17 Kids will fuel culture wars
17 Kids will fuel culture wars
Another flabbergasted reporter cannot understand why anyone could actually love their children enough to want to be with them and have more. The topic is the Duggar family and the soon to be 18 children they have.Whatever its other intentions 17 Kids and Counting has the potential to keep the culture wars raging along. This series, being shown Mondays at 10 p.m. on TLC, follows a round of specials documenting the daily logistics of the Duggars of Tontitown, Ark., the evangelical Christian family of a couple named Jim Bob and Michelle, who during the course of their 24-year marriage have produced 10 sons and seven daughters, spread out in a 7,000-square-foot house with nine bathrooms.
The Duggars have been the subject of fierce debate online, where liberal women often condemn their choices as reckless and conservative women defend their patience and commitment as inspirational. Read more...
Labels: Duggars, large families
Children, a gift from God
Children, a gift from God
I continue to marvel at the polarizing effect of the Duggar family and their 17 children. Here's a commentary that touches on that effect.
BONHAM, Texas (BP)--Recently on NBC's "The Today Show," host Matt Lauer interviewed the Duggar family. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are the Arkansas couple who just welcomed into the world their 17th child.
Among some Americans, typical reactions have included, "Are those people crazy?" and "Don't they know what causes that?" But among homeschooling families like the Duggars, a greater openness to having more than two children has prompted such responses as, "Isn't that wonderful! Read more...
Labels: Duggars
Duggars welcome 17th child
We've been following the Duggar family since 2004 and number 15. Now they are up to 17 with Jennifer. The discovery Channel has a great site devoted to the Duggar family. HT: The Homeschooling Revolution
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - It's a girl — again — for the Duggars. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar welcomed their 17th child, and seventh daughter, into the world Thursday.
Jennifer Danielle was born at 10:01 a.m. at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rogers, Ark., the Duggars said in an interview. Jennifer weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces and arrived five days after Michelle's due date.
Less than 30 minutes after giving birth, the Duggars already were talking of having more. Read more...
Labels: Duggars
The 17th child for Duggars
God bless them
LITTLE ROCK The Duggars are once again pulling out the pink ruffles and lace as they prepare for the birth of baby number 17.
Michelle Duggar said today that the whole family is excited about the arrival of the baby girl they will name Jennifer Danielle, keeping with the family tradition of giving the child a name that begins with J. Read more...
Labels: Duggars
Duggar Family, Stars of TV, to Address Film Festival
I don't have cable TV and I didn't know this was such a big hit. In case you never heard, the Duggars are a family of 16 kids (at last count) who homeschool.
“One of the most remarkable events on cable television took place recently when hundreds of thousands of viewers watched as the Duggars -- a Christian home school family with sixteen biological children -- worked together and managed a happy, orderly household to the glory of God,” observed Doug Phillips, founder of the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. Read more...
Labels: Duggars
Duggars in the news (again)
This is the third time I can remember this notable homeschooling family making the 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 Mr. Duggar, a soft-spoken, 40-year-old former state lawmaker, as he surveys what Michelle lovingly refers to as their home's 'serene chaos.' Read more...
Labels: Duggars
Mom delivers 16th child, thinking of more
I hear it gets easier after the 12th child... We reported on Duggar number 15 a while ago too.
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) -- Michelle Duggar just delivered her 16th child, and she's already thinking about doing it again.
Johannah Faith Duggar was born at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and weighed 7 pounds, 6.5 ounces. Read more...
Labels: Duggars
Having 15 children, little less ridiculous
Some surprisingly level headed re-thinking of the author's own opinions about the Duggar family. (Homeschoolers, mentioned in previous stories).
It's 10 p.m. Do you know where your 16-year-old is? How about your 12-year-old or your 11-year-old? How about your 7-year-old twins? And what about your 3-year-old, not to mention your newborn?
Keeping track of these seven children would be a daunting task for any parent. Double the amount to 15 children, however, and throw in a bun in the oven for good measure, and you have the makings of absolute pandemonium. However, this is just how Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar live each day. Read more...
Labels: Duggars
Homeschooling Mother of the Year's Life Chronicled on Discovery Health Channel Series
SILVER SPRING, Md., July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have it all over actors Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt. In the movie, 'Cheaper By The Dozen,' Martin and Hunt play the parents of only 12 children. In real life, Michelle and Jim Bob are happily raising 15 children and who knows if that is the final count.
Whether it's the intense high-drama of keeping track of and raising a lot of children of varying ages or the graphic reality of many people living under one roof, viewers are fascinated with the loving and chaotic inner workings of a large family. When 14 CHILDREN AND PREGNANT AGAIN! premieres on Monday, September 6 at 9 PM (ET/PT), Discovery Health Channel presents an intimate behind-the-scenes portrait of the Duggar family as they celebrate the arrival of their newest sibling, a boy named Jackson Levi, the fifteenth Duggar. Read more...
Labels: Duggars
Duggar family's newest addition brings number of children to 15
There is nothing unusual about the cardboard sign outside Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar's house announcing 'It's a boy!' in big blue letters. But inside the modest brick home, life is anything but typical. The newest arrival is the Duggars'15th child.
Most days, the Duggar household - consisting of 10 boys and five girls-is run with the precision of an Army boot camp. Everyone is up by 7 a.m., chores are done and checked off a master schedule posted in the kitchen by noon and lights are out by 10 p.m. But last week, the family was celebrating the homecoming of its latest addition, born on May 23 - a boy, who like all of his siblings, was given a name beginning with the letter J. Read more...
Labels: Duggars
The Monstrumologist
Will Henry has a weird job – he is the assistant to a monstrumologist, a scientist who studies and hunts monsters. It's late 19th century and Anthropophagi are found to have a colony in Will's hometown, and the monsters are breeding and feeding upon it's food of choice: humans. Read more...
Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl is a criminal mastermind, and he's a mere 12 years old. His dad is missing, his mom suffers from delusions and secludes herself in her bedroom. So, what does an unsupervised rich kid do with all his spare time? Dream up ways to restore his family fortune. And, being the devious cold-hearted person that he is, he'll go to about any means to get what he wants. It helps that he has a loyal manservant, Butler at his beck and call. Read more...
Calamity Jack
Calamity Jack is the hero of this engaging graphic novel. Born to "scheme", Jack sets his sights on what he wants and will go for it no matter what the consequences. Unfortunately it seems bad luck follows him. Good intentions he may have, but the end result is not always "ideal". Just like another Jack we've heard about, Calamity Jack buys some magic beans that lead him straight to some cranky giants. Read more...
Twinkle: Star of the Week
In this children's picture book, we meet Twinkle and her fellow star classmates. Yes, they are literal hot balls of gas and they have Ms. Sun as their teacher. When Ms. Sun announces to the class each of the stars will have a turn to be Star of the week, Twinkle had planned to share her favorite star song with the class. Wouldn't you know Blink had his turn before Twinkle and shared the exact same song! Now she has to go back to the drawing board and come up with something else to share. Read more...
The Periodic Table: Elements with Style
Do you find chemistry boring? Do you think that the Periodic Table is a strange kind of dining-room furniture, or that Molybdenum is a meaningless word that the smart kids use to confuse you? If so, The Periodic Table: Elements with Style is a perfect book for you. The book features brief descriptions of 54 of the chemical elements. Read more...
The School Story
Dream of writing a novel? 12-year-old Natalie does, and she goes beyond dreaming – she actually writes one. And, it's good. But the problem any new writer has is how to get it published? Her BFF Zoe and her English teacher Ms. Clayton team up with Natalie to help. Still, the biggest hill to cross is how to get the publisher to read it and not file it away in the "slush" pile. Natalie's mom works as an editor, so Natalie knows how the system works. Read more...
The Thing About Georgie
The thing about Georgie is it's a neat book that puts you in the shoes of Georgie, 10- year-old who's facing quite a few challenges at once. First, there are his physical challenges: he's a dwarf. Next, there is personal conflict. His best friend Andy is becoming buddies with another kid named Russ, and Georgie thinks he's sure to lose his friendship. There's also Jeanie Meanie, a girl who torments him with her sharp tongue and bully behaviors. And the biggest problem is his family. Read more...
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
It's the 1860's and Homer and his older brother Harold are orphans stuck with their mean guardian Squint, who neglects them by locking them in the barn and denying them proper nourishment. Then the old coot goes and illegally sells an underage Harold into the Union army. It's up to 12-year-old Homer to find Harold and rescue him from the war. On his journey many an adventure, some good, and some bad delay Homer. Read more...
Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science
Phineas Gage, a 19th century railroad construction foreman, survived an accident that blew a 13-pound 3 foot 7inch iron rod through his cheek and out the top of his skull. He should have been dead, but rather he was able to walk, talk, and account his accident to others. His recovery was not unremarkable though, after battling infection and suffering from delirious spells, his convalescence would last several months. Yes, he survived a catastrophic injury, but Phineas would never be the same. Read more...
Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys
As a mom to three active boys, I'm always eager to read what others have to say about raising boys to be men. What better people to take advice from than Hal and Melanie Young, parents to 6 boys (and 2 girls). In their book, Raising Real men, they discuss the intricacies of bringing up boys within a biblical worldview. They address numerous issues, such as boys needing heroes to look up to, leadership, competitiveness, stewardship, manners, and much more. Read more...
Blizzard!
Having grown up in Upstate New York and now living in Western New York, I have grown accustomed to snow. Winters last sometimes 6 months here, and you learn to deal with it. But only a handful of times do I remember experiencing a true blizzard, the kind that closes shopping malls, grocery stores, and schools. In his riveting book, Blizzard, Jim Murphy tells of the infamous blizzard of 1888, where not only towns came to a standstill, but also 600+ people lost their lives. Read more...
When You Reach Me
Twelve-year-old Miranda is living in New York City with her mom, who has just learned she will be a contestant on the 20,000 Pyramid game show (book is set in the 70's). Excitement abounds and Miranda helps her mom prepare for the show with timed quizzes. Miranda is a latch key kid, and when she starts receiving some unusual notes from an unknown person she is intrigued, and a little spooked. Read more...
Frankie: The Walk 'n Roll Dog
In this touching story we meet Frankie, an adorable dachshund who suffered rear leg paralysis after a spinal cord injury. You might think her quality of life would be compromised with such a handicap, but shortly after her injury she became fitted with a harness with wheels, and regains her mobility. Her uplifting and true story is told by her human mom Barb, but it is Frankie's voice. Read more...
Pajama School: Stories From the Life of a Homeschool Graduate
As a homeschooling mom to three boys, Pajama School brought me both sighs of relief and smiles. The author's recollection of her homeschooling days gave me much needed encouragement. After all, don't we sometimes wonder if we are doing the right thing, educating our children at home? What about socialization, team sports, band, the "prom" and high school requirements? Are they missing out? Of course my answer to those questions is a big no, but every once in a while I wonder…. Read more...
Camp Club Girls and the Mystery at Discovery Lake
In The Mystery at Discovery lake, summer camp cabin-mates turned friends Elizabeth, Alexis, Sydney, Mackenzie and Kate team up to investigate first some strange howlings, and then some strange diggings at the adjacent golf course. One of the girls brought with her some neat gadgets such as a robot spy-cam, which proves useful to the novice detectives. When they are not sleuthing around, they are doing regular camp activities such as crafts, horseback riding, and learning Bible memory verses. Read more...