Watching the Duggar Family
December 11, 2006 by Maricar
Filed under General Housekeeping and Homemaking, Home Making, Organizing and Clutter Control
Last night, I watched the show “16 Children and Moving In” on TLC . It’s a documentary of the Duggar family’s adventures in building their own home. If you have never heard of them till now, you might wonder why they’re special.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have 16 children (all biological). Ever since I saw them on “14 Children and Pregnant Again”, I’ve been fascinated with this family. With that many children, Michelle doesn’t have a choice but to be organized. It’s the only way that anything could get done in their home.
Jim Bob did say that Michelle didn’t start out being organized. She learned along the way, asking tips from other moms. Now, her household runs like clockwork. Inspite of their large family, they’re debt-free and sef-sufficient. I do realize that their situation is not likely to be the norm for most homemakers. But there are a lot of lessons to be learned from them.
For instance, regarding the housework, all able kids have assignments. Even the small ones help as they can. They have schedules and a master list put up where they can track what’s done and what needs doing.
Here’s a quote from Michelle about organization, taken from the family website:
Orderliness is to prepare myself & my surroundings so that I will achieve the greatest efficiency. Keeping everything that is under my jurisdiction neat, clean, functional, & in its proper place. Orderliness is to know what to remove from my life & to have the courage to do it! Clutter is the enemy of order! This is easier said than done, but this is our goal.
I’ll keep digging up more homemaking tips from Michelle Duggar. I’m sure she has a houseful of tips we call apply to our own homemaking.
Image: Geronimo Ranch
Tags: Michelle Duggar, Duggars, housekeeping, homemaking
I think it is a wonderful thing that the Duggar Family is learning to be so self sufficient and very polite member of our society. May God grant this wonderful family to be able to show large families are still possible in a clean wholesome way is refreshingl Kudo’s to mom, dad, and the eldest family members whom I’m sure they rely on every day. I don’t know how mom does it even with all the help. It is mind boggling.
i am just curious…why the boys seem to wear modern clothes while the girls wear obviously outdated long dresses, long hair?
and for the older children, joshua, john david and jana, do they work outside the home?
or go to college?
what are their plans to build their own future away from babysitting for this ever growing family
Wow, I can’t imagine how you are very wonderful control your kids. God bless you and handle in your children. I love to watch TV TLC and DiscoveryHealth Channels when they have show Duggars Family. You are very strong christian and greatly faith with God’s word. The Lord always be with you all and also give you strong strengthens what God answer your prayer. You all obey the Lord. I know that you always trust the Lord what the bible said; Proverbs 3:5 and 6. I love you in Christ! God bless you and your family!
I will never know how a woman with 16 children can run a tighter, more efficient ship than my own house with one toddler !!!!
I think that this is a wonderfully close family, but I do have to question the decision to have this many children. They must have help affording the food and the clothing. This world is so overpopulated that I think this is an irresponsible lifestyle. These people seem very nice and I don’t mean to seem mean, but I am having trouble raising two kids on my own and so do not understand how they pay the bills and by food. I think that they should stop having kids. Who paid for their new house and all the furnishings? There are single parent homes that would benefit from a portion of what they where probably given.
I just read about this family having a 17th child. This is ridiculous. Someone needs to stop them. It really is shamefull for them to be doing this in this day and age. There are people starving in the streets and a lot of them are kids. Maybe they should adopt if it a love for kids that is driving them. Or maybe it is a lack of control. Or the publicitiy to be a tv family. They really should be ashamed!!
all day i have seen on t.v.to go to discoveryhealth.com about the Duggars having baby # 17, i did so and there was no mention of a 17th. baby. what gives?
Disgusting is my choice of words for this family. Now let me get out my calculator… If each of these kids has 17 kids, and each of the 17 also has 17, and so on. Hmm…. After four generations the Duggars will take over the planet.
This is so, so wonderful how close this family is(but) this is a small family compared to my family, my mother is one of (23) kids i have newpaper ad 2 prove it now top that! god bless
I have watched the Duggars from the first episode and think they are a wonderful family with parents who care very much about all there children. I get upset when know it all people tell them that they shouldn’t have so many kids. God has blessed them with the choices to have the children if they want to. They seem very organized, loving, strong parents and these days I have not seen parents like that. Its also not our business on how they afford to have as many children as they do. Everyone has what they need, LOVE. Need I say more. Jim Bob and Michelle you are very blessed with the children and I am not afraid to tell you to keep doing what you are doing to raise all of them. I wished more parents were so devoted to there kids. Maybe we wouldn’t have all the problems with kids if everyone would do even a small amount of what you both do. Keep up the Lords work.
your family is growing and growing. i love large families, because of the amount of love and care it has to offer. you are very brave to have 17 beautiful children! god bless you!
