Duggar Family Expecting 20th Child - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Family Ties Forever! · 11-09-2011, 01:03 AM

Quote:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1...n_1081534.html

Duggar Family Expecting 20th Child -- Counting Diapers, Birthday Candles, And More
The Huffington Post Jessica Samakow
First Posted: 11/8/11 3:52 PM ET Updated: 11/8/11 5:13 PM ET

Looks like TLC will have to change the title of their hit show "19 Kids And Counting" -- Michelle Duggar is pregnant with number twenty. After Duggar, her husband Jim Bob and 18 of her children (her oldest was absent) announced this on the "Today" show we had several questions: Can a woman's body sustain 20 pregnancies? Does every child really get the attention they deserve?

But, perhaps more pressing: How much toilet paper does that family go through? And, how often do they have to sing 'Happy Birthday'? We ran the numbers. Over The Past 24 Years, Michelle Duggar Has Been Pregnant For 13.3 Years.

Janice Johnson · 11-09-2011, 04:20 AM

When will the duggars stop?

That picture looks like a family reunion rather than 2 parents and their 19 kids!

-STEFFY- · 11-09-2011, 04:56 AM

What a nightmare.

comedyfreak · 11-09-2011, 06:25 AM

Figueres they'd have their own reality show

sunshinefizzy · 11-09-2011, 09:06 AM

Good for them if that's what they want.

Coffeecup · 11-09-2011, 09:58 AM

I would think they would stop at this point for aren't they grandparents to a child? Now they would be babysitting the grandchild. How is Mrs Duggar?

Janice · 11-09-2011, 03:06 PM

It's all about the freedom of choice, isn't it? Anyone who has ever seen their TLC show would see how loving this family is. They're homeschooled, and their parents are tougher than any teacher I've ever had. Rows and rows of computers, and school's on from 8 to 3 with loads of homework. They don't use foodstamps or other entitlement programs. They carry no debt. I believe TLC built or helped with their home, which is beautiful, but so what. It's their life, and they're not hurting anyone.

OH Nuts! · 11-09-2011, 03:42 PM

God Bless 'em! Mama & Papa Duggar really seem to have a knack for having and taking care of such a large brood. Since, they, and their family, can easily handle it, more power to them.

Janice · 11-09-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

God Bless 'em! Mama & Papa Duggar really seem to have a knack for having and taking care of such a large brood. Since, they, and their family, can easily handle it, more power to them.

That's a very kind sentiment, Rich. I would expect nothing less from you.

Janice · 11-09-2011, 06:32 PM

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/11/09/mich...-another-baby/

Michelle Duggar Defends Her Decision to Have Another Baby

Yesterday Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar announced on live television that they are expecting their 20th child together. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this has provoked criticism of the couple's lifestyle choices and their decision to proceed with such a potentially high-risk pregnancy given their already large family.

So why can't the couple stop having babies? The Internet rumor mill's been working overtime, and theories being bandied about include: Is Michelle addicted to being pregnant? Do they procreate to get attention? Are they making too much money from their reality show to give it up? Or, are they, as Michelle told Ann Curry yesterday, just staying true to their motto of "There's always room for one more?"

Now Michelle -- who has suffered twice from pre-eclampsia -- defended her decision to have another child, telling 'People' that if the prospect of potentially life-threatening prenatal complications were going to deter her, then "we would have stopped back with our second birth. ... There are many women who have experienced pre-eclampsia and have gone on to have more children."

She went on: "That whole mind set that you stop after a problem pregnancy isn't realistic. You may encounter struggles along the way. You may not have a perfect pregnancy, but each child is a precious gift."

Despite saying that "we aren't going to worry about the negative things stated" by critics
(has she been reading the comments posted on AOL TV yesterday?), Michelle did address those who've questioned how the Duggars can afford to support their huge family: She said that they live within their means, mortgage- and debt-free. The couple also challenged the idea that their older kids bear too much of the burden of caring for the younger ones.

"We homeschool, so we are around our children day in and day out," said Jim Bob. "Because I am in real estate, I am home and can be with the children a lot. When we go to the store or run errands, we take the kids one on one and we get to spend more time individually than a lot of parents do."

The Duggars are just one family in the ever-increasing TLC stable of reality shows about people who choose to have lots and lots of kids (and, in the case of 'Sister Wives', lots of kids and wives). So, just how lucrative is '19 Kids and Counting' for the family?

The network won't disclose individual deals, but an earlier report by E! Online estimated that the Duggars are paid 10 percent of the production budget, which meant that in 2009 -- when they were at 18 kids and counting -- they were reckoned to be pulling in around $25,000 to $40,000 per episode. However, that sum was likely to increase if they had more children as the production budget would also have to rise.

By contrast, at the height of their reality show success, fellow TLC stars the Gosselins were thought to be getting around $75,000 per episode. And it's not just the mega-families at TLC -- reality stars at other networks also do very nicely thank you. MTV 'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood makes $280,000 per year, Bravo is rumored to pay 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' over $250,000 per year each, and the Kardashians have built a multi-million dollar empire off the back of their E! reality show franchise.

The huge sums involved go a long way to explaining why, despite the stresses of having your entire life played out on television, reality stars find it so hard to quit. Will Michelle stop at baby number 20? Or will we be tuning into '20 Kids and Counting' some time in the next couple of years? Only time will tell.

catlover79 · 11-09-2011, 07:21 PM

She's at the point where she probably doesn't even need to push anymore - the kids are just walking out now!!

Coffeecup · 11-10-2011, 09:14 AM

You are right to say if they can support all the children, the children have good values, and they all love one another, and both parents are in good health, it is no one's right to say what is right or wrong.

