S02.E01: At Home & Away

[pinkelephant3]

Did anyone else hear bin say "some women don't like when you call it babysitting when it's your kid" or something along those lines....clearing seeing our posts!

[Sew Sumi]

You might spend $100, Jessa? I think you spent that on the butter alone!

[Sew Sumi]

Jana can "throw together anything without a recipe" but she can't make Minute Rice? I love Duggar Mythology!

 

And more proof it wasn't Thanksgiving: Joe would have been home for the holiday, but they facetimed him from school. 

Edited March 16, 2016 by Sew Sumi

[Wellfleet]

I doubt that real cooking goes on in the Duggar home.  From what I have gleaned from watching is that the kids even the lost girls are on their own for breakfast and lunch. Dinner seems to be whatever can be assembled from frozen and canned goods.

 

100% agree. The Duggars do not cook food. They thaw and heat, but they do not cook. There's no need really, because everything they buy is processed already, to the Nth degree.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Wellfleet

[Sew Sumi]

And Jessa admits to cooking "twice a month." Hey, I cook more than that, AND I HAVE A REAL JOB! She says they go to her family's house "because they have food." Well, that's debatable. 

Edited March 16, 2016 by Sew Sumi

[BitterApple]

My story too. I watched for a couple of minutes when MSNBC went to break, and in less than 2 minutes of Jessa fumbling around with those 2 cold naked birds, I was done. Yuck. PS - her enthusiasm for married life and motherhood is seriously underwhelming too. Episode idea for TLC - administer sodium pentothal to both Jessa and Ben on camera, then do a TH - either together or separately. Among other things, have the interviewer ask whether either or both of them have had any regrets yet. I'd loved to hear some honest answers.

One of the many reasons you don't get married to have sex. Bin says all the right things, but his body language betrays his words. I'm sure he loves his son, but I do think he's experiencing buyer's remorse. He's got a lazy wife and in-laws from hell. He's not even legal to drink and already seems so jaded. I give them five years, tops.

Edited March 16, 2016 by BitterApple

[GeeGolly]

I fell asleep before the big feast went down. Felt bad for Anna. And like mentioned up-thread, Jessa cooks 2x a month? Because why? Oh right, she's taking care of a baby 24/7, who is so mellow he sleeps all day.

[farmgal4]

Did anyone else hear bin say "some women don't like when you call it babysitting when it's your kid" or something along those lines....clearing seeing our posts!

Yes, he said that.

[becca3891]

And Jessa admits to cooking "twice a month." Hey, I cook more than that, AND I HAVE A REAL JOB! She says they go to her family's house "because they have food." Well, that's debatable. 

I just cannot understand this. I grew up knowing a lot of "stay at home daughters" in the Quiverfull crowd. And they actually cooked -- these people ground their own grain, made homemade bread, made granola for breakfast, and made from scratch lunches and dinners everyday. And they were proud of it because they were, in their jargon, "keepers at home."

 

Having a baby is no excuse -- she admits he is a very easy baby. And you can put together a really nice meal in way under an hour. What I find hilarious is that, growing up fundy, I heard over and over again that one of the reasons why a mother working outside the home was so dangerous was because she wouldn't have enough time to cook for her family. Ha! The working moms I know actually put real food in front of their families each evening. And -- gasp -- their husbands sometimes cook too.

 

 

One of the many reasons you don't get married to have sex. Bin says all the right things, but his body language betrays his words. I'm sure he loves his son, but I do think he's experiencing buyer's remorse. He's got a lazy wife and in-laws from hell. He's not even legal to drink and already seems so jaded. I give them five years, tops.

Agreed. A belief system that forbids masturbation and touts marriage as the only outlet for a man's sexual needs to be "righteously fulfilled" is just asking for young, impulsive marriages based solely on lust. Well, for Jessa's sake, let's hope things turn out better for her than for Anna, whom Josh married for the same reason. As for "I give them five years," they're stuck for life! Divorce is simply out of the question.

