What A Mother!

CBS News ^ | May 5, 2004 | The Early Show correspondent Melinda Murphy

[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.

[wardaddy]

This was much more common in my great and great great grandparents time.

I have four but I could have enjoyed having 6-8 easily with a wife who felt the same.

I really like having children....they are such a blessing and source of feeling great about life especially when they are in their early years.

[wardaddy]

and a bill to eliminate property taxes on your home

Hell, he'd be assassinated here in Nashville by the local income redistributors for that little gem and leave 15 kids daddy-less. God bless his efforts.

[Flyer]

Maybe the Duggar's could give these folks a few lessons.

[Diddle E. Squat]

All of their names start with the letter "J," and number 15 is due this month.

I guess "Justsayno" isn't a name under consideration for #15?

[TheSpottedOwl]

Well that tops everything. My grandmother had 12, but that was in a different time.

How much you want to bet that this couple beats your aunt and uncle for the record?

[cgk]

I'm still amazed that she homeschooled all of them.

[cgk]

LOL!

[beaversmom]

Medved said on his show the other day that he knows a couple who have 18 kids. I think he said they've got two or three sets of twins. He was discussing this because he had a guy on who said that any more than two kids is a bad thing.

Here's the guy's article that he had on the show:

Two Is Enough; Why large families don't deserve tax breaks
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1108220/posts

[beaversmom]

My husband works with a guy whose wife is pregnant with her 7th and already thinking about an 8th. She homeschools all of them--and I thought she was amazing.

[k2blader]

The Duggars are a very religious, Southern Baptist family.

And homeschooling to boot! God bless them all.

[geopyg]

"I enjoy my cigar too, but I take it out every once-in-awhile" (paraphrased Groucho Marx).

I dated a gal during college that had 12 siblings (no multiples). Nice family. I got a bit nervous when she said she would like a large family.

[Squantos]

Wow........! This lady is pioneer stock !

[kcvl]

Michelle Duggar, shown with some of her family, is honored by Gov. Huckabee, right.

For the past two years the family has been building their own home in Tontitown, just seven miles from where they now live in northwest Arkansas.

"Our house is like a giant Cracker Barrel," Michelle Duggar said. "It's got this huge porch it goes on forever. We may get lost in the middle of it all."

The 7,000-square-foot family project will have 10 bathrooms, master and guest bedrooms, a laundry room with four washers and eight dryers and two dormitory-style bedrooms, one for the boys and one for the girls. Those rooms will have bunk beds, Jim Bob Duggar said, easily added for any new children.

"We've done the work from the foundation up," he said. "We're building it debt- free. We're doing it as we can afford it."

There will be two closets on either side of the laundry, one with boys clothes and one with things for the girls. The children put on whatever clothing fits.

This weekend, Duggar, a real estate businessman, plans to put up the siding and windows with some of his sons. They hope to move in this summer.

Wednesday, the brood drove down from Springdale in the family bus to watch mom receive her award from Gov. Mike Huckabee. The girls and their mother dressed in matching red and blue plaid jumpers. The boys each wore the same navy blue suit with a red bow tie, their hair neatly combed to the side.

When the family approached Huckabee, the governor bent down to shake each child's hand, repeating the names they shyly whispered to him.

"You guys are amazing. You really are," Huckabee told the family.

The couple married when Jim Bob was 19 and Michelle was 17 and had no children for the first four years they were together.

"We're letting the Lord give us the gifts that he wants to give us and I'm open to more gifts," she said. "I'll take them one at a time or two at a time."

[border bud]

Catching up on my reading, and came across your posting of the Duggar family. My great-grandfather's family, and my grandfather's family were 13 each, but they pale by comparison to this modern family, who sound happy and well-adjusted. God bless them. Every day must be a wonderful adventure for them.

[SLB]

What is the shock so many FReepers are exhibiting? My mom is from a family of 12 children, we have five and have several friends in the local area with anywhere from eight to 12. I sure am not on the public dole and do not know of any of the larger families in the area who are.

A little logic if you may: If each of their 15 children marry and have only six children, that is 90 in the next generation. If those 90 each have six, that is 540 within three generations. Talk about political power for swing votes, and if each of those is an ambassador for the Lord - look out Roe v Wade and same sex marriage! Remember: "Our God Reigns"

[2Jedismom]

Michelle Duggar homeschools all 14 children.

[RosieCotton]

My best friend is the youngest of 15 - all single births. They're all still faithful Catholics, many with large families of their own, and some of the most wonderful people I've ever known. Says a lot about how incredible their parents are!

"Only" eight in my family. ;-)

I'd like to have a big family, but haven't found the right guy yet.

[StarCMC]

Just WOW!!

Homeschool ping!

[MasonGal]

I only have 3 - all sons - ages 21, 17, and 12. Of course - the 21 year old is now a junior in college. But I did homeschool him since the 4th grade. My 17-year old is a junior in high school. He takes several classes outside the home. The 12-year old also takes a few classes outside the home. They are all involved in many things such as orchestra, baseball, tennis, Catholic Youth Group, Right to Life, scouting, etc.

I would have loved to have had more children, but I guess God had other plans.

I have a very good friend who has 10 children - ranging in ages from 26 - 2. (7 daughters, 3 sons) She homeschooled them all since the 26-year old was 9. They are rather wealthy - but she didn't have any help, as far as a housekeeper or anything like that. She even sewed some of the girls clothes. What a terrific family!! Very devout Catholics and extremely bright, social, well-adjusted children, if you will.

Just my .02 worth....

[Old Sarge]

Thanks for the ping, Star!

At age 18, he obtained his Real Estate License to became a fourth generation Realtor in the Duggar family...
Duggar’s public service began in 1998...
He is a two-term member of the House Judiciary Committee...

There's your answer Graybeard - a Realtor, and a Politician. So indirectly, your tax dollars HAVE paid for this.