An article I know MICHAEL will enjoy lots
10 boys, 6 girls -- and still counting?
Amid `serene chaos,' couple say size of their family is up to God
ARNOLD HAMILTON
Dallas Morning News
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are baby boomers.
They may not fit the age profile of the post-World War II generation, but the numbers don't lie: They have 16 children.
Ten boys, six girls. Together, as a couple. All theirs, biologically.
And they may have more, Lord willing.
"We never dreamed we would have 16 children," said Jim Bob Duggar, a soft-spoken, 40-year-old former state lawmaker, as he surveys what Michelle lovingly refers to as their home's "serene chaos."
Now, he said, "We wouldn't have it any other way."
As a couple, the Duggars' approach to family planning is simple: They are born-again Christians who view the Bible as their life's manual -- and the Bible describes children as a blessing from God. They will cheerfully accept as many blessings as God ordains.
So far, the blessings have added up to more children than all but a tiny fraction of American families have.
Life with the Duggars in the hills of northwest Arkansas is part "Little House on the Prairie," part "Yours, Mine and Ours" -- except the only blending in this real-life family occurs with restaurantlike precision at mealtime.
The girls -- and their 39-year-old mother -- don skirts or dresses (no pants) and white socks. The boys -- and their father -- dress most days in the same colored polo shirts and slacks or jeans, with black socks. It all helps with laundry and organization.
The girls embrace a similar hairstyle, long and pulled back with a clip, flowing to near their waistlines. The boys' hair is closely cropped, often cemented into position with gel.
The girls do most of the cooking, though they've been taught to change a tire and check the oil. The boys are trained to fix the cars and make home repairs, though they cook occasionally -- mostly on the grill.
Lots of attention
The U.S. Census Bureau's latest figures, for 2002, reveal that 0.3 percent of women ages 15 to 44 have given birth to seven or more children. Moreover, the number of U.S. women birthing seven or more children has declined steadily since the government began tracking the demographic in 1976.In an era when the ideal family is widely viewed as two children -- one girl, one boy -- the Duggars are an anomaly, attracting worldwide media attention.
For two years, the Discovery Health Channel has chronicled the family through a series of documentaries. When Johannah Faith was born Oct. 11, the network's cameras captured footage for the series' next installment, to be aired in March.
In the weeks after their 16th child arrived, the couple appeared on CBS's "The Early Show" and NBC's "Today." Michelle Duggar did about 75 radio interviews. And the family has welcomed a steady stream of foreign journalists, including a recent visit from a three-man crew with the Korean Broadcasting System.
Everyone wants to know: How do they make it work? The answer: It's all about faith, finances and family. It's a system developed over their two decades together, and still evolving today.
Married as teenagers
The Duggars met as teenagers. She was a cheerleader at the public high school here. He attended a private Christian school.
They first crossed paths when he and a friend were visiting prospects for their church, First Baptist of Springdale. She had just become Christian. They didn't see each other again until much later, when she was hired to work in a frozen yogurt shop that was managed by Jim Bob's mother, Mary.
The couple married just after she graduated from high school. He was 19, she 17. Neither went to college. Together, they started a used-car business, then towing and real estate businesses. Both are licensed real estate agents.
The Duggars didn't start out to have 16 children -- or more. Early on, she took birth-control pills. After their first child, son Joshua, was born in 1988, Michelle began taking them again. Before long, she suffered a miscarriage they believed was caused by the birth control.
"We were just shocked," Jim Bob said. "We consider ourselves pro-life. We thought, `What have we done?' "
They decided to let God determine the size of their family. Fifteen children later, Michelle Duggar remains healthy and willing to keep having children. None of their children has health problems, and only one wears glasses.
'Like Grand Central Station'
The Duggars live temporarily in a 2,200-square-foot rented house along a busy street, not far from Interstate 540 in this town of about 50,000. They are building -- debt-free -- a 7,000-square-foot house in nearby Tontitown.They don't adhere to a rigid schedule, but in an often-frenzied world with 18 people living in such tight quarters, there are daily imperatives: a midmorning Bible reading with Dad, home-school lessons with Mom.
"This place is like Grand Central Station," said Mr. Duggar's mother, Mary, a real estate broker who often helps out.
Indeed, solitude is a precious, elusive treasure. But it is a house of smiles. There are squabbles. But amid the chaos, there is a vibrant rhythm to life.
There is the ever-present backdrop of hymns, played on the piano by the children. Television is watched sparingly. There are rambunctious little boys chasing one another through the house, climbing onto furniture, balancing themselves on the arms of chairs.
Someone always seems to be snacking, usually on a large dill pickle, a family staple. And 4-year-old James never seems to tire of sidling up to a media visitor, tilting his head with a grin, and asking, "How many are you?"
The Duggar House Rules
Posted in the Duggars' dining area:
• Always use soft words, even when you don't feel well.
• Always display kind actions, even if you have been mistreated.
• Show joyful attitudes even when no one else is looking.
• Have sincere motives with no thought of self-gain.
• Think pure thoughts.
• Always give a good report of others. Never talebear unless physical harm will come to someone. Use Matthew 18.
• Never raise a hand to hit.
• Never raise a foot to kick.
• Never raise an object to throw.
• Never raise a voice to yell.
• Never raise an eye to scowl.
• Use one toy/activity at a time.
• Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don't go to bed angry or guilty.)
• Amendment J.O.Y. -- make serving your family a priority -- put Jesus first, others second, yourself last.
That's a lot of milk
• Monthly grocery bill: $1,500 - $2,000
• Gallons of milk consumed every three or four days: 4
• Loads of laundry each day: 7-9
• Size of their rental house: 2,200 square feet.
• Size of their new house (under construction): 7,000 square feet.
