As lots of my friends and family know, I've followed the Duggar goings-on in the media for quite some time. Originally, I was astonished that she made national news as being 'Mother of the Year'- apparently for having birthed such a large number of children.
My background as a Guardian ad Litem really made me blanche at the media attention this family has been given- mostly because the encounters I've personally had with large families don't look anything like the Duggars. Many are on assistance, in many cases women have large numbers of children by different fathers. So, yeah, I am totally biased. I don't like the idea of putting a family with 19 kids up on a pedestal because ... well .. there are so many people out there who have no business having one child, let alone seven, twelve or nineteen. Sadly, in the situations I've seen and the research I've read, most often the CHILDREN suffer.
With all that said, my heart does go out to this family tonight. They may have found a way to raise 19 kids such that they get everything they need and become amazing people- that is not the status quo. My thoughts and prayers do go out to Michelle who found out that her would-be 20th child was miscarried. A miscarriage is not something I would ever wish on anyone and I don't think that having 19 other kids even takes the edge off the pain she must be going through, having a second trimester miscarriage. And not only that, sadly, she must endure the media spotlight in this difficult time.
While I wouldn't choose her lifestyle nor would I encourage the media to continue to hold the Duggar family up as an example of good family living, I'm very sorry, woman-to-woman that Michelle Duggar lost her baby. I hope that she finds solace, which I believe everyoe deserves at some difficult point or another.
Well if I may say so, I see where you are coming form, but there are many families like the Duggars if you run in those circles who have a father at home, one father. It is not uncommon to see homeschooling Christian families with upwards of 8 children.None of which are on welfare that I have known.
Posted by: Mrs MOm | Monday, December 19, 2011 at 06:10 PM