(Untitled)

[merlyn4401]

Yesterday, booju_mooju had a post about the Duggars, which got cross posted to stupid_free. One of the complaints in both threads was about the Duggar's "Buddy System". Essentially, each older child is paired with a younger sibling. The older child is responsible for helping the younger child with hygeine, getting dressed, with lessons, etc. Every child is also

Comments

[rockboxx]

I think there needs to be a middle ground. Expect the kids to do chores and help with siblings\around the house but at the same time still be able to be a kid\teenager.

[ladyartemisa]

i agree with this.

[ladyartemisa]

they arent their kids, why should they have to deal with them because their parents are too stupid to quit breeding even after her doctor and he body tell her to stop?

[merlyn4401]

Because they are a family? And you do what you can to help your family?

It'd be no different if all the kids were adopted instead of biological - I read often about families with a dozen adopted kids where the older ones help with the younger ones.

[ladyartemisa]

thats fine but this is above and beyond the call of duty, i feel sorry for those kids.
it is the parents resposibility to raise the kids, while kids should help with chores these kids dont have time to be kids. i watch their specials on TLC and the poor older kids cant do anythings else because the mom is always knocked up or recovering from being knocked up.

[rockboxx]

and I agree with THIS!

[shadiroxan]

So people complain that those children/teenagers have to do too much, but people complain that children/teenagers in general aren't responsible for enough. It works for their family. They're raising good kids. Responsible kids. Something that tends to be lacking anyway. It's not as if the older child is raising the younger child.

[fadedsecrets]

I agree 100%

[float_my_fancy]

I don't really have a problem with it. They aren't raising the sibling, they're helping out. I mean...I helped my little brother with hygiene, getting dressed, and homework. I did it when we were younger and I still do it now. As long as helping out your little brother doesn't consume your life, I think it's fair to expect an older child to help out. Plus, I think having a sibling as a mentor/mentee is a really positive experience for both involved.

[prophet_maid]

What do you mean "help with hygiene." I hear that and I think that the older child becomes responsible for the majority of diaper changes, making sure the kid bathes and brushes their teeth, keeping their room clean, etc. I think that goes beyond reasonable expectations for siblings, and steps over into raising a kid.

Generally, I wonder who's responsible for the behavior of the younger children. If the older kid gets in trouble for "teaching" the younger kid to be a brat, again that's raising the kid, and not simply helping.

[float_my_fancy]

No no, I didn't do that. I just got to "teach" things because I wanted to. It made me feel awesome and he liked following me anyway.

[merlyn4401]

I agree with your first sentence. It's never ever happened in the history of television for them to edit selectively. :p