Wellfleet

I agree things are pretty much "genderized" right now - but IMO that's because it's so traditional. especially with children this young. I doubt that Bill had baby dolls and tea sets to play with - ever. Jennifer was probably surrounded with a whole panorama of pink little girl things. They're going to basically offer the same things to their kids that they experienced. I don't see anything to be concerned about regarding either child's activities at this time.

There could be some truth in this. I have gotten this vibe from both parents - that they both want to believe one of the kids shares a lot in common with them. Maybe it's a routine experience with adoptive parents. Biological parents can try to see who looks likes who in the family, comparing abilities between siblings at the same ages etc. Because adoptive parents can't do that, maybe they look for other ways to connect. It will be interesting to see for example, if Zoey becomes a tomboy and ends up doing more things will Bill and Will - or maybe Will take an artistic turn and craft or paint with Jen.

If there are favorites here, then in my opinion, BOTH parents have them.

Absolutely right. Both Bill and Jen love both the kids. Although I will go out on a limb here and state that I do believe it's possible for parents to have favorites. It's just plain human nature to have an affinity for certain people. You love your whole family but you are simply drawn to certain members of it naturally. Who knows, it could end up being an actual biochemical thing. But I believe it's true. I know teachers that have had favorite kids in a classroom group, and I believe it's every bit as possible for parents to have favorites as well. But with good parents [and teachers] no one, including the child himself, can tell who the favorites are.

How will time tell us this? How many of the "personal appearances" Bill and Jen make are contracted as promotional for the show?

I think this assumption absolutely cannot be made until Bill and Jen tell us that it is - or until we see coverage of the family on a 24/7 basis. It is still extremely common in this country - regardless of age - for men to spend more time with their sons, and for women to spend more time with their daughters. On a general, overall basis. Even if it is true, what is accomplished by being critical of it?

Point A - The Duggars teach self-control about only ONE thing - and we all know what that is. Point B - I imagine Mechelle as a child was an absolute whining and/or screaming brat when she didn't get her own way. She seems to be the same now, only quieter.

Absolutely true. Every child experiences situations growing up where they feel comfortable and others in which they feel ill-equipped, even unaccepted. The reasons are as myriad as the situations. And each child handles these situations in different ways as well, because of their own personalities, how they've been raised so far etc. A mixture of nature and nurture. An outgoing, extroverted kid might barrel into a new classroom on the first day without a care in the world. A more introverted child might hide behind his mother while he scopes out the "lay of the land." But it is necessary for children to be subjected to new and different situations. Each child needs to learn how to cope in his own way. The child that is so indulged or overprotected that he never experiences uncertainty or unpleasant situations in childhood is in for a very rough time as an adult.

True enough, but then - how could they? Apparently no one's interested in JD or Joseph. LOL.

My thinking exactly - or.... Several years ago I saw a program on body language pn PBS and that wide-eyed look of wonder was mentioned as a strong indicator of lying. I can completely see Mechelle doing this all the time - she IS trying to hoodwink folks. I'm wondering what Jill is being false about in this photo. Maybe she really was there for the photo-op and then left? Like mother, like daughter.