Jessa, Ben and Their Brood: Making a (Diaper) Mountain out of a Mold House

[Sew Sumi]

4 hours ago, Marigold said:

😄

Does it still count? Ben is not a genetic Duggar. 

 I deplore the notion of pet fundies. 

[Sew Sumi]

4 hours ago, BitterApple said:

Did Jessa actually say Bin had a non-Duggar job or did she just leave a snarky "Yes, he works!" reply when questioned on Instagram, which could mean anything? When we left off, Bin was doing the homefooling at the TTH, so I'm a bit skeptical.

The Duggars, and especially Jessa, are famous for half-truths and lies by ommission. Take anything that comes out of their mouths with a grain of salt.

Ben "taught" one project. I doubt he's there every day with a lesson plan geared towards students from what, 3rd to 9th grades? Right. 

[Churchhoney]

15 minutes ago, Sew Sumi said:

Ben "taught" one project. I doubt he's there every day with a lesson plan geared towards students from what, 3rd to 9th grades? Right. 

And it'd better be 10th or 11th grade by now. Justin's 16, and you have to still be "in school" in Arkansas at that age. 

Of course, it's not as if anybody has ever provided appropriate lesson plans daily for Duggar kids. Maybe now they figure it's fine if Bin shows up every week or two and teaches everybody to add again. 

[lookeyloo]

5 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

Ben works for JB doing whatever JB wants (which may include tutoring the little kids and Tyler). JB probably pays him from Duggar LLC so that he can legitimately say he works. 

Do we know for sure that is his only "job"?

[Churchhoney]

9 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

Do we know for sure that is his only "job"?

I don't think we know whether it even is his job! Let alone whether he has another one....! Maybe he's JB's chief weed-whacker operator or something...

At one point a year or so ago, didn't we hear that he had some kind of time-limited church internship connected with his studies at Moody? 

That led me to think that if he had an actual full- or part-time or even temporary job outside JB's empire, they'd mention it because it'd be a step on the road to his being an adult person starting some sort of career so he could support his growing family.....I would think Jessa would want to show people that that was true. But maybe she doesn't? (Why wouldn't she, though? maybe because she goes with the JB, M and Gothard "principle" that it's best to work only for your own relatives? (or in-laws???)) 

In any case, nobody seems to report hearing anything about a job of any kind or duration...which makes me think that at this point he's probably just doing property-maintenance stuff for JB. But who the heck knows?

Edited May 31, 2019 by Churchhoney

[3 is enough]

I remember  there was some speculation about Ben's job about a year ago.  Jessa had posted something vague about Ben being at work and it was a topic of conversation for a day or two.

He does have an associate's degree.  It isn't totally implausible that he has a part-time job in an office somewhere that allows him to be available for filming.  We don't know every detail of their lives.  

Also, if he does have a job, it is entirely possible that his employer does not want to be associated  with the show or the Duggars and he is being discreet.

Edited May 31, 2019 by 3 is enough

[Churchhoney]

35 minutes ago, 3 is enough said:

I remember  there was some speculation about Ben's job about a year ago.  Jessa had posted something vague about Ben being at work and it was a topic of conversation for a day or two.

He does have an associate's degree.  It isn't totally implausible that he has a part-time job in an office somewhere that allows him to be available for filming.  We don't know every detail of their lives.

Well, what I remember is that somebody asked Jessa on social media "What's Bin up to these days?" or something like that.

And she snapped back that they were more in love than ever. 

So I read that as angrily evading what seemed to me to clearly be a question about what he was working at -- full-time school, school and a job, etc.!

And I couldn't figure out why the heck you'd so snippily evade that question.

Why wouldn't you simply say, "Oh, he's got a part-time job while he's taking classes" or "He's working hard to finish up his degree" or something. 

I mean, I'd never go on social media and ask people questions about their lives. But Jessa's on there apparently welcoming comments and questions, as long as they're ones she likes. 

And I couldn't figure out why that would be a question you'd refuse to answer.

(There was some indication that she thought the question meant something harassing despite the fact that it wasn't phrased like a harassing question.....But it seemed to me that possibly the best way to shut that down would be to simply give a straightforward but non-detailed answer to the apparent question. - "What's his daily occupation?"  -- Not sure why you'd start giving an apparently unsolicited testimonial to the strength of your marriage instead.)

