TLC may need to change the name of one of its most popular reality shows.
On the second season finale of 7 Little Johnstons last night, parents Amber and Trent Johnston shocked viewers when they discussed the possibility of adding yet another child to their impressive brood.
(The series, it should be noted, has already been picked up for a third season.)
“Last week, I got notification of a two-year-old child with achondroplasia that is available for adoption in China,” Amber told her husband on the latest episode, adding:
“I really have the feeling that, you know, he should be a Johnston.”
The Johnstons are a family of seven.
They reside and work in rural Georgia, while spending a great deal of time transforming a fixer-upper into their dream home… all by themselves.
Sounds like quite a hobby, huh?!?
All seven members of this reality show family were born with Achondroplasia Dwarfism, a genetic condition that affects their size.
Trent and Amber are the parents of five kids, two of whom (Jonah and Elizabeth) are their biological offspring.
The other three – Anna from Russia, Alex from South Korea and Emma from China – have been adopted at various times over the years.
And now Amber wants to consider bringing an eighth little one into their home, although Trent has a few questions and hesitations.
“I don’t want to be retired and still have grade school kids,” he explained in response, adding:
“The least amount of responsibility we have later in life, the better off we are.
“If we set ourselves up with another young child and something happens to us, we’ve got this responsibility hanging out behind us.”
That may sound selfish of Trent, but he’s right.
When you adopt a child, you are committing yourself to this child as a dedicated parent. It would be unfair to adopt and then be unable to properly care for him or her.
Of course, Amber has felt the strong urge to expand their family in the past.
And than God she did, Trent also admitted on air.
“I’ve seen it happen three other times, and those three other times [were] Anna, Alex, and Emma,” he said. “Those were three of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
So, you’re saying there’s a chance we adopt again? Amber asked.
“I’m saying we’re going to think about it,” Trent responded.
So there you have it.
With 7 Little Johnstons Season 3 likely to air in early 2018, this is quite a cliffhanger for the show to leave us on.
Will the family adopt again? Will they decide that seven is enough? Will they ever be as well-known as their TLC counterparts on Little People, Big World, the Roloffs?
We’ll be tuning in next year to find out!