One of my grandmothers was part of a family of 12. On the other hand, this was on a Midwestern farm 100ish years ago, when another baby + about 5 years meant more help on the farm.

My aunt's ex-husband was one of 16 or 17. His parents were pretty wack-a-loon. And they had ONE bathroom in the house! ONE! Although the kids were more spaced out then the 17 we've been discussing. I think the oldest was in his/her 20s and out of the house when the youngest was born.

My SiL is one of 8 girls and she says in the town they grew up in in NJ, Mendem?, their family was one of the smaller ones. This was in the 70s. the 1970s.

NOT Trojans, though. IJS.

Could they do negative endorsements? Like, a shot of the entire family, then Trojan Man walks into the shot and says to the camera, "Do you want to end up like these nuts?"

Not that I think it's nutty to have that many kids. Trojan Man does, though.

They also get a lot of free shit

Yes, this. Which makes you wonder if they could sustain their lifestyle if they stopped having children (and thus lost the renewed media attention when a new baby is born upping the numbers) and had to rely on "It's been 10 years, where are they now?" specials.

Which makes you wonder if they could sustain their lifestyle if they stopped having children

Well, she's 40, so they can't keep this up *too* much longer.

Well, she's 40, so they can't keep this up *too* much longer.

Maybe this is where the "gifts from God" thing comes in....

Yes, if you can manage it, nothing wrong with big families. I have to wonder whether the younger kids are getting lost in the shuffle. Not to mention, how healthy can it be for kids to grow up by making TV specials about their daily lives?

Sparky, that may be happening relatively soon. She's 40 and can't have too many childbearing years left.

Well, she's 40, so they can't keep this up *too* much longer.

...and my imagination turns to wonder the pressure they'll put on the daughters to start having children...

E-gad. I do not think nice thoughts.

The older kids have experience in growing up in a very large family. So I can see them going one of two ways. Some will probably embrace the idea and try for large families of their own. (But will they be able to support large families?) And some will have children only over their dead bodies.

...and my imagination turns to wonder the pressure they'll put on the daughters to start having children...

At a guess, based on my knowledge of the sort of theology and lifestyle that goes with the quiverfull movement, there's probably not a strong expectation that the girls will go to college. Apparently one of the latest Big Things is that you remain a part of your father's household until you marry, and instead of dating you have a sort of pseudo-arranged marriage through courtship with input from both sets of parents. Not that I know the Duggars buy into that part of the movement. Pure speculation, here. One of my online hobbies just happens to be lurking on quiverfull/dominionist sites and blogs and just boggling at how different it is from the Christianity I've experienced, including back when I was more conservative/evangelical than mainline.