Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[Nysha]

10 minutes ago, kokapetl said:

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

No, but if Jim Bob & Michelle followed the Gothard playbook for how to deal with an older brother molesting younger sisters, then they believed part of the cause was because the girls did not dress modestly enough and did not behave appropriately when wearing dresses. Gothard also believes that allow boys to change baby girls' diapers is enough to cause them to have a lust for their sisters. The man was a complete sicko. IBLP Literature on Sexual Abuse

[Westiepeach]

19 minutes ago, kokapetl said:

Vegan cheese? Are you serious? 

I have actually seen it in my grocery store. I have no idea what it is made from. I just walk on by. But I have seen it.

[kokapetl]

2 minutes ago, Nysha said:

No, but if Jim Bob & Michelle followed the Gothard playbook for how to deal with an older brother molesting younger sisters, then they believed part of the cause was because the girls did not dress modestly enough and did not behave appropriately when wearing dresses. Gothard also believes that allow boys to change baby girls' diapers is enough to cause them to have a lust for their sisters. The man was a complete sicko. IBLP Literature on Sexual Abuse

They girls were plenty modest in those days, and their fashion evolution since then suggest they didn’t feel they were immodest, they’ve actually all really eased up.

[galaxychaser]

44 minutes ago, kokapetl said:

Vegan cheese? Are you serious? 

Seen it it in Trader Joe’s and Shoprite. I think it’s made with soybeans. I never bought it.

[Jynnan tonnix]

6 minutes ago, galaxychaser said:

Seen it it in Trader Joe’s and Shoprite. I think it’s made with soybeans. I never bought it.

I have a few vegan friends and relatives. Yes, there are a number of vegan cheese alternatives out  there. Also vegan yogurts and whatnot. My cousin and her husband owned a bakery in England which they mostly transitioned to entirely vegan over the years (all the ingredients used in the baking was vegan, and there were vegan pizza options, though they did keep some of the pizzs with real cheese, as well as keeping some sandwich fillings such as egg salad and tuna). It's not quite the same thing to my palate, though the vegan versions of things do keep getting better all the time.

[queenanne]

Well, Mason looks well fed despite his sensitivities, with his round little limbs, so that's good.

[graefin]

49 minutes ago, galaxychaser said:

Seen it it in Trader Joe’s and Shoprite. I think it’s made with soybeans. I never bought it.

There are tons and tons of vegan cheeses on the market now. Daiya was one of the first and is actually made out of something other than soy. Chao is my favorite. But the best way to eat pizza IMO is marinara style ?

[Scarlett45]

1 hour ago, Nysha said:

No, but if Jim Bob & Michelle followed the Gothard playbook for how to deal with an older brother molesting younger sisters, then they believed part of the cause was because the girls did not dress modestly enough and did not behave appropriately when wearing dresses. Gothard also believes that allow boys to change baby girls' diapers is enough to cause them to have a lust for their sisters. The man was a complete sicko. IBLP Literature on Sexual Abuse

Gothard is a sicko, most assuredly. But I’ve been surprised at the number of mainstream people that don’t think a male person (other than a Bio father) should do any caregiving to a baby/child/disabled person/elderly person because of fears of molestation or abuse.

On one hand it makes me sad to think that abuse by caregivers is so high that people would think this (never mind you can be molested by a woman), on the other hand it makes me think that this is a GOOD WAY of burdening women with all the family caregiving duties because men are just so lustful they will rape grandma if she needs help bathing!

[Marshmallow Mollie]

Anna’s post reads to me as someone who has never experienced hardship, but thinks they have. Yet, she has experienced an unimaginable hardship! The disconnect is weird.

Formula is expensive, so I can see why she would be motivated to resume breastfeeding. I am sure pumping and dumping or pumping and donating, all the while changing her entire diet, was hard.

22 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

Gothard is a sicko, most assuredly. But I’ve been surprised at the number of mainstream people that don’t think a male person (other than a Bio father) should do any caregiving to a baby/child/disabled person/elderly person because of fears of molestation or abuse.

On one hand it makes me sad to think that abuse by caregivers is so high that people would think this (never mind you can be molested by a woman), on the other hand it makes me think that this is a GOOD WAY of burdening women with all the family caregiving duties because men are just so lustful they will rape grandma if she needs help bathing!

