Jessa Duggars wedding, ice cream reception. ?

@kahlcara: According to the United States Department of Agriculture, it costs nearly $250,000.00 to raise a kid these days – and that’s before college tuition!

Multiply that by 19 and that’s what Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are dealing with. Of course they were living comfortably before the show.

I do not mind the Duggar's. I admire their commitment to God, and avoiding sex before marriage. Not being able to hold hands until you are engaged? I find that a bit strange but good for them, they obviously have more will power than most young people I know.

The only "reality" tv shows I watch now are Shark Tank and Chopped. I used to watch HGTV and Say Yes to the Dress but stopped. I will never waste my time on people like the Duggars, the Kardashians, Kate plus 8 stupidness, basically - anyone that exploits their children to get a payday is a no-no by me.

McKony - You have got to be kidding with us. You can't honestly defend The Duggars, saying that their wealth is not enough. If you don't have enough to raise a child then stop having children. Easy as that. Do you go buy a Porsche? No, because you probably can't afford it! And some of the children are full grown and making their own money, I'm sure. And I assure you that it does not cost $250k to raise a child when you raise them like they are in the dark ages. They are so far from reality that they cannot survive in the real world. I (unfortunately) saw a commercial where they said that they are never allowed to be alone on a date, ever. They have to have a sibling join. They can't kiss before a wedding. The women are not allowed to wear pants... ever. Only skirts that cover them up. Seriously? No one can say they don't make enough money when they exploit their children to get more shows. And her continuing to have kids is not for themselves, it's so they can keep their tv show. That family makes Octomom look good.

I have never watched a single episode of the Kartrashians either.

Mrs2B nailed it. The only reality television I watch is House Hunters and Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown (which is an awesome food/travel docuseries). I once tried to watch an episode of Jersey Shore because I wanted to know what the attraction was. I couldn't make it through the first episode. I prefer to keep my brain cells.

Not a fan of the Kardashians. I really have no opinion on the Duggars because I have never watched the show. I have seen what they call a tv show called Keeping up with the Kardashians. They are all idiots.

They just want to get to the baby making. They're just baby machines like their mother.

Rusticbride, could you imagine if one of them was infertile? They'd probably get ousted from the clan.

Why does it seem so many of these posts are so hateful? The Duggars have morals and standards...that bothers you???? Gesh!!!

The wedding special for Jill was on last night... I attempted to watch it out of sheer curiousity, and it was painful. They had a shit ton of "volunteers" who were there to pull the wedding off. I'm sorry, but if you have to rely on 100 volunteers to pull off your wedding, you're doing something wrong.

I also thought the scene where Jim Bob (who seriously goes by a name like that anyways???) was telling Michelle to pray for the groom's mother was seriously creepy. He came off like a stern principal chastising an unruly child.

Newport Light - because they ARE bigots. They want laws that adhere to their Christian beliefs ONLY. They want to prevent equal rights, like same sex marriage and they use their celebrity to sway political decisions.

And let's not forget that they practice no form of birth control when the world's population has nearly doubled in only 30 years. Families like theirs make me better understand why countries like China implemented a 2-children per family law.

@pancakes, the reason they have their wealth is b/c they are frugal. Obviously it is enough for them. If the Dugger's listened to the people on this board on how they should hosts their wedding's they wouldn't have that money lol. That's why they have it & we are making judgments on it lol.

I don't watch the show & I do not share the same religious values as they do, not even close, but If you read articles about the family, you'd know that they can support themselves with our without the show, they lived comfortably well before the show ever started as the Father has been very successful. Big diff between the Duggers & Octomom.

ps. I live in South Florida with a 18 yr old, I know how much it costs to raise a child & 250k is not far of. The average cost of daycare in my area is minimum around $1k a month, x12 for the first 4yrs is is 48k alone!

Those are not moral standards to me. Moral standards include using the earth's resources responsibly (and trust me, I'm not a granola chopping old hippie.....) and asking volunteers to give their time for something worthy. I think that might be more what God had in mind as God's will, if you believe that there is such a thing, not popping out kids right and left because you're too irresponsible to follow natural (or 'unnatural') birth control. I'm also a big supporter of adoption, (both children and pets) and the notion of having that many children when so many go wanting for loving families is just horrifying to me.

I love Shark Tank too. And any cooking show.....

I personally have nothing against the Duggars, but I don't know a ton about them. I don't necessarily agree with their beliefs, but I have to admit I do watch the show if it's on and nothing else is.

For one thing, having a net worth of $3.5M is making them some money in interest. And you know they're not paying for daycare, they just make the older kids do it. I think the $250,000 is also for a first child. Subsequent kids cost less because of hand-me-downs, already having baby stuff, etc.

It just seems incredibly unnecessary and selfish (with regard to the ecosystem and world) to have that many kids. There's no way the parents can give them all enough time and emotional support, even if they can afford them. It's also terrifying to me that they're raising super-religious, uneducated bigots at the rate that they are. If their kids procreate as much, they'll have 400 grandchildren!

ETA: I don't watch the Kardashians either. The only "reality shows" that I watch are Dancing with the Stars and sometimes House Hunters International because I'm fascinated by the idea of looking for an apartment in Paris or a home in Brazil.

I cannot believe people actually defend how the Duggars live! They have their older children raise their younger children, they don't allow their children to have normal relationships, (although I agree with abstinence until marriage), and the only thing they really seem to care about is popping out more kids!!!

When you start having miscarriages and you can't carry your children to full term, I'd say that's God's way of saying you need to stop having kids!!!!

"And you know they're not paying for daycare, they just make the older kids do it."

Honestly, that says it all right there for me.

Having the older kids help take care of the younger ones doesn't feel like a big deal to me. When families were larger (thinking Boomer gen here), that happened a lot. My dad is almost 10 years older than my uncle, so he had some of that responsibility when he was a teenager.

But if they are relying solely on their older kids for daycare, that's messed up.

From what Ive seen the older girls help out but why would they need daycare, Michelle doesn't work shes a stay home mom, and all the kids get home schooled.

I totally see both sides, but I don't think they are exploiting their children trying to get money, I truly believe their hoping to get their views out there. Whether you agree or disagree with them, 21 people is not enough to change laws, but obviously other people are voting with their views. Just a good reminder for people to go out and vote if they feel strongly about something.

I've seen a lot of families that have older kids that take care of their younger siblings, and even more who's kids come home to empty houses with working families. So I definitely don't agree with that being a bad point, and 100% do not agree with the one-child policy that China implemented. Awful, awful law, although I understand the intent, just so sad.

I don't really disagree with the whole having older kids help (although maybe not the extent that they do)

And on the note of cooking shows.... I LOVE THEM.... cut throat kitchen? Squeal.