cereality

They wouldn't have to do so much fake made for TV stuff if the kids actually you know -- got up and went somewhere every day. It could be school, it could be work, it could be the race track to bet on horses. But it would be something that would be authentic so you could follow them in their actual daily lives, not in the -- TLC is sending a camera crew tomorrow and wants us to cook up a project -- so everyone get ready to go cart yay!!

I don't know if it's really the fault of TLC or of the Duggar family itself. I've watched a few episodes -- somehow thinking it would be different than 19 Kids bc it only focuses on the oldest few and not the parents and not the 4 yr olds. Yet you've got a half dozen kids age 18+ (the twins and upwards) none of whom DO ANYTHING. They're BORING. Forget professions, it would even be interesting if a few of them were allowed to have and did have and actively pursued hobbies or friendships. Nothing R-rated, but would it be so terrible if Jed and Jeremiah did something like play on a community football team like Ben did growing up -- and we could see them prepping for games, trash talking (in Jesus approved ways), and hanging with their buddies for pizza after a game?? JD is fairly handy and it seems like he had bought a house/land earlier -- now that we know Jana likes that kind of thing too -- would it be so terrible if we saw the 2 of them do a house flip together?? Not the "sanitized" version where the girls do "made for TV projects" -- i.e. stand around while the brothers handle it or JB calls in free help to take care of it; but an actual project together with them acting normal -- say Jana telling JD that the design of the kitchen doesn't work or track lighting is totally 80s or insisting on hard wood floors to up the value of the house or whatever. If Jinger is into photography and they're such a well known family, I find it shocking that she can't hang up a shingle and run her own business -- from little kid photos to wedding photoshoots or whatever for fundie/conservative families in the area who would LOVE to say Jinger took their pics. None of these ideas are earth shattering but they'd be interesting to watch bc they'd involve interaction with people. Anytime you interact with people -- there are funny exchanges; sometimes you run across a cute boy or a cute girl who'd be perfect for your bro; or you get to befriend some client or coworker and they invite you over to hang with their friends/fam and more genuine conversation ensues. These kids have been raised in such a way that they have NO passion for or even INTEREST in anything. So TLC comes up with projects/storylines for them, they do it bc they need to make money, and yet it seems like they have zero interest and are just acting a part in a play. If this family intends to make its fortune from TV, it better find a way to be interesting enough to watch on TV and that may involve setting aside some of its beliefs that the world is out to corrupt them and start interacting with the world -- bc right now I'm not seeing 10 seasons of this, I'm seeing 1-2 seasons, max.

While the previews may have seemed like that, the episode itself didn't show Gil or Kelly or anyone else acting like it was odd for Lawson to be single or pressuring him to hurry up and find the one. Nathan is 22, but Lawson is only 23. I believe Chad was around 25-26 when he married Erin; John was about 25 when he married Alyssa; and Zach was around 24-25 when he married as well. I think Brandon might have been younger bc he had just finished school. So if 25-26 is fine for their sons in law, I'm sure it's fine for Lawson too. In the episode, most of the "protesting" and talk re being the lone (single) ranger was from Lawson himself not from his sibs. Kelly did say in a TH that she thinks some of the kids think a spouse holds back a career -- I think she might have meant Lawson and his music career; but she didn't seem judgy about it. Who knows what his dreams are/what he thinks will happen. Maybe he does think he can launch an album or two and go on a tour -- maybe as an opening act for a major artist. Maybe he wants to pursue that for 1-2 yrs and see if it works out for him -- let's be honest a single male has a lot more flexibility to do that bc it's no problem for him to drive God knows where for a show, stay in a crappy motel -- than it would be if he had a wife and 6 month old in tow. Or maybe he thinks he can get into a gig writing music/producing/behind the scenes -- and he wants to work on securing that and being available to move to Nashville if a job comes along. Hell maybe he realizes that in a fundie marriage he has to be able to support a wife right away and a baby often within 9 months and he financially doesn't want to "settle" into a landscaping gig right now just for money and would rather chase his music dreams while living on the homestead and picking up tree jobs for extra money. Good for him for realizing that he isn't ready yet and not just rushing into a courtship with the first girl he sees bc he feels it's expected.