CONGRATS! HOW ABOUT THE NAME “JUDITH” OR JUDY ! JEANELE WAS MY MOTHER’S NAME ! GOD IS SO “REAL” !
IF COMMENTS MADE WOULD HAVE WATCHED ALL OF
YOUR SHOWS; THEY WOULD KNOW HOW YOU DO IT ….MANAGE….GOD’S WAY!!! BLESS YOU MICHELLE, AND JIM SAVANNAH, GA.
I’m very impressed with the organization! I admit I get more organized with each new addition but I’m still far from being “organized”! I think it’s awesome that they DON’T rely on the government (interesting that some assume people MUST do that) and that they are raising children who are responsible and will be well able to handle THEIR family without relying on the government. I also appreciate that they don’t imply that eveyone should do things a certain way (as do many who have problems with their large family). If people with hose sorts of qualities take over the planet, ALL RIGHT!! It will be beneficial for those of us who will be here. I have to say that I’m also amazed at them for continually allowing the media into their lives. With as much criticism as they get, I would NEVER allow the media into my home again! However, I appreciate the fact that they are willing to do it and be an encouragement for those with much smaller families who are trying to be good stewards of what they have.
I saw the TLC shows on the Duggars.They
seamed to loving caring parents who love
their children.But I can’t help what wonder
if their older kids every miss being able to
go out do things like go to the movies or
hang out at the mall with their friends.
It good for children to help out around the
home,do chores,and the older kids helping
with the younger ones.But every kid needs
to be able to go out with friends and just
be kids.It seam as through these kids
don’t have friends outside the home.
It seams as through mom is having these
kids but the older kids are raising them.How
are they ever going to meet a girlfriend or
a boyfriend never being away from their
family or around other kids.Althrough they
seam loving enough and seam to provide
for their kids.I just wonder if they know
what their kids are missing out on by
having so many.
I know how it works….and how they do it….
I have 15 children, and 15 grand children.
7 kidos are grown and I still have 8 at home now. You are right, you must run a tight ship and stay out of debt.. I have watched the Duggar’s on TV. They do most of the things we do in a large family. Everyone is a part of this family and a part of the work load. I for one love having this large family….only wish mine was a bigger family.
May God bless all children….
All children need loving parents.
Oh, yes…..
kidos from large families date, hold jobs, and have friends too. I have seven grown children….five are married. Three have served in the military and two have served in this war. They lead normal lives. I come from a large family. We all married, had friends and went on to higher education…as my children are doing and we never knew lonely, bordum or no play-mates or selfishness. We come from giving, loving families
I would like to take this opportunity wish for new born Baby and I really like each one of this family members especially Dad and mom.
Sitting all together and spending time with God in Family prayer makes me motivation to do. Keep it up Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.
william clark:
Back in the day when your grandparents had that many kids they didnt have birth control back then as they do now. I think the duggars need to practice birth control. What gets me is the (buddy) word. Michelle duggar you are the one that brought these kids into this world, so its your responsiblity to take care of them not your older kids.
I’m all about being organized and flylady. Mrs. Duggar is amazing with it!
I have a cleaning and exercise chatroom where we clean for 15 mins, and rest/chat for 15. Usually on the :00 and :30 marks.
Please join me!
http://www.network54.com/Chat/125292
If they can have and support a huge family, let them.
I think the Duggars are really cool. They are like a second family to me. As a gay man, I was always wondering if Joshua is gay. I’ve always had and still do a major crush on him. I hope someday I get to meet him. I’m there for you babe. And what happened to his video production company? Their website seemed to just disapper. And what about John and Janna? Does anyone know if they work? I’m getting a small hint that he too might be gay. I sure hope that the family makes more tv shows. Does anyone know if the current shows are on dvd yet? Keep up the AWSOME job guys. Mike in Reston, VA
I have seen the Duggars on occasion and while they are organized, I have a problem with the wife being submissive to her husband…and that hair!! Go to the nearest hair salon and take those girls with you. The guys wear more modern clothes and the girls look like sacks. Ol Jim Bob looks very nice, so Mama needs to modernize herself. That mop must take hours to wash, dry and brush.
