Parsnips and Parsimony

[DoodleBop2]

This seems to be a thing among vlogging moms. They get sick or get a headache and can just take to bed all day. While it's nice to have such an involved dad in most realities with several children it's just not possible for mom to just not do anything. I do have to laugh at how smug she is about the healthy eating, natural this and won't eat "chemicals" in cereal that and yet she's constantly sick or something.

It was over a year ago Art mentioned the lengths he went to visit her and make time for her before they were married. I truly think he loves her.

[weed]

What is it with that cupboard in the bathroom? I thought that the basement and the barn were the last two places where they had clutter, and then Janelle goes on about that cupboard which was absolutely FULL of clutter! Does that mean that all their other cupboards are the same? I suspect the answer to that is yes, considering what their pantry often looks like. I really don't think they will ever get that house under control.

When she had cleaned out the cupboard (which took 4.5 hours!!! ... I find that mind-boggling) I noticed that she only kept about 6 towels for their family of 9. She did have a rack on which she keeps "the towels we are using currently", but that only consisted of four towels (all rolled up so that they would never dry properly). With their frugal ways I think they must all share towels? Yuck! I'm not surprised though, judging by the amount (or lack of) toilet paper that they allow themselves and their children to use. I am extremely frugal and admire them in many ways in that regard, but I think that is just gross.

Why does Janelle make SUCH a big deal about everything she does? 4.5 hours to clean out one cupboard (and it didn't sound from what she was saying that she was stopping and starting on the project) and then Art has to get involved in it as well to stroke her ego and confirm that she has done such an excellent job. She is such a drama queen. "Will this container fit? Oh no ... I'm so disappointed that it doesn't. What container will I put in there instead?" On and on and on it went. For goodness sake! Just clean out a cupboard without all the fuss. It isn't rocket science!

[dahell]

What is it with that cupboard in the bathroom? I thought that the basement and the barn were the last two places where they had clutter, and then Janelle goes on about that cupboard which was absolutely FULL of clutter! Does that mean that all their other cupboards are the same? I suspect the answer to that is yes, considering what their pantry often looks like. I really don't think they will ever get that house under control.

When she had cleaned out the cupboard (which took 4.5 hours!!! ... I find that mind-boggling) I noticed that she only kept about 6 towels for their family of 9. She did have a rack on which she keeps "the towels we are using currently", but that only consisted of four towels (all rolled up so that they would never dry properly). With their frugal ways I think they must all share towels? Yuck! I'm not surprised though, judging by the amount (or lack of) toilet paper that they allow themselves and their children to use. I am extremely frugal and admire them in many ways in that regard, but I think that is just gross.

Why does Janelle make SUCH a big deal about everything she does? 4.5 hours to clean out one cupboard (and it didn't sound from what she was saying that she was stopping and starting on the project) and then Art has to get involved in it as well to stroke her ego and confirm that she has done such an excellent job. She is such a drama queen. "Will this container fit? Oh no ... I'm so disappointed that it doesn't. What container will I put in there instead?" On and on and on it went. For goodness sake! Just clean out a cupboard without all the fuss. It isn't rocket science!

Omgosh, I can’t believe ONE CUPBOARD took that long?! Insane. I’m beginning to realize the reason they take years to declutter is A) Janelle is slow and drawn out and B) They probably dread starting things because they THINK it’s going to take so long. Because she takes an unnecessarily long time to do simple tasks. I’m thinking that should have taken an hour max. And I’m being generous. Also, Art is so kind in his words to and about her. When she goes to his shop or see she his workbench mess she’s always much more snarky about him. And, she blames all that cupboard mess on the kids!! Janelle, you must go in there daily! If you would see the little bit of mess you could quick “tidy” it up every day. Or teach the kids to? Shame on her for passing the blame. Charity was probably busy either organizing Janelle’s 31, baking, cooking, making crackers, knitting, visiting the nursing home, doing her volunteer medic position....geez Janelle, take responsibility for your own home and messes.

[dahell]

Also, where do you all see she’s sick? I don’t see it in the vlog?

[DoodleBop2]

This is the same woman who says they teach their children not to be wasteful so 1 12 pack of toilet paper takes a couple months to use. I dread to think the state of the underwear of the younger kids. So not surprised if the kids have to share towels.

4.5 hours to clean one cabinet is probably because she just doesn't get something over with. It has to be this big drama and she stops and starts so many things. Just get it over with. She also claims to be using the Kon Mari Method. I wonder if the cupboard took 4.5 hours to clean out because she had to stop and touch every object to see if it gave her joy. That book was all the rage for a while I read it and I don't get the appeal...then again I don't care about the feelings of my off-season clothing either.