Edited May 31, 2019 by Churchhoney

[Marigold]

Maybe Ben realizes the Duggars are super controversial and not want his employer or church affiliation associated with the Dugg Life. 

Seems his sisters and father have stepped back from Duggar fame. Maybe His dad and sisters pointed out a few things at a Seewald family dinner. 

[Churchhoney]

22 minutes ago, Marigold said:

Maybe Ben realizes the Duggars are super controversial and not want his employer or church affiliation associated with the Dugg Life. 

Seems his sisters and father have stepped back from Duggar fame. Maybe His dad and sisters pointed out a few things at a Seewald family dinner. 

Could be. But I actually think it's more likely that the Duggars are the ones who dumped Mike Seewald!

I think he figured he'd be visible in the show and their world -- but TLC made him sit in the back row behind Jim Bob at his own son's graduation. My bet would be that the Duggars and TLC made it quite clear early on that the Seewalds wouldn't have any part in the fame or the show.

In either case, though, I don't get why the answer to the "what's he up to these days" question has to implicate anyone or anything with the Duggars?  

You can easily answer without ever naming the guy's employer or even saying what line of work they're in! You simply say something like, "He's working part-time and going to school." 

And then you've answered what was asked -- and if they ask for more details then you can ignore that request without making it seem as if the simple facts are some kind of massively touchy thing that you don't want to mention. 

It's when you don't answer at all except to say something defensive about how much in love he is, that you make things look odd, seems to me!

[GeeGolly]

There was something - I think on an episode - where Jessa says, "... when Ben gets home from work ...". We were all like, WHAT!?!??

Something has me thinking it was the episode when they hosted some coaches for dinner. I'm really unsure though.

[Churchhoney]

3 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

There was something - I think on an episode - where Jessa says, "... when Ben gets home from work ...". We were all like, WHAT!?!??

Something has me thinking it was the episode when they hosted some coaches for dinner. I'm really unsure though.

Yeah, I seem to remember hearing about that episode, too. 

I assume he works at something, but I don't see why it couldn't be a regular gig with Jim Bob, since he probably is doing classes part time. He could have regular slate of maintenance stuff and paperwork he does for various properties or something. That'd be as respectable a job for him as other Jim Bob-related jobs are for the Duggar sons, seems to me.  

[GeeGolly]

3 minutes ago, Churchhoney said:

Yeah, I seem to remember hearing about that episode, too. 

I assume he works at something, but I don't see why it couldn't be a regular gig with Jim Bob, since he probably is doing classes part time. He could have regular slate of maintenance stuff and paperwork he does for various properties or something. That'd be as respectable a job for him as other Jim Bob-related jobs are for the Duggar sons, seems to me.  

If I'm remembering correctly her comment didn't feel wholly true - it felt, uhm, well it felt very Jessa.

[bigskygirl]

2 hours ago, 3 is enough said:

I remember  there was some speculation about Ben's job about a year ago.  Jessa had posted something vague about Ben being at work and it was a topic of conversation for a day or two.

He does have an associate's degree.  It isn't totally implausible that he has a part-time job in an office somewhere that allows him to be available for filming.  We don't know every detail of their lives.  

Also, if he does have a job, it is entirely possible that his employer does not want to be associated  with the show or the Duggars and he is being discreet.

Would Jessa and JB allow him to work for someone who does want to associate with the Duggars because we all know the Duggars are God's answer to the universe.

[PikaScrewChu]

13 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

Poor Jessa, 4 days after producing a blessing and she's not even trending on here. This thread has dropped to 6th place.

No worries. I'm sure she's already planning Seewald #4 so she can get into the "5 bumps" picture by October.

[DangerousMinds]

3 hours ago, Churchhoney said:

Well, what I remember is that somebody asked Jessa on social media "What's Bin up to these days?" or something like that.

And she snapped back that they were more in love than ever. 

So I read that as angrily evading what seemed to me to clearly be a question about what he was working at -- full-time school, school and a job, etc.!

And I couldn't figure out why the heck you'd so snippily evade that question.

