cereality

In response to why Derick and Jill didn't go to Nebraska to deliver the news and then tell the Duggars via Skype or with a gender reveal party a few days later OR why didn't Derick just go with Dan and bring flowers and/or the news himself even if Jill wasn't up to traveling -- isn't it the usual reason in that family? That's not what Jill wanted and the Duggar clan is more important. Hence -- whatever method they chose had to make the Duggars the primary party receiving news and Cathy/Dan secondary. Since Derick has become a Duggar, this worked perfectly.

Their views on adoption were screwed up from the start. They took open adoption to mean that they would co-parent with B&T because they couldn't meet Carly's need as a baby and young child, but then when she was older -- they would ALL be her parents. I don't know how much came from them and how much from the adoption counselor, but when an adoption counselor sees two 16 yr olds saying this (or implying it) -- it was her place to firmly step in and say -- open adoption means pictures 2x a year and visits when the family allows, which is typically 1x a year and you're allowed to send Christmas presents and that's it. They had the most unrealistic views back then. At one point they (or at least Tyler) was talking about how when she's older -- like late teens or college -- he would want her to spend summers at their house. Um-- why would she, you are not her parents -- her home is B&T's home. They also had these weird expectations that B&T would be surrogate parents to them and about how they not only wanted to make Carly proud but also B&T proud; I believe they invited B&T to their high school graduation, which they respectfully declined. They didn't seem to get that B&T are with you to get an infant; they are not looking to help two screwed up 16 yr olds sort out their lives -- and if they ask "how's school," that's just politeness. At this point, I don't know how much Tyler cares to be involved in Carly's life for real vs. just being involved enough to keep it "social media worthy." After all they seem to only make a living through MTV and through whoever cares to invite them to tell their story over and over. An adoption that happened 6 yrs ago is old new -- you have to keep bringing it up once in a while, so that people don't forget -- have to keep the 15 min of fame going. I don't get why Tyler doesn't get it. He and Cate don't have solid family situations, Carly does. Does he not think that by publicly associating himself with Carly -- it will affect Carly -- the daughter he supposedly loves SO MUCH -- bc she'll be looked down upon/made fun of? B&T are an upper middle class southern family that is at least somewhat religious (I think -- I mean B&T met at church). I'm sure people know that Carly is adopted from 2 teen parents, but by bringing it up over and over on social media and via TV shows -- people get to see what Butch is like; they get to see Cate's former drug addict mom; they get to see the screwed up marriage. Right now it doesn't matter bc Carly's 1st grade friends aren't watching MTV -- but some of their parents likely are. All it takes is 1-2 old school, critical church ladies -- tsk tsking to B&T about we know Carly came from teen parents but we didn't realize their background was SO screwed up -- and a few kids hearing it, and Carly will be mocked in her upper middle class elementary school for the fact that her REAL grandparents are drug addicts and in jail and her REAL parents didn't want her. I guess Tyler's paycheck is worth it though.

Tyler is a douche, and he seems to have an anger problem. When he posted that video of Carly that he knew he wasn't allowed to post and Caitlyn told him that's a bad idea, it's not allowed etc. -- he lashed out looking at the camera saying "anyone considering adoption, pick the right couple; this is a punch in the face; WE gave THEM a chance to be parents and this is how they repay us." Um -- pick the right people??? Don't most people pick the right family based upon who will best raise the child, or do people give consideration to the family's views on social media!? Caitlyn was actually being reasonable and said a few times during the episode -- we gave up our right to do that; they've been very clear they don't want media etc. Even when Tyler's mom started to make excuses re "oh well everyone will always say -- that's Caitlyn and Tyler's daughter regardless of what's out on social media," Caitlyn jumped right in and said no -- they want to protect her, and the kids that are on Teen Mom like Bentley don't have normal lives, they're noticed everywhere, they're asked for pictures etc. She is the only one with the reasonable view of -- as long as we still get pictures and visits, I don't care that we can't share it with the world. She actually seems to consider that they could easily take away visitation, stop sending pictures etc. Too bad she says things in such a passive way and doesn't want to contradict Tyler or else she'd more forcefully say -- NO you're not posting this stuff, I am not going to lose visitation over this. I did like Tyler's mom earlier in the episode when she said -- you have a baby on the way, you need a career and sorry MTV but this ain't it.

