Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[Snow Fairy]

Just saw this on Pickles

. Also, many know about Josh getting his head shaved at 17 as punishment for his continued sins. It was done at the Duggars' home church by church elders including Jim Bob. Josh resisted the punishment and they told him that if he didn't go through with it they would also shave the head of the girl (not his sister) he abused. The church apparently partly blamed her for being abused.

That's it for now...At least this information clears up the shaved head incident.

 

Are also his sisters blamed for being abused? Probably, and that's so sad

[kokapetl]

3 hours ago, Snow Fairy said:

Just saw this on Pickles

. Also, many know about Josh getting his head shaved at 17 as punishment for his continued sins. It was done at the Duggars' home church by church elders including Jim Bob. Josh resisted the punishment and they told him that if he didn't go through with it they would also shave the head of the girl (not his sister) he abused. The church apparently partly blamed her for being abused.

That's it for now...At least this information clears up the shaved head incident.

 

Are also his sisters blamed for being abused? Probably, and that's so sad

Sounds like semi-bullshit. This would have been between Josh and the “elders”. I can believe Josh was pressured with an idle threat, I don’t believe the victims were every actually at risk of a head shaving, and I can’t believe that anyone privy to these sort of shenanigans would have leaked it. 

[Snow Fairy]

Picles says she (or he?) has lots of more information about everything, but needs to consult the lawyer before coming out with it. We'll see

[kalamac]

10 hours ago, Snow Fairy said:

Just saw this on Pickles

. Also, many know about Josh getting his head shaved at 17 as punishment for his continued sins. It was done at the Duggars' home church by church elders including Jim Bob. Josh resisted the punishment and they told him that if he didn't go through with it they would also shave the head of the girl (not his sister) he abused. The church apparently partly blamed her for being abused.

That's it for now...At least this information clears up the shaved head incident.

 

Are also his sisters blamed for being abused? Probably, and that's so sad

I could be remembering this wrong, so anyone who knows better, feel free to correct this, but I believe Jinger has said that she knew she was sinner when she was 8, and Joy has said when she was 5, which incidentally are the ages they were when the molestations took place, indicating to me, that they were made to feel like it was at least partially their fault.

[Sew Sumi]

2 minutes ago, kalamac said:

I could be remembering this wrong, so anyone who knows better, feel free to correct this, but I believe Jinger has said that she knew she was sinner when she was 8, and Joy has said when she was 5, which incidentally are the ages they were when the molestations took place, indicating to me, that they were made to feel like it was at least partially their fault.

I'd never put 2 and 2 together before with this perspective. Those poor girls. 

[floridamom]

Apparently Anna has assigned Mason to Meredith. Mason is her buddy now...not her brother. She's way too young for anything like that. Poor Mackynzie. She's the old lady of the bunch and I'm sure she's responsible for the other 4 most of the time.

[MargeGunderson]

18 hours ago, kokapetl said:

Sounds like semi-bullshit. This would have been between Josh and the “elders”. I can believe Josh was pressured with an idle threat, I don’t believe the victims were every actually at risk of a head shaving, and I can’t believe that anyone privy to these sort of shenanigans would have leaked it. 

Apparently Josh was forced to confess to his “sins” before the church, not just the elders, so it was common knowledge among at least the congregation. Probably not the details but enough to know that he deserved a shaved head as punishment. Given what Gothard and followers has written that very much puts at least part of the blame on women for, well, everything really, it doesn’t stretch the imagination that they would blame (at least) the non-relative female for having a role in Josh’s “temptation.” 

[mimionthebeach]

11 hours ago, kalamac said:

I could be remembering this wrong, so anyone who knows better, feel free to correct this, but I believe Jinger has said that she knew she was sinner when she was 8, and Joy has said when she was 5, which incidentally are the ages they were when the molestations took place, indicating to me, that they were made to feel like it was at least partially their fault.

When Jinger broke down during her speech at Jessa's rehearsal dinner and hinted at her self-loathing, I immediately connected it to her "sin" of being abused. Jill and Jessa may have been fine* with their "asleep and over the clothes" but Jinger was left feeling unworthy of love. 

