Posted on 05/17/2004 10:06:50 PM PDT by projectile
Michelle Duggar just won the "Young Mother of the Year Award" in Arkansas, which is sponsored by American Mothers Incorporated.
Duggar is like any mom -- multiplied several times over.
Michelle Duggar, 37, and her husband, former state Rep. Jim Bob Duggar, have 14 kids. All of their names start with the letter "J," and number 15 is due this month.
The children: Joshua, 16; Jana and John-David, 14; Jill, 12; Jessa, 11; Jinger, 10; Joseph, 9; Josiah, 7; Joy-Anna, 6; Jeremiah and Jedidiah, 5; Jason, 3; James, 2; and Justin, 1.
"I'm either expecting or nursing," Michelle Duggar says with a laugh. "We actually didn't set out to have a large number of children. I don't think that was our intention when we were first married. But I think we realized children are a gift."
The Duggars are a very religious, Southern Baptist family.
"I just kind of got used to it as they came," says Joshua, the oldest child.
Added together, Duggar has spent almost a whole decade pregnant -- and she's only 37.
She admits to having morning sickness, but mornings at the Duggar house would make anybody go bananas.
From dawn to dusk, each tiny tot has an older buddy who helps them with just about everything
"It's a lot of fun," says Jill.
The little ones have their responsibilities, too. Joseph fetches the laundry. Then, Jill and Joy-Anna take their turn washing clothes the girls have made themselves.
Josiah takes out the trash, while his brother, John, trains the dog, Jasmine.
The Duggars call the chores "jurisdictions," and, they say, it keeps them disciplined. There's an almighty checklist.
"We give them a little reward per check … about 3 cents a check," says Jim Bob.
But the Duggars check more than just chores. Michelle Duggar homeschools all 14 children. Sometimes, they study as a group or on their own. They use workbooks, computers and each other to study.
Michelle Duggar notes, "The older child gets to become a teacher. And it seems like you learn so much more when you're the teacher than when you're just the student."
From math to music, the Duggar kids don't miss a beat.
"We heard a long time ago that it if you play a violin, it helps you work on the left side of the brain," explains Michelle. "Sometimes, there are eight lessons going on at the same time. And you just kind of have to block it out."
That may be hard to do in the modest house of only 2,400 square feet.
There's almost always a line at one of the two bathrooms, but soon that will change.
Dad and the two oldest boys are building a 7,000-square-foot house. The Duggar dream house will have bathrooms galore, a commercial kitchen and one heck of a laundry room.
"We'll have four washers and eight dryers," says Jim Bob Duggar. "Yes, a laundromat."
How do they afford it? Jim Bob Duggar made some smart investments, and they're pretty frugal. The Duggars shop in bulk, basketfuls at a time.
"We spend about $1,500 a month on food," say Jim Bob.
When they do splurge, they go in style -- the family bus. But the bus has a couple of extra seats.
"I would like more," says Michelle Duggar.
Jim Bob Duggar says he has something very special planned for Mother's Day. Michelle says if that means he's cooking, she'll have quite a mess to clean up when he's done.
Oh Gosh. To each his own...but in my opinion, think this is ridiculous.
AFAIC, as long as they didn't name any of the kids "Apple," they're okay with me. :)
They must really enjoy sex.
I can only assume that you do not have children, or you would understand also.
Or to cheap to buy a bigger TV....
When do they get any time or privacy to have any?
Great story, especially because I didn't see anything in it where the tax payers had to pay for any part of it.
As long as the kids are happy, healthy and well-loved...and as long as the parents can AFFORD to raise them, without government assistance, I say, more power to 'em.
Personally, I could never handle that many, but if she can, great.
eight lessons going on at the same time???
I barely survived when my ONE daughter took up flute lessons ... and was thrilled when she decided to quit
God Bless this family
Did you happen to note the irony of posting this article, considering your FR handle? ;)
Jim Bob Duggar for U.S. Senate - Biography
Jim Bob was born and raised in Springdale, Arkansas. He attended Springdale Public Schools and graduated from Shiloh Christian School in 1983. At age 18, he obtained his Real Estate License to became a fourth generation Realtor in the Duggar family. Jim Bob married his best friend and high school sweetheart, Michelle Ruark in 1984. They have been happily married for 17 years. He and his wife worked diligently and started their small business in Springdale, which they owned and operated for 12 years. Together they conduct Financial Freedom Seminars encouraging debt-free living and have become successful commercial real estate investors. They have thirteen children, whom they consider precious gifts! He is a member and deacon of Bible Grace Fellowship Church.
Duggar’s public service began in 1998 with his election to the Arkansas House of Representatives where he has served two consecutive two year terms. He is a two-term member of the House Judiciary Committee and currently serves as Vice-Chair of Corrections and Criminal Law Sub-Committee and is a member of the Insurance and Commerce Committee.
While in the House, Jim Bob had a good working relationship with fellow legislators, yet, he was willing to stand alone when it was best for those he served. He was an outspoken critic of Electric Deregulation and one of two in the entire House and Senate that voted against it. Duggar fought for tax relief by authoring a bill to decrease used car sales tax and a bill to eliminate property taxes on your home. He was the author of the Internet Filter Bill that Governor Huckabee signed into law, protecting our public school students from pornography.
Duggar believes in strengthening families, eliminating government waste, and allowing tax payers to keep more of what they earn. He encourages small business development and growth. Jim Bob is a member of the National Rifle Association and supports the right to bear arms. He believes in a strong national defense, and in honoring our veterans. He will continue to be an advocate for senior citizens, the disabled and the unborn.
I am just sitting here contemplating this.
Is Apple really worse than Jinger?
As long as Jinger's middle name isn't "Ale", then yes it is. :^)
Well, contemplate this. I have an aunt in Michigan that has 17 children, all her own, all single births. They're pretty much all adults now. My parents have told me that my aunt and uncle own a grocery store in their hometown. I guess they would have to!!
I had the privilage of meeting the Duggars at our family reunion last summer. The children are well behaved and polite. They are a wonderful family. I agree that if we had more husbands and wives willing to have large families that we could turn our nation around.
More power to them.
Could definitely alter the number of electoral votes in rural states...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.