Although there were aspects that bothered me, such as the risk to the mother's health and the older children being roped in to look after their younger siblings, the kids seemed happy and well adjusted, and from what I could gather at least one parent in each family was working to support them. If that's how they choose to live their life then good luck to them.
I couldn't do it mind, I don't think I could cope with one child never mind fifteen. I think I'll stick to dogs.

I'd rather toast my own head!

I wondered more about the woman with 9 and twins on the way in a 4 bedroom house. Thats 9 (to be 11) kids between 3 rooms, thats approx 4 per bedroom so they either have huge rooms or it it awfully cramped which is surely not good long term, there will come an age when those children will surely all require a degree of privacy and with 4 to a room that is not gonna happen. I find its hard enough just to fit 2 and their belongings into one room never mind 4.

They were both adopted.

My best friend works at the primary school on my local housing estate. I live on a new build estate adjoining a council estate and the vast majority of people produce children for a living which of course is paid for by the state. There are quite a few who continually produce children to get benefits so they don't have to work and she has said many times the children often suffer due to over crowding and a lack of sleep as there is almost always a newborn/young baby in the house. It's an appalling way to live and to be quite honest these "Mothers" know exactly what they're doing, if you stopped the handouts then they'd stop producing children and subjecting them to a deprived existence. Very sad indeed.

Couldn't agree more!

I agree that it was good that the one parent at least was working, however I'd imagine there was good reason for that, probably the amount their income is topped up by working tax credits.....

As would I!!!!

What about the poor older kids on one of the families where they had to move down into the basement.....not the best message to a child, out with the old in with the new!

Really? Now that, is rather interesting!

That makes my blood boil, if you can't afford them yourself, don't have them!!!! There is an American family with 19 kids, they have their own show too, they are the complete contrast to their British counterparts, they have a HUGE house, the children are all incredibly bright, talented, well-adjusted, they all have their individual time with their parents, and their dad obviously brings home enough of an income to support them all. Americans who have big families do it because they want them, not because of what they'll earn!

I was keen to watch this as the family is local. I was expecting to be shouting at the tv, but as PB&J said, they were all well adjusted and well behaved. I didn't like aspects of it as well and thought she obviously had problems but I couldn't help but like the family.

However, the other family, I just got a negative feeling about them. She seemed very controlling.

Helen

The Duggars? They give me the creeps. They have a huge family because they believe they're doing god's will by creating a little Christian army, a 'quiverfull'. Shudder.

I can't contemplate one child let alone 15?