The Duggars are a hardworking honest family- why do any of us feel the need to criticize their belief system?

Their kids are all seemingly well adjusted and being raised in a happy, positive environment.

The Duggars reduce, reuse and recycle AND, they consume fewer new products (JimBob and Michelle's philosophy: Buy Used and Save the Difference), they cook every meal from scratch at home: fewer pre-packaged foods = less trash and fewer electronic/personal electronic devices that get thrown out when new tech replaces them or they break(find me 10 other teens/preteens who dont have cell phones, a DS and an iPod of their own), also, buying used means they have less packaging on new toys/clothing/etc, too.

They self-support, have a private spetic system and private well so no public dollars or facilities being wasted or taxed because of the larger than average family size.

They homeschool so there are more resources (teachers, materials, food program availability, etc) available in their school district to other children who do attend the public schools in their tax-zone.

Environmentally speaking I think they're doing pretty well compared to the general population-not every family but the GENERAL POPULATION.

My husband and I have 2 children, live in a home about 1/2 the size of The Duggars, are we wasteful for heating/cooling/powering this size home for just 4 of us (they have 21 people ion 7000 sq ft) or is it just what people are used to doing/seeing so it's not "wrong"? We use our cars constantly for running our children to school events, daycare and swimming/gymnastics/playdates/etc. We buy most of our household items from stores that do not sell used goods. Many of our dinners come wholly or in part from cans, boxes and other packages or even worse: we eat take out about 2 times per week. Which family has a worse impact on the environment?

I think that when looking more closely at The Duggars and my own family (where we also RRR), I see more room for improvement on the homefront vs in someone else's family....

I also think that we (as a society) should focus on positive thoughts for The Duggars as their daughter struggles to get through each day due to her early arrival.

The envioronmental thing is there, but it is overexagerrated, but that's actually a good thing. Giving people the flat honest state of the world would make them less likely to be so careful about conserving, recycling, and all that. Up here in AK we don't have a recycling program, but down in seattle I know they do and at many waste facilities they sort it out and recycle.

The Duggers are just a big family. No one would think twice about ignoring how four families are polluting the earth. If the parents had more sibling, say two more each, and they had an 'average' number of children, nobody would even consider the environmental impact.

Having that many children is a choice, and though little things add up, compared to the population of the earth it's just a minute blip. I wouldn't want that many kids, but if they do it's not really my place to critisize them for it. I am not in their situation nor do I know much about them so I can't judge. Besides, they already have nineteen, you can't erase those kids off the face of the earth because you wouldn't want so many. Saying they shouldn't have had so many will do absolutely nothing.

Yes, Jezebelle, I did realize that when I wrote "if". Everyone should strive to do their part. And it's not going to happen. It is hard to find a balance between idealism and reality, for sure. I really appreciate mimismommy and Celianne's posts. So many of us with just 5 or less kids are doing much more damage to ourselves, neighbors, and the earth than the Duggars.

My children are now grown adults, 28, 26, 24. I look back and see the differences between some of the Duggar's parenting and how I did, and frankly the difference I am with my granddaughters than I was with our own children. I yelled a lot, and I know it didn't do much to encourage, and support selfesteem in my children. I admire the Duggar's parenting styles and I think the older children are learing about child care and parenting skills from great parents. Staying calm and just looking your child in the eye when talking to them instead of yelling and pointing would go a long way. It is one of my biggest regrets in life.