My friend’s husband thought it was inappropriate for him to change his daughter’s diapers or to bathe her. Soooooooo I only bring my kids over to her house when the husband is at work. Something about that is too weird for me!

[bigskygirl]

Anna has been told to forgive Smuggly for what he did. He has confess his sins, got help, and has prayed God will forgive him for what he did. She has been told she married Smugs for better or worse, and she is suppose to love and support him no matter what.

[Obsidian]

4 hours ago, kokapetl said:

Vegan cheese? Are you serious? 

Most of what is available here is coconut based. It can also be made out of nuts, soy, etc. If you want something that exactly resembles cheese, you'll be disappointed, but if you want something that does the same kind of thing and tastes similar, it's nice. Before that, or probably still, nutritional yeast flakes were used to make sauces and things with a cheese flavour.

[xwordfanatik]

20 hours ago, lulu69 said:

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

Hopefully he will outgrow it.

[Rabbittron]

4 hours ago, galaxychaser said:

Seen it it in Trader Joe’s and Shoprite. I think it’s made with soybeans. I never bought it.

I just have to say that you just made Mommytron sad. After she got divorced we moved back east and that was her favorite grocery store. 

[galaxychaser]

28 minutes ago, Rabbittron said:

I just have to say that you just made Mommytron sad. After she got divorced we moved back east and that was her favorite grocery store. 

Which one?

[Mindthinkr]

7 minutes ago, galaxychaser said:

Which one?

My bet is on Shoprite. 

[Rabbittron]

2 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

My bet is on Shoprite. 

You're 100% correct. 

 

10 minutes ago, galaxychaser said:

Which one?

Shoprite of course. 

[Wishing Well]

Aside from having to put a baby on food restrictions, I don’t have much sympathy.  I’m chinese.  Most of us are lactose intolerant.  We also don’t eat much dairy in China.  A friend of mine grew up allergic to gluten, eggs, shellfish, nuts, dairy, yeast, berries, and a handful of other things.  She was white as wonder bread, but learned how to cook many many asian foods that were rice based instead.  

[BetyBee]

I wonder if Anna saw a doctor to come up with the plan to figure out Mason's allergy and to get back to breastfeeding.  I think she posted because she's proud of the effort she made for her son.  I choose to leave Josh out of the equation and give her kudos for using her brain.  I don't read to much into the mountain comment.  I think it was just a figure of speech.  I'm not a Duggar fan - this just doesn't bother me.  

[BitterApple]

1 hour ago, Wishing Well said:

I’m chinese.  Most of us are lactose intolerant.  We also don’t eat much dairy in China.  

That's interesting, I never knew that.

I think Anna made the post because she wants some positive validation as a mother. Josh doesn't exactly strike me as the most supportive spouse. Considering he didn't want a large brood to begin with, I doubt he ever thanks her or appreciates the work she does with the kids. 

[floridamom]

Didn't Jessa mention on the show that Henry had some type of food allergy also...his face and head were breaking out. She did the exact same thing; eliminated foods from her diet,, then added back one at a time to find out what it was that Henry was allergic to. She made no mention of formula in the interim. I don't think Anna saw any medical person about this. Jessa told her what to do.

[bigskygirl]

3 hours ago, floridamom said:

Didn't Jessa mention on the show that Henry had some type of food allergy also...his face and head were breaking out. She did the exact same thing; eliminated foods from her diet,, then added back one at a time to find out what it was that Henry was allergic to. She made no mention of formula in the interim. I don't think Anna saw any medical person about this. Jessa told her what to do.

Where was Dr. Jill and her bag full of medicine thingys.

[BckpckFullaNinjas]

19 hours ago, galaxychaser said:

Seen it it in Trader Joe’s and Shoprite. I think it’s made with soybeans. I never bought it.

I’ve bought some in solidarity with a friend who has to quit dairy. It is provolone so typically tasteless but the real question is: how well will it melt? 

[Mindthinkr]

37 minutes ago, BckpckFullaNinjas said:

I’ve bought some in solidarity with a friend who has to quit dairy. It is provolone so typically tasteless but the real question is: how well will it melt? 

I’ve tried a few of them. In appearance they melt like you’d think that they were made of plastic. The only one that didn’t taste bland to me was the pepper jack and only because the jalapeños gave it a smidge of heat. 