I think Ashley will move to Rocky Top initially and frankly she's so in love now, that she'd probably follow him anywhere. Then when reality sets in and/or she wants a job at a big restaurant/hotel etc. (if she wants to use her culinary training), then I really think there may be a move to someplace like Nashville. I think the Bates sons treat/will treat their wives as equals and not take the -- I am the man of the house, I don't care what you want -- approach. And I see Gil and Kelly backing off on those things and not making them feel guilty or as if they need permission if they do want to move. I mean I'm sure they'd miss him like they miss Alyssa and Michaela, but I think they'll realize that he's a man who is doing what's best of his family.

I didn't know she had culinary training -- that actually may work. They always show the family going out to restaurants, hotels/inns -- I don't think everything is right by their house, but it seems like a lot of this stuff is within 30-60 minutes. She could conceivably get a job which would make the adjustment easier for her as she'd have a chance to get to know people and make friends other than her sisters in law. This family has come a long way since Zach's failed courtship which was a much more traditional -- watch her from afar, talk to her 3 times and ask her to court and get married in 3 months -- deal. He said that he was nervous talking to her and even sitting really close to her, so I think all of these changes are good for the family.

Now it's pretty clear why the Bates are ending up with such good matches -- they are dating like anyone else, even if they call it courting/getting to know you etc. Nathan called Ashley his girlfriend and so did Gil! It seemed like they are allowed to go see their boy/girlfriends as much as they want -- or can afford -- they don't need mommy and daddy's permission, though I guess they do need to bring siblings with them. More than that -- Nathan said he had been talking to Ashley every day for 6 months -- that is no different than any other couple, fundie or not, in a long distance relationship! And he spent an entire week with them for Thanksgiving going to all her relatives' homes - just like any other boyfriend. So by the time they get to "courting" -- it's just a formality and they know each other really really well and know this is what they want. I think Gil and Kelly allow the kids to make up their own minds re their life choices. I mean Kelly asked whether Nathan would become a city boy or she'd become a country girl. Of course as parents, they wouldn't love for Nathan to move away, but if he had said -- you know, I don't think she can adjust to rural Tenn, I will move to NYC, I don't think they'd stop him. FWIW -- I don't think Nathan can handle NYC. He's so stunned by sharing a wall with another home (i.e. apartments) or that you can practically get a ticket for parking your car in your own driveway. But I do think he loves her and if she moves to rural Tenn. and once she gets over being young and in love and is miserable in a rural life in a non-diverse area, I can see him making some changes; I'm not suggesting that he'd move to NYC -- but I can see him moving to Knoxville or Nashville or even Chicago where his sister is in order for his wife's life to be more "normal" for her. Bc I do think they are both under estimating how hard it will be for a Latina from the Bronx with a huge family to move to nowhere Tenn; I lived in NYC for 10 yrs and I feel like New Yorkers always romanticize about getting out, living in a regular place or on open land -- but the reality is, they do miss NYC's vibrancy. I see the courtship episode being cheesy. Looks like he wants to do the Rockefeller Center, Central Park etc. thing and those are considered totally touristy and most NY-ers don't go to those places; he'd do much better to chose her favorite non-touristy spot in the city.

I was one of the ones who said Ben is like Jon Gosselin. That's just it -- Ben isn't THAT dumb. I'm not suggesting he's Einstein, but I get the sense he was an average guy growing up -- albeit in a fundie family. If he had gone to public school, I think he'd be middle of the pack; neither the smartest nor the stupidest guy in the class. He has some interest in/talent for art. He grew up playing quarterback on a community football team. He got through community college, and is in most states a community college degree gets you automatic entrance into some state school in that state - may not be the flagship university campus and may not be for the best programs - but unlike his wife and all his siblings in law, he COULD get a 4 yr degree in something like business administration and get himself a regular job. Except he fell for the hot fundie girl with the rich family and decided to go down that road. And barely a yr later, he's learned that all his father in law will ever do for him is give him odd jobs to do -- esp the ones no one else wants; all his wife will do is talk down to him -- on TV . .. . I can see the anger/resentment building. I disagree with whoever said he is just tired and doesn't care. I think he DOES care about how he's being made to look, and sometimes in the THs -- he shuts up when Jessa talks down to him so as not to look like a bad guy, but the look on his face says he's pissed. This is how it started with Jon Gosselin. He was married at 21-22. He did NOT want kids right away, yet Kate did and thus he had 8 kids before age 28, all with Kate bitching at him 24-7. And when they did their separation TH, Jon said -- I let her rule the roost since day 1 bc it was easier to not say anything, but I shouldn't have done that and I can't live like that anymore. That's pretty much Ben's story.