I think I'd throw something at my husband if he came up behind me to praise me for cleaning out a cupboard like a child or a dog. Good girl, you cleaned the cabinet.

[weed]

Also, where do you all see she’s sick? I don’t see it in the vlog?

It is is the vlog from a few days ago ... called A New Game. Art has the kids all by himself for the entire day and takes them to lots of places before amusing them all at home for the rest of the day. He says right at the beginning that Janelle is sick and she stays in bed for the entire day.

[dahell]

Also, where do you all see she’s sick? I don’t see it in the vlog?

It is is the vlog from a few days ago ... called A New Game. Art has the kids all by himself for the entire day and takes them to lots of places before amusing them all at home for the rest of the day. He says right at the beginning that Janelle is sick and she stays in bed for the entire day.

Ah, ok. That’s why. I couldn’t bring myself to click on that one knowing I’d have to forward past them playing their game. Even though I don’t sit and watch YT videos, just have it on at night while I clean etc, I knew I couldn’t stomach the game playing personally. Lol. Oops. Thanks!

[dahell]

This is the same woman who says they teach their children not to be wasteful so 1 12 pack of toilet paper takes a couple months to use. I dread to think the state of the underwear of the younger kids. So not surprised if the kids have to share towels.

4.5 hours to clean one cabinet is probably because she just doesn't get something over with. It has to be this big drama and she stops and starts so many things. Just get it over with. She also claims to be using the Kon Mari Method. I wonder if the cupboard took 4.5 hours to clean out because she had to stop and touch every object to see if it gave her joy. That book was all the rage for a while I read it and I don't get the appeal...then again I don't care about the feelings of my off-season clothing either.

I think I'd throw something at my husband if he came up behind me to praise me for cleaning out a cupboard like a child or a dog. Good girl, you cleaned the cabinet.

That toilet paper thing, I don’t even get that. It’s great not to be wasteful but, that’s a little excessive. Also, I’ve tried listening to the Kon Mari book and it’s just not my thing. To each their own. It’s just not super helpful for me. But, it’s trendy to “Kon Mari” your space and “be a minimalist” it seems.

[weed]

Why does Janelle always put herself first when it comes to food? She let three of her kids have a tiny tiny lick of the beaters when she was making those cupcakes and then proceeded to finish the whole thing off herself in front of them. She always does that with anything that is tasty. Poor kids!

I was really interested to see how trashed the house is yet again in the latest vlog. I'm at the stage where I usually don't even listen to what they are talking about anymore because I'm always too busy checking out the house in the background for all the rubbish that they have piled up. LOL

What is the fascination with those 31 bags? They seem just like ordinary bags that have a big mark-up on the price. Why not just buy some cheap bags to put their shopping in? It seems strange to me when they are so frugal in other ways.

[DoodleBop2]

The eating more of the sweets in front of her kids is such a petty thing to do. The only people she has to one up are her own children.


multi level marketing is big even more so among Christian women in the US. If they're not trying to sell you oils or lipstick or leggings or bags. If you ever listen to the script they all have a variation of the same thing Feeling led to work from home, God-given opportunity to support my family etc. The same women who swear by those lulu roe leggings or whatever they're called are the same ones complaining that they get holes within a few weeks and it's nearly impossible to return them.

I use Aldi cloth bags for my shopping. They also become library book bags.

[dahell]

I haven’t watch yet. I’ve gotten a few 31 bags as gifts and they have held up really well. Personally, I’d never use them (or buy more) for grocery bags. I just use reusable grocery bags for actual groceries. I use the 31 bags for random things....going to the park, sometimes to carry stuff to a meeting (not work related) etc. I’d NEVER get all into it and want all the pieces/patterns. Not my thing. I find it hugely ironic that they are all about “decluttering” yet she continues to bring in massive amounts of 31 bags. They say how generous 31 is, she wants to have sales. I think she should do some give aways. Their viewers are exceedingly generous to them. I hate how underwhelmed they always are in thanking them. I think the older kids even act as though they expect it. Show some humble thankfulness.

[weed]

I suppose that little speech of that Janelle made about being kind was for our benefit? Sorry, but it doesn't wash with me. I do admire them in many ways (and I've said so), but there are so many things about them ... especially when it comes to the treatment of their kids ... that just don't sit well with me and I'm going to continue to say so. It always amazes me how these YouTube families put their lives (and more importantly those of their children who have no say in it) out there for public consumption and then complain when not everyone agrees with the way they live. This constant cry of "we're doing this for our viewers" ... whether to encourage or entertain ...... is rubbish. They are doing it for themselves ... pure and simple ... and no one can convince me differently. If you're going to put yourself out there, then you need to live with other people's opinions.

