’18 Kids And Counting’ Kind Of Weirds Me Out
So, Kristin and I are completely fascinated and a little creeped out by the Duggar Family. Anyone else seen this show? If you have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s a show on TLC called ’18 Kids And Counting’. Yep. These people have 18 kids. And all their names start with the letter “J” except for the mom, who quite honestly is the weirdest of them all.
So anyway, this show just documents their life and the madness that comes along with having 18 kids. One night we stumbled onto this show and it was like someone with a third eye or something else you can’t stop staring at. The weird thing? Apparently they are a Christian family and a very conservative Christian family at that. But thats’ not a bad thing so much as it is the creepy way they interact with each other. Did I mention the mom weirds me out? It’s like she’s not all there or something. Sort of spacey or something. I can’t really figure it out, but it’s bizarre. Those that have seen it, am I off base at all? I’m still not totally sure how they afford to have that many kids, a massive house, a tour bus for travel and a million other things that are needed with all those kids, but I’m sure that being on TLC doesn’t hurt their financial situation.
Right now Kristin and I are watching our second episode tonight and they are roller skating all together as a family and it turns out the mom was on a speed skating team in high school or something and they are all amazed at her skating ability. See, I told you. It’s weird.
Anyone else seen this show? What do you think? Kinda weird or just a normal, massive family?
Had not seen it, but I’d love to get them to be regular commenters on our blog. 20 comments for every post, guaranteed!
Well I haven’t seen that show but did see the Duggars when they were at 16 kids I think. And it was amazing 2 me that the house was so well kept and the organized choas that was everyday life. Yep kinda weird. I think they took that bible verse “Go forth and multiply to the EXTREME”. So when you and @thisiskristen finish watchin it tell us what you think….- have two children and well things don’t run like a well oiled machine here so Kudos to them 4 that. They are Fascinating to watch huh?
Duggars are friends of friends of mine who have 10 kids. ya, they’re weird like anyone who knows themselves. Guess it’s like potato chips- who could have just one, but it keeps going. I’ve been around these weirdos and we can all learn a lot from their child management and interaction with some obvious downfalls when “society” and leaving the nest comes in play. Most of them choose to live in a time past of shared responsibilities and time not spent around t.v. A lot of people bash these parents for subjecting these kids to this lifestyle but most of those people who bash don’t know their kids like these parents do. Not the life for me but man do I respect them in their weirdness.
When I first started watching, I thought this was the weirdest family. Now, I’ve changed my mind. There are still certain things that are a little out there, but overall their practical approach to life, debt, and being good stewards of what the Lord gave them is an encouraging element of reality TV.
Jason is one of my favorites….he’s hilarious.
I haven’t seen it since being in Germany, but used to watch in the states. Not sure there can be anything “normal” about having 18 kids….kinda opens the “birth control” debate. I forget the story, but I’m pretty sure they were independently wealthy before any of the kids…having paid off the house, cars, etc. But if they’re anything like John and Kate, TLC is paying them millions. Give me millions and I wouldn’t have any debt either
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I believe the father makes most of his money in commercial real estate. He also served a term in the Arkansas House of Representatives.
I watch the show when I remember about it. I agree with Lisa. They have been good stewards.
I think the cousin who kisses her boyfriend and doesn’t wear dresses only is a hoot. She’s a spunky one and is fun to watch on the show. I also teared up when they said goodbye to Grandpa Duggar.
I’ll say the mom is a little out there. To have 18 kids and then hoping to have more is crazy! Oh wait, people think that about me having 7.
They are really great parents, and we are amazed by what they do! It seems like they couldn’t get along without all those older daughters though, they seem to really help take care of the younger ones. In one episode the older daughters go somewhere and the parents are left with all the younger children, and it was total complete chaos!
I’m always inspired by this family. For their comittment to faith, organization and to live completely debt free. FYI – They were debt free before the show money came rolling in. I agree it’s weird to have 18 children (and to homeschool all of them too!), but I think we can learn a lot from them and it makes for good tv.
They own a bunch of retail spaces that pay enough to pay the bills, etc. JimBob & Josh (isn’t he the oldest?) run this business of being landlords together now. They also built the house mostly on their own. A little at a time. If you go back to the original episodes when there were only 13 or 14, they were CRAMMED in a little house in town. It was really nuts then. The episode when they moved into the house made me cry. TLC did have an interior designer come in to help decorate the bedrooms, etc. There is also an industrial kitchen they don’t show very often. Watching them pack last night makes me wonder how many loads of clothes they do in a day. The laundry room looks like a laundromat!
Yes, mom seems a little weird. I think her hair needs a make-over from the 70′s. But, there is so much love in that family that it is insignificant to me.
Made my husband watch last night. First one to the remote, you know, rules.
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I think all families except mine are weird! LOL!
Seriously, we have watched it several times a couple of seasons ago and I like them. They built their home themselves (literally, and with cash) and grocery shop very frugally. Their website is also where I got the “recipe” I use to make my own laundry soap – $3 for 10 gallons.
They are frugal and pay cash for everything. That in itself is weird in our society.
I do think they are a little odd, but aren’t we all?
I would love for you to re-post after you have watched an entire season!
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other people already chimed in, but yeah, they’re in real estate.
i will say this, it’s pretty refreshing to see them interact as opposed to, say, jon and kate (even before the tabloid craziness). you really get a genuine sense that the duggars love each other and are a unified group.
i think their weirdness comes due to their very unusual and foundational convictions. they live a very un-average life and are all the way devoted to it. so, to us, people who even share some of their values (if not all), they seem odd.
other than being good entertainment, i am glad that they are living out their convictions and values to the utmost.
and, as far as i’ve seen, they haven’t yet made me wince in their testimony on screen.