Edited March 16, 2016 by becca3891

[OhioMom]

Whoa!  I can't believe I actually sat through this (and I brought home stuff from work to finish!) 

Just some random thoughts:

*Why does Jessa voice always sound soooo smug? Why does she always have that (seemingly fake) smile?

*Fall Feast??? Really - they can't call it Thanksgiving? Or is that just left over from the "we do things just a little bit different"?

*Everything that they were bringing to their "Fall Feast" was pre-made. So much so that they (the "older" girls) commented on it. But of course it didn't dissuade them from still doing the pre-made.  Plus the face Joy (?) made when they said to make mashed potatoes using real potatoes!

*One of them, can't remember which one, actually said "Thanksgiving" instead of Fall Feast.

*The over complimenting of each girl --- so and so is just such a good cook. She just throws this and this, it's great.

*Oh, my god!  Jill can't clean up the kitchen, I mean, the dishes were clean put them in those cupboards that you said were so wonderful for storage! Plus her kitchen was better equipped than mine is! And the rest of the house - she had to know that the cameras were coming, clean up your XXXXXX house!

*When we get together for "Fall Feasting", there are between 20-25 people. Everything is from scratch (except the bread) and not that tough to handle if you manage your time right.

*Aaaannnd - I just feel so sorry for Anna but she is so desperate to hold onto the dream she had  since she was 8 and Josh-uuu-ah is it. As Elsa says, "Let it go."

Well, I feel better!

(bbm)

I know, right?  I spent the entire episode wracking my brain for what is wrong with "Thanksgiving".  Is it a heathen holiday? The "pro-Native-American" sentiment aside (my husband, and hence, my kids are part Native American).  Why can't you just call it what it is?  And...what the heck did she put on that turkey? Paprika or chili powder?? Whatever it was, she put a boatload on there.

 

Michelle has really plumped up.

[flyingdi]

Jessa needs a slow cooker or a crock pot. Just dump everything in the in the morning and by the time Ben comes home from whatever, voila! Easy peasy.

[OhioMom]

One of the many reasons you don't get married to have sex. Bin says all the right things, but his body language betrays his words. I'm sure he loves his son, but I do think he's experiencing buyer's remorse. He's got a lazy wife and in-laws from hell. He's not even legal to drink and already seems so jaded. I give them five years, tops.

He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there during the birthing process.  (I watched the episode leading up to the special beforehand).  And Jessa sounded like she was drugged.

[flyingdi]

I don't think Joy looked all that happy when they talked about JoHannah giving up her tomboy ways and hanging out with the boys in favor of her older sisters.

[StaceyNotStacie]

Jana can "throw together anything without a recipe" but she can't make Minute Rice? I love Duggar Mythology!

And more proof it wasn't Thanksgiving: Joe would have been home for the holiday, but they facetimed him from school.

Wasn't Jana the one who helped Jill with the Nepali meal last season? I don't know what that meal entailed, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's limited on what she's allowed to "prepare" because certain people are too damn picky and cheap to buy fresh, quality, unprocessed ingredients.

That mashed potatoes conversation was telling. I think they had to tell Joy to look online to figure out how to make mashed potatoes from scratch.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Stacey1014

[Guest]

My guess is that they didn't call it Thanksgiving because it was really obvious from the timing that it was not held on Thanksgiving.  They thought they would play it off like it was just a different day? Though it was clearly supposed to be a Thanksgiving theme, so it would have made more sense to say "we're celebrating Thanksgiving a different week this year because TLC wouldn't film us before that.... um, I mean because I was still recovering from childbirth."  But, if that's what makes sense, it's the opposite of what they would choose to do. 

[yogi2014L]

Boring and contrived just as I thought it would be.

 

Does TLC not realize that they would get 100 million more viewers if they showed the REAL duggars? Not this polly-anna wanna be fake ass stuff. I Doubt any of the older girls are close, JInger seemed to be trying really hard in the episode for something, not sure what yet. 

