6 Things to Love About the Duggar Family

The mega-sized Duggar family of Discovery Channel fame, released a video statement just days ago revealing that the family will add yet another member on January 1, 2009. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are now the parents of 17 children, ranging in age from 8 months to 20 years. Their lifestyle has been chronicled on the Discovery Channel over the past few years, with plans for more episodes in the fall.

On various internet sites, criticism of the Duggar family and debate about their choice to have such a large family abounds. Although their choices may seem unconventional to many, the Duggars are utterly fascinating to say the least. Watching the Discovery programs about the Duggars with kids and teens can start some really wonderful conversations about what it means to be an individual, what it means to be a family member, and how to be both at the same time.

Here are 6 Things to Love About the Duggar Family

6. Their mastery of organization. With 17 children, everything operates on a system of some sort. The pantry itself is better organized than the back room of most supermarkets, and the house and kids are usually clean! In addition, mom Michelle homeschools all of the children and all of the children have music lessons.

5. Their cheerful attitudes. Everyone is encouraged to "use soft words, even when you don't feel well," and they actually seem to do just that! A wonderful example for parents and children alike.

4. They have what most would see as an "unconventional" lifestyle, but they live it with conviction and without apology. How many people are ever able to reject social convention and truly live as they believe they are destined to? The Duggars don't just talk the talk, they walk the walk!

3. The children have responsibilities to each other. Siblings follow each other from the cradle to the grave. How better to enforce those bonds than by giving them a hand in each other's care?

2. They have massive goals and they actually achieve them! This giant family is debt-free, built a 7000 square foot house and dad, Jim Bob, served in the Arkansas state legislature.

1. Duggar Family Ice Cream Cake. This is the best and most economical ice cream cake EVER! They make it with ice cream sandwiches, whipped cream and Butterfingers (I think they have the recipe on their website, but you can actually watch the older girls make it on one of the documentaries) and it is truly delicious.

Although most viewers of the Duggar shows will never have 18 children (the average number of children for an American woman was 2.09 in 2006), their are many lessons that can be learned from watching their methodical practices of day to day living. Even if your life and beliefs are completely different from the Duggars, watching this jumbo family can really compel the viewers to think about their own life choices...a large feat indeed!