So now it's the woman's job to spy on her headship? And if she finds that he's on porn sites or scheduling hook ups for himself, she's supposed to do what? Is she allowed to yell at his royal highness then? Or is her only recourse to pray harder and then strip down right then and there and allow him to hit it?? And even if tugs approach works for a little while - is she really supposed to raise 4 kids and all the other blessings still to come, while spying on her man and doing her wifely duties for the next 50+ yrs? I'm thinking divorce would be easier and less work for Anna.

The commentary from Bin re the diaper change was weird. I realize people talk to babies, but I'm not sure it's about the contents of the diaper itself. And supposedly he does this all the time -- and he says the diaper doesn't smell like buttered popcorn -- wtf!? Bin seems incredibly unhappy now. We all knew he married for sex and/or to be part of the Duggar empire, but it's very clear he's regretting his choice of a bitchy daughter and obviously realizing that daddy Duggar isn't giving him jack $hit except more toilets to clean. I think he really really enjoyed sex for a while and now it's gotten old and/or he isn't getting much of it during pregnancy and post-birth, so he's wondering why he's stuck in this marriage. I know fundies marry for life, but somehow I wouldn't be shocked if this marriage didn't go the distance. I think other fundies may also realize they aren't super compatible (Derick and Jill), yet they know they made a vow and are willing to just slog thru the marriage for God. For Ben -- I don't know -- he probably imagined (to the extent he even considered it), that if he ever ended up with a wife who disagreed with him, he'd be the headship so he'd get his way and the wife would compromise most times. Yet his reality is that his bitchy wife will never compromise on anything bc she doesn't have to -- he's younger; he's taken a job and house from HER father; and were he to give those things back, he has no way of providing for his family; she knows those things and takes full advantage and he looks like he just sucks it up. Except he doesn't look like he's such a laid back guy that he doesn't care and can say "whatever" and let her rule the roost. He looks like he's angry/stressed/tired and is bottling it all up. It will explode -- whether a yr from now or 10 yrs from now. He does remind me of Jon Gosselin actually. When that marriage broke up Jon said -- I let her rule the roost since day 1 and I never stood up for myself and then I couldn't take it anymore. And I think it's similar with Bin. He'll pray on it for a while and won't break up his marriage easily, but I don't see him taking it for the next 60 yrs either and I think he'll break it off before there are 10 kids. And I don't see him staying for his kid. While I'm sure he loves his kid, let's be real he's barely 20 yrs old. He can make more babies with someone else and he'll see this baby, as and when he can.

As screwed up as this family is, I think there were some flashes of authenticity from JD and Jana. I'm glad that they have a bond still -- despite mommy and daddy's weird rules re male and female siblings needing to separate. I honestly thought they looked a little too close on the couch and I'm surprised JB and Michelle didn't make them re shoot that TH a little further apart. I do think JD compares/will compare any potential mate to Jana bc he does think highly of Jana. I did believe him though when he said -- he didn't know what he was looking for, he was just looking for "the one." That's honest -- this is a guy with no dating experience, little game, and next to no female interaction other than his family -- how can he realistically know what turns him on or what annoys him? As for Jana -- she gave the stock answers she HAD TO give re looking for a guy with wisdom, Godly etc. BUT I think in that answer, she threw in a bit of what she realistically wants. I like that she said she wants an experienced/grown man, not a boy (ahem-- Bin); she wants a guy who understands the value of hard work and can hold down a job (ahem -- Bin and Derick); in another trailer she says she wants a guy who an get his hands dirty, not an office guy (ahem -- Derick); and she was honest in saying there has to be physical attraction. It would be great if she could land herself a fundie or conservative contractor/electrician etc. They make good money. And if she happens to land a guy who someone views women as an equal, I could see her jumping in and running/doing the books for a contractor business. Hell I could even see her learning some real tasks from him like electrical and then working with him to identify a house, buy it, and flip it for extra income. I think Jana is smart -- smarter than she's given credit for and there's lots of things she could do, except that in their world you aren't allowed to do ANYTHING unless someone puts a ring on it and in their crazy world by putting a ring on it when you've hardly met the person often means that they end up with someone who is controlling, borderline abusive, lazy, a serial cheater etc.