As much as I don't like watching Farrah -- I feel like she is the only one in this group that can hustle. Whether it's making money with porn/sex videos or going to culinary school or working at a restaurant -- seems like she's always been doing something to make money. I recall they showed her working at a restaurant and it didn't look like a "for tv" kind of thing -- she was on her feet all day and trying to trade shifts/get more hours etc. I don't know if she finished culinary school, but I remember her cooking desserts in one of the episode . . . so it seems like she was putting in effort at least.

When they were 17 or 18, I recall Catelynn working in a small shop in the mall and Tyler either worked at a pizza joint or delivered pizzas or both. What they've done since then is anyone's guess. I know they do speaking engagements when they can get them and they've recently written a book, but I don't get the sense either has a 40 hr work week -- even though they also aren't in school full time (I'm assuming -- he said he needs 3 more yrs to finish school!? If he's been going since 18, that means it's been pretty on and off or he dropped out and is now going back.) They used to have ideas about being everything from EMTs to social workers to adoption counselors, but it seemed pie in the sky; never seemed like they made efforts towards pursuing those things. I think they made some MTV money early on and that likely funded their house and cars and whatever money they make from speaking engagements or Couples Therapy or whatever is enough for day to day living -- so why aspire for more at least during this 15 minutes of "fame" time period.

I mostly agree, but in some ways it may be too soon to tell. Yeah -- this kid will be more of a Duggar than a Dillard. He certainly isn't going to public high school where he can carry a full load of AP classes, be quarterback of the HS football team, and go to prom with the prom queen. BUT 18 yrs is a long time, and it's possible that Derick grows a spine somewhere in that time. I mean this is baby #1 so Jill will dote on him full time for a yr or two, but I predict she -- like Anna -- will have 4 kids under the age of 5 soon enough. With that many kids, I can see her needing a "break" and if Derick actually gets to know his wife in the next 5 yrs and realizes that she has no clue when it comes to proper grammar, accurate history, and accurate science, he may try to get "his way" -- he may be able to convince her that while public school is for Godless heathens, Christian school may not be the worst thing in the world. So there may be an option for a formal education at least for a few years. The problem with that however is that it gets costly, and I do think they will have 10+ kids -- so it may not be a financial option beyond a few yrs for each kid. I mean Derick does well, but I'm not sure that an entry level (or even a mid level) accountant can afford 10 private school tuitions for 12 yrs. Even if they homeschool though, there's a chance their kid(s) is not as isolated as the Duggars were. If for no other reason than Derick is a sports fan and will probably start bringing the kid(s) to games pretty young. Growing up around that, I can see a kid or two insisting on playing a sport. Let's be honest Ben and Jessa will have kids at the same/similar times so with lots of cousins in the same age group, I can see Dillard Jr. saying -- but why can't I play football, Ben Jr gets to play (and I think Ben will allow those things bc he did them). So that kind of involvement will at least allow the kid to have some interaction with non-family and maybe make some friends -- something the Duggars sorely lack. Best case for the kid would be if Uncle Dan and Grandma Cathy get to stay involved -- they're the ones who can infuse some "normalcy," even if it just means letting the kid sleep over once every 2 months and in that time letting him watch a Disney movie or play pretend superhero games and when he gets older -- tell him about college, talk to him about what he wants to be and help him figure out how to achieve goals (beyond just praying about them).