Family Ties Forever! · 11-10-2011, 05:26 PM

Good luck to them. Hopefully this pregnancy will go better for Michelle than the previous one.

OH Nuts! · 11-10-2011, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That's a very kind sentiment, Rich. I would expect nothing less from you.

It's sweet of you to say that Janice. But it was an easy sentiment to write. I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for th Duggars.

ShamelessFanGirl · 11-12-2011, 10:40 PM

I agree that there should be a certain period of when you should stop having kids. However, everyone has the right to freedom of choice to do what they want and if they want to have another baby than more power to them.

11-09-2011, 06:25 AM	#4
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	Figueres they'd have their own reality show
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

11-09-2011, 03:06 PM	#7
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	It's all about the freedom of choice, isn't it? Anyone who has ever seen their TLC show would see how loving this family is. They're homeschooled, and their parents are tougher than any teacher I've ever had. Rows and rows of computers, and school's on from 8 to 3 with loads of homework. They don't use foodstamps or other entitlement programs. They carry no debt. I believe TLC built or helped with their home, which is beautiful, but so what. It's their life, and they're not hurting anyone.
	Last edited by Janice; 11-09-2011 at 03:33 PM.

11-09-2011, 07:21 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	She's at the point where she probably doesn't even need to push anymore - the kids are just walking out now!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

11-09-2011, 04:20 AM	#2
Janice Johnson Commercial Lover Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 30, 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,739	When will the duggars stop? That picture looks like a family reunion rather than 2 parents and their 19 kids!

11-09-2011, 04:56 AM	#3
-STEFFY- Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 18, 2007 Location: USA Posts: 14,580	What a nightmare.

11-09-2011, 09:06 AM	#5
sunshinefizzy Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 27, 2006 Location: Craptown Posts: 2,054	Good for them if that's what they want.

11-09-2011, 09:58 AM	#6
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	I would think they would stop at this point for aren't they grandparents to a child? Now they would be babysitting the grandchild. How is Mrs Duggar?

11-09-2011, 03:42 PM	#8
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	God Bless 'em! Mama & Papa Duggar really seem to have a knack for having and taking care of such a large brood. Since, they, and their family, can easily handle it, more power to them.

11-09-2011, 06:32 PM	#10
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	http://www.aoltv.com/2011/11/09/mich...-another-baby/ Michelle Duggar Defends Her Decision to Have Another Baby Yesterday Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar announced on live television that they are expecting their 20th child together. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this has provoked criticism of the couple's lifestyle choices and their decision to proceed with such a potentially high-risk pregnancy given their already large family. So why can't the couple stop having babies? The Internet rumor mill's been working overtime, and theories being bandied about include: Is Michelle addicted to being pregnant? Do they procreate to get attention? Are they making too much money from their reality show to give it up? Or, are they, as Michelle told Ann Curry yesterday, just staying true to their motto of "There's always room for one more?" Now Michelle -- who has suffered twice from pre-eclampsia -- defended her decision to have another child, telling 'People' that if the prospect of potentially life-threatening prenatal complications were going to deter her, then "we would have stopped back with our second birth. ... There are many women who have experienced pre-eclampsia and have gone on to have more children." She went on: "That whole mind set that you stop after a problem pregnancy isn't realistic. You may encounter struggles along the way. You may not have a perfect pregnancy, but each child is a precious gift." Despite saying that "we aren't going to worry about the negative things stated" by critics (has she been reading the comments posted on AOL TV yesterday?), Michelle did address those who've questioned how the Duggars can afford to support their huge family: She said that they live within their means, mortgage- and debt-free. The couple also challenged the idea that their older kids bear too much of the burden of caring for the younger ones. "We homeschool, so we are around our children day in and day out," said Jim Bob. "Because I am in real estate, I am home and can be with the children a lot. When we go to the store or run errands, we take the kids one on one and we get to spend more time individually than a lot of parents do." The Duggars are just one family in the ever-increasing TLC stable of reality shows about people who choose to have lots and lots of kids (and, in the case of 'Sister Wives', lots of kids and wives). So, just how lucrative is '19 Kids and Counting' for the family? The network won't disclose individual deals, but an earlier report by E! Online estimated that the Duggars are paid 10 percent of the production budget, which meant that in 2009 -- when they were at 18 kids and counting -- they were reckoned to be pulling in around $25,000 to $40,000 per episode. However, that sum was likely to increase if they had more children as the production budget would also have to rise. By contrast, at the height of their reality show success, fellow TLC stars the Gosselins were thought to be getting around $75,000 per episode. And it's not just the mega-families at TLC -- reality stars at other networks also do very nicely thank you. MTV 'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood makes $280,000 per year, Bravo is rumored to pay 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' over $250,000 per year each, and the Kardashians have built a multi-million dollar empire off the back of their E! reality show franchise. The huge sums involved go a long way to explaining why, despite the stresses of having your entire life played out on television, reality stars find it so hard to quit. Will Michelle stop at baby number 20? Or will we be tuning into '20 Kids and Counting' some time in the next couple of years? Only time will tell.

11-10-2011, 09:14 AM	#12
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	You are right to say if they can support all the children, the children have good values, and they all love one another, and both parents are in good health, it is no one's right to say what is right or wrong.

11-10-2011, 05:26 PM	#13
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	Good luck to them. Hopefully this pregnancy will go better for Michelle than the previous one.

11-12-2011, 10:40 PM	#15
ShamelessFanGirl Great Power and Resposbility Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 16, 2011 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 581	I agree that there should be a certain period of when you should stop having kids. However, everyone has the right to freedom of choice to do what they want and if they want to have another baby than more power to them.