 

It was like Jessa, Jana, Joy and Jinger were sat down and told to sell the brand, work hard at being this cheesy brady bunch like family  hard to save the show. Like everything else, the Jslaves have to do everything. I hate Boob and Mechelle for what they are doing to them. 

 

I can see Bin and Jessas relationship turning volatile. They are literally stuck in a marriage...I can see them lashing out at each other because why not, its not like that person can leave you!!! Unless Bin wakes up and divorces her in 5 years which could possibly happen. And drop the adoption crap. You aren't going to adopt a baby. 

 

Also Anna...ugh. I feel bad for you :-( . Josh is a selfish prick just like his dad. 

[Whyyouneedaname]

I really feel bad for Hannie, it looks like she is now an official J'slave.

and who are they kidding "Hannie decided it was more fun to hang out with the older girls, do laundry, cook meals.....yadda, yadda, yadda"  no kid, without prompting, forcing, would choose that over playtime. Ever.

[Ljohnson1987]

Jessa sure has that 'I'm the only woman in the world who's ever raised a baby' act down. She's almost as smug as Josh. Bin seems high 24/7. Jill and Derick are idiots. What exactly are they doing, besides living off donations for their fake ministry, and telling people in Central America how totally awesome they, and Christianity are? Anna needs to open her eyes! Smugs deserves to be hung out to dry. He should not be forgiven, for what these idiots see as 'teenage mistakes'. All in all, this was boring!

[Barb23]

I really feel bad for Hannie, it looks like she is now an official J'slave.

 

And Jana seemed to stumble over her words describing that Hannie is longer a tomboy & wants to be with the older girls.

 

Jana looked like, really? Everyone was having a great time and then Anna had to bring up the family train wreck. Anna needs to see a licensed therapist. She's shaky and barely holding it together. She also needs to keep in mind that Josh cheating with porn stars is not the real tragedy in the family, the molestations are. The Duggars would be just as happy to ship Josh to Siberia and pretend he doesn't exist.

How true. Anna acted like this was the first time they had seen & talked to her since she got back from seeing Joshley. She started with something like "you know I've been to see Josh-U-a™..."

Did anyone else notice Ben was driving a minivan went they went to the TTH? I guess he got a good deal at Ginger's car lot. More seats to load up. I was thinking how many 20 yr old guys wouldn't be caught dead in a family minivan (unless they were driving their parent's.) Even Anna got to drive a Hummer back in the day & the rest of the Duggars are seen driving the big SUVs. I guess a minivan is all Boob would spring for. Speaking of which......who paid for the Fall feast? I'm sure it was the Boob issued debit card. (I'm still thinking he has a hand in all the kid's finances, married, over 21 or not.)

Spurgey is a cute one. Why didn't Jessa put socks or booties on him during the pictures? I hate to see babies sockless when the rest of them are dressed nicely. I felt sorry for Meredith -her headband looked really tight in one shot they showed her.

I was actually surprised we had to wait to the end to see Boob & MEchelle. I thought sure we would see MEchelle in the background when they took the pictures doing something out of her league like cooking (sorry, "preparing") or straightening up.

[Clemgo3165]

and who are they kidding "Hannie decided it was more fun to hang out with the older girls, do laundry, cook meals.....yadda, yadda, yadda"  no kid, without prompting, forcing, would choose that over playtime. Ever.

 

More like Hannie turned ten, time to begin wife training and stomp the tomboy out of her. I did like seeing her interacting with the older girls though - there is some genuine affection there.

[parisprincess]

I didn't watch the show and, from what I've read here, I'm glad I didn't. Seeing JimBob hamming it up in any form or fashion makes my blood pressure soar, so its detrimental to my health. Since it looks like he's going to be pushing himself in front of the camera in every episode, I won't be watching at all. Not to mention that it sounds like the show is a boring, hot mess. However, I did watch The Willis Family, and what stands out to me is the fact that when they talk about each other, the parents (and kids) actually know the likes, talents and personalities of the other family members.