[DoodleBop2]

When YouTubers act as if they're doing something for the fans. You may take the fans input into consideration but ultimately you're doing it for yourselves because YT is a source of income. I actually think this thread has largely remained really respectful we haven't devolved into name calling or mocking their appearance or not that I can remember. Disagreeing with them is not unkind.

[weed]

I agree. No one here seems to make fun of them at all, even though there are plenty of things that could be said. If they were really as genuine as they profess to be, then they would actually take some of what is said here on board, instead of becoming defensive.

[DoodleBop2]

The idea that disagreement or having a different point of view is mean. I do wonder if that partly comes from how sheltered their lives are. From what we see they seem to mostly have contact with people who think and live like them.

[weed]

I think so. They aren't used to not being agreed with as they grew up in their own little worlds where everyone thought the same thing and lived the same life. At least Janelle did. Art at least seems to have got out into the world and done a few things. It is a pity about their poor kids not having the opportunity.

[DoodleBop2]

One of the whole points of homeschool is supposed to be kids can learn more about the world yet many homeschooling families [usually religious ones] have turned it into a way to keep their kids from learning about the world. I wonder if it will ever bite them in the butt.


We live near a large Amish community and when they turn 16 they're allowed to experience things before they take their vows and join the Amish church. We also have a large Christian homeschool community kids who aren't allowed to watch TV, girls wear skirts and keep their hair long, boys always wear shirts with collars, they home church etc. While my kids aren't old enough to be drinking friends of mine don't want their kids at Amish parties. Since everything was and is taboo from reading novels to drinking to sex to swearing to porn they go hog wild. Since everything is seen as equally sinful the teens seem to be at the point of in for a penny. So the Amish parties tend to be way wilder and more dangerous [alcohol poisoning, sex with people you met an hour ago etc] than the regular kid parties where parents have had discussions with their kids about alcohol, safer sex, drinking and driving.
One of my friends actually joked when someone asked about allowing her children to hang out with openly gay kids she's like but the gay kids are more likely to want to debate Pokemon or talk about their Harry Potter Fanfic...not get blackout drunk.

[dahell]

It really varies widely with home schooling families. I’m sure many of them do shelter and wear long skirts etc but the ones I know, for the good or bad of it you can’t tell MANY of them apart from their private/public school counterparts. I think, largely, this is because it’s a younger generation of home school families coming up. They seem to be much more “worldly” for lack of a better word. Many of the previous generation (it’s not actually quite a generational thing but I’m not sure how else to phrase it....older moms vs younger moms at this point) of Home schoolers around here, their kids DID get out and see so much of the country and world. Or at least learn about it. Maybe it just depends on the location but in our area, there are VERY few home schoolers that are wearing long skirts, long hair (a la Dugger style), and completely keeping their kids segregated. I dunno, that was a weird rabbit trail I just went on. I’m sorry.
I haven’t watched the last few vlogs but, if Janelle is saying anything in reference to this forum??? Yeah, this forum is TAAAAME compared to many other ones. I haven’t seen too much “picking on” anyone. Many times these forums are people that loved the channel and then became frustrated and sought out validation for their feelings. Sometimes you feel like “am I the only one side eyeing these things” and then you realize, you’re not alone. I’m fully expecting their mom or Art’s sister to pop in here at any moment to defend them from us meanies. I can’t believe it hasn’t happened yet.

[weed]

Dahell, that is exactly how I feel! I have watched this family for a few years now and really liked them before it occurred to me that they had a lot of flaws showing up with their lives. (I still like quite a few things about them). I thought that I couldn't be the only one to see this, so I searched until I found this forum. SO grateful to the person who started this thread! I was feeling so frustrated with this family and it is nice to see that my feelings are validated by a few other people.

I also thought that Aunt Laura or the grandparents would come here to defend them. That is what seems to often happen with families like this. They usually start by defending themselves in subtle ways and then the extended families rise up in defence of them. My question is ... why be so defensive? They keep saying how they understand that their way isn't the only way, but I don't think they really believe that. It is very clear that they feel that they are so right in everything they are doing. Families like these can usually never concede that there might be other ways of doing things that might improve their lives. they feel that their way is always the right way as they have little experience outside of their little bubble-world.

Janelle wasn't saying anything specific about this forum, but it was obvious from her little rant about being kind and saying nice things to others that this is what she was talking about. To my knowledge ... and I've really searched ... there is no where else where they are being discussed. All their supporters on YouTube think the sun shines out of them. They have started to delete a couple of comments that aren't exactly praising them and I thought that they were above that ... at least that is the impression they give.

If you can't stand the criticism, then don't put your lives out there for public consumption.

[DoodleBop2]

I too really liked them as a family. Then little things started to bug me and I'd be like that isn't quite right. Why are they going grocery shopping when they have nowhere to put the food because the freezer is very nearly entirely full?