No you did not. It was merely how I interpretted your tone. In this case, I may very well be wrong.

I don't have any problem with Tad's attitude, but I agree with you that this family seems to be doing fine. They're not existing off of government handouts and it appears the kids are doing fine. If this was a ghetto family where all the kids had different fathers, then we'd have something to complain about.

knot-e-lady, I want to take a quick time out and just make sure we don't get out of control and misinterpret each other...

First let me say that I really do like you, and I have a lot of respect for you. None of what I am saying is intended to be offensive to anyone, I am expressing my opinions, as you are expressing yours.

It seems to me that you are an optimist, you want to believe the best about these people, and I admire that. I am more of a realist, and somewhat a pessimist. In my life I have never seen a perfectly happy family, and family happiness seems to be inversely proportional to size, I can only base my judgements off of my own experiences.

I respect your opinions, I just ask that you respect mine enough to not paint me like some kind of a bad guy...

Good post. Knot is OK, but, like all of us, can come off in the wrong way at times. I've certainly been guilty of that alot.

I am sure I have come off the wrong way quite a bit in this thread also...

Based on what?

Seriously, I'm curious. From the beginning of this thread you seem to be making your opinions based on your mother's family, who, from the little you've said, was dysfunctional.

And I read the original article that started this thread. It was disturbing that a liberal paper like that would print that kind of judgemental crap on it.

And the fact of the matter is, people in the United states have been being encouraged to reproduce because of future needs and the fact that birth rates are down.

Birth rates are only down with anglo-white people.

My grandmother had 16 children by my grandfather back on the farm. Non of my aunts or uncles ended up in jail or even on drugs. I just wish my generation could claim as successful a track record.

But 16 kids all between two people seems a bit excessive. But if that's your "thing" and you are doing without public assistance...well...more power to ya.

Why does everyone use jail as a measuring stick... Not everyone who goes to jail is a bad person, or unsuccessful, and not going to jail does not mean you are successful or that you are a good person...

True that... but people can make appropriate judgments about finanical situations. This family has obviously avoided such thinking.