 

*Just taking them at their interview word. Not saying they weren't coached in the party line. 

[lascuba]

1 hour ago, MargeGunderson said:

Apparently Josh was forced to confess to his “sins” before the church, not just the elders, so it was common knowledge among at least the congregation. Probably not the details but enough to know that he deserved a shaved head as punishment. Given what Gothard and followers has written that very much puts at least part of the blame on women for, well, everything really, it doesn’t stretch the imagination that they would blame (at least) the non-relative female for having a role in Josh’s “temptation.” 

Yes, as per "Alice," the one who got the sex abuse rumors started online all those years ago, that's exactly what happened, and that's how she even knew about it all to begin with. Josh had to stand before the entire congregation to confess, and then the girls had to stand up in front of everyone and publicly forgive him.

[SMama]

Boob and Mullet are sick fucks for making their daughters, the victims, be humiliated and revictimized. 

Edited August 24, 2018 by SMama
The victims are not humid, they are humiliated ?

[MsJamieDornan]

1 hour ago, SMama said:

Boob and Mullet are sick fucks for making their daughters, the victims, be humid and revictimized. 

Another reason they shouldn't be allowed on the show. EVER

Edited August 24, 2018 by MsJamieDornan

[MargeGunderson]

3 hours ago, lascuba said:

Yes, as per "Alice," the one who got the sex abuse rumors started online all those years ago, that's exactly what happened, and that's how she even knew about it all to begin with. Josh had to stand before the entire congregation to confess, and then the girls had to stand up in front of everyone and publicly forgive him.

Oh, I forgot that part, or perhaps white-hot anger burned it out of my memory. That is utterly despicable. Those girls were victimized by their parents as well as Josh.

ETA: Jim Bob and Michelle are going to have some answering to do when judgment days rolls around. Karma’s a bitch.

Edited August 24, 2018 by MargeGunderson

[farmgal4]

On 8/23/2018 at 8:42 AM, Snow Fairy said:

Just saw this on Pickles

. Also, many know about Josh getting his head shaved at 17 as punishment for his continued sins. It was done at the Duggars' home church by church elders including Jim Bob. Josh resisted the punishment and they told him that if he didn't go through with it they would also shave the head of the girl (not his sister) he abused. The church apparently partly blamed her for being abused.

That's it for now...At least this information clears up the shaved head incident.

 

Are also his sisters blamed for being abused? Probably, and that's so sad

That’s some of the most fucked up shit I’ve ever heard of.  Godly, my ass. ?

6 hours ago, mimionthebeach said:

When Jinger broke down during her speech at Jessa's rehearsal dinner and hinted at her self-loathing, I immediately connected it to her "sin" of being abused. Jill and Jessa may have been fine* with their "asleep and over the clothes" but Jinger was left feeling unworthy of love. 

 

*Just taking them at their interview word. Not saying they weren't coached in the party line. 

Which is why Jeremy got her the hell away from there ASAP.  I wonder how much deep-seated hatred Jeremy has for Josh AND Boob?

[Mindthinkr]

1 hour ago, farmgal4 said:

.  I wonder how much deep-seated hatred Jeremy has for Josh AND Boob?

Not as much as the love I think that he has for her. She has been taken away from the scene of the crime. She clearly looks to be in love and seems to feel better about herself as evidenced by how much nicer she is dressing and all the new things that she is trying in life. I hope through their shared love that she can overcome any self doubt and guilt from what her brother perpetuated and to some extent what JB and Michelle allowed to happen. (As soon as they found out Josh should have been banished and never allowed back in or near his other siblings ever again. Harsh yes, but you protect your children no matter how hard it is on Josh).

Edited August 24, 2018 by Mindthinkr
Forget to close the parentheses.

