk about "letting kids be kids" (read: training them to worship entertainment and self) results in nothing more than 20-year-old kids who are released on the world with party and recreational skills, and little else besides.

Up until the middle of this century, it was fairly universally understood that kids were in training to become adults for the rest of their lives, and while chores done responsibly often resulted in free time earned to spend in healthy recreation, there was no assumption that pursuit of worthless frivolity was an inherent "right" of childhood. On the contrary, time spent in pursuit of skills that will serve them well once they are no longer kids (i.e., for the other 50-60 years of their lives) seems to me a good investment of time and energy.

Mary Calvin's comment "Of course they're happy, they don't know that life can be different" seems like a case of sour grapes to me. I would simply respond "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[Ash]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with following in one's parent's footsteps, as long as one has the CHOICE to do so. I know of a family of teachers, a family of police officers, a family of doctors. It's all good. The kids knew they had choices, admired their parents, and concluded that their parents' career choices were right for them, too, as INDIVIDUALS.

My own mother was a stay-at-home mom until I went to kindergarten and, in all my five-year-old bravado, told her that she could go to work! (My sister was fourteen at the time, so my mother had been a homemaker for fourteen years, never mind her having had to take care of her three younger siblings before she married my father.) There is no way in hell, though, that I would voluntarily chain myself to house, home, and offspring. And it's all good. I take care of my home and have a career outside of it. I continue my education. I have wonderful friends. I am childfree. Those are my choices. I have friends who have children, who do not work, or who have wildly different religious beliefs than mine. Those are their choices. We don't force our choices on others. Live and let live, and all that.

The point is this: my mother didn't shelter me in a Duggar-like fashion so that I would believe I had no choice other than HER choice. Doing so would have been irresponsible parenting.

[Amy]

Best phrase to describe this family: ignorance is bliss.

I am disturbed by sooo much of this, but most of all:

1. the girls wearing nothing but dresses (ice skating in a skirt??), & goodness gracious, did that one say something about a petticoat? what century is this?

2. the 'evolution is a lie' bumper sticker...::shiver::

[Just Another Opinion]

I watched this documentary on the Duggar Family and I have to say there is something so creepy about the whole thing. These children while they may seem happy and well adjusted now, will have a difficult time entering the world outside of the Duggar Household. They don't seem to be individuals. They are all J. Duggar and that seems to be all that matters.

The mother said something about the baby that really bothered me. She said that she would be the new baby's "buddy" for a couple months until it was weaned and then it would be passed on to whoever needed a buddy. What kind of mother passes her infant child on to her other children?

The children do all of the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and taking care of the other children. One of the girls even said she was responsible for cleaning her parent's room. I'm sorry, helping around the house I understand; fold the laundry, set the table, clear the table, dust, clean your own bed room, but they seem out of control. It seems that the mother homeschools the kids and then takes the rest of the day off.

Then there is the whole issue of religion. I am a Christian. I go to church on Sundays, I pray, I read the Bible, I don't just say it, I live it. That said there was something extremely off putting about the Duggar's use of religion. The fact they have a church out of their living room is suspicious. These children literally never are away from their family's belief system. I think that it is important for a child (or 15 children) to be raised with a strong set of values and beliefs, but it is also important for them to hear the other views, to see the other side of the coin and then be able to say what they, themselves, individually believe to be true. I kept watching this thinking these poor children seem brain washed into thinking that they have to believe exactly what their parents believe and that there is no other way. I actually have a sister that is in a religious cult, she has been since before I was born. I have two nieces and two nephews that were born into it, and these Duggar children talk like my nieces and nephews do, and I know my sister and her children have been brain washed into a wrong way of thinking. (By the way the cult apparently started innocently as a nice family that got together for church meetings in their home and grew into a larger group and the leader got a little off track.)

I was raised in a Christian home where I learned right and wrong. Yet I was also allowed to make my own mistakes from time to time. I was raised to learn responsiblity through chores, yet I was allowed to go play with my friends and have an actual childhood too. I just wonder how many off these kids will grow up and resent the way they were sheltered from the real world. Yes they are learning how to fend for themselves, but you should not necessarily be able to fend for yourself at age 7. I agree with what was said about the sixteen year old not needing to be sharing a bedroom with a one year old. If they were building such a big home, why not throw up some extra walls and create at least 5 bedroom house? To each their own I suppose, I just get concerned for these children, because I have seen my own nieces and nephews suffer from living a situation that seems strangely close.