That coffee was the most boring thing I've ever seen. I mean 3 early mid 20s women go out and ALL they can talk about is babies? How advanced Spurge is? How Meredith reaches for things? How Meredith rolled over yesterday? Um -- that's nice but who freaking cares?? And why would Jana care -- given that she hasn't even birthed a child. There really have nothing to talk about -- idle gossip; fashion; people they're watching at the coffee shop? Anything would be scintillating compared to -- OMG I wonder how Ben's doing, he hasn't texted, OMG Spurge is soooo advanced . . . .

The car sale negotiation was so made for TV -- supposedly it's Jinger's car, yet she stands there and let's the menfolk -- i.e. her 17 yr old brother -- negotiate the deal. She makes $1000 profit on a car where she did nothing besides clean it, and her brother tells the buyer that they know nothing about the car's history and just gave it a check up. Then magically that deal falls apart and she later sells it off camera for a $500 profit.

Did JB loosen the purse strings and allow the older kids, esp. the girls to make some money off the show, or was the whole thing faked for TV? How exactly did Jinger afford a $3400 car -- and she said she invested in one of her brothers' cars before. And is there really a market for car flips -- I mean how much value can cleaning a car add to a car with 220k miles on it?? I mean their "mechanics" -- i.e. adding oil -- was being done by a freaking 10 yr old. They sure are going out of their way to show that the wimmen do something besides cook, raise their siblings, and eagerly wait to marry and birth their own babies. I mean -- you've got Jana proclaiming her love for home repair and construction; Jinger and cars and photography etc. Jill and Derick are freaking morons. Jill was standing their awing about how cute it was that Iz was hugging the pedestal fan. Meanwhile he's STANDING on the pedestal -- and instead of acting like a mom and pulling him off -- she lets him stand there and I'm surprised the damn thing didn't topple on his head. Not to mention it was a running fan that was plugged in as he was licking the pole and electrical wire. Not sure what's worse -- risking electric shock or having a running fan fall on a 1 yr old's head. LOVED the comments by Anna at the beginning when Jessa left Spurge with his doofus daddy. Loved when Anna said -- my husband isn't "available" to babysit, so I'm bringing Meredith. And then at the café when they're talking about how Ben's doing with the baby, Anna goes -- you have to check all his social media . . . . Awkward pause . . . to make sure he's watching the baby and not glued to his devices. HA!! You know she wishes she monitored Joshey's activities online and maybe she would have figured out he was sleeping with others.

While the ice cream balls are fun, it seemed kind of questionable to me to have kids touching them with their shoes, rolling them all over the floor and then placing them on the counter and touching them as you scoop out the ice cream. I mean I think Zach was clean about it -- used a scoop to scoop out the ice cream into a giant bowl so it's not like the food was touching the parts that had rolled on the ground for the last hr -- but still . . . seems odd. The party and Bradley were cute -- not much to say about that. Liked the promo for next week where Nathan sits down in what appears to be a family meeting and says it's time to ask Ashley to court, does anyone object?? I hope he was just kidding about the objection part bc who is a sibling to say who their brother can/cannot date or marry. Though I am guessing he was kidding -- everyone has seen the chemistry with Ashley. It'll be good for that family to have some diversity -- sure she's fundie, but a New Yorker and half (?) Hispanic or Puerto Rican -- so I think that'll bring another element to this family.

Finally watched tonight. Jess does seem to have a maternal bond with Spurgeon; funny how her sisters were so shocked about that - likely bc she never gave a damn about her buddies, so they probably thought she'd be like that with her own son. Ben OTOH is over it. I'm sure deep down he loves his son, but I don't see him caring too much day to day. His commentary was priceless -- how he gets much less sleep bc he gets up to change diapers but it's ok bc it's made him grow and become a father. It's like he's playing the role of what he thinks a father should be. He is the poster child for why you don't marry for sex and why you don't bear children at age 21. He looks like he feels trapped. Anna is NOT doing well. She's saying what she is "supposed " to say but you can see the pain -- she doesn't believe it. Another one who is trapped. Jill seems unhappy as well -- she looked a little overwhelmed by the life change and maybe by the austerity for her current life where they're sleeping in a windowless room w a wall to wall double bed and hanging clothes on a line instead of using industrial washers and dryers like at the TTC.