[Annb67]

1 hour ago, Mindthinkr said:

Not as much as the love I think that he has for her. She has been taken away from the scene of the crime. She clearly looks to be in love and seems to feel better about herself as evidenced by how much nicer she is dressing and all the new things that she is trying in life. I hope through their shared love that she can overcome any self doubt and guilt from what her brother perpetuated and to some extent what JB and Michelle allowed to happen. (As soon as they found out Josh should have been banished and never allowed back in or near his other siblings ever again. Harsh yes, but you protect your children no matter how hard it is on Josh. 

Come to think of it, I dont think I have ever seen Jeremy and smug interact nor, unlike jill and her idiot husband, have pictures with them together. Another reason I like Jeremy. I hope we never see Smug or SmugAnna near Felicity.

Edited August 24, 2018 by Annb67

[ThinkerBell]

On 23/08/2018 at 8:07 PM, kalamac said:

I could be remembering this wrong, so anyone who knows better, feel free to correct this, but I believe Jinger has said that she knew she was sinner when she was 8, and Joy has said when she was 5, which incidentally are the ages they were when the molestations took place, indicating to me, that they were made to feel like it was at least partially their fault.

Josh's victims were likely talked out of their authentic feelings about what happened in order to protect Prince Duggar, and then told that good Fundie girls forgive and forget. When the details of Josh's behaviour surfaced, I ended up with night terrors, recalling in my sleep my own repressed experience of childhood trauma. My heart breaks for Josh's victims because they deserve so much better. No credible therapist would ever condone or agree with the way this was handled.

Edited August 25, 2018 by ThinkerBell

[nightmeri]

Riddle me this: if Josh confessed in front of an entire congregation why was it kept secret for so long after they became famous? Is it because it was a home church of a few people? Is it because most of the congregation ( according to Jilly muffin) experienced similar happenings in their own homes? Is it showing an actual Christian practice of not gossiping or turning against your brother? Why was Josh protected by EVERYONE?

[Zella]

1 hour ago, nightmeri said:

Riddle me this: if Josh confessed in front of an entire congregation why was it kept secret for so long after they became famous? Is it because it was a home church of a few people? Is it because most of the congregation ( according to Jilly muffin) experienced similar happenings in their own homes? Is it showing an actual Christian practice of not gossiping or turning against your brother? Why was Josh protected by EVERYONE?

I have never understood this either, but I have noticed this trend with many other folks of similar beliefs that I have dealt with over admittedly more minor issues. The thinking seems to be that an admission or acknowledgment of it confirms other people's negative assumptions/stereotypes, so it's better to be loyal to the like-minded people and pretend it didn't happen. I think a lot of them operate under a persecution complex, which makes them sensitive to any criticism, no matter how valid, and that further reinforces a sense of groupthink and prioritizes protecting the group over the individuals who have been wronged.  

I was personally really shocked by the number of Christians I knew who were not fundamentalists who immediately jumped to the Duggars' defense in the wake of the Josh molestation scandal. I had read all the released police reports and basically lectured them on what went down. Afterward, all of them were repulsed and sheepishly admitted that they had just assumed people were picking on the Duggars because they were "Christian." Come to find out, these folks had no idea that their personal beliefs and the Duggars' didn't align at all. Edited to also add that they were unaware of what Josh had actually done. They just had knee-jerk reactions, sympathies, and assumptions. 

Edited August 25, 2018 by Zella

[Nysha]

2 hours ago, nightmeri said:

Riddle me this: if Josh confessed in front of an entire congregation why was it kept secret for so long after they became famous? Is it because it was a home church of a few people? Is it because most of the congregation ( according to Jilly muffin) experienced similar happenings in their own homes? Is it showing an actual Christian practice of not gossiping or turning against your brother? Why was Josh protected by EVERYONE?

He confessed his sins and asked forgiveness from God, the Elders, and his victims. The belief is, since Jesus already died for our sins, once we confess and ask forgiveness we are made pure again. I seriously doubt that even the church elders were aware of the magnitude of Josh's actions. They would have gotten the whitewashed version that Josh went into the girls' bedroom while they were sleeping and touched them inappropriately a couple of times and each time he confessed to his parents.