Who cares if they’re not wearing the latest hairstyles and clothes? At least their girls are modest and not walking around showing off their belly buttons and butt cracks – I get so sick of seeing that in our society. I just can’t understand why some people bother criticizing the Duggars for their lack of fashion sense. Obviously that is not important to them and they have other priorities. At least their children are neat and clean. I also think it’s funny when people say they need to be socialized. Those kids are much more polite and well-mannered than the majority of kids you see today, and their teenagers speak articulately. They’re obviously NOT lacking in the social department. Their parents are contibuting to society by raising polite, responsible citizens. I think this is a wonderful family that we all can learn from. One thing I know the Duggar children are *not* learning: selfishness.
I greatly admire the Duggar family and wish there were more families in this country with such high moral standards. They are good Christians who are setting a good foundation for all of their children. Many have passed judgment upon them for having so many children or wondering who “gave” them everything. They are debt free, purchased their home with their own earnings and money they’ve made from real estate investments. They are not on public assistance of any kind and make their own way. If they choose to have more children, then God bless them. No one has the right to criticize others, not for their life style, their religious beliefs, their hair style or their clothing.
If those who are so quick to condemn this beautiful family would take a closer look at themselves and their own lives, they might see room for some improvements of their own!
I hope to see more of the Duggars. As a mother, I have learned a great deal from Michele’s example.
While I think the Duggar parents are nice, I have to question their sanity. I heard they are on number 19. I would like to know where they will find the money to put all of these kids through college. Or is it that the girls will just grow up to marry and have a dozen kids and be taken care of by a man. This is so wrong and antiquated. While I respect the Duggar parent’s decision to raise their kids in a gender bias, ignorant, atmosphere, I think it is sad that their kids won’t have an opportunity to think for themselves. When the Duggar kids were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. The boys all mentioned lawyers, doctors, and other meaningful professions. The girls on the other hand, stated house wife and other gender bias profession. Why is that? And yes why do the girls look like they just stepped out of little house on the prairie. Raise 19 kids all you want, feed them your religious beliefs, keep them in the dark, teach them that women are second class citizen. You live in a America and no one is going to take that right away from you. But damn, it is so sad.
They are nuts! If I may be frank. Have they even heard the word birth control?! They’re raising their children in the dark twoard the world! The mother is just gonna keep shoving kids out isn’t she!? What does that say to the daughter? I’ll tell you what it says: you are nothing but a child baring reseptical! How are they going to put their kids through college?! There’s three of us and we’re still working on it! Their clothes are straight from the victorian ages! Hello, it’s 2008 n ot 1908! My entire family can bearely tollerate them! Heck, I say their 14 kids show when I was ten and it made me sick! Did they even think about their kids!? Sure teamwork is well and good but what about friends and dating?! They are setting their kids up to crash and burn!
Hey! All seems to be going well for the Duggars. May God bless them always! My only question, is how is Dad able to afford taking care of this large family? Also, is the home-schooling up to par for admission to a good college? I hope they all make it fine. And as far as a large family, have all you can afford!!!
So, take two couples and put them on a fresh, clean planet. Each couple produces 17 children, who pair up and produce 17 children per couple. Assume 30 years between generations. After 300 years, the population will be …. wait for it ….
7.6 billion
I think Mike up there who is wondering if children are gay is sick as they come. Shut your gay hole Mike!
What a nice family and they work well together and instill good family values in their kids. If anyone should be having a bunch of children, it should be people like this who raise them to be good people. It’s not like they’re collecting welfare.
I do think that Ma Dugger needs to do something about that hair. It’s so outdated and she could save so much time on her morning routine if she would stay away from the curling iron and hairspray bottle. Why waste your time on a hairstyle that is not flattering anyway?
dont they were shorts and t-shirts in the summer and i bet the boys are hot while wearing pants and long sleeve shirts
Why is it always the “cult like” families that have all these kids? It seems to me that the Duggars are looking like a weird religious sect. I think 18 kids is ridiculous and a bit disgusting. What does Mr. Duggar do for a living? I have never seen the show.
My sister and I wonder what the mother does for this family besides have more babies. In this day and age, it seems very unresponsible to have so many children. They seem to be having more just to see if they can do it or not. What’s going to happen if they have a mentally disabled child? Which buddy will have to care for it? How can the babies be healthy? I feel sorry for the children. What chance in life do they have?
This family is something else. I hope that the older one’s realize soon that their is more to life than raising their brother’s and sister’s, housework and cooking. Their oldest should be a college graduate by now, is he? I don’t understand how this family can be so pure yet not have a problem with selling their family out for some TV show. I think Michelle Duggar is an idiot.
now this woman is what you called a child lover