I agree with this. Josh and Anna had 4 months before she got pregnant, and they suggested that she used to go to work with him daily. He worked at his own car dealership and no dealership is jumping 40 hrs a week; I bet you there were days where no one came in or maybe 1 potential customer came in to browse for 15 min and then left. That gave J+A plenty of time to sit around alone talking and just being near each other; sure it was after marriage so there was nothing they could do if they found themselves incompatible, but they did/do have an ease with each other that comes only with spending time with each other. For all his flaws, you can tell Josh really loves Anna, and Anna totally supports Josh. Ben and Jessa were lucky to have this time pre-marriage like a normal couple -- so there was months spent talking, sharing meals etc; sure they had chaperones and couldn't have truly personal conversations, but when a 10 yr old is prancing around as a chaperone -- you are certainly able to tell your fiancé about that time you led your city football team to the championship and how you think homeschooling with letting kids be involved in outside activities is best. They also are easy and comfortable around each other. Derick and Jill lack that. I think it's a combo of a Skype courtship and no real "hanging out" around the house even once he returned from Nepal; Derick would show up to take Jill and her chaperones out to dinner, they'd spend 2 hrs together, and he'd drop her off. Interacting with a date at a restaurant is different than just sitting around your living room talking. Then they rush into marriage, and sure they had a honeymoon but I'm sure that was just about doing the deed as many times as possible and when they weren't in bed, they were probably pretty awkward around each other thinking "does he/she think I'm doing it ok; I hope we get pregnant." Not to mention Derick was worrying about his mom and probably just looking forward to getting home just to be closer in case she needed him at the hospital or anything. Then he gets back and a few days later returns to a 40 hr week job, so she sees him at lunch for an hr a day at the work cafeteria and probably from like 6-10 pm at night. It's different for these other couples without real work where getting to know their spouse is a 24-7 thing.

How do people know this? I see nothing on either person's twitter or IG, nor on their blog.

I think Ben and Jessa do know each other more simply bc they courted longer and he lived at the house; that means they were often sitting on the couch talking as an 8 yr old pranced around as the "chaperone." I'm not suggesting they could have had a "I don't want 20 kids" talk in that setting, but they certainly could -- and I think did -- talk about their favorite foods, work out routines, favorite colors, flowers etc. From the very beginning, Ben and Jessa have looked comfortable -- IF the cameras weren't right on them so Derick wasn't feeling pressured to say the "right intelligent sounding" things. In one of the Jessa episodes, they showed a shot of Ben sitting next to her at the very beginning of the courtship -- or maybe even before they were official; he was sitting next to her at that yardsale/fundraiser thing they did and he was chatting away and they were laughing -- he had no clue the cameras were watching. Derick and Jill learned and are still learning all about each other after marriage. I guess that's ok too, but slow it down -- all that learning is going to stop the second the baby is born and not resume until there isn't a baby in the house -- so about 20 yrs from now, they'll be able to have an uninterrupted conversation about themselves. Not to mention -- they hardly know each other and you can tell how awkward and stilted they are when they kiss; I can't even imagine what sex is like-- though who knows maybe they've abstained since she got pregnant; and yet in a matter minutes/hours/days is going to spread her legs and push for Derick to see. I realize that's part of getting a baby out, but even women who have known their husbands for decades sometimes don't want the husband looking down there or worry if their husband will ever find them sexy again after seeing that. For a couple that's not even comfortable kissing, I'd advice Derick to stay near the head --though I don't see that happening.

Looks like nothing yet -- as Jill just posted a pic with Derick that says they're out to lunch for spicy Mexican; apparently she's having BH contractions though given Derick's blog, I suspect that's been going on for a while.