 

In one scene, one of the sisters sought out the oldest boy (Jair) who's engagement was called off and she was concerned about him. She plopped down on the couch next to him (with no one else in the room - gasp!) and they had a nice conversation. When have we ever seen one of the Duggar girls actually have a meaningful conversation with one of their brothers? They're not even allowed to be alone in a room with one of the boys because you know what will happen if there's not someone to keep them accountable.

 

Then the youngest girl (4 years old) ran into the room and jumped up on Jair's lap. It is obvious that these kids all adore each other. Its so sad that the little girls in the Duggar family can only sit on daddy's lap, thanks to both Josh's actions and the fact that ANY contact between boys and girls before marriage is not allowed. JimBob and Michelle's preoccupation with all things sexual is mind blowing. A pox on TLC for giving these sick people a platform to spew their disgusting beliefs.  

[OhioMom]

My guess is that they didn't call it Thanksgiving because it was really obvious from the timing that it was not held on Thanksgiving.  They thought they would play it off like it was just a different day? Though it was clearly supposed to be a Thanksgiving theme, so it would have made more sense to say "we're celebrating Thanksgiving a different week this year because TLC wouldn't film us before that.... um, I mean because I was still recovering from childbirth."  But, if that's what makes sense, it's the opposite of what they would choose to do. 

That's fine. Then why bother even calling it a "Fall Feast"? Or whatever they called it.   Just called it a family dinner.  That's what normal people do.

[Absolom]

It's cute that someone would think Jim Bob paid for the dinner.  It was filmed.  TLC would be footing the bill or it was provided in exchange for advertising showing the store's name.

[Minivanessa]

Thanks to all of you who took one for the team by watching that mess. I figured I'd already lost one hour this week because of Daylight Savings Time, and didn't want to lose another one watching that show. I appreciate all the reports and commentary that have been posted here!

[Ljohnson1987]

Jessa and Bin will never adopt.

[OhioMom]

I thought Anna was a little scary when she was putting M4 in the carseat/zip up holder.  The baby was crying and she seemed  a little sarcastic to me when she said something like, "Oh, are you crying, poor thing!".  Her movements seemed a little jerky, too, when she snapped the baby in there, and then zipped up the zipper, and finally lifted it off the bed.  Like....passive aggressive, or something.

[Ljohnson1987]

Anna, if you don't want any more children, it's called birth control. it's not the baby's fault that you're choosing to stay with your slime ball husband.

[louannems]

I had the house to myself last night, so I settled in and watched the whole 4 hour mess. You all have said everything already. Just a few additional observations: In the pool house, before Jill and Derick returned to CA, their counter was stacked with cases of CANNED green beans. We're they lugging those back to CA ? The local villages have MOUNDS of fresh, cheap beautiful vegetables!

You know the creepy way JB grabs Michelle and swoops down for a kiss? And Michelle has to quickly pucker up? And we all want to vomit? Well, I noticed that is exactly what Jill does to Derick! Over and over. Except she grabs Derick and swoops UP for her puckery kiss.

I agree with "This Walk". TOO MUCH!!!

[Marigold]

I was surprised Ben didn't talk more. We know he likes to talk!

This was the most talking I've heard from Jana and it was nice. Joy too.

Jinger really has too much make up. It's, like, really really unflattering. She is a pretty woman. Just stop with all that eye shadow. Please!

Jill is "ADOPTING to life in Central America!" That was classic Duggar. Thanks for that one, Jill. ;)

I didn't hate the cooking plotline.

I hated anything to do with Jill and Central America because it's a fake missionary thing and we all know that. Plus, I keep looking at Derick trying to figure out what's wrong with him exactly.

