Back in the old days people had big families to help with the farms, if they were farmers, plus birth control wasn't available like it is now. Nowadays some people who have big families, like the Duggars, expect the older ones to care for the youner ones... that's not right. They didn't have their siblings, their parents did. I hope Josh doesn't follow in his parent's footsteps as far as having a lot of children, unless he and his wife can give each child the attention and love they need and not expect them to care for their siblings.

Who are you to say how big someone's family should be? The Duggars have absolutely no debt and yeah sure their older kids help out with the younger ones and what a beautiful bond they all form with each other. I was born when my brother was 11 and my sister was 7 I wish I had more siblings around my own age. I felt like an only child and would have loved to have had a bigger family with built in playmates. I wish I could have had more kids too. We get what we get and the Duggars are wonderful parents and grateful for their children.

martha, from the beginning of time older siblings have helped parents with younger siblings. Maybe they played with the younger one so they wouldn't walk into the fire, or wander off while the parents cooked or set up shelter. Or they showed the younger one how to say their abc's and 123's while the father was out in the fields or hunting and the mother was baking bread or doing the wash. And in more recent years, older siblings help tie shoes, zip coats, and things like that. It part of being a family to help out, no matter the size. I have friends with just two kids where the older helps the younger with the same things the Duggar kids do. I just don't understand the whole backlash.

Sterilize him now, G-damn it! Over=population is this planet's biggest problem!

Martha, Obvious that you don't know what family really is. It is the older children taking care of and teaching the little ones. It is working together for the good of all. this family is just that a real family in all ways. Too bad that you think you are so special that you think you can judge them. In a word...mind your own business.

There's "big" families and then you have the Duggars, who go beyond normal -- are the parents finally done popping them out?

Markswife - These older kids do a whole lot more than casual chores for the other kids. You need to do a lot more reading on what they actually do. Each older child is responsible for ALL of the day to day issues of a younger child. Tying shoelaces is just one of the morning chores they attend to. I would be willing to bet the main reason these kids are homeschooled is she needs to shorten their day so they can attent to all the child care she can't do by herslef.

Makes me wonder why you gave your time to read and respond to this article.

who care how many kids they have the balcks and mexican's have kids and more kids no father's and they have no ideal where there kids are i can there all in jail or robbing people you dont hear that about the duggar it 5. oclock do you know where your kids are they do

You really need to get a life.

No YOU need to get a life Paul... if you had one you probably wouldnt be here being a total jerk.

Thank you Annie :)

Paul...well you know what you can go do...I'm just too much a lady to tell you to go do it.

I'm not a lady...so Paul, go "F" yourself!

Dee, unlike octomom and illegals, they do not use any of OUR money to support themselves.

What can they do....take care of themselves and their kids without needing entitlements...and You can???