I don't blame them on that one. At the end of the day, whether or not they want Jana to leave due to child rearing and household help -- they know they CAN get her married off quick even in the next few years. Yes she's getting "old" by fundie standards so they can't wait forever, but they could probably wait another 2 yrs and do just "fine" by their standards. She is a classic beauty -- put that together with her mild/non-arrogant/non-sassy personality and the fact that she can single handedly run an entire household and comes from a "known" family and she is fundie gold; frankly they may just be waiting on her to say she's ready and she may not be saying that bc maybe she just can't see herself meeting someone who probably won't be all that great if Derick and Ben are any reflections on the Duggars' ability to attract sons in law, marrying in the next 6 months, and having a baby 9 months after that like her sisters; maybe she thinks -- I'll do that in a yr or two -- and she's "confident" waiting bc she isn't seeing a drop off in courtship "offers" pouring in for her to JB. JD on the other hand -- I have no idea what he brings to the table. He's 25 and looks like he's about 40; nor does he have any redeeming qualities like personality or wit or charm that could win a girl over. Nor is he SUCH a fabulous provider that a girl will likely say -- to hell with looks I'll live well. Instead he's an overgrown 15 yr old judging by his wedding prank abilities who likes to play cop, while most likely just running a tow truck business. I can't even imagine him trying to be romantic or even kind to a girl -- what would he even say while guys like Ben are trotting out lines re giving their girls all the rose gardens in the world?? I'm sure JB and Michelle are concerned about him bc they know their best hope is finding a family like the Kellers -- a dad who will be SO bowled over that a wealthy Duggar dare speak to their family that they will hand over a daughter whether she likes it or not. There are likely only so many families out there that would be so willing even given the Duggar wealth; I imagine many of these fundie dads do love their daughters and may not all be willing to force their daughter into such a situation just for money. And JB and Michelle probably realize that if JD is going to get married, they will have to be the ones to get him married off. He isn't like Josh or Zach Bates who had enough sex drive that they were actively looking for a cute girl and could go back to their dads and say -- let's pray about this one. JD doesn't have any initiative or sex drive, so he likely isn't even on the lookout.

I feel kind of bad for Catelynn. She has said in previous shows that she grew up with no stability -- her mom was on drugs and married to or dating guys like Butch; they've shown her dad before and he seemed pretty solid in comparison, though I think he lived in Florida. When she met B&T the first time, she said she wanted Carly to have a hometown/school etc. bc she didn't have that as she moved around constantly -- probably a combo of mom not being able to make rent and/or escaping abusive boyfriends and her bouncing back and forth to FL to her dad. So there's Tyler -- the one person who has stuck around all these years, and even though he's stringing her along -- she clings to him and probably fears losing him bc he is the one person in her life that has ever "wanted" her. April seems to be doing ok now, and if Catelynn wanted to leave -- she has the MTV money for an apartment and she'd have April, Nick, and her daughter. But obviously she won't leave bc she won't see that she's being strung along bc she doesn't WANT to see it. I'm sorry he claims to be SO in love with her since 7th grade or whenever, but whenever it comes close to marriage -- he finds a way to put it off, take back the ring, and then give it back some time later so they have to start wedding planning again from scratch? That's not a sign of guy who is into you. And the excuses he's given have been ridiculous. I believe in the "Being Catelynn" special, he said something along the lines that there were lots of goals for them to fulfill before getting married and one of hers was to be healthier. Um -- he won't marry the love of his life bc she's 20 lb overweight?? If you don't want to marry her bc you're not attracted to her due to size or anything else -- fine -- but cut her loose; she is who she is and even if she loses 20 lb she's not going to be model hot. And you can tell how desperate she is to marry him bc she is totally passive as she tries not to piss him off bc she knows he could walk away. I wanted to throw a shoe at the TV every time she said in episode 1 or 2 -- I "wouldn't mind being married before the baby comes." Wouldn't mind?? Why not be more assertive and say -- look we've been talking about marriage for yrs, with a baby on the way -- it's now or never; I WANT to be married in the next 9 months (or ideally in the next 3 months before the real pregnant look sets in). Instead she lets him put it off by saying "no we have to do it up big; I'm not doing a courthouse wedding now and another one for guests later." You know what'll happen -- they've had the baby. The first 9 months to a yr you're too busy to plan a big wedding anyway. Then when a yr rolls around, he'll throw some other condition on her re weight loss or therapy or whatever; so that'll take another 6 months to fulfill. And just when that's about done, I wouldn't be surprised if they're pregnant again and then the cycle starts again of -- no a big wedding after the baby . . . . He's easily bought himself 2.5-3 yrs where he'll string her along and she'll cling.

