The Duggars: “We’re Ready for More”

Okay, I’ll admit it. I do not watch TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, and my knowledge of the Duggars and their large brood of kids is limited to the few bits and pieces of news I read on the internet. Still, I couldn’t help but gasp when I saw the cover of this week’s People magazine, where the couple says, “We’re open to having a 20^th child.”

Having heard about the rough health start baby #19, Josie, had this year, I just assumed that 19 kids was enough. Michelle Duggar had preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure) and little Josie was born premature – eventually requiring six months of hospitalization after her December 2009 birth.

On the Duggar family website, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar say, “They asked God to bless them with as many children as He saw fit in His timing.” Their beliefs probably helped them get through the difficulty of Josie’s first months.  But I can’t help but find the news of their ever-expanding family a little troubling, as I can’t imagine risking another difficult pregnancy after that experience.  

What do you think: Are the Duggars a model of good faith, or should they be more careful when considering more kids?

• Read our interview with the Duggar family