[ingelein]

Originally Posted by BinkieRN

It's obviously no one's business but their own but I don't think it's fair to the children. Think about your own life. Playing with your sister or brother, going on a family vacation, playing in the back seat of the car, spending special time at the grandparents, date with Dad.....

What makes you think they dont do all those things?They had a special on about them on vacation a couple of years ago, they did it in their own unique style and seemed to have a lot of fun.

[methylene]

She's spent 15 full years of her life pregnant, over way over half her adult life.

Without getting into some of the other ethics surrounding such a family, I just have to say I don't have enough time in the world to spend with my (so far) one child. There's no realistic way she can devote what I'd consider to be proper love and time to each of her children's development.

[ingelein]

Originally Posted by methylene

She's spent 15 full years of her life pregnant, over way over half her adult life.

Without getting into some of the other ethics surrounding such a family, I just have to say I don't have enough time in the world to spend with my (so far) one child. There's no realistic way she can devote what I'd consider to be proper love and time to each of her children's development.

Who are we to determine what is "proper" love and time.She spends her whole day with these kids and they dont seem to lack for love, food or attention.Some kids would be darn lucky to get a modicum of the care these kids get in their large family.

[Penny8611]

Originally Posted by medsurgnurse

It seems to me that are raising 18 good citizens. 18 persons persons with a sense of hard work and financial responsibility.

And a lot of people said that of the FLDS children, too.

Seriously, in a world where natural resources are dwindling by the minute, this is utter insanity. And as an adoptee myself, I agree wholeheartedly with the earlier poster who stated that anyone who feels the need to raise this many children could be doing untold good for kids who are ALREADY HERE.

People who feel the need to have a herd of children can find way better ways of doing it:

http://www.debolts.com/history.html

My understanding is that the Duggars are not LDS, but Christian. I, too, am a hard-core, born again Christian. I am offended by the concept of, "We're going to let God decide how many children we should have." A quick flip through Proverbs will show verse after verse after verse regarding the virtues of personal responsibilty, and that's just one book of the Bible. One of the bedrock concepts of Christianity is personal responsibility, oh, and by the way, stewardship of the earth. Allowing God to decide how many children you're going to have is the same thing as refusing to get out of bed but relying on God to make sure you don't get fired.

Seriously, we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. These people would not be able to do this without the tax breaks and free house from TLC and cases of free diapers/clothing they receive. I think it's insane, and I am offended that they are doing it in the name of my infinitely-more-logical-than-THAT Lord and Savior.

[BSNDec06]

The beautiful thing about this country is that each and every one of us is free to do as we wish as long as we are not breaking any laws.

These children are fed, clean and well cared-for as far as I can see from the television show. Beyond that, it is no business of ours...

[ingelein]

Originally Posted by Penny8611

And a lot of people said that of the FLDS children, too.

Seriously, in a world where natural resources are dwindling by the minute, this is utter insanity. And as an adoptee myself, I agree wholeheartedly with the earlier poster who stated that anyone who feels the need to raise this many children could be doing untold good for kids who are ALREADY HERE.

People who feel the need to have a herd of children can find way better ways of doing it:

http://www.debolts.com/history.html

My understanding is that the Duggars are not LDS, but Christian. I, too, am a hard-core, born again Christian. I am offended by the concept of, "We're going to let God decide how many children we should have." A quick flip through Proverbs will show verse after verse after verse regarding the virtues of personal responsibilty, and that's just one book of the Bible. One of the bedrock concepts of Christianity is personal responsibility, oh, and by the way, stewardship of the earth. Allowing God to decide how many children you're going to have is the same thing as refusing to get out of bed but relying on God to make sure you don't get fired.

Seriously, we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. These people would not be able to do this without the tax breaks and free house from TLC and cases of free diapers/clothing they receive. I think it's insane, and I am offended that they are doing it in the name of my infinitely-more-logical-than-THAT Lord and Savior.

Funny how everybody thinks their own interpretation of the Bible is the "true" one.These folks are not asking you or me for a darn dime for pity sake.Unlike all the FLDS "wives" who were on welfare and truly abusing their children, no one seemed to give a rats behind about this until recently.

[unitek1963]

Originally Posted by iwanna

I bet these kids will do great things. I believe they were born for a reason. God Bless them all!

Well, according to statistical analysis, at least one of them has a high probability rate of wearing an orange jumpsuit. I don't know if I would classify that as being born to "do great things," but it certainly is a reason for being born!

And don't be fooled folks, this family is getting help from the government for support...meaning you a I.

We all work in the health care system, we all know how much it costs for health insurance, etc., we all know how much we pay for food for our families each month, clothing, gas, heating and air conditioning for our homes, etc. College funds for 18 kids?

Add it all up and this single-income family can't possibly do it alone. That spells government handout. Period.

As for my take on the morals and/or ethics of producing 18 children in this day and age?

Well, it seems to me that some people simply cannot fathom the math.

If all of humanity were to produce at this rate, with no thought to future generations or the sustainability of the earth's resources, we would soon be dying in the millions of starvation, among other things (wars would be fought for items such as a supply of clean drinking water, etc.).

Eighteen children in this day and age shows absolutely no social responsibility, an overweening selfishness and a complete disregard for others. My opinion, of course.

Mike

[cardiacRN2006]

Originally Posted by nyapa

Children are gifts; I am unable to have any, .

I'm not able to have any either. I rejoice for each and every birth. My infertility has never caused me jealousy for another woman's joy. I still cry at each childbirth I see, even if it's on TV.

But this is in no way fair for the kids. Again, I equate this at cat hording. Here we are, with this big push to change all of our light bulbs to save energy, and this lady is spitting out as many babies as her uterus allows.

If it were me, I would want so much precious one on one time with my baby. But then again, this isn't about me...

Originally Posted by ingelein

Some women are just MEANT to be mothers, others aren't and for good reason.

Hmmm...I don't know what you mean by this one. Is this anger over our last few conversations lately? Because if so that really sucks.

[Jolie]

Originally Posted by BinkieRN

It's obviously no one's business but their own but I don't think it's fair to the children. Think about your own life. Playing with your sister or brother, going on a family vacation, playing in the back seat of the car, spending special time at the grandparents, date with Dad.....

There are plenty of families with one or two children who experience none of these things.

This family appears to be loving, stable, well-adjusted and financially self-sufficient. The number of children they choose to have is no one's business unless there is clear and compelling evidence that they are not being properly cared for by mom and dad.

[Spidey's mom]

ingelein - we agree!!

There is another thread on allnurses about their 17th child and we are all going to disagree, again.

My feelings are that this family takes great care of their kids and I'd much rather see them then the 2 year old whose mom let him smoke pot:

. . .. "Police say the video shows an unidentified woman holding the toddler as an off camera man gives the toddler the pot pipe. The toddler inhales and then chokes on the pot, according to the video. After that, the video shows a man mimicking the toddler's coughing.. . ."

. . ."Forshey says "You can tell that she's inhaling some of it, and you can tell that she doesn't want to. So it's a pretty disgusting video." . ..

http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=60953