20 and counting?

While looking on cnn.com to get caught up on the news since I haven't been home to hear what's been happening for the past week, I saw there was an article about the Duggar's, the stars of the reality show 19 and Counting, the family with 19 children. I have never actually seen an episode but I can gather that most people have still heard of these people. They just announced that they are expecting baby #20. Of course most of the article was about how they have all these critics, especially after her last child was born at only 25 weeks and Michelle had preclampsia and was in serious condition herself after the birth (the child is now 2 and perfectly healthy). I understand. It's easy to tell people who have 19 children already that they are crazy and that they are helping overpopulate the earth, etc etc.

However, if you look more into their story, you will find a family who lives debt free, built their own home, home-schools their children, raises loving and respectful members of society and is completely self sufficient. Michelle is a stay at home mom and the dad, unfortunately named Jim-Bob, is in real estate and gets to spend a lot of time at home with the kids because of his flexible schedule. While I don't think I ever want to have anywhere near 20 children, I think they are a great example of how to do things right. Imagine if more people in our country lived how they live and the effect that would have on our economy. People are so burdened with credit card debt and find it so necessary to own a home that too many people own houses who shouldn't. The Duggars also spend a ridiculous amount of time with their children. Think of the effect that has on society, when children get attention, love and care constantly from both parents.

When people say they have to work on two incomes and that kids are so expensive and that they can't possibly afford x, y or z, it's usually about choices. I think that the Duggars have made really good choices when it comes to what they find important (family, not things), how to raise responsible children (financially and socially) and how to do it all without making millions of dollars. They are an example more people should follow (except maybe having the 20 kids part).

What I learned: The Duggars are having baby #20 and are a great example to follow when it comes to fiscal responsibility and raising a family.