Jill and Derick come across holier than thou. Just bc they've been married for 9 months and got pregnant within hours of saying "I do" they know everything there is to know about relationships and marriage. While that would be off putting enough coming from any couple, they don't even come across like a couple that's particularly comfortable or at ease with each other -- the way that Jessa and Ben do or Chad and Erin do. Nor are they particularly smart or witty or anything -- despite the fact that they were supposed to be the "better" couple given that both of them are older, Jill is supposedly pursuing midwifery and Derick has a college degree and a Fortune 500 job. Instead they are dorks just like JB and Michelle. I think at one point in the interviews during Jessa's episode, they asked for 1 word to describe the wedding -- I believe Derick went with the Duggars' favorite word "special," and Jill said something like "beautiful" and then Derick dorkily put that together to say "especially beautiful" with the JB guffaw as the couple demonstrated their signature closed mouth peck. All those things are more "forgivable" when are coming from a 50 yr old dorky dad like JB, but from 25 yr old Derick who is worldly enough to have a college degree and to have spent 2 yrs abroad!? I said it in a previous post -- I can't believe what a dork he is and the fact that he doesn't see that his friends/coworkers/mom get to see it all on TV. I'm fairly certain Jill is his first girlfriend ever and that he may not have even had friends who were girls -- and yet now after 9 months of marriage, they are the experts on all things related to love.

It was nice to see real emotion from Jinger at the rehearsal dinner and Jessa too -- they frontal hugged which is rare for that family. Ben also joined in and definitely had his hand on Jinger's back. I'm surprised JB and Michelle and didn't jump up there and stop it. Anyone notice that when they were lining up Guinn saw Jinger behind her and presumably realized how emotional she had been all day and grabbed her and hugged and gave her a kiss on the cheek? Their own mom doesn't care enough about such things. Sure Michelle was snuggling up to Ben or rubbing his back as many times as she could, but I don't think it would ever once occur to her to notice one of his siblings having a hard time; frankly I don't think she even noticed Derick at his own wedding -- and he had one hell of a hard time with his mom being in the hospital until the morning of.

It was Derick who grabbed Jill. He said he was going to in James/Jackson's interview -- "I'm going to walk back down with her bc she's my wife." Thanks Einstein -- didn't know that. Josh's most interesting part of the wedding was "they didn't kiss." Really? Is it THAT interesting? They handled it the way I've seen orthodox Jewish and Muslim weddings handled -- they announce the couple is married, the couple leaves and kisses elsewhere; of course there's no discussion of it after. I just don't understand WHY 1300 people would drive (fly?) in for this event with their massive families. Then you get there and there's a ceremony that's fine, but then you stand around in a church parking lot in November hoping you get a scoop of ice cream in a plastic cup?! Don't know where the ice cream was for the guests, but seeing what was on that table -- no where there were enough toppings for more than 10-15 people max. And you don't even see or talk to the couple unless you're one of the 20 people standing right up front. Is it SO worth it to be near Duggar royalty for a hr?? Guinn is a real mom. She cried all the way through the ceremony and was just generally emotional the whole way through. The rehearsal dinner she threw beat the Duggars' "reception" by about a million miles. There were actual decorations -- which included flowers and candles and were generally thoughtful. There was actual hot food. While I don't understand necessarily serving chili the night before a wedding, I guess for the rest of the guests it's totally fine; and the plate Ben put together ended up looking a bit more like taco salad rather than just a bowl of chili. Funny how Guinn expressed emotion when seeing Jessa in her dress and referenced seeing her in it the first time. Whereas Michelle was dabbing what looked like fake tears. JB actually cares too. Total dad moment though when he wanted to get a picture with Jessa and Michelle in the bridal room and he went to go stand next to Jessa; at first he was moving her train aside, then he ended up kicking the rest of it out of the way. UMM -- what if it gets shoe spots!? Where were Jinger and Michelle and the wedding planner to make sure no one did that?! Interesting preview of the honeymoon -- apparently they went to Italy and Paris?? TLC must be paying her well, since neither of them works real job. Love the shot in Italy where someone goes in to kiss Ben on both cheeks (a man) and he freaks out a little, and when he goes in for Jessa you can see her pulling away. Jessa has been raised so repressed that even though she acts cool -- I'm sure she was freaked out by another man kissing her that wasn't JB or Ben.