Sorry this was so long and random.

[ginny]

The Duggars horrify me, but not just because I'm childfree (trust me, that's a whole 'nother kind of soapbox). I just wonder how they can justify having so many children in a world where there is so much hunger and poverty? It seems immoral to me, even though I know that from their point of view, having as many children as possible is a moral imperative. Our country statistically is usually amongst the first in consuming the resources of the world, and usually last in donating its wealth (by percentage of gross national product) to the world's poor.

I grew up in a place where large families were a religious duty for some people, so part of my discomfort with the Duggars' choice comes from the rejection I felt from the kids from those "big, happy families."

Mostly I'm horrified at the cult-like aspect of the children's lives - their whole existence is this family and its beliefs. That's in addition to the lack of individuality they seem to exhibit in photos and on the documentary. I feel sorry for them and wonder what will happen to them in the future.http://www.holy-innoc

What if this kind of choice were the norm? What if it became the only choice in this country? I realize that's unlikely, but a lot of people support them and hold similar views. This creeps me out no end.

[Emily Elizabeth]

What sometimes gets to me about the childfree movement is that while they demand respect for their choice (which they should), some of their members are not so willing to respect other people's decisions. I could see their criticism of the Duggars if Michelle and Jim were deliberately having babies while on the public dole or if they let the children run wild. But neither seems to be the case.

I don't see really the problem with the Duggars' choice becoming the norm as long as it's not obligatory for everyone. Most likely it won't become the norm. I'd personally be much more worried about having something like China's one-child policy being shoved down people's throats whether they liked it or not.

[In the Know]

All is not as rosy as the Duggar's would have you believe.

Mr. Duggar blamed his oldest son (16 at the time) for his losing the election. It was "determined" that their was "sin in the camp" - and that sin was the boy's sin.

Mrs. Duggar does NOT spend that much time with her children one-on-one. The older children are in charge of the younger children. She births 'em and breastfeeds them, and then the older kids raise 'em. Don't say for a minute that I don't know.

Their children are cloistered. One of the teenage girls makes lunch EVERYDAY and the other teenage daughter makes dinner EVERYDAY!!

It's easy for them to exploit their sexual appetite in the name of "we love kids", but they are also exploiting their kids.

They say they only spend $1,000 on food, and she claims to sew, ha!! They get tremendous amounts of donations. Folks who believe that these "wonderful", "glowing", "good" Christian people should be role models are mistaken. Wait!! They are role models...the modern day beggr. If you knew half of it, you'd be angry, not pleased.

They also practice blanket training. Know what that is? It means placing a baby on a blanket and then hitting all around the edge of the blanket with a wooden spoon or a stick as a threat to the baby not to get off the blanket. If the baby tries to crawl off, and it does, baby gets a couple whacks (usually on the back of the legs).

Once baby is "trained", then Mom can leave it there while she talks with others.

Oh, Mrs. Duggar has also put her kids down for a nap in their carseats, so she wouldn't have to have visits with her friends shortened by the children's naps. An older daughter is then in charge of watching the children in their family bus while Mom contentedly chats with friends.

I wish the media would stop parading this family as though they were the role model for America. For one thing, there are many families with over 12 kids in the USA, but they don't seek to hog the spotlight.

Oh, yes. Remember, these kids aren't grown up yet. Let's wait and see how they really turn out before we decide how perfect mom and dad are. This family really needs some closer scrutiny.... Often these kinds of families raise children who don't grow up, don't think for themselves, they just grow older. That's why they have to keep such a close watch on them - or there may be 'sin in the camp'.

If it weren't for the fact that he is almost family with Jim Holt of Arkansas, he'd probably not get this much coverage and "protection".

Life isn't as sweet in Duggarville as they'd like you to think.

And no, I am not jealous and yes I'm Christian. We can well afford to take care of our several children and help other families as well who don't try to fake it on t.v.

