Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are at it again - after their near disastrous outcome with baby Josie, they want yet more children.
In a recent interview, the mother if 19 said that she "Would love a 20th child if God saw fit." This comes after their last child, Josie, spent eight long months in a neonatal care unit due to a premature birth at 25 weeks.
Michelle seems all too aware of the risk of risk another premature birth, and said even if it came to that again, baby 20 is on the horizon, if she has her way. She also is pretty realistic about her age and reduced chances of conception. "I also realized that that may not be possible," she said, "I may not be able to conceive and maybe even give birth to another full term baby, I know that."
To all the critics that are raising eyebrows as to her intentions and willingness to take risks to make her brood an even 20 she replies "I'm the mom!"
The Duggars have a big heart and good intentions for these children. While they are able to provide for them it's not without sacrifice. These kids never one day knew what it was like to live a real life not in front of television cameras. The older children are having to help raise the younger ones to help out their over extended parents. While they might not mind this, one day it might haunt them when they see their teen years had dwindled away caring for their countless siblings.
Is Michelle the type that needs a miscarriage or a special needs child to show her that it's time to stop tempting fate? Is disaster the only thing that will make them see that while they've been blessed thus far that blessings only go so far, and when they run out heartbreak follows in their wake.
Is Michelle temporarily blinded by her love of children and her ticking biological clock? When it's all said and done, yes, she's the mom, but she also needs to be adult enough and know when to stop while she's ahead. Josie could have died, that would have been more than enough of a wake up call for most parents, but not for Michelle.
It's the children that ultimately suffer when parents are spread so thin. No matter how much love they have, they can not be there for all 19 children as much as they might want and need them to be. Michelle, please, rethink the decision to consider another baby if nothing else, but for your 19 children's sake. They need you more than you need another baby.
You can view the video clip where Michelle muses about another baby over at Radar Online.
What do you think of her outlook on having more children despite what happened to baby Josie? Is she right to take the risk or is she courting disaster one more time?
© September 9, 2010 Jennifer Neff for Gather.com
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Comments: 17
However, one can only be spread so thin. With the last child in peril you'd think she'd count her lucky stars and be happy as a mom of 19. Children are to be loved, not collected, as it seems they are doing here.
Yes, they have loads of books. The latest already saying they have 20 children, from what I saw.
I'm not sure I "buy" that God has any plan for someone to be spread so thin that kids are neglected (even if a tiny bit) due to too many in house, but that's not for anyone to say. I'm just a bit more than skeptical.
As for stopping after the twins, if that were me I would have likely stopped after that scare, yes. I say that now 5 weeks pregnant and I'll say it in 3 months, too. That's just me. I don't tend to press my luck as a rule - especially when innocent babies are involved.
And I am sorry you interpt God plan different then others
Amanda, I agree completely that this can't be God's plan. It seems to me more of an issue of not believing in birth control. If she were on birth control and still had 19 kids then and only then would I believe this was God's plan.
Having children is a pleasure, we can all agree there, but we need to make sure we can give them all the love, care and attention that they want or need. If we can't then we have no business bringing another child into the world.
I thought the same thing about the older ones. They are losing their childhood and thrown into being adults and parents instead.
I really hope they get some perspective on this. If Baby #20 is already on the way, so be it. But I think they should practice chastity until menopause from now on! God Sez: TIE THOSE TUBES!
I hope that they rethink this idea, but if not, then I hope the kids truly don't want for more love than they get, because that's a heartbreaking situation.