I was thinking the same. Pregnancy is such a blessing in that cult, that I'm sure she can't say -- OMG this kid is killing me, I want him out now. It looks like that pic was taken at the TTC -- even less chance she could say that in front of her parents. I think in front of just Derick and his side, they'd be more understanding of the view that pregnancy is a means to an end and is not comfortable.

If Derick is about 25, he was born in 1990. Cathy's LinkedIn shows she was in a management position for WMT in 1993. So it's very possible she was working when Derick was born -- sometimes people cut off their LinkedIn resume after some point in time bc certain jobs were so long ago. Even if she did take time off, she would have been back at work by the time Derick was 3 and Dan was a baby. So yeah - she did work with babies. I'm sure there's lots of things about Jill that are off putting to Cathy and in her heart of hearts she probably does feel like Jill puts down Derick and how he was raised and constantly implies that her way/her family is superior and more Godly. But she's not a dumb woman, she knows that if she doesn't make nice with Derick's wife and let them live their lives however they want, Derick will become a Duggar even moreso than he is now and she and Dan will hardly get to see him or be involved with her grandson. So I'm sure she reminds herself to keep her mouth shut often.

Really -- wow. I haven't had a child, nor do I really know the fundie world -- so I was just speculating. If you're having a home birth but ultimately need to go to the hospital, who makes that decision? Would Jill's midwife say -- this is getting dangerous, we have to go? How much monitoring is there for a home birth? Are they monitoring the mother/baby's heart rate etc so they know when things are getting dangerous? Or is it more like -- hmm most moms don't have this much trouble until transition, maybe something is wrong -- let's go to the hospital.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if she went/goes/is in the hospital -- not due to complications but her own choice. She knows more about birth than the average fundie girl -- having watched so many. She knows the reality of how painful it is and also probably realizes her own pain tolerance. But she's a kool aid drinker who couldn't exactly say -- yeah as soon as contractions start, we're headed to the hospital and I want an epi or maybe even a c section. She needs to appear just as fundie as her cohort (and her current/former employer) and say -- oh no, it's a natural process and women having been assisting other women for generations and that's what I want. When in reality, she seems like the type who is probably internally gloating that she got a man with full health insurance who likely wants her in the hospital and on pain meds and her MIL probably wants/supports that too -- so that's what she was going to do unless it really happened that labor started and the child was born in under an hr and then she'd be able to say "oh look I home birthed just like every other fundie woman." If she does get a hospital birth with an epi, if I were Jessa I'd be mad jealous -- or just mad at my choice of partner. I'm not sure what these people are doing for health insurance now, but it's likely that even if they are just carrying the most basic required policy -- they'd still have to pay thousands for a hospital and an epi -- and since Ben doesn't have a full time job with benefits like Derick, good chance Jessa will be laboring at home without pain relief.

I don't think that it's about him not being into her at all. He's a serious enough guy that he knows how courtships are -- by the time you get past the "getting to know you" stage and into courtship, you are promising the girl and her family that an engagement ring is coming. If he wasn't sure, I don't think he would have asked her to court. But sometimes it seems like she sees him as a romantic love and wants to get with him, whereas he sees her as an "adequate life partner." It's like he's thinking -- she has a personality I can handle (not like Tori; Carlin etc); she's nice looking; she will live a fundie life -- i.e. as many babies as we can have; she'll be a good mom; I'll come home to home cooked meals -- might as well go for it . . . .

The Bates certainly are more hospitable hosts than the Duggars. In this episode, I think either Nathan or Lawson was concerned about having enough food. In the baby shower episode for Whitney, which it seems like Gil and Kelly paid for themselves, Kelly sat down and talked about food for a lunch time party -- she was having usual chips and dip type of fare but also was making chicken salad as an heavier "entrée" type of thing and she insisted on making more than Gil thought was necessary bc of the timing of the party. Big contrast to the Duggars who seem to think ice cream or cookies or root beer floats are enough for a wedding.