I would just make a dough, spread a little sauce, and then top it with lots of different grilled veggies. Forget the cheese. I don’t see this happening because grilled veggies don’t come out of a can and eating this healthy isn’t in the families taste frame. 

[Sew Sumi]

9 hours ago, floridamom said:

Didn't Jessa mention on the show that Henry had some type of food allergy also...his face and head were breaking out. She did the exact same thing; eliminated foods from her diet,, then added back one at a time to find out what it was that Henry was allergic to. She made no mention of formula in the interim. I don't think Anna saw any medical person about this. Jessa told her what to do.

Henry wound up having dairy sensitivity. She definitely told Anna what to do. They should have tried dairy and nuts first since those are the most common. It would have saved Anna tons of time modifying her own diet. Jessa never said how long it took for her to figure out that Henry's sensitivity was dairy or whether she consulting a pediatrician for assistance (doubtful...she probably consulted Mechelle).

[Nysha]

11 hours ago, Mindthinkr said:

I would just make a dough, spread a little sauce, and then top it with lots of different grilled veggies. Forget the cheese.

I agree with the idea of just forgetting the cheese. They're not vegetarians, though so I doubt the veggie pizza is going to sound good, but they can make Mason his own mini pizza with all the toppings they're using, except cheese. Unless cheese is the only kind of pizza the M-kids like. 

[FizzyPuff]

Have you all seen this photo? Josh looks enormous, At first I thought they stretched him but no one else looks that big :O

[Temperance]

Part of that picture is blurry.

I noticed Jinger is still pregnant with Felicity in that picture so it was probably taken around Josiah's wedding. (Given that Joe and Kendra have their son.)

[monkeypox]

In that picture, I notice that Jessa and Bin make a V-shape with their bodies. Jessa turns her back to her husband, and he is leaning away from her. Maybe they just had a fight? Maybe it's nothing?

[ginger90]

2 hours ago, Temperance said:

Part of that picture is blurry.

I noticed Jinger is still pregnant with Felicity in that picture so it was probably taken around Josiah's wedding. (Given that Joe and Kendra have their son.)

It was taken at the rehearsal for Lauren and Josiah’s wedding.

[sigmaforce86]

On 8/26/2018 at 1:18 PM, Nysha said:

No, but if Jim Bob & Michelle followed the Gothard playbook for how to deal with an older brother molesting younger sisters, then they believed part of the cause was because the girls did not dress modestly enough and did not behave appropriately when wearing dresses. Gothard also believes that allow boys to change baby girls' diapers is enough to cause them to have a lust for their sisters. The man was a complete sicko. IBLP Literature on Sexual Abuse

It was revealed, or viewers put the timeline together and figured out that..........The molestation coming to light and the family dealing with it (which doesn't mean in their world what it means in our world) coincided with new modesty and household rules that included no pajamas outside the bedrooms, shared bedrooms, locks on bedroom doors and no co-ed hide and seek.

On the show they only really talked about the shared bedrooms which they presented as a our kids love each other so much they want to all share a big room.  And the PJ's rule was given as it just being part of their overall modesty rules and beliefs.  Which was all fake and a coverup because they didn't really have the rule until they had to deal with Josh; only after did they clamp down on modesty.  Not that they didn't have dress rules before but they increased a lot of their rules based on what Josh did then hid it within the show and wrapped it all up in a "this is our belief's it's how we do things" ribbon to present a harmonious happy family to the viewers.

 

Word about vegan cheese - it can be good and it can be terrible, if your diet needs it medically or wants it ethically they say the best way is to go off all cheese for a decent period of time first to let your taste buds "forget"  It can also have a lot of fillers and junk - I drink soy milk but I really like my cheese and would rather have lactose free "real" cheese than soy.  I just don't like most of the brands but when I did try it, to me, Galaxy was the only decent one.  Definitely lot's of choices out there but taste is subjective, it's a hard change to make.

[Celia Rubenstein]

5 hours ago, Puffin said:

 

Isn't that Jordyn there in the picture with her head resting on Michelle's shoulder?

I guess she got over being so terrified of her mother she refused to touch her.