Edit to add: I don't know what to make of Anna. On one hand I feel for her. On the other hand, I don't. Someone mentioned how inappropriate it was for Anna to be talking about Josh with the victims/survivors sitting right there. Good point. Maybe they should've left out that whole plot line. It was just so sloppy.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Marigold

[Tabbygirl521]

I didn't watch the show and, from what I've read here, I'm glad I didn't. Seeing JimBob hamming it up in any form or fashion makes my blood pressure soar, so its detrimental to my health. Since it looks like he's going to be pushing himself in front of the camera in every episode, I won't be watching at all. Not to mention that it sounds like the show is a boring, hot mess. However, I did watch The Willis Family, and what stands out to me is the fact that when they talk about each other, the parents (and kids) actually know the likes, talents and personalities of the other family members.

In one scene, one of the sisters sought out the oldest boy (Jair) who's engagement was called off and she was concerned about him. She plopped down on the couch next to him (with no one else in the room - gasp!) and they had a nice conversation. When have we ever seen one of the Duggar girls actually have a meaningful conversation with one of their brothers? They're not even allowed to be alone in a room with one of the boys because you know what will happen if there's not someone to keep them accountable.

Then the youngest girl (4 years old) ran into the room and jumped up on Jair's lap. It is obvious that these kids all adore each other. Its so sad that the little girls in the Duggar family can only sit on daddy's lap, thanks to both Josh's actions and the fact that ANY contact between boys and girls before marriage is not allowed. JimBob and Michelle's preoccupation with all things sexual is mind blowing. A pox on TLC for giving these sick people a platform to spew their disgusting beliefs.

I watched the Willis Family for the first time yesterday, and I too was struck by the way they interact, the natural and easy behavior, the lack of FAKE modesty, and the obvious love, attention, and engagement of the parents.

AND in one ep, Jair and his fiancée were shown emerging from a room together! Gasp! Also cuddling and kissing.

I never watched the Duggars for more than a few minutes until Counting In; I have seen all eps. Last night, the stultifying boredom and obviously forced smiles just made me tense. We know they used to hide secrets and now it looks to me like they are so used to being super buttoned up and fake, that they know no other way to be.

And their lives look SO BORING. I keep thinking that we only see a fraction of their lives - but are these the HIGHLIGHTS??

Two main questions: why did they edit out Ben offering the pre-meal blessing? It seemed pretty obviously choppy.

And why did Anna drive off alone to go visit JoshUa when we know John-David piloted her? Are these loons so sex-obsessed that Anna and J-D are not allowed to drive together??? DUGGARS! Why do you have NO FAITH in anyone's convictions or beliefs or sense of right and wrong? Please understand that Josh and his Rogue Penis are not typical. Who don't you trust? John-David, who is obviously appalled by Josh? Or Anna, who is so damaged that I bet she can't even THINK about sex without cringing and crying?

Edited March 16, 2016 by Tabbygirl521

[3 is enough]

Same old, same old.  "Seasons of life", blah, blah, blah...

 

Of course we had to get a glimpse of Jim Bob and Michelle, but it was short.  I will admit not having them front and center does lighten the mood considerably.

 

Couldn't they just have called it a "delayed Thanksgiving"?

 

Jill and Derick are slobs, but the baby is cute.

 

It hurt me to watch Anna- so much pain, and yet on tv again.  Bet she needs the money.  Sadly, she has obviously been thoroughly indoctrinated and will never leave that lying, cheating, piece of crap that she calls Josh-U-A.  

 

Don't think I will watch again.

[Marigold]

Hey y'all!!!

Michelle has a new shirt! Bye, Bye Green Shirt. Hello, Ugly Flowers.

[Tabbygirl521]

Hey y'all!!!

Michelle has a new shirt! Bye, Bye Green Shirt. Hello, Ugly Flowers.

It was an improvement, though! Some color did her a favor.

[bigskygirl]

Her new shirt gives me nightmares. My poor eyes will never fully recover. I am talking with my lawyer and eye doctor about taking Michelle to court over this trauma.

[dorcastrilling]

I really, really, really hate to say this, but there was no faking the look the baby gave Jessa. You never saw a baby look at Michelle that way, hell, I never saw a picture of me smiling up at my detached mother.

 

Also have never seen any indication of Isreal looking at Jill that way.

 

I think Jessa genuinely loves and interacts with her kid. 