I  bet that if he had kept to just molesting his sisters nobody outside the family would have ever known what happened. The public confession to the entire church was probably what kept the girl's parents from filing charges against him and was aimed at humbling Jim Bob and Michelle as much as it was to punish Josh. 

[nightmeri]

9 hours ago, Zella said:

I think a lot of them operate under a persecution complex, which makes them sensitive to any criticism, no matter how valid, and that further reinforces a sense of groupthink and prioritizes protecting the group over the individuals who have been wronged.  

Thank you Zella, this explanation makes sense!

[Scarlett45]

12 hours ago, nightmeri said:

Riddle me this: if Josh confessed in front of an entire congregation why was it kept secret for so long after they became famous? Is it because it was a home church of a few people? Is it because most of the congregation ( according to Jilly muffin) experienced similar happenings in their own homes? Is it showing an actual Christian practice of not gossiping or turning against your brother? Why was Josh protected by EVERYONE?

If we live in a culture where adult men are protected and supported by entire organizations (for example the Catholic Church, FLDS etc) after it is known they have abused children, I have no problem believing that said community would protect a teenaged Josh. The community was very small, and after what @Nysha said, most people never knew the full magnitude. 

The rumors though were around for YEARS so people were speaking out against Josh they just didn’t have proof. Also for people without any experience with sex abuse, I wouldn’t believe Josh would do such a thing unless one of his victims said so OR tangible proof (like the police report), I believed it was a vile rumor. When light was shed on the abuse in Willias family I wasn’t surprised at all, just heart sick for the kids. 

Edited August 25, 2018 by Scarlett45

[Scarlett45]

20 hours ago, Annb67 said:

Come to think of it, I dont think I have ever seen Jeremy and smug interact nor, unlike jill and her idiot husband, have pictures with them together. Another reason I like Jeremy. I hope we never see Smug or SmugAnna near Felicity.

I hope so too. 

[Albanyguy]

I strongly suspect that Jim Bob and Michelle pressured the daughters and sons-in-law to go on "double dates" with Smuggar and Anna as a means of publicizing that the past issues are over and they're all one big happy family. If Jill and Derick can be seen on social media interacting normally with her molester, then it will eventually be easier to re-integrate him, Anna, Jim Bob and Michelle fully back onto the show (which I think has always been the plan). If that's the case, I'm not surprised that Jill and Derick would go along with it; Jill is one of the biggest Kool-Aid drinkers and neither she nor Derick seem to have much sense anyway. Jeremy would be a different story.

[madpsych78]

Come to think of it, there is no SM (even from Anna) documenting double dates between the Smuggars and Benessa, Joystin, JoKen, or SiRen, who all live much closer to them than JinJer.

[Nysha]

21 hours ago, Annb67 said:

Come to think of it, I dont think I have ever seen Jeremy and smug interact nor, unlike jill and her idiot husband, have pictures with them together. Another reason I like Jeremy. I hope we never see Smug or SmugAnna near Felicity.

This explains a question I had about the grandchildren pictures. The pictures were taken shortly before Felicity was born and I couldn't figure out why they didn't wait a month. All of the other grandchildren live within spitting distance of the TTH, so getting them together could have waited until JinJer was there with their baby. But, if Jeremy has let it be known that he is not about to socialize with Josh or allow him to be around his future children, there was no reason to wait.

Edited August 25, 2018 by Nysha

[Scarlett45]

4 hours ago, Nysha said:

This explains a question I had about the grandchildren pictures. The pictures were taken shortly before Felicity was born and I couldn't figure out why they didn't wait a month. All of the other grandchildren live within spitting distance of the TTH, so getting them together could have waited until JinJer was there with their baby. But, if Jeremy has let it be known that he is not about to socialize with Josh or allow him to be around his future children, there was no reason to wait.

If anything I feel bad for the M Kids who may be excluded from things because other adults don’t want to associate with Josh. Of course they have each other and plenty of cousins who are allowed to socialize with them etc but Josh’s actions aren’t their fault. 

