Duplicating the Duggars

Our family is nowhere near as large as the Duggars (and won't be!), but we have learned a great deal from watching documentaries highlighting this amazing family of 16 children with #17 due next summer.

Religious beliefs and politics aside, we are impressed that this mother and father have set up a system in which every child has a buddy and a jurisdiction of which they are responsible. Our own children watch the shows and are amazed, delighted and somewhat inspired by the maturity the Duggar children exhibit.

Our same children haven't been as amazed and delighted the past few weeks as we have slowly begun to incorporate some new responsibilities into their oft self-centered world. They were all up extra early this morning to work on laundry and making sure their rooms were clean before they left for school. The older girls are also helping with the ironing as well as ensuring younger siblings have what they need to begin their days. At mealtime no one sits to eat until everyone else has their silverware, water, napkins, etc. Even Landon helps clear the table when we finish eating, though we do have to check the trash for the odd plate or fork that often gets deposited there in a moment of excitement.

All-in-all things are going extremely well. My quality of life has improved dramatically as small shifts in responsibility move toward the "biggers" and we have raised our expectations of what the "youngers" can do.

Michelle Duggar, the mom, makes a good point when she says that our goal as parents is to teach our children in such a way that we work ourselves right out of this job. It's sad but true; we succeed when they no longer have to have us, simply being wanted and needed emotionally has to be enough for us. I truly believe that our goal is to send our children into the world capable of caring for themselves, yet knowledgeable enough and willing to care for others.