Why wouldn't you simply say, "Oh, he's got a part-time job while he's taking classes" or "He's working hard to finish up his degree" or something. 

I mean, I'd never go on social media and ask people questions about their lives. But Jessa's on there apparently welcoming comments and questions, as long as they're ones she likes. 

And I couldn't figure out why that would be a question you'd refuse to answer.

(There was some indication that she thought the question meant something harassing despite the fact that it wasn't phrased like a harassing question.....But it seemed to me that possibly the best way to shut that down would be to simply give a straightforward but non-detailed answer to the apparent question. - "What's his daily occupation?"  -- Not sure why you'd start giving an apparently unsolicited testimonial to the strength of your marriage instead.)

Yep, she was Soooooo defensive when that person simply asked about Bin.

[Lunera]

Here is the screenshot. The person simply asked her "Where is Ben? We don't see him anymore."

Jessa never even answered the question just blabbed on about other stuff. Surely she sees Bin 24/7 too, ya know,  since he doesn't work. 

[bigskygirl]

She is nearly with the boys 24/7? She does not work, so why not with them almost all day? I understand naps and going to be bed.

[lascuba]

54 minutes ago, DangerousMinds said:

Yep, she was Soooooo defensive when that person simply asked about Bin.

Oh, yeah, Jessa absolutely told on herself and the state of her marriage with that comment. Even considering how temperamental she is, shit must have been (or still be) BAD between her and Ben for her to blow up that way at such a simple, non-snarky question.

About Ben working, I vaguely recall her mentioning a job before that "we're more in love than ever!" incident, and I remembering getting the impression that it was outside the Duggar businesses. If he does have a job independent of JB, I don't blame them for keeping quiet about it. Haters are going to harass the business about employing him, and fans are going to show up and be creepy. Never forget that tween who knocked on Jill and Derick's door to see if Israel had been born yet. 

[Marigold]

3 hours ago, bigskygirl said:

Would Jessa and JB allow him to work for someone who does want to associate with the Duggars because we all know the Duggars are God's answer to the universe.

Ben is my pet fundie @Sew Sumi so I'm going to say that he made a decision all by himself and didn't consult Jim Bob. 😁  Ok, probably not but we all have our dreams. 🙄

[floridamom]

The simple answer to 'the question' should have been that YES, Ben is working an independent job from my father and is doing online college courses. Nothing revealed about where he may be employed but it answers the recurring question.....Does Ben work only for Jim Bob or not? Does the guy have a real, actual- the- world J.O.B. Jessa was, is and always will be a defensive bitch. Ben, I believe, is henpecked and dominated by her. His father truly has failed him.

[GeeGolly]

The Seewald home isn't much bigger than a double-wide. The fact that they put in sliders and a patio slab off the bedroom has me thinking they're not going anywhere. Speaking from experience each additional kid seems to take up triple the space and the walls start closing in.

If I were them I'd move the adults into the small bedroom and put the boys, and eventually Ivy, in the bigger one. 

I remember a video she posted of Henry in some type of pack and play with Spurge playing with him in the living room. Between the mammoth couches and all the toys it already felt claustrophobic. Now they've added a third child and all the accoutrements that comes with her.

Very glad it's not me crammed in there! (and I by no means have a very large home)

[Heathen]

50 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

The Seewald home isn't much bigger than a double-wide. The fact that they put in sliders and a patio slab off the bedroom has me thinking they're not going anywhere. Speaking from experience each additional kid seems to take up triple the space and the walls start closing in.

If I were them I'd move the adults into the small bedroom and put the boys, and eventually Ivy, in the bigger one. 

I remember a video she posted of Henry in some type of pack and play with Spurge playing with him in the living room. Between the mammoth couches and all the toys it already felt claustrophobic. Now they've added a third child and all the accoutrements that comes with her.

Very glad it's not me crammed in there! (and I by no means have a very large home)

Good points, but it probably still feels spacious to Jessa, who spent her early years crammed into a small house with her parents and many more siblings than she has children. 

[GeeGolly]

1 hour ago, Heathen said:

Good points, but it probably still feels spacious to Jessa, who spent her early years crammed into a small house with her parents and many more siblings than she has children. 