Edited August 30, 2018 by Celia Rubenstein

[Minivanessa]

30 minutes ago, sigmaforce86 said:

It was revealed, or viewers put the timeline together and figured out that..........The molestation coming to light and the family dealing with it (which doesn't mean in their world what it means in our world) coincided with new modesty and household rules that included no pajamas outside the bedrooms, shared bedrooms, locks on bedroom doors and no co-ed hide and seek.

On the show they only really talked about the shared bedrooms which they presented as a our kids love each other so much they want to all share a big room.  And the PJ's rule was given as it just being part of their overall modesty rules and beliefs.  Which was all fake and a coverup because they didn't really have the rule until they had to deal with Josh; only after did they clamp down on modesty.  Not that they didn't have dress rules before but they increased a lot of their rules based on what Josh did then hid it within the show and wrapped it all up in a "this is our belief's it's how we do things" ribbon to present a harmonious happy family to the viewers.

Thanks for that review. That makes sense and it's a nice recap and reminder of what happened. I have to hand it to Michelle and JB, for not only covering up their Crown Prince's sexual abuse of his tiny sisters, and instituting Gothard-based "remedies" against future such deeds, but then spinning it so well on their TV show as they went on to fame and fortune as the holy model parents of a huge brood. Well, what I'd really *like* to hand them, I won't specify, but I walk the dog and pick it up in little baggies . . . 

I remember a snippet of a scene from the show, I think it was at a wedding reception when Josie was maybe 4 years old, aired not long before Joshgate hit. Michelle was sitting outdoors as little kids played; they were all dressed up either for the wedding or something else. Anyway, Josie was wearing a sleeveless dress or top, with a little jacket on. As she ran around her jacket slipped down, or off, so that a shoulder was showing. Michelle quickly pulled the jacket back up in place with a really stern look on her face, IIRC it was almost like she was frightened. I first attributed that to her general batshit craziness. Then after we found out what Josh did, I saw it as her ingrained belief system: Josh abused her daughters because he saw their skin, Josie was showing a shoulder, therefore Josie was at risk of being sexually abused. 

What a horrible way to live. Just saying. I'm spectacularly imperfect, sometimes I may be crazy, but I'm very happy that I don't think like those people. 

[Ijustwantsomechips]

1 hour ago, Celia Rubenstein said:

Isn't that Jordyn there in the picture with her head resting on Michelle's shoulder?

I guess she got over being so terrified of her mother she refused to touch her.

Who’s sitting next to Jordyn? Johanna? She looks exactly like Joy.  I’m not part of the Jana fan club by any means, but did they have to stick her on the end with her younger brothers?  Sheesh, she raised most of them and takes care of everyone and they couldn’t even find a place for her on the bench Jerks!

[mimionthebeach]

9 minutes ago, Ijustwantsomechips said:

Who’s sitting next to Jordyn? Johanna? She looks exactly like Joy.  I’m not part of the Jana fan club by any means, but did they have to stick her on the end with her younger brothers?  Sheesh, she raised most of them and takes care of everyone and they couldn’t even find a place for her on the bench Jerks!

They've clumped her with the Unmarrieds: kidults of lesser value, all off to one side. 

[Absolom]

4 hours ago, monkeypox said:

In that picture, I notice that Jessa and Bin make a V-shape with their bodies. Jessa turns her back to her husband, and he is leaning away from her.

Jessa's holding Spurge balanced on something and Ben is holding Henry so I give them a pass on their positioning.  It was likely the photographer or just trying to get into place with lively kids.

Josh has definitely exceeded Jim Bob in girth and that is something because Jim Bob has been looking eight or nine months along for awhile now.  None of the other sons have quite matched Josh's ability to balloon up like that.  Of course he's the oldest so the others have time, but Joe hasn't put on 30 to 50 pounds since getting married so he's unlikely to follow the path.  

[BitterApple]

I imagine Josh spends most of his days browsing porn sites and scarfing Little Debbie's Swiss Rolls. Even before the scandals he was lazy, unmotivated and undisciplined when it came to diet and exercise. Now it looks like he's given up completely.

[Natalie68]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

Jessa's holding Spurge balanced on something and Ben is holding Henry so I give them a pass on their positioning.  It was likely the photographer or just trying to get into place with lively kids.

Josh has definitely exceeded Jim Bob in girth and that is something because Jim Bob has been looking eight or nine months along for awhile now.  None of the other sons have quite matched Josh's ability to balloon up like that.  Of course he's the oldest so the others have time, but Joe hasn't put on 30 to 50 pounds since getting married so he's unlikely to follow the path.  