Poor girl -- I wish she had just one normal, modern/progressive woman in her life who could say "once a cheater, always a cheater" on a daily basis until she believed it. For most women, if their family can't/won't say that, then most women have a friend or even a coworker who will step up and say what needs to be said. Sadly Anna is surrounded by al fundies who believe that it's always the wife's fault if the husband unzips his pants with someone else. I think Amy is the only close to normal person around them who'd say what needs to be said, and yet I don't think Amy and Anna hang or are allowed to hang all the time unsupervised. What have they told their kids re where Daddy is? Mac and Michael are old enough to ask where daddy is and why he had to leave and can never visit. Is there a courtship in the works for Joy?? Kind of seems that way from that trailer linked to the inquister article. Beyond inappropriate for Anna to say -- Joy you won't tell me if you have a guy, so what kind of guy do you want. Uh -- better than the one you got and one who can provide without cleaning toilets for my father, and oh yeah -- one who doesn't unzip for anyone but me!? Never knew that -- which sister was this?? The one who is married to the flaming gay guy in Chicago? Or the one in Texas who I think is a single mom -- was she somehow forced into that marriage?

The Bates kids land themselves good mates bc for the most part they meet them in normal ways and date. Sure they don't want to call it dating so as not to seem too progressive in front of their fundie cult, so they call it "getting to know you" and "courting" but it's essentially not all that different. Sure they aren't sleeping with their partner, but not everyone does that when dating. Yes -- their dating involves more hanging out at home and with families and bringing groups of siblings out with them -- but sometimes even normal couples dating family oriented guys/girls do that and group dating has become huge in high school and college. And Kelly has said that even when hanging at home or out with their siblings, the couple is respected and given space and privacy to talk about whatever they want. So if Nathan and Ashley are hanging at home, sure, there will be a dozen other people in the house who may pop in and out bc frankly it's not like they can just rope off the living room with that many people in the home. But it doesn't mean Nathan has a 12 yr old sitting next to him the whole time. Nor does it mean that they don't have enough private moments where Ashley couldn't say -- look I want 2-3 kids not 20, is that going to be a problem for you?? Even the Bates girls talk to guys themselves and get to know them a bit before getting the family involved -- as opposed to the Duggars whose automatic trained response is "I can't talk to you, you have to talk to my dad." I mean Erin met Chad at a dance, and I'm pretty sure she DIDN'T say -- uh, where's my daddy?? I'm pretty sure they chatted it up all night, Chad thought - man I NEED to see her again, and then he realized that as a fundie it may not go over well to just ask her out so he asked his parents to invite the Bates clan to brunch so they could spend time together but surrounded by family. From what little we've seen Nathan and Ashley do have chemistry. When she came to visit them in Tenn, Nathan gave her a very familiar hug and was leaning all over her pointing out the view etc. Lawson was definitely mocking him for his flirting, and Zach even said something about his showing off for the ladies. It's nice to see it bc that's what a 20-something male is SUPPOSED to do. And I'm glad that she seems pretty direct -- i.e. was quick to make fun of him not surviving NYC when he made some comment about how she couldn't ride a horse; nice to see some "equality" in fundie relationships rather than the woman always deferring to the man bc she's SO desperate to get married and can't possibly offend him. I wonder if Nathan would consider a move to NYC?? Bc for a half-Latina girl from NYC to adjust to rural Tenn. will be HARD.I know traditionally the wife follows the husband, but in this case Nathan knows he's getting a wife who is outspoken and may not be down with the traditional ways. Plus we have seen Chad follow Erin bc that's what Erin wanted -- and while it was "only" for school, that's been several yrs now and he's not exactly forcing her back to Okla. I know Nathan is in the tree business, so I wonder if he could find some kind of similar landscaping gig in NYC or if Crown College qualifies him to get some kind of office job. There's a show I'd watch -- young married fundies trying to hustle and make it in NYC.

Gotta say I'm a little disappointed in Erin and Chad. Yes I know they are cut from the same fundie cloth, so they weren't just going to be one and done. But when you've put your body thru multiple miscarriages, heparin shots, and labor and delivery, why do it again 15 months later?? Especially when you are barely 25 yrs old and have plenty of time left to have another child or two. As for it being an accident -- well what did they think would happen when 2 healthy people in their mid 20s were having regular unprotected sex. I thought they were "smarter" than the rest and would try to prevent or delay another pregnancy, if only to let Erin's body recover. I will be totally impressed if after this one they said -- Erin's body has gone thru a lot, we have our boy and girl, our family is complete. But who am I kidding. I can't see them making permanent decisions re a V or getting tubes tied.