[ginger90]

Video 

 

 

[truthtalk2014]

2 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Video 

 

 

How is this a mountain that seems impossible?  Your husband sleeping with prostitutes and molesting his sisters is a mountain.  A baby with dairy allergies can be dealt with.  

Anna pisses me off following MEchelle in the use of paper plates. 

Other than that- the baby is really cute. 

[lulu69]

Of all the M kids Mason looks the most like Josh. Poor kid

[Nysha]

10 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

The rumors though were around for YEARS so people were speaking out against Josh they just didn’t have proof. Also for people without any experience with sex abuse, I wouldn’t believe Josh would do such a thing unless one of his victims said so OR tangible proof (like the police report), I believed it was a vile rumor. When light was shed on the abuse in Willias family I wasn’t surprised at all, just heart sick for the kids. 

I also thought the rumors were just that, spread by someone who didn't like the Duggars. Nor was I surprised when Toby Willis was outed as a pedophile. I was horribly shocked to find out that Brenda had known about the abuse and had protected Toby and her way of life instead of her children. While I always thought he was angry and over-controlling, Brenda seemed to be a calming influence on him. Instead, she isn't any better of a mother than Michelle.

[ThinkerBell]

Again with the paper plates. If Anna wants to talk about mountains, let's consider the mountain of unnecessary waste the Duggar families produce every year.

[galaxychaser]

2 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Video 

 

 

Most supermarkets sell vegan pizza or vegan cheese. She can make him pizza using vegan cheese.

[doodlebug]

10 minutes ago, Nysha said:

I also thought the rumors were just that, spread by someone who didn't like the Duggars. Nor was I surprised when Toby Willis was outed as a pedophile. I was horribly shocked to find out that Brenda had known about the abuse and had protected Toby and her way of life instead of her children. While I always thought he was angry and over-controlling, Brenda seemed to be a calming influence on him. Instead, she isn't any better of a mother than Michelle.

I think a lot of us who’ve been around awhile really didn’t think much when we heard the initial rumors of Josh and ‘sin in the camp’.  Remember, these people have such ridiculous notions about sexuality, that it was easy to think a teen aged boy could be vilified for looking at dirty pictures online or making out with a girl at the church picnic.  I think most of us thought Josh’ ‘ sin’ would be something innocuous that we would consider pretty typical teen behavior.

Interesting that the Duggars could minimize and rationalize child molestation while thinking that kissing before marriage is morally wrong.

[jennblevins]

48 minutes ago, galaxychaser said:

Most supermarkets sell vegan pizza or vegan cheese. She can make him pizza using vegan cheese.

If his allergy is protein-based, he also might be able to eat cheese made with goat or sheep’s milk just fine.  As allergies go, milk protein is a ridiculously easy one to deal with. 

[lookeyloo]

2 minutes ago, jennblevins said:

If his allergy is protein-based, he also might be able to eat cheese made with goat or sheep’s milk just fine.  As allergies go, milk protein is a ridiculously easy one to deal with. 

Mr. lookeyloo has a sensitivity to the protein in cow dairy.  He can eat butter.  He also can eat sheep, goat and buffalo cheese.  His sensitivity gives him migraines.  The dr. explained the difference between a sensitivity and an allergy and if I remember correctly, allergy means histamines but I can't remember for sure.  Sometimes if there are no alternatives, such as in pizza, he gets it with a lot of things but no cheese.  It is easy enough to deal with if the food is basic, but, if one wants to use anything with a lot of ingredients one must read every ingredient on a box and have an idea which one will cause a migraine.  And someone else in the household doesn't always do that.  Hint hint.  Anyway, we use very little prepared food anyway.  It is also important to remind people that dairy allergy means cheese too, not just milk. Mr. lookeyloo has almost been done in by well meaning friends and family and I feel like an interrogator although I try to do it nicely or tell him to skip a suspect item.  And restaurant eating becomes interesting also.   "No cheese".  "Is there any kind of dairy in that"   No, just cheese.   Or no, just mozzarella.  Is there any kind of milk or cream in these mashed potatoes?  No, just sour cream, etc.  At home it is a piece of cake.