I’ve seen the show a couple of times, and while their lifestyle is VERY different from mine, I wouldn’t call them weird. I agree with a lot of the comments here that say there is a closeness and love that’s obvious among this family. They live a life of a by-gone era in this present day. In a way I envy that and can’t imagine how difficult that must be for them to preserve.
I was just discussing with someone how we can’t put our convictions on someone else. Be that eating raw, going green, birth control issues, whatever. Where the Bible speaks loudly on a subject, speak it loud.Where it is quiet, speak quietly. Where it is silent, stay silent. I haven’t watched the show a lot, but from what I’ve seen the Duggers don’t act like the rest of the world needs to live like they do (thank goodness because I couldn’t!!) I respect them for that.
i love the Duggars and tape the show, so i can watch it when i get home from work. i have followed them from the beginning and feel they are really sincere and what you see is what they are. they are raising exceptional children that love each other and truly love the Lord. i feel your family has the same values, just on a smaller scale. keep watching the show and i think you’ll be a fan too. i’ve also followed Jon & Kate, but have been disappointed with the developments of the past few months. it’s been a while since i’ve heard them mention their church or their faith. i keep waiting for them to come to their senses, pull theirselves up by the boot straps and act like the parents and role models for their eight children. i feel like they have let the money and success go to their heads. they have forgotten the One that they should be giving the Glory. please pray for them, esp. the children.+
I believe that large families must be a calling. One that is not for me. I enjoyed the seasons that my wife and I (Allison – in the comment above) watched were good. They certainly live out their convictions and beliefs in good form – that I respect. I certainly like that they share their tips on frugality on their web site. We’ve used some of them and are saving tons of $ because of their tips.
The fact that they operate on a cash only basis and are very frugal really rocks. That’s a lesson we can all learn from. If you don’t owe, you are not a slave to the things that you own $ on.
Certainly not a John & Kate situation at all. 180 degree difference.
IT’S WEIRD. THEY ARE WEIRD.
the end
We love the show…I’m actually very impressed. TLC seemingly edits down some of the more overt “Christian” elements, but I think their family is pretty solid.
Their kids are respectful of mom and dad the siblings…they’re great stewards…they’re funny…they love hanging out with each other. Every one of those things is what I wish for my own family.
I’ve never seen the show but watched a few clips online. I went into it expecting them to be weird, but they are surprisingly normal and down to earth.
I’d never want 18 kids, but good for them!
I haven’t seen the show, but I love the fact that I just so happened to read this blog when there were 18 comments… and so I just had to be the “and counting” one
A friend of mine is related to them (cousins) She vouches for their sincerity and Christian values. I think enough is enough but what is enough for me obviously has nothing to do with them. I do watch and know we could all use some Duggar in our lives when it comes to family.
I watch there show and love the values the Duggar family has, but i kind of feel sorry for the kids. I know that there close and love each other but the kids never got a chance to form there own opinions on anything. Jim Bob and Michelle lived there lives and went through what normal teenagers do. As a result they decided they didn’t want there kids to go through the same thing and kind of shuts them in from the world.
I don’t think there idea of trying to keep there boys from impure thoughts even works. Teenagers have sexual feelings its not something that can just go away nor is it something they can control. Not telling there kids about sex won’t quence the want to have sex. So having there sons put there heads down when a girl or women wearing something they don’t approve of walk by won’t help. Ideally Jim Bob and Michelle want there kids to marry people with the same values they hold. If you watch the show you constantly hear Michelle referring to meetings with the Bates family (which is a family that has a lot of kids as well and keeps similair values to the Duggars) as a time maybe her kids future spouse will be found. I think there ideals are great but this idea of totally pure kids they have is not. Though there oldest son has gotten married and is expecting his first child is great I wonder what the future holds for the other 17. I personal think one of there youngest girls will rebel and not be like her older sibilings. Maybe they won’t but I am so happy they have a cousin Amy who does not in anyway share the same values they do. I say this because they get both views with cousin Amy. There parents adapted this lifestyle they lead but cousin Amy didn’t she wears jeans, has a cellphone, and is the polar opposite of there family. She shows them especially the youngest girls that its not horrible if they don’t want to be exactly the way there family is. Cause you can bet 100% true at least one of the younger ones are going to rebel as they get older.
[...] 4. 18 Kids And Counting Kind Of Weirds Me Out [...]
I really dont agree to them having that many kids. Honestly I dont think it is fair to the older kids to have to take care of the younger kids plus the only reason they can afford that many kids is TLC (thats how they afforded the house). I think there is a point out there when contraception is a good thing. I also agree they are alittle spacey, or something. They are just a very wierd family. I do give them credit that they have control over the kids but when it comes to the younger ones I think the older kids should get the credit for it not the parents. I just feel that the whole show is alittle out there and I stopped watching.
Darnethia- I agree with you. You can’t control someones thought’s, especially teenagers!! Reminds me of one of those cult type things.
If everyone has 19 kids – the planet will be a complete hell-hole in 50 years
agreed!! Carrie
So not normal. These people are weird period. The kids are expected to marry as soon as possible in order to stay pure for marriage. That is too weird.
I full on agree, they are ultra weird, the dad creeps me out more than the mom actually.