Get the first two chapters of Michelle’s new book, A Fine Mess: Living Simply With Children, for free! Michelle is the homeschooling mother of (almost ) 7 children and has lots of humor, tips and hints for living with so many for much less. Want to try it out for nothing? Just email Michelle and put “free chapters” in the subject line.
I recently finished a fun book – The Duggars: 20 and Counting. I’ll have to admit, I was a little worried at first. I thought it might just be a rehash of the Duggars’ TV specials and shows. But it was actually a very fun and quick read. 
There are a lot of great stories in the book and in each chapter, they take the time to have one of the children answer some of the questions they get from viewers of their show.
One Q and A I found particularly interesting was this:
Question: “Seeing how you all dress so much alike, I’m wondering how the children in your family are allowed to express their individuality?”
Answer: (from Jessa Duggar, age 16) “We always laugh when a question like that comes in! As one of my sisters said, ‘Mom, when we go out to an event somewhere, we often see groups of teenagers who are all dressed alike – sometimes they’re all in black, or they’re all wearing jeans or the same kind of T-shirt.’ We’re just like them; all of us Duggars wear similar kinds of clothes. But instead of being influenced by peer pressure, we’re guided by our family’s standards of modesty and what we read in the Bible.”
This is so true! I was so happy to read this response. When I see my kids and their friends – they are all dressed very similarly – supposedly – expressing their creativity!
I was also impressed by Jim-Bob Duggar’s commitment to forgiveness. After being boung and gagged in his own garage after and armed robbery of his first car dealership, he chose to forgive the perpetraitor and bring him a bible at the jail.
In addition, they both relate about how to deal with anger when it pops up – because even the most well behaved children leave Dad’s tools to rust in the yard sometimes!
I loved reading their variety of stories, from how they accomplish things, to their most human moments. It’s easy to think of the Duggars’ as being super human in patience – and even money because of their TV shows. It’s nice to read how their lives really unfolded and to read how Michelle dealt with early frustration when she had seven children under the age of seven.
For anyone who is a fan of the Duggars; is curious or fascinated by them; or even angered by them; I highly recommend this quick read. It will give you a little more perspective – and respect – for their very interesting life!
Josh & Anna Duggar - 09.26.08 wedding day | Organically Inclined says:
[...] NEW! The Duggars: 20 and Counting, a book review [...]
26th February 2009 at 10:49 am
The Duggars: 20 and Counting, Book Review « Large Families Today says:
[...] Read More… Tags: duggar family, duggars, jim-bob duggar, josh duggar, michelle duggar [...]
26th February 2009 at 11:40 am
Dona says:
I understand why you don’t like the Gosslins, I really do. I think Kate is a greedy, self serving bitch if ever there was one. Kate Gosslin is an RN, she knew exactly what she was getting into with regards to fertility drugs. Octomom, I don’t care how many babies she has if she can raise them and who am I to judge. BUT what I don’t understand is your being OK with the Duggards when essentially they are doing the same thing as the Gosslins: exploiting their children, for money, on a reality TV show. Now, I agree with you about the Duggars being seemingly decent people. Kind, non judge mental, even sincere in their reasoning for over populating the earth…..but you can’t condemn the Gosslins and be OK with what the Duggars are doing — both families seem to be doing their show under the guise of “gods will” or some other nonsense. Bottom line, those reality shows are all about money. Jim Bob Duggar isn’t a fool — he knows how to make a buck, no question about that. As for Michelle Duggar, — do you honestly think she’d even question Jim Bob? He rules that family make NO MISTAKE about that– well, Jim Bob and GOD. And another thing, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s older children are raising the younger children, Jim Bob and MIchelle aren’t and you can clearly see this on the show where the older children head south for a week to put together a wedding —- those kids do all the work. AND again and again, it’s all about “the lords calling” or some such nonsense. Nope, I don’t buy it, Duggar and Gosslins are more a like than not. Greedy.
26th February 2009 at 2:39 pm
Paula Woodley says:
DO NOT COMPARE MRS GOSSELIN WITH ANY OTH ER MUM’S ON REALITY T.V. The other failies love their kids’ Kate “methinks the lady doth protest too much” Everything is for the kids PLEASE!!! I now watch the Hayes family. How wonderful they are. He is still a man and works and supports his family, Mrs. Hayes is amazing and has wonderful support from faily, she has’nt alienated them like Madam. Mat and Amy are great as are the Duggars, although I do think they should start thinking about using up poor Old Mother Earths and what she provides. The TV goes off pronto when Madam and her 8 brats, and yes they are brats as they are all vying for attention from Mum. She is not a good Mum in anyone’s language because everthing she does has an ulterior motive and I refuse to support her greed.
26th February 2009 at 4:45 am