[jennblevins]

Well, my father always said that, of his food issues, the milk was the easiest to deal with. 

Onions always seemed the hardest, to me. 

[mythoughtis]

1 hour ago, Nysha said:

I also thought the rumors were just that, spread by someone who didn't like the Duggars. Nor was I surprised when Toby Willis was outed as a pedophile. I was horribly shocked to find out that Brenda had known about the abuse and had protected Toby and her way of life instead of her children. While I always thought he was angry and over-controlling, Brenda seemed to be a calming influence on him. Instead, she isn't any better of a mother than Michelle.

Where did  you find that out?  Everything I read after it came out is that she hadn’t known and wasn’t cutting him any slack on it. 

Edit: I just found an article quoting the oldest Willis daughter.  Nysha  is correct. Brenda knew. 

 

Back to Anna... if I switched my son on formula and he was doing well... I’d leave him on it.  I wouldn’t return to breast feeding him. But that’s just me. I  dont really care whether a child is breast or bottle fed... as long as they ARE fed.  

Edited August 26, 2018 by mythoughtis

[Marigold]

@mythoughtis

I think it came out after the oldest daughter gave an interview or wrote a piece?  She said she told her mother etc.  I absolutely read that Brenda knew and did nothing.  It was truly heartbreaking and there is a special place in hell for Brenda. She is equally as sick as Toby even though she didn't physically rape her daughter, she knew it and allowed it. 

I don't want to get off topic but we can move to the Prayer Closet if you want...  (that sounds funny!)

 

 I always assumed  that Josh's sin was pornography.  

Anna has poor awareness of how stupid her post sounds.  After what Anna has been through with that sick fuck of a husband?  I wouldn't be posting about how hard dairy allergies are and what a mountain they are.  It's beyond dumb.  duh, Anna.

[Annb67]

5 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Video 

 

 

Shut the hell up Anna. Over the past three weeks 2 babies whose parents I know personally have found out the kids have cancer, one inoperable. That's a mountain you asshat, not your stupid dairy allergy.

[Lunera]

This post sounds like it was written by Jessa. Anna never posts stuff like this.

[Spencer Hastings]

She’s extremely blessed that of five kids, the biggest health ailment seems to be a “mountain” of a milk allergy.

[EVS]

I agree that Anna should consider herself extremely blessed if this is the worst health issue her children ever face. 

You know which women I think are brave and have courageously climbed a much bigger mountain?  Survivors of childhood sexual abuse like that committed by Anna’s husband. Also, women who have the courage to leave an abusive or philandering husband or a toxic marriage and start over and make a better life for their children. Let us know if you ever decide to tackle that mountain, Anna. 

[lookeyloo]

I wasn’t defending Anna as much as saying I understand a food allergy issue. And onions are a problem too. And of course there are people in much worse situations than she is. And her baby will be fine.  Anybody who has food allergies/sensitivities can have reactions from annoying to life threatening. There is a book called “Please Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl” about a girl who had great sensitivity to several common things to become life threatening and how hard it was unless they brought her own food everywhere. Famous chef Ming Tsai has a child with same issues and apparently wrote a manual for restaurants regarding cross contamination and other things. But if Anna’s baby has something manageable great. Doesn’t take away from the douchebag she is married to and all the other folks who have worse conditions. That is all. 

[EVS]

One of my kids had food allergy issues and my husband has them as well, so I can sympathize with Anna. Food allergies are not fun to deal with.   I just thought that the comparison to an immovable mountain that God wants her to climb was a bit odd and over-dramatic (unless the allergy is life-threatening) given the other issues she and Josh’s victims have had to deal with. 

