Reply #1: I can't imagine wanting that many children, let alone having that many.

[SeattleGirl]

Having said that, though, I watched the most recent special about the family, and they seem to be taking responsibility for their family. They are self-supporting; that is, they aren't using charity or government funds to take care of their children, and the kids don't seem to be starving or anything.

I've read some comments from other DUers, regarding the family's "buddy system", wherein the older kids are paired with the younger ones, and are responsible to look after them. While on the one hand, I can understand their disagreement with that arrangement; on the other hand, being the oldest of 5, I had responsibility toward my younger siblings, especially the two youngest. I wasn't permanently scarred by it, and did get lots of time to play with my friends, and to be a kid.

Lots of people say that a woman's right to choose whether to have children or not is no one else's business, and I couldn't agree more. And in that same vein, I say it is no one else's business how many children the Duggar's have. If they are being responsible, if they are taking care of them, it really isn't anyone's business how many children they have.