Lhb830

This is probably giving them too much credit, but maybe this long planned trip is part of why Joy's not pregnant (as far as we know). Hard to go to Alaska if you're in your third trimester or nursing an infant.

I think one or both of Joy's kids stay with Austin's parents whenever she's visiting Carlin, at least while Austin is working during the day.

Sadly true. And the extended Duggar family are exactly the type of people who don't know what they don't know.

Money is a factor but I think an even bigger one is how the non-Duggar spouse was schooled. As far as we know, Austin was exclusively homeschooled. So sending the Joystin kids to any sort of school, even a Christian private school, would be admitting his own education was lacking. Same goes for Bin. And for all the Duggar wives, I believe (Katey went to public school but only prior to her family becoming fundie). Even Jeremy was homeschooled until the last two years of High School. But on the other hand, he clearly doesn't think much of Jinger's intelligence, and both of them seem to enjoy time away from their kids. So they'll probably do some sort of school.

Unfortunately I doubt public school is in the cards for the Forsyth kids, but I could see them as part of a Christian homeschooling co-op. Hopefully some women in their circles, like Austin's sisters, are somewhat better educated than Joy (a very low bar) if only because they come from smaller families.

I think Joy is closer with her brothers and sisters-in-law than with her sisters. She seems to hang out with Abbie pretty frequently, which makes sense because Austin and JD are close. Joystin also do activities (e.g. softball) with Jed! and Katey. Joy, Abbie, and Katey were all at a Galentines Day Party a few days ago along with Esther Bates and some other random fundies.

It's extra weird since Katie Bates doesn't even seem close with any of the Duggar kids. Like I'd understand Joy wanting to make it to Carlin's wedding no matter what, or JD and the Bates boys he does the MediScam thing with. But that's not the case here. I wonder how she feels about having a bunch of Duggars at her wedding, especially if it leads to headline like "parents and siblings of accused child molester Josh Duggar attend family friend Katie Bates's wedding".

Austin also seems by far the closest BIL to the rest of the Duggar siblings. Jeremy looks down on the Duggars, Ben doesn't seem close with any of them, and Derick wants nothing to do with them. Meanwhile, JD, Jed, and Justin all had Austin as a groomsman in their weddings. Joy was close with her brothers growing up, and now she has a husband who is close with them too. Another reason she appears happier in her marriage than the others. Like everyone else, I hope Joy isn't pregnant every year, and gets to enjoy her family of four and pursuing softball + her other hobbies.