Joe has seemed more into health and his physique than Josh (Joe has some really nice arms).  I have nothing to go on but something tells me that Kendra will prepare healthier foods.  I really could have just pulled that out of my heiney but I am going with it.  HA!

55 minutes ago, BitterApple said:

I imagine Josh spends most of his days browsing porn sites and scarfing Little Debbie's Swiss Rolls. Even before the scandals he was lazy, unmotivated and undisciplined when it came to diet and exercise. Now it looks like he's given up completely.

And now I can't get this out of my head.  I think you are spot on. 

[GleamingMist]

I hate that there is space between Ben and JoKen, and then between JoKen and the Smuggars.  It bothers me so much especially when everyone else is tight together.

Although benefit to that is Smuggar can be easily cut out.

[Marigold]

Josh gained a lot of weight and that white shirt is not flattering. I realize the theme was light colors but it was a poor choice.  Anna looks nice though.  Actually, the picture is one of the better Duggar pictures.  

 

My youngest has a life threatening dairy allergy.  We use vegan cheese.  It's OK.  It's not cheese but with sauce, it's pretty good.  It does melt on pizza. I had to deal with the same thing Anna dealt with.

I agree with @Nysha.  On one hand, it seems stupid after EVERYTHING that has happened to be rambling about a dairy allergy. 

On the other hand, at some point, Anna has to move forward, to the best of her ability.  Most of us think she should've left that pervert but apparently she decided to stay.  Since she is staying, she is trying to be a "regular mom" instead of the wife of a pervert (which she is)

Edited August 30, 2018 by Marigold

[DangerousMinds]

No co-ed hide and seek. That's just so,so sad to have to take it to that extreme.

Edited August 30, 2018 by DangerousMinds

[sixlets]

I know diddly about photography, but it almost looks like Josh has been photoshopped into the above pic.  We know Josh had a penchant for his little sisters (and the unknown little girl).  We've seen J&D having lunch/dinner with Josh & Anna, but I wonder how Jessa & Joy feel about him being around the boys.  I will have so much respect for Jeremy if he stands up to Josh and tells him he will have no unsupervised contact/visits with Felicity.  Meredith has become my favorite M kid.  She's so stinking cute.

[ginger90]

I don’t know that they were photoshopped in. I do believe they were positioned to be cropped out though. I’m surprised Derick and Jill aren’t at the other end, though.

Just an example, the first picture is of the Duggar Facebook page as it appears. The second picture is the actual picture.

[xwordfanatik]

11 hours ago, Celia Rubenstein said:

Isn't that Jordyn there in the picture with her head resting on Michelle's shoulder?

I guess she got over being so terrified of her mother she refused to touch her.

Jordyn probably was dropping from exhaustion, having been up until the wee hours.  Duggar Time and all.

I just hope she's the one to write the tell-all.

[DragonFaerie]

I was thinking the photographer had her lean so that she wasn't blocking Izzy behind her.

[Absolom]

2 hours ago, sixlets said:

(and the unknown little girl)

Just for accuracy because what Josh did was inexcusable, but the unknown was a teenager.  She was old enough to be a babysitter.  

[Ijustwantsomechips]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

Just for accuracy because what Josh did was inexcusable, but the unknown was a teenager.  She was old enough to be a babysitter.  

Now in all fairness, if she was old enough to babysit by Duggar standards, she was probably seven or eight. 

[FakeJoshDuggar]

On 8/30/2018 at 2:28 AM, Puffin said:

Have you all seen this photo? Josh looks enormous, At first I thought they stretched him but no one else looks that big :O

Josh’s family looks off to the side enough that it seems intentional. The Smuggars will probably be cropped out for promotional purposes. 

[Catfin]

Who is the one “naturally” leaning in on michelle?

[Mindthinkr]

8 minutes ago, Catfin said:

Who is the one “naturally” leaning in on michelle?

I read somewhere here that she is Jordyn.

[Pingaponga]

If you cover up Josh and co., you realize that Michelle and Jim Bob are centred in the photo.  But when Josh and his family are in the photo, Michelle and Jim Bob aren't in the centre.  Which is kind of odd.  I do think it's posed this way so they can be cropped out and the photo doesn't look off-balance.