True, but Jessa spent much of her life in the TTH cavern. She even had her own bed for a number of years. Just realized that Jessa still spends a large amount of time at the TTH, so maybe the cramped Mold House is fine if she's hardly there.

[xwordfanatik]

14 hours ago, lascuba said:

Oh, yeah, Jessa absolutely told on herself and the state of her marriage with that comment. Even considering how temperamental she is, shit must have been (or still be) BAD between her and Ben for her to blow up that way at such a simple, non-snarky question.

About Ben working, I vaguely recall her mentioning a job before that "we're more in love than ever!" incident, and I remembering getting the impression that it was outside the Duggar businesses. If he does have a job independent of JB, I don't blame them for keeping quiet about it. Haters are going to harass the business about employing him, and fans are going to show up and be creepy. Never forget that tween who knocked on Jill and Derick's door to see if Israel had been born yet. 

I'm not familiar with the last sentence...some fan really did that?

[lascuba]

2 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

I'm not familiar with the last sentence...some fan really did that?

Yes! It was bizarre. She couldn't have been more than 14, and she said she was by their house and decided to knock on the door to see if Jill had had Israel yet. Derick and Jill weren't home but Dan was and consented to take a picture with the delighted girl.

7 hours ago, floridamom said:

The simple answer to 'the question' should have been that YES, Ben is working an independent job from my father and is doing online college courses. Nothing revealed about where he may be employed but it answers the recurring question.....Does Ben work only for Jim Bob or not? Does the guy have a real, actual- the- world J.O.B. Jessa was, is and always will be a defensive bitch. Ben, I believe, is henpecked and dominated by her. His father truly has failed him.

The problem with that is that by answering that question, she's--in her paranoid mind--tacitly admitting that working for JB isn't the best thing ever. 

[kokapetl]

On 5/31/2019 at 1:39 AM, Sew Sumi said:

Oh, Ben, you look so groomed you could do gay porn. 

[drafan]

On 5/30/2019 at 3:54 PM, MamaMax said:

How do we know she had an IV?

She most definitely had an Ivy. That's how she can answer (evade) that question.

[JoanArc]

3 hours ago, kokapetl said:

Oh, Ben, you look so groomed you could do gay porn. 

Jesus really is coming!

She most definitely had an Ivy. That's how she can answer (evade) that question.

Ivy Banana Bag Tubing Duggar Seewald.

[Barb23]

Do couples still do "Push Presents"? (Or whatever it's called for a mom to get a gift, like a nice piece of jewelry,  from dad for "pushing" the baby out.)  I considered my newborn son the gift back when I had him 30 years ago.  

[lascuba]

3 hours ago, Barb23 said:

Do couples still do "Push Presents"? (Or whatever it's called for a mom to get a gift, like a nice piece of jewelry,  from dad for "pushing" the baby out.)  I considered my newborn son the gift back when I had him 30 years ago.  

I had only heard of those a few years ago and was told they were a common thing in the South (maybe an upper class thing?), though not called "push presents." It was only until people in other parts of the country started doing them that it got mainstream attention wand was given that name. I still have never met anyone who does it.

[Absolom]

My husband did it many decades ago and that was the first I'd heard of it.  Although he didn't call it a push present.  It could to be a problem being original after four or five kids in Duggar size families.

Edited June 2, 2019 by Absolom

[Scarlett45]

4 hours ago, Barb23 said:

Do couples still do "Push Presents"? (Or whatever it's called for a mom to get a gift, like a nice piece of jewelry,  from dad for "pushing" the baby out.)  I considered my newborn son the gift back when I had him 30 years ago.  

Some do. I’m an old millennial and I have some friends who received push presents (usually jewelry or a new iPad). My Mom got one 33 yrs ago with me. If you’ve got more than 2-3kids that can get expensive. 

With these mega families a charm bracelet might be nice, add a charm for each child born that the mom can wear. 

[yogi2014L]

7 hours ago, Barb23 said:

Do couples still do "Push Presents"? (Or whatever it's called for a mom to get a gift, like a nice piece of jewelry,  from dad for "pushing" the baby out.)  I considered my newborn son the gift back when I had him 30 years ago.  

I kind of got one. My birthday was 2 weeks after I gave birth and I received a very nice and expensive bracelet. Much more expensive than we spend on birthday gifts. 

