Bringing Up Bates "Fire Trucks and Diaper Dumps"
- Gil and Kelly plan a “diaper pounding,” a small baby shower where guests bring diapers rather than traditional baby gifts, for Alyssa. “Because Alyssa lives so far away, I feel like I don’t get to be involved and do as much for her as I do the other married couples, so I really wanted to give her a shower or do something just to show her how excited we were,” says Kelly.
- After Thanksgiving, some of the younger kids visit the married couples. Back home, the Bates’ laundry room catches on fire. Lawson and Trace panic when Judson is nowhere to be found, but they end up finding him and are able to get everyone out of the house.
- Zach, a cop, is on patrol when the fire breaks out and is called to the scene. Gil and some of the boys are on a tree job when they hear what has happened, so they rush home. “I just didn’t know what to expect when we came down the driveway,” says Gil.
- “It’s unbelievable how fast fire can spread, especially in a room with tons of fuel, which would be clothes,” says Zach. “It could have ended much differently, and it’s a miracle from God that my family didn’t lose much more.”
- After the firefighters put the flames out, Gil goes into the laundry room to assess the damage. The fire has burned holes in the walls and blackened almost every surface According to the firefighters, had the door of the laundry room not been closed, the fire could have easily burned the entire house down.
- Judson and Jeb come clean: They accidentally started the fire while secretly playing with a lighter in the laundry room. “We’ve talked about ‘don’t play with fire,’” says Gil. “You think…everybody’s got it, but I guess they really didn’t get the seriousness of it.” The father of 19 has a serious talk with his two youngest children about the dangers of fire and plans to have more conversations with them in the coming days.
- The next day, a crew comes by to pick up all the clothing items that need to be cleaned. “About the 70th bag, and I realized we have too many clothes,” says Gil.
- Meanwhile, Kelly, Katie, and Emily Raynes (a family-friend who played at Michael’s wedding) are in Chicago visiting Michael and Brandon. Kelly is thrilled to be visiting her daughter, but she is anxious to return home to find out more about the fire.
- After spending a short time in Chicago, Kelly, Katie, and Michael head down to Florida for Alyssa’s diaper pounding. Rather than a women-only shower, this event is a fellowship for both guys and gals at a local park. Brandon is able to join them.
- “Me and Michael are really close, and it’s been really hard, telling her that I’m pregnant and talking about my pregnancy…and her wanting so bad to have a big family and have a child," shares Alyssa. “It’s a really delicate topic, and it’s just hard to watch because she would be such an amazing mother.”
- “There’s a little bit of sadness in all of our hearts because we all pictured that by this time that Michael would get to be holding a baby, and I know that’s her heart’s desire,” adds Kelly.
- Michael is “absolutely thrilled” for Alyssa, but she admits that she still feels a longing to have a child of her own. “Every time I hear of a pregnancy announcement, it is hard, but it doesn’t at all take away from the excitement of hearing about new life and a new baby.”
- Although taxing, Kelly says that the events of the week have brought the family closer together.
I had a feeling Judson &Jeb started the fire. If I was the Bates I would kept the lighter in a locked box away from were the boys could fined it.
ReplyDeleteI would have given Judson and Jeb a firm spanking. Talking about something so serious doesn't make enough of an impression at that age. The house could have been lost and family members killed.
ReplyDeleteReally?? You think hitting children is what let's them know how serious it was? Not likely.
DeleteSpanking only is an outlet for adults to release their own aggression...its a violent act that does not work!They can take away something they love to do or play with and have a stern talking too. Disappointing your family is punishment enough to a little child if you go about it the right way.
DeleteAgreed!
DeleteSpanking is child abuse and won't do any good. I think seeing the fire itself and what came of it was probably enough to make a lasting impression. You really think they'll play with fire again? Doubtful. Read about the psychological effects of spanking on young children and you'll discover that it only leads to worse behaviour and degrades relationships with the parents. So sad to think there are people that still promote hurting a child.
DeleteSpanking is not abuse unless you full on beat the child. Oh no! It might hurt the kid's feelings though!.... This is what is wrong with the world.
DeleteSpanking is NOT child abuse. It is Biblical (Proverbs 23:13; Proverbs 13:24). God instructs us to spank and discipline our children because He loves us all. Love is not "Yes" all of the time. Spanking is not for honest and innocent mistakes. It is to be done because of willful disobedience - like playing with a lighter when you were told not to... It is amazing that for thousands upon thousands of years, parents spanked their children and were able to teach them to respect authority; good manners; how to behave in public; and be productive members of society. Now, because some have wrongfully deemed spanking as abuse, a lot of young people have no respect for authority and are not positively contributing to society. Can you say "Snowflake" or "Parenting Fail"? People who claim that they have wonderful children and that they have never spanked them are blind. Their kids are not as great as they think they are. Thank God, the Bates did not lose their house. More importantly, thank God, no one lost their life. Just because Judson and Jeb are the babies of the family does not mean they are not old enough to understand and obey. Nobody wants to see anyone hurt. However, a little pain for a minute, on the bottom, is nothing compared to the lasting heartache and pain caused by willful disobedience.
DeleteI am not a "snowflake" parent. What a terribly judgemenal over statement. I am also not blind. My children are now lovely young adults. Respectful of authority..college educated..missions minded...Godly...persons. They Love The Lord and they love people. I did not ever need to spank them. I have, however, known several families who adhere to "breaking a child's strong will" through spanking. " Obecience is only obedient if done the first time". They are now estranged from their parents. Harshness never wins. What does Scripture say... "love covers a multitude of sins".