By the way, your blog was right on. Too bad Discovery, TLC, and the other media are so naive.

[Think About It]

first off, i'm a 14 year old very strong Christian. no, i don't have any children, and don't ever plan to have 15. but, for all of you that say that you are Christians and constantly criticize the Duggars, please sit down and think about what you are saying.
If you are truly a devoted and strong Christian, you know that living by the Bible is your life's purpose..that following your calling from the Lord will lead you down every right path. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have truly taken that to heart. For those of you that go to church, have you heard this contemporary worship song? "every move i make, i make in you. you make me move, Jesus. every breath i take i breathe in you. every step i take i take in you, you are my way, Jesus. every breath i take i breathe in you" The Duggar family is devoted to their faith and prides themselves in spreading the Lord's love and never-ending forgiveness. what's better than that?
it amazes me that so many of the people that have commented here think that this large family is unacceptable. if these parents can support this family emotionally, spiritually, and financially, then they have every right to live this way. these children are obviously very happy with their lives. they will most likely grow up to be dedicated Christians with one purpose in life: to serve their Lord and Savior. this is the way their parents have raised them..why do so many people have problems with that?
no, being a teenager, i wouldn't be a fan of wearing matching clothes and dresses every day. but this way of life saves money and teaches these kids to value the important things in life, as opposed to the clothes they wear or the hairstyle they have. i see it every day: kids my age judge people by their appearance. why is it so wrong to teach children to be non-judgemental and appreciate people for what's on the inside?
no, i don't know the Duggar family. but what i do know is that these parents must be extremely dedicated to the Lord and their family. so what if the kids help out around the house? some of you accuse Michelle of being lazy or taking advantage of her children. how can you say that? she and her husband pay the bills every month so that these kids can have a quality life. Michelle buys the groceries and clothes. She homeschools all of the children. she makes sure that thing around the house are in order and that everyone is contributing their part to help the family. and, as for Jim Bob, he is busy working to earn money for these kids. he is building a new house so that they can have more space. how can you accuse either one of them of taking advantage of these kids?
next, what is the problem with family outings? the kids are socializing with children their age. they are participating in fun activities, just in a family atmosphere. there is no way that these parents are depriving their children of having a good childhood. the documentary (which i have watched multiple times and it never ceases to impress me) on DHC shows them running outside, enjoying life with their siblings. they clearly have developed meaningful and lasting relationships with their siblings, which will only benefit them in life.
last, these kids have a right to make their own decision. if the girls choose to be a stay-at-home moms, then that is their choice. as long as they enjoy it and continue to provide for their family, then why should you accuse them of being "brain washed"? i'm sure these young people will make their own unique choices, go their separate ways, and choose a direction in life that suites them and their talents. i have no doubt of that.
i apologize for this being so long and repetitive, but i wanted to make it clear that the Duggars are living a Christian lifestyle, and that should only be praised, not ridiculed.

[Emily Elizabeth]

Think About It, by saying that you respect Michelle Duggar's choice even if it would not be your own, you've shown a lot more maturity than some of the "adult" posters on this board.

[Also a teenager]

"I would never go on a website and say "I think it's irresponsible for that woman to have just one (or two) children JUST BECAUSE she thinks the planets over-populated or JUST BECAUSE she wants to shower them with attention and stuff and she can't afford to support any more, or she CAN'T BE BOTHERED to budget any more time in her day for her kids. That would be judgemental. "

Of course you wouldn't go online and judge someone like that, but you would go online and judge someone's opinions. Yes, they are opinions. And you are as judgemental as they are. No matter how passive-aggressive that paragraph was, you are as judgemental as everyone else in this discussion board.

As for the Duggars, nothing is more hurtful to a child than to isolate them from society. If they do prefer each others' company, fine. But it seems to me that they do not have (or are allowed to have) many oppertunities to mingle with the ouside world.

I agree with the poster who said to not sing praises to the mother and father until the children are grown. Teenage brats can grow up to be responsible adults, and good kids can grow up to be druggies. Just because they believe in God doesn't mean they are perfect parents that are moral pillars to today's society.

And last time I checked, most children who watch MTV and play video games are well adjusted.