Wonder when she gave birth in comparison to when 7 cars of people showed up. I'd imagine her sisters, Michelle, and Cathy were there anyway -- but it'd be nice if she gave birth last night say at 10 pm or midnight and it was too late for the Duggars to come over and so the horde arrived around 9 am. Not too long of a time but it'd probably be nice to have 8-10 hours where you could sit quietly with the new baby, maybe even nap for a few hours before your 18 siblings arrive being loud, wanting to hold the baby, and likely wanting to be fed.

I agree Brandon comes across pretty serious. And as someone who has studied ministry (or something similar) -- I think he truly lives/believes it. So I don't see him proposing until he has a job, a house/apartment that he can buy or rent that Michaela can move into, some furniture, and some money for a modest honeymoon, a ring, marriage license, and rehearsal dinner. I don't see him being ok with taking a house (not that Gill has the TLC fortune to give him one) or even securing a job through the Bates' connections in Tenn.

The painting Jill's toenails thing was totally weird. If that's your thing as a couple or whatever and that's what gets the Mrs. all hot and sexy and feeling like you're the best husband in the world, good for you. Can't you do it in the privacy of your own home?? Maybe they were trying to show off how intimate they can be, but I can't remember the last time I got to an event and decided to paint my toenails there -- rather than at home or at a pedicure prior to the event!? I think they were in the room where the wedding party was gathering before the event -- bc Derick is wearing the same suit open collar that he wore to the wedding and the wedding "planner" is shown telling people to line up. And on that note -- does Derick not own a tie? Open collar to a wedding? In a church? In the south? Surely he wore a tie when he interviewed for his job, can't he pull that one out? No one else is without a tie besides him. I can't get over what a dork Derick is. I mean he went to college and can provide for Jilly Muffin more than a fundie like Ben, and that's great, but the way he's taken on the Duggar affect and "me me me" nature is totally off putting. If his wife asked him to paint her nails at the event, couldn't he say -- not here babe, why don't you take care of it or get Joy/Jana/Jinger or someone to help. Doesn't he care that he's being filmed and guy friends will see him engaging in such lame feminine activities?? I mean if you want to do it at home without cameras, great -- but do you really need your WMT coworkers and your college friends and your mom to see what intimacy looks like in your marriage?

I don't know where the "Jana wants to go to college" thing came from -- other than from posters here, but if that's really what she wants or if she's unsure of what she wants but thinks college is a good thing to pursue regardless, I wonder if she'd be "allowed" to go to Crown College now especially since Joseph is there. It's ridiculous that a 25 year old woman would need the "protection" of her 20 year old brother on a college campus, but given how patriarchal they are, I can see JB and Michelle suddenly being more open to the idea of a college campus if one of her brothers is there (notice -- I didn't say they'd allow it; but I could see them going from a "no" to a "we'll think about it."). I know we've said it so many times, but they've done their kids such a disservice. Ok -- they don't want their kids to go away to school bc they may lose their faith and start hanging out with green haired kids and there wouldn't be a chaperone there to tattle -- fine, I get it. But surely Crown isn't the only conservative religious school in the nation. I mean I think Josh even wears the t-shirt of some Christian college near their house; if Jana or a few of the kids want to go to college -- for a degree or even just for a few classes -- couldn't they commute to that school from home and be home in time for TTC and Bible time?? Though I've said it before -- I wonder how much of it is the parents affirmatively saying no versus the parents being disinterested in their kids' futures and not presenting such options in combination with the kids just not wanting anything or pushing their parents to agree to anything they want. We've seen the opposite in the Bates kids -- just as restrictive of a religious family, yet a number of kids have gone to Crown, Alyssa and Michaella have held jobs outside the home etc.; so I don't know if it's just faith that is holding the Duggar kids back or the lack of fire and the lack of interest in convincing their parents that they should pursue something they want.