It's nice that the adult Bates kids aren't so brainwashed that they shy away from jobs where they'll have to interact with women. Whether or not there were women in Zach's police academy class, as a first responder he'll certainly have to interact with women -- as women call the cops too, they have car accidents too etc. -- and he won't be saying -- uh, I can't respond to that call with just me and a female, how will I remain accountable/faithful!? Looks like the Bates are about an hour from Knoxville, 4 hrs from Nashville, and about 2 hrs or so from North Carolina, which is furniture country. Chad definitely has the talent and it’s likely that he can track down furniture pieces in his small town, re-finish them one by one, and sell them to either individuals in those bigger cities or to small, boutique furniture stores in Knoxville, Nashville, and Ashville. If he can make 2-3 sales to small furniture stores, I think he has a chance of becoming their “go to” man that they turn to to supply them with a few pieces each year or maybe they even ask him – hey we came across this old china cabinet/dining table/whatever, will you refinish it for us for $x. I think Chad has a decent white collar job locally – he’s a finance manager for a small business/manufacturing company, so he could do the furniture business on the side but who knows if it keeps him busy enough and brings in enough, at some point it could become a full fledged business for him.

I know Michael started praying to marry Brandon the moment she saw him and realized that he was in the same cult, but did she realize or care that she was getting with a stodgy old man instead of a young, fun guy like her brothers in law? What (newlywed) 25 yr old man even cares what his wife and mother/sisters in law do to the furniture placement? I feel like most guys would come home, look around and say - is something different, and then nod and say oh ok, so are we going out to dinner tonight or did you whip up some home cooking Mama Bates?? Meanwhile with Brandon it was a series of "oh my gosh" and "what did you do to my corner, oh my gosh" while looking generally stressed. I find the Josie/Carlin/Tori trio irritating as I think they -- like a lot of TV families -- have realized that the one who shrieks the loudest and is the most shrill is going to get the most camera time, and I like that Kelly was trying to give him an out by saying -- it's all moveable Brandon, we can put it all back if you want. But WTH is up with this guy!? I mean this is no different than when Erin got married and painted their bedroom baby girl pink complete with stuffed animals. Chad's reaction was -- whatever makes her happy. You could practically see the look in the dude's eyes that said -- my new bride lets me hit it every night, she can paint the room green with purple stripes for all I care. So nice to see that Chad is so talented at wood working and enjoys it so much. He said he was working on a few pieces to test out a side business. A massive restored hutch/china cabinet like that would go for at least $1000 if not more in most places. But I don't know how much of a market there is for that kind of thing in a rural, impoverished part of Tenn. Though if he ends up pursuing it, I hope he goes to Nashville and shakes some hands with furniture store owners bc I feel like some of those expensive boutique places could buy a piece or two from him yearly -- that's at least a few thousand a year extra in his pocket, which can only help as I expect they'll be having several more kids. And with all his handyman skills, I really hope he builds some doors or a closet around the washer/dryer parked in the dining room! I'm fairly sure it's a rental house, but I'm willing to bet the landlord will allow it as it'll only help the rentability and property value of the place. Good for Zach for making a goal to be a cop and pursuing it. We haven't seen that kind of persistence in other fundie families, nor do we see the parental pride we saw with the Bates. Also great to see how real the Bates kids marriages are -- when Zach was saying he called home a few times from basic training crying, Whitney interrupted him and said -- you called every night, and he blushed and laughed and said he was trying to sound tough! So normal!

Honestly I'm a bit disappointed. They seemed SO thrilled to have one child, that I thought they'd relish that, have 1-2 more if they could have taking appropriate time for Erin's body to heal and then close up the shop with thankfulness for the family God gave them. Carson is what -- about 9-10 months? And I assume Erin has been pregnant for a few months if they're announcing it -- so did they really NEED to get pregnant within 6 months of a rough pregnancy?? I mean they didn't just have trouble conceiving, but rather Erin had to be giving herself shots to keep from miscarrying. With so much medication and chemical in your body, why not give yourself a yr or two to fully recover? Esp. when you're not age 35 or 40 and there isn't a huge "rush." I'd like to think that they want to have 2-3 kids back to back and then say enough, but I don't know -- the way they did this so quickly and without too much consideration for what would be good for Erin's body, makes me think it isn't about having 2 kids quick but about having every blessing they possibly can.