 

None I am done saying anything positive about these loons.

[barbedwire]

Did anyone else notice Janas face when Anna started talking about how much Josh loved them all? Same face I get when i step in dogshit or smell sour ass.

Yes!  That is exactly what I thought.  That girl can smell a load of crap.

 

None surprised that Jessa ended up sitting on the couch with baby while sisters did the cooking.  Cooking is expected of her as a married woman (in their world) so the 11 months before she delivered Surgeon why didn't she learn to cook more than cousus (or whatever it was)?!

[barbedwire]

And, the best part (though I did not watch all of this crapfest) was Jessa admitting, when they were discussing what time to tell the family to show up to eat, that when there is a meal that is when the Duggars can be on time!

[Marigold]

I was a little surprised that there was so much focus on their crappy cooking skills. jessa admitted she cooks three times a month?They eat out a lot? They go to the TTH for a meal?

For such a patriarchal group, that's really bad. Doesn't make Michelle look very good in raising her daughters to be helpmeets or whatever they call it.

Jill couldn't cook either. Did you see her fussing with those eggs like she was still learning how to work a pan and spatula? Anyone who can cook can spot a newbie a mile away. I cook for 7 people every day and we have multiple food allergies. My teens cook too. We can hussle in the kitchen and my teens look comfortable with kitchen skills. Jill looked very slow and cautious.

It was a nicer show overall without Jim Bob. He really is a obnoxious.

Someone pointed out Anna looked frail and shaky. She did! She looked like she might snap. I think jana is taking care of Anna and the kids.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Marigold

[Barbie]

While the girls were at the store Joy said if they eat all that food they were going to be as big as a Heffalump,  so I guess that means they get to read Winnie the Pooh.... 

[BitterApple]

I knew the Duggar girls couldn't cook when Jana and Jill struggled to figure out the ratios for Minute Rice. The instructions are on the side of the box, ladies.

As for Bin and Jessa, they're always posting pictures of fast food on their Instagram, so they probably eat out quite a bit.

[charmed1]

Bin is so over his life. I have more enthusiasm for my yearly Pap smear than Bin does for fatherhood and marriage.

I laughed so hard at this because I dread that thing so much, I schedule it for the very last possible day they can take me. So unlike many people, I don't think of the holidays at the end of the year, I'm thinking about walking through that fire of inappropriate touching and wrong choices by those stirrups.

Watching Jana and Jessa's THs made me notice they are really on opposite ends of the spectrum in Duggar features. They're both pretty girls and debatably the most attractive members of their family, but other than their eyes, they really look nothing alike. Jinger, Joy, Jill, and all the rest of the J-lings are a mashup and share similar individual features of each sister, but really don't look like either one imo.

When Anna was lugging that suitcase around, I heard her speak for the first time in a normal, adult woman's voice.

And when DerrickDillard was preaching to those townsfolk, I wanted to run in and save them all. It made me sad. I wonder if he tried to minister to that heathen cougar that Jill spotted. It was probably sent by the poor kitty he tried to injure in Arkansas. Their view from their house is beautiful though.

It finally dawned on me why I hate watch this show. I'm waiting to see the first kid break free and I don't want to miss it. I find soccer and hockey incredibly boring, but when I went to an actual professional game and watched a goal scored, it was magical.

Edited March 16, 2016 by charmed1

[Tabbygirl521]

I liked when Jana (I think) acknowledged that most people would have walked away from Josh. But I didn't like that she was judgemental about it, praising Anna for doing the hard thing by staying. I mean, good for Anna if she is OK with trying again but she looks unsure. Seeing her this way on TV in front of God and everyone SHOULD twist the knife in Josh's heart just a bit more. I actually think it's kind of passive-aggressive of Anna, but that's better than nothing.

[Wellfleet]

One of the many reasons you don't get married to have sex. Bin says all the right things, but his body language betrays his words. I'm sure he loves his son, but I do think he's experiencing buyer's remorse. He's got a lazy wife and in-laws from hell. He's not even legal to drink and already seems so jaded. I give them five years, tops.