So, Michael, you MUST comment on this because I want to see how you react.
Amid `serene chaos,' couple say size of their family is up to God
ARNOLD HAMILTON
Dallas Morning News
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are baby boomers.
They may not fit the age profile of the post-World War II generation, but the numbers don't lie: They have 16 children.
Ten boys, six girls. Together, as a couple. All theirs, biologically.
And they may have more, Lord willing.
"We never dreamed we would have 16 children," said Jim Bob Duggar, a soft-spoken, 40-year-old former state lawmaker, as he surveys what Michelle lovingly refers to as their home's "serene chaos."
Now, he said, "We wouldn't have it any other way."
As a couple, the Duggars' approach to family planning is simple: They are born-again Christians who view the Bible as their life's manual -- and the Bible describes children as a blessing from God. They will cheerfully accept as many blessings as God ordains.
So far, the blessings have added up to more children than all but a tiny fraction of American families have.
Life with the Duggars in the hills of northwest Arkansas is part "Little House on the Prairie," part "Yours, Mine and Ours" -- except the only blending in this real-life family occurs with restaurantlike precision at mealtime.
The girls -- and their 39-year-old mother -- don skirts or dresses (no pants) and white socks. The boys -- and their father -- dress most days in the same colored polo shirts and slacks or jeans, with black socks. It all helps with laundry and organization.
The girls embrace a similar hairstyle, long and pulled back with a clip, flowing to near their waistlines. The boys' hair is closely cropped, often cemented into position with gel.
The girls do most of the cooking, though they've been taught to change a tire and check the oil. The boys are trained to fix the cars and make home repairs, though they cook occasionally -- mostly on the grill.
Lots of attention
The U.S. Census Bureau's latest figures, for 2002, reveal that 0.3 percent of women ages 15 to 44 have given birth to seven or more children. Moreover, the number of U.S. women birthing seven or more children has declined steadily since the government began tracking the demographic in 1976.In an era when the ideal family is widely viewed as two children -- one girl, one boy -- the Duggars are an anomaly, attracting worldwide media attention.
For two years, the Discovery Health Channel has chronicled the family through a series of documentaries. When Johannah Faith was born Oct. 11, the network's cameras captured footage for the series' next installment, to be aired in March.
In the weeks after their 16th child arrived, the couple appeared on CBS's "The Early Show" and NBC's "Today." Michelle Duggar did about 75 radio interviews. And the family has welcomed a steady stream of foreign journalists, including a recent visit from a three-man crew with the Korean Broadcasting System.
Everyone wants to know: How do they make it work? The answer: It's all about faith, finances and family. It's a system developed over their two decades together, and still evolving today.
Married as teenagers
The Duggars met as teenagers. She was a cheerleader at the public high school here. He attended a private Christian school.
They first crossed paths when he and a friend were visiting prospects for their church, First Baptist of Springdale. She had just become Christian. They didn't see each other again until much later, when she was hired to work in a frozen yogurt shop that was managed by Jim Bob's mother, Mary.
The couple married just after she graduated from high school. He was 19, she 17. Neither went to college. Together, they started a used-car business, then towing and real estate businesses. Both are licensed real estate agents.
The Duggars didn't start out to have 16 children -- or more. Early on, she took birth-control pills. After their first child, son Joshua, was born in 1988, Michelle began taking them again. Before long, she suffered a miscarriage they believed was caused by the birth control.
"We were just shocked," Jim Bob said. "We consider ourselves pro-life. We thought, `What have we done?' "
They decided to let God determine the size of their family. Fifteen children later, Michelle Duggar remains healthy and willing to keep having children. None of their children has health problems, and only one wears glasses.
'Like Grand Central Station'
The Duggars live temporarily in a 2,200-square-foot rented house along a busy street, not far from Interstate 540 in this town of about 50,000. They are building -- debt-free -- a 7,000-square-foot house in nearby Tontitown.They don't adhere to a rigid schedule, but in an often-frenzied world with 18 people living in such tight quarters, there are daily imperatives: a midmorning Bible reading with Dad, home-school lessons with Mom.
"This place is like Grand Central Station," said Mr. Duggar's mother, Mary, a real estate broker who often helps out.
Indeed, solitude is a precious, elusive treasure. But it is a house of smiles. There are squabbles. But amid the chaos, there is a vibrant rhythm to life.
There is the ever-present backdrop of hymns, played on the piano by the children. Television is watched sparingly. There are rambunctious little boys chasing one another through the house, climbing onto furniture, balancing themselves on the arms of chairs.
Someone always seems to be snacking, usually on a large dill pickle, a family staple. And 4-year-old James never seems to tire of sidling up to a media visitor, tilting his head with a grin, and asking, "How many are you?"
The Duggar House Rules
Posted in the Duggars' dining area:
• Always use soft words, even when you don't feel well.
• Always display kind actions, even if you have been mistreated.
• Show joyful attitudes even when no one else is looking.
• Have sincere motives with no thought of self-gain.
• Think pure thoughts.
• Always give a good report of others. Never talebear unless physical harm will come to someone. Use Matthew 18.
• Never raise a hand to hit.
• Never raise a foot to kick.
• Never raise an object to throw.
• Never raise a voice to yell.
• Never raise an eye to scowl.
• Use one toy/activity at a time.
• Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don't go to bed angry or guilty.)
• Amendment J.O.Y. -- make serving your family a priority -- put Jesus first, others second, yourself last.
That's a lot of milk
• Monthly grocery bill: $1,500 - $2,000
• Gallons of milk consumed every three or four days: 4
• Loads of laundry each day: 7-9
• Size of their rental house: 2,200 square feet.
• Size of their new house (under construction): 7,000 square feet.
So, Michael, you MUST comment on this because I want to see how you react.