I fully support push presents. haha :-) I figure it was a nice gesture, having babies is hard work! It was nice ( extra) recognition! 

[QuinnInND]

Push presents? I've never heard of such a thing. Interesting.  🤔 Since I had twins, would I get 2 presents?  😂

[3 is enough]

I always figured that the baby(ies) is(are) the present you get for all that pushing.  😉

[Scarlett45]

2 hours ago, QuinnInND said:

Push presents? I've never heard of such a thing. Interesting.  🤔 Since I had twins, would I get 2 presents?  😂

Yes you would. 

[PikaScrewChu]

Pssssst... isn't it time to change the name of the thread?

[Ohiopirate02]

55 minutes ago, PikaScrewChu said:

Pssssst... isn't it time to change the name of the thread?

I hope not.  I don't want to lose the Hamilton reference.

[PikaScrewChu]

26 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I hope not.  I don't want to lose the Hamilton reference.

Could just add Ivy to the end. Or "the others".

[xwordfanatik]

..."and the rest, here on Gilligan's Isle."

I assume there will be many blessings to come, difficult/dangerous births be damned.

[galaxychaser]

Jess posted a new video on instagram. Henry with bare feet on the gravel playing. I hope he didn’t get his feet cut on the rocks!

[Churchhoney]

1 hour ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I hope not.  I don't want to lose the Hamilton reference.

Well, they do have a great title.

But maybe another way to look at it is that the Gang at Diaper Mountain have been the beneficiaries of a Judith Viorst reference and a Hamilton reference for a long time now. And they don't merit either. We've elevated them into company that's far above their level....and that they wouldn't appreciate. 

If Jessa continues on her mad dash to produce kids, there's no way any good title that references every kid will last long for their thread. Something on a par with A Series of Unfortunate Events will have to be found (although that seems pretty unbeatable, I must say.) .... (Maybe A Series of Unfortunate Events, Seaweed Edition)

Edited June 3, 2019 by Churchhoney

[ginger90]

2 videos:

[Twopper]

On 5/28/2019 at 5:28 PM, beckie said:

I think poison ivy. That's why I don't like ivy as a name. 

Ha!! I think Ivy, Virginia-- a tiny picturesque town next to Charlottesville.   I like Jane--another "J" name.   I think Jane works better with the last name.  Ivy Seewald sounds a little weird to me, but I am not Jessa or Ben so I didn't get to vote.   In the unlikely event that they are interested, I prefer Jane Seewald.     Sounds like a character in an 18th or 19th century British novel. 

BTW, thanks a lot---now the song "Poison Ivy" will be playing in my brain for the rest of the day.

Edited June 3, 2019 by Twopper

[RedheadZombie]

On 5/30/2019 at 7:24 PM, DangerousMinds said:

If only Jessa would do the same with her hair.

My uncle shaved the beard because his daughter didn’t like it. It did appear later in every northern Illinois winter.  

[RedheadZombie]

On 5/31/2019 at 10:56 AM, Marigold said:

Re: Ben & work

 Jessa hasn't said which makes me think she is embarrassed or maybe MAYBE Ben is keeping something private and off social media???????????????  

I know we wonder how Ben will support his family when the shit show ends but seriously, isn't Ben in school?  He has an Associates degree, which is more than the genetic Duggar males. We suspect they are getting paid for the show. They don't live a lavish life. They are in a house, small, but a house. 

I really think Ben and Jessa will be OK. Not wealthy but I think Ben will come through. Ben is my favorite Duggar BY FAR.  

People like to go on about how superior Jingle’s life is to Jessa, but Jessa seems to live within her means and Jingle (Jeremy) seems to blow money on expensive clothes and other material possessions. 

[galaxychaser]

8 minutes ago, RedheadZombie said:

People like to go on about how superior Jingle’s life is to Jessa, but Jessa seems to live within her means and Jingle (Jeremy) seems to blow money on expensive clothes and other material possessions. 

Jeremy poses for every picture like it’s the cover for GQ.

[Patricia07]

Ben doesn't look happy in any of the Instagram photos that they posted.

[QuinnInND]

[Patricia07]

His eyes look dead in every picture.