 

Yep, this is exactly what I think too. I think Jessa is experiencing buyer's remorse every bit as much as Ben as well. There just doesn't seem to be any fun, light-heartedness or plain old joy between the two of them. And there never really has...

[Wellfleet]

And Jessa admits to cooking "twice a month." Hey, I cook more than that, AND I HAVE A REAL JOB! She says they go to her family's house "because they have food." Well, that's debatable. 

 

So the cupboard is usually bare at Casa Seewald? If this is true, then Me-chelle certainly did a bang-up job in instructing her daughters in the womanly arts, didn't she? Good grief, she neglected their secular educations to a criminal degree, and now she's also failed in training them to be the one thing they were born for - being wives and mothers? I honestly don't think I've ever encountered such a colossally-lazy mother. She either ignores her parental responsibilities - or pawns them off on others. Constantly - and for years now. 

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Jana has beautiful skin and Jinger wears too much make up, wow!  Derick looks horrible, so thin, unkempt hair and face.  He and Jill look terrible and are not living a minimal life.  Israel looked orange!  

[BitterApple]

Yep, this is exactly what I think too. I think Jessa is experiencing buyer's remorse every bit as much as Ben as well. There just doesn't seem to be any fun, light-heartedness or plain old joy between the two of them. And there never really has...

I know, right? For two people who don't work, don't cook, don't have to pay rent and have an army of childcare help, they sure are sullen. Jessa tries to be exuberant in her TH's, but that nervous laughter punctuating all her statements betrays her lack of confidence.

I also noticed when they arrived at the TTH for the photoshoot, Bin immediately got pushed to the background as all the kids swarmed around Jessa and Spurge. The Duggars may have recycled, repackaged and rebranded this show, but the disfunction is coming through the TV screen loud and clear.

Edited March 16, 2016 by BitterApple

[Aja]

I knew the Duggar girls couldn't cook when Jana and Jill struggled to figure out the ratios for Minute Rice. The instructions are on the side of the box, ladies.

 

Maybe it's too advanced for their reading levels.

[Tabbygirl521]

I don't understand it myself but some people think prepared and processed food is just fine. If none of the Duggars have health problems, they probably tell themselves fresh food is overrated. My DIL is like this, and she is the SAH mom/main housekeeper while my son works long hours. She just does not cook and my son doesn't eat out of boxes, as he puts it. This is an ongoing deal for them - major difference in lifestyle.

At least Jessa made a case for real potatoes! And Joy was allowed to go online and look for instructions. She seemed pretty glued to her phone, too. Praise Jesus! Maybe they are rejecting some of the more stupid parental restrictions!

[Patricia07]

I thought Jill seemed depressed.

[Aja]

At least Jessa made a case for real potatoes! And Joy was allowed to go online and look for instructions. She seemed pretty glued to her phone, too. Praise Jesus! Maybe they are rejecting some of the more stupid parental restrictions!

I haven't watched (HUGE blessings to all those with a servant's heart who took one for the team), but it seems to me that the whole 'preparing to be a helpmeet' crap is just more fundie schtick that the Duggars pontificate endlessly about but don't actually adhere to. On the one hand, it's encouraging because it hopefully means that Jana and the Unmarrieds aren't facing the same kind of soul-crushing pressure that a lot of Quiverfull girls have to deal with. On the other hand, screw you, Michelle, for not only ensuring your daughters remain totally uneducated and unprepared to operate independently in this world, but not even bothering with the ONE SKILL--homemaking--that is supposed to give them purpose in life. To be confounded by rice and non-potato-flakes mashed potatoes is pathetic. I could make mashed potatoes by the time I was ten years old--all while going to public school and ballet and gymnastics. Maybe I should call up my mom and yell at her for trying to prepare me to be a helpmeet--she sure put more effort into it than Michelle ever did. Just stop lecturing people on ridiculous, nonsensical standards that you can't even be bothered to uphold. Jesus.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Aja