Edited August 26, 2018 by EVS
Clarity

[bigskygirl]

13 minutes ago, EVS said:

One of my kids had food allergy issues and my husband has them as well, so I can sympathize with Anna. Food allergies are not fun to deal with.   I just thought that the comparison to an immovable mountain that God wants her to climb was a bit odd and over-dramatic (unless the allergy is life-threatening) given the other issues she and Josh’s victims have had to deal with. 

No food allergies for me, but I deal with digestive issues. I feel bad the little guy has food allergies, but in great theme of life it does not compare to what Anna's four sisters-on-law went through at the hands of her husband. If I was Jill, Jessa, Jinger and Joy, I would want to slap the crap out of Anna for her immovable mountain that God wants her to climb over spiel. I cannot stand Jeremy and Jinger at all, but good for them if they want to stay away from Smuggly Do Wrong and Gullible Naïve Anna. I bet Anna is not happy with the fact Jinger had a daughter because Anna thinks she is so special she had the only Duggar granddaughters. Throw in the fact Jeremy so far has been shown to be the best husband of the bunch, and I bet Anna is slowly blowing steam out of her ears.

[louannems]

When I read about Anna's immovable mountain that god wants her to climb, my first thought was Anna was really alleging to her horrid realization of Josh's porn and affairs.

[Nysha]

29 minutes ago, bigskygirl said:

I feel bad the little guy has food allergies, but in great theme of life it does not compare to what Anna's four sisters-on-law went through at the hands of her husband.

I doubt Anna was trying to say Mason's allergy was a harder mountain to climb than being molested by your brother. Social media is very narcissistic. This week I pinched my right pinky, which hurt like hell and created a blood blister that hurt every time I had to write something. My 78-year-old aunt had open heart surgery. We both posted on Facebook and got sympathy. In the great theme of life, my blood blister does not compare to open heart surgery. However, 6 years ago when I was diagnosed with uterine cancer my aunt was posting a tragic tale about the wrong kitchen cupboards arriving and the trials of having to wait another 2 weeks to finish her remodel. Again, not equal but both of us felt it was important to share these tribulations and receive sympathy from our friends and loved ones.

Anna is doing the same thing, plus trying to uplift her fellow Christian mothers. Yes, it's humble bragging that she is a great mom who worked through her son's allergies and still managed to return to 100% breastfeeding. To me it reads as an attempt to move past her husband's issues and forge her own identity, not a slam against her sisters-in-law.

[kokapetl]

15 hours ago, galaxychaser said:

Most supermarkets sell vegan pizza or vegan cheese. She can make him pizza using vegan cheese.

Vegan cheese? Are you serious? 

[sleepysuzy]

If Mason has an actual milk allergy, not an intolerance, I can see that as being a big deal. From the anaphylactic allergy groups I've been in, many have said that milk was harder to avoid than peanuts and nuts. 

I admire her tenacity in getting back to breastfeeding, as well. I had to exclusively pump for 4-5 months with each of my youngest two babies before they were able to nurse, and it is a lot of work and very time consuming. I know "Fed is best" is the anti-mom-shaming mantra regarding infant feeding, but considering the very low rate of breastfeeding in the US, I always want to give credit to the mom's who do breastfeed, especially when they had extra obstacles. 

[kokapetl]

On 24/08/2018 at 8:07 AM, kalamac said:

I could be remembering this wrong, so anyone who knows better, feel free to correct this, but I believe Jinger has said that she knew she was sinner when she was 8, and Joy has said when she was 5, which incidentally are the ages they were when the molestations took place, indicating to me, that they were made to feel like it was at least partially their fault.

 

On 24/08/2018 at 7:29 PM, MargeGunderson said:

Apparently Josh was forced to confess to his “sins” before the church, not just the elders, so it was common knowledge among at least the congregation. Probably not the details but enough to know that he deserved a shaved head as punishment. Given what Gothard and followers has written that very much puts at least part of the blame on women for, well, everything really, it doesn’t stretch the imagination that they would blame (at least) the non-relative female for having a role in Josh’s “temptation.” 

But the threat was only made to Josh. None of the girls seemed to have been guilt tripped into anything re: hair.