My Cousin and Johannah Duggar

[pomology]

This summer I have been spending a lot of time with family I don’t normally see that often, and getting to know a five and a half-year-old cousin of mine. She is cute and bright and has one of the biggest imaginations I’ve ever encountered. I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her and I’m not normally that comfortable with young children.

 

Anyway, as it happens she is about a month younger than Johannah Duggar, who many pinpoint as the brains and the spunk of the clan. In short, she’s a lot like my cousin. But the differences in their lives are enormous.

 

My cousin has two parents who are completely devoted to raising her (she has an older brother, but since there are “only†two of them and not nineteen, the parents are actually able to spend time with all their children).

She has two parents who tell her that they love her every day and show that love with hugs and kisses.

She has two parents who read her stories before bedtime (and other times, too).

She has two parents who make sure she eats her fruits and vegetables.

She has two parents who make sure that she brushes her teeth.

She has two parents that listen to her stories and laugh with her when she’s being silly.

She is very close with all of her grandparents.

She goes to public school in big city, so she gets a chance to spend time with a diverse set of kids her age.

She goes to summer camp, so she gets even more of an opportunity to spend time with kids her age.

 

In contrast, Johannah Duggar probably has none of those things. It would be really sad if my cousin wasn’t in a family that valued her so much and so I feel bad for Johannah Duggar. It’s amazing to me that quiverfullers can preach so much about family values, when they don’t even value their families.

[deelaem]

Thanks for sharing this, your cousin sounds delightful. Just imagine if Johannah got the attention and freedom your little cousin does. With her bright spunkiness, imagine how she could shine!

I wonder if any of younger 15 or so Duggars have ever had a story read just for them. :(

[1004srs]

My DD has played with Hannie at the thing in Lawrence, KS. She was a sweet little girl and taught my DD how to play twister.

Overall, the HOwler Monkeys were pretty good little kids.

I was shocked.

[pomology]

My DD has played with Hannie at the thing in Lawrence, KS. She was a sweet little girl and taught my DD how to play twister.

Overall, the HOwler Monkeys were pretty good little kids.

I was shocked.

I'm sure Hannie is a sweet girl. A sweet girl who deserves more than her parents are able to and/or willing to give her.

[tabitha2]

I wonder if any of younger 15 or so Duggars have ever had a story read just for them.

Actually yes, though courtesy of helper girl Anna:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mJVkO6GvDU/T ... C_0002.JPG

[ophelia]

Good for Hannie that the helper gave her the attention that she deserves.. still I think she is one of the lucky ones in the more or less lost crowd of children that are older than josie und too young to be helper at home. She and Jackson get a lot of attention through the show.. although this also might cause not so good things (my little brother always made the worst things when he had an audience) it is more than Jordyn or Jennifer get or some of the boys like Jackson, who seems to be such a sweetheart. I feel really sorry for the monkey howler gang and the little girls because they ALL seem to be good kids (the J'slaves did / are doing a really good job raising their little siblings... :| )and they seem so lost. We all know that in the Duggar family (like in most QF families) education isn't valued that much, but I still think that the older kids had a much better homeschool-time than the little ones get..

Sometimes that really hurts me. That they have this wonderful children and don't deserve them. And it makes me really angry!!!!

[Sola]

I feel really sorry Jordyn (is that the second youngest? So many kids, so many names). She was really cheated of her first and only year with her mother with Josie being a preemie.

Anyone else think the Howler Monkeys are showing behaviour exactly what you would expect considering how little time they actually get with their parents? When you think of the older ones; even in the early shows they were much better behaved (Stepford-esque) than the Howler Monkeys are now. Perhaps it is the Duggards (that was a typo, but it seemed to fit so I left it) trying to show that they are normal parents, but I wonder if it is more a case of the younger ones lacking in parental attention.

Is it Jackson or Justin, the one who wears the sailor style hat a lot? That one pings my gaydar.

Edit: I just googled something about the Duggards, and the tagline which came up for their website on google was:

"The Duggars make everything from delicious food to laundry detergent."

Tater Tot casserole? Chicken Etti? Delicious food?

*wanders off laughing hysterically* :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[slickcat79]

Edit: I just googled something about the Duggards, and the tagline which came up for their website on google was:

"The Duggars make everything from delicious food to laundry detergent."

Tater Tot casserole? Chicken Etti? Delicious food?

*wanders off laughing hysterically* :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

When Michelle was "doing laundry", I'm pretty sure we saw her taking detergent out of a large container of a name-brand variety (All, maybe?). Of course, it doesn't mean that they don't make their own and then place it in old store-bought jugs, but I'm pretty sure the days of grating naptha soap on the stovetop are long gone as well.

[ophelia]

Those days are gone.. just like the days when they were only shopping in thrift-stores... unfortunately the days of the horrible perm aren't gone yet.

[IReallyAmHopewell]

FYI: Most of my friends make laundry detergent. I have mine in a colorful bucket, but most re-use old Sams Club size Tide jugs etc.

Now....I love to snark on the Duggars, (and do so daily) but we do need to remember that we only see what the show's editors let us see. All the horrible table manners, stopped up johns, gagable dinners, etc. It doesn't mean they don't read to their kids[granted it's probably a bit more limited choice of books] or that they eat Tater Tot Casserole at every meal. That's the vision the editors show us. The kids obviously get enough to eat. They do see the dentist. The parents did have sense enough to go to the hospital and get real medical help and not trust an herb specialist from the Gothard school of quack science [NOT saying ALL herbal things are useless--many are great]. But the editors do like to show us the worst.

I would be shocked if the kids WERE howler monkeys in public--it's totally out of step with their ideology. I think what your kid saw was the real thing. My kids sure behave better in public! lol.......

Many Christians really take to heart the verse from Matthew:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

Would I, personally, feed them differently?? Yes. Are they malnourished--I doubt it. I've lived in the 3rd world and seen REAL malnutrition. But I am pretty sure they eat "enough."

I DO truly wish Michelle would pay more attention to her own children--there are scences in that show that make me want to cry. The kids do NOT get enough personal attention from anyone. Happily, the crew have HELPED that balance in the kids favor by paying attention to them in ways their parents can't fathom. I DO wish they'd give up on the bizarre side hugs and I really, really, really wish they'd love on their children more than they do on each other!! But it is GOD first, husband/wife 2nd, everyone else last in that world.