Delete6:22- The problem with giving the green light on spanking is the plain fact that it okays violence. It also can very easily get out of hand by angry parents who have a hard time knowing when to stop. Contrary to your opinion on the matter, there are ways to discipline children without hitting them. I was a schoolteacher for over 35 years and managed to keep order and structure without spanking. (Not that the law would have allowed this!) I also raised my own children without spanking and they have grown up to be intelligent, thoughtful, and productive members of society.
DeleteThat is an awful idea. The little boys made a mistake. Like everyone does. Forgiveness, teaching and helping them understand is the right way to teach children. Hitting them is not teaching them anything but fear and pain. Kelly and Gil know how to gently explain and show them how to know what they did and how to prevent it from happening again.
DeleteAnother misuse of Scripture 6:22 to justify abuse. Discipline means to "disciple". We are disciples of Christ. He never "spanked" or hit anyone. In fact when Peter cut the Roman guards ear off...defending Christ in his opinion...Jesus did not say "great job..that will show him his error". Nope...Jesus healed the man's hear. Even when correcting Jesus was Love. Nothing "snowflaky" about it.
DeleteAnyone who doesn't spank their child is a "snowflake parent"?
DeleteI would argue that parents who resort to spanking need to familiarize themselves with effective methods of child rearing. Hitting a child...and yes, spanking is hitting... is simply not a logical consequence. If a child causes damage, there is such a thing as a natural consequence: restitution. A small child can be assigned extra chores in exchange for working off at least a portion of the expenses, whatever they are. In the case of this fire, the parents could also take the children to the fire station to
have a sit down with the firefighters. Sometimes hearing it from the professionals who have to deal with the mistakes people make can have more of an impact.
I know families--one in particular --who adhered to your idea of spanking according to the Bible. I'm ashamed to say I was part of it for awhile because I wanted to raise Godly children. My children are grown, but I can still weep thinking of some of the "spankings" I gave in the name of "biblical instruction". I remember watching in horror as a friend of mine "spanked" her child to "break his will". Her son was literally crying for his Mother to have mercy. You want to know the offense? I allowed my children to watch Little House on the Prairie. They were in my home. Her son wanted to watch also. His Mother did not allow Little House because of "Laura's rebellious attitude". Her son was spanked...thoroughly. Then I was lectured in MY HOME about the evils I was allowing my children to watch! I was teaching my children to rebel against authority! Did I mention it was Little House on the Prairie!!! I left that group and removed my children from that influence that day! I am not a snowflake or parental failure. My children know the love of Christ...and the Holy Spirit corrects gently when necessary...not abusively.
DeleteWow - lots of snowflake parents on here! :)
DeleteSpanking is not child abuse, and the frantic condemnation of spanking as an assaultive act of violence is a dangerous perception. Child abuse occurs in many forms and is a serious breach of human rights, but to treat spanking as a universal act of abuse is just ignorant. The logical pretense of labeling spanking as child abuse also puts other parental punishments in the same spectrum - grounding can be a form of abuse as can time-outs.
DeleteSure, spankings can technically be classified as violence, but it's a little odd for an overtly violent society that routinely endorses far more extreme forms of violence to suddenly single out spanking and pretend it's the most profane act of deprivation to ever befall a child.
Trying children as adults and sentencing them to a far more violent prison system is abuse, as is denying universal healthcare. Poverty is a form of abuse that occurs with increasing frequency. Religion is an act of abuse far more vile than spanking. Guns kept in homes with children are abuse. Law enforcement is an entire industry of aggressive abuse. Many sports put children's health and physical safety at risk that can have an effect across their entire lifetime.
Moreover, the entire premise of the anti-spanking crusade is based on a flawed and biased report that purports to show correlations that no legitimate scientific inquiry would ever claim - and absent from the discussion are the four or five other studies conducted around the same time, each finding similar conclusions, that all show remarkable differences from the one people now hold up as the pinnacle research to denounce corporal punishment.
I believe what the Bible says about spanking but never ever does the bible condone abuse it does say be angry and sin not. . Our problem in our society is some [eople have not correctly spanked their children and as a result people have the idea that spanking is wrong. It's wrong to spank in anger or a violent way.God does hold people accountable for how they treat children.
DeleteIt's fortunate no one was hurt or killed. When my youngest sister and brother were little they were playing with matches and started a car fire. The really scary thing is they were in the car, with my dad's lawn mower and there was a gas can in the car. Thankfully the fire was put out quickly before the flames got to the gasoline. They would not be here if that had happened. They knew not to play with matches but for whatever reason they decided to disobey. That's probably what happened with Judson and Jeb. You can put matches in a high place out of a child's reach and somehow they manage to find them.
ReplyDeleteWow! Glad they were okay!
DeleteSo relieved it all ended up okay, God is good😇
ReplyDeleteUh! What's a diaper dump? Never heard this before.
ReplyDeleteHi I think these boys could use some supervised fire play, like a bonfire where they can be safely supervised and teach them how to be safe. Telling them it was a dangerous thing is not necessarily going to make them want to stop, they will just hide it better which is what they already did.
ReplyDeleteas far as the spanking, I think the fire starting and natural consequences are far more effective in this situation
ReplyDeleteagree. Spanking would be too far removed from the incident and they would not attach the spanking to the disaster. Not an advocate for spanking but am not against corporal punishment if a family chooses and it is done as the RARE exception not the main means of discipline.
DeleteThat was such a terrible event that occurred. I'm happy they were all safe.
ReplyDeleteIt's really great to see a husband and wife so thrilled to see each other after being apart for an extended period of time.
Seems like a lot of travel for a mother with many small children at home.
ReplyDeleteWe don't really know how many days Kelly travels without her children. From watching the show, it seems like most of her travels take place with the whole family. I don't see anything wrong with a mom getting away every once in a while, especially if it's to visit other children and especially if it's a mom who already invests so much of her time and life into her kids. She homeschools! She's with her kids almost constantly.
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