Kind of a nothing episode, but I laughed at how unexposed these kids are -- even though I do like this family. Josie (Carlin? Tori?) said -- wow Erin is super mom, she just had a baby, is nursing him, and is recording a CD; I want to be like her!! Um -- plenty of women have babies, go back to work full time after 6 weeks and continue to nurse -- it isn't unheard of and it is slightly more challenging than spending 2 8 hr days (I'm assuming) in Nashville recording with your husband sitting on the couch with the baby and your sister and mom there for back up.

Honestly I'm a bit disappointed. They seemed SO thrilled to have one child, that I thought they'd relish that, have 1-2 more if they could have taking appropriate time for Erin's body to heal and then close up the shop with thankfulness for the family God gave them. Carson is what -- about 9-10 months? And I assume Erin has been pregnant for a few months if they're announcing it -- so did they really NEED to get pregnant within 6 months of a rough pregnancy?? I mean they didn't just have trouble conceiving, but rather Erin had to be giving herself shots to keep from miscarrying. With so much medication and chemical in your body, why not give yourself a yr or two to fully recover? Esp. when you're not age 35 or 40 and there isn't a huge "rush." I'd like to think that they want to have 2-3 kids back to back and then say enough, but I don't know -- the way they did this so quickly and without too much consideration for what would be good for Erin's body, makes me think it isn't about having 2 kids quick but about having every blessing they possibly can. I wonder if they're close to Chad's family at all? I realize they're fundies too but Chad's dad and granddad are both doctors -- I wonder if they have given up their MDs for fundie thinking and think this is fine bc God will protect. Or I wonder if they're thinking -- wow -- a woman with an uneventful pregnancy is supposed to wait 6-12 months, WTH are they doing??

I didn't understand Ben's obsession with his glory days EIGHT years after high school. I mean I know there are guys who obsess about their days as high school football QB, starting point guard, and homecoming king, but typically they are the guys who don't go to college or go to state u, move back to the hometown and pick up whatever job is available, sit around the local diner and bar reminiscing about all the things they used to do, and end up marrying a hometown girl often a high school sweetheart or someone a few yrs younger who is totally flattered that a high school QB wants her. For Ben, he went to state u, but then moved onto a sales job in Denver -- which is a fun city and sales typically includes lots of travel which is "exciting" when you're young. And yet he's obsessing about his high school and ELEMENTARY and MIDDLE schools!? Who freaking cares?? He's acting like he's Chris Soules and NEEDS to show girls where he's from. Except as much as he acts like a small town boy, Warsaw has a population of about 15k, which means his HS graduating class was 100+ if not a few hundred. It looks fake and obsessed bc a 15k town a pretty much growing up in normal suburbia. Chris -- OTOH -- was from a 400 person town with 20 of those people being his own siblings, nieces/nephews etc. and HOURS from civilization or even the nearest Target, so he needed girls to know that if they were to move there, there would be true isolation. He didn't want to spring it on them like he did on Andi the season before who couldn't fathom being HOURS from a city where she could get any job, let alone an attorney job. I wonder what the point of this is. I wonder if Ben's obsession with "community," means he's indicating he's done with life in Denver and will make it a condition that whoever ends up with him must be ok with living in Warsaw and raising kids there so that his kids will follow his footsteps at good ole Warsaw High.

I still don't understand why Derick did it this way. He's the man in an otherwise patriarchal culture. He could have insisted to her and to her parents that if they want to end up man and wife, he MUST date the girl for 6 months in the U.S. -- not via Skype and not with chaperones. I realize JB would have balked, but honestly he wouldn't have BALKED that loud bc he has 19 kids and what 10 or so daughters? Here's a college educated conservative man who is willing to give is Jilly Muffin a good life, and all we have to do is wait 6 months -- he would have begrudgingly been ok with it esp knowing this is a conservative, religious man who isn't going to try to sleep with his daughter before marriage. And yet Derick acted like HE is the one that NEEDED the Duggars, not the other way around. At the end of the day, he didn't. Had he slowed down the courtship and JB had said -- either propose now or you're gone, Derick could have left easily. He had a college degree and an entry level corporate job at Walmart. It's not like he needed to keep JB happy in order get a job in JB's empire and to make money off the TLC circus -- unlike Ben.