I just read the news that Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, from TLC's show "19 Kids and Counting," are expecting their 20th baby. I felt very happy for them as I read the headline and saw their happy faces. They certainly are very excited about it. After reading the article, though, my mood was ruined when I scrolled down to the comments (of which there are 14,382 and counting), and noticed that they are overwhelmingly negative.
Now, I grew up in a big family. I grew up with six of my siblings. I was 16 when my youngest brother was born. Sure, my mom had her hands full, but I think we all grew up to be more responsible, caring, and family-oriented because of it.
People have commented on how the Duggars have had more than their fair share of babies, and should stop adding to the population, which has recently reached an unprecedented 7 billion people. Say that to the many parents who have unwanted babies and don't take good care of them, not to a loving family with a mom with such patience and a caring personality, a dad who is so devoted, and children who help out their parents with everything from household chores to teaching younger siblings.
They are raising their children to be respectful, modest, responsible, and socially-conscious. I truly believe they are producing productive members of society who will add positivity to the world, and if they can have and raise more, well then, more power to them.
Compare them to some other big families: Jon and Kate Gosselin and Nadya Suleman, for example. The Duggars don't have many of the same problems that those families do.
People have also commented saying the Duggars are "selfish" for having another baby after the complications during Michelle's most recent pregnancy. Little Josie, born prematurely via emergency C-section after her mother developed preeclampsia (pregnancy induced hypertension), is now doing fine. And Michelle's preeclampsia with her last pregnancy doesn't indicate that she will go through it again during this pregnancy. According to Yahoo! News, Jim Bob said about the issue, "If we had lived by fear after Michelle's preeclampsia after her second delivery, we would have missed out on all our wonderful blessings. So many of her pregnancies have gone extremely well."
Now, I don't plan on having even a quarter of the number of children they have, but if they feel like they can do it (and are doing a pretty good job of raising their children) then I think people don't have the right to complain. I truly wish them all the best.
