Tag Archives: duggar-family

Jill Duggar: Is She Even Qualified to Homeschool Her Kids?!

Jill Duggar has been in the spotlight quite a bit these past two weeks. And it’s all pretty impressive, especially when you consider that she hasn’t shot a scene for her family’s reality show in over a year. Much of the controversy has had to do with Jill’s seemingly troubled marriage. The scrutiny started with rumors of Derick Dillard cheating on Jill last year. They intensified when the couple seemed to distance themselves from one another on social media and when they spent no time with her family over the holiday season. In her own indirect way, Jill has addressed the divorce rumors , and it seems that for the time being at least, she and Derick are not going their separate ways. Of course, if she thought that would put a stop to the rumor mill, she’s got another thing coming. Instead, Duggar obsessives have merely switched gears and are now focusing on Jill’s child-rearing methods. Like so many of her sisters, Jill has been mom-shamed on numerous occasions. She’s been accused of neglect, of improper nutritional practices, and of forcing her children to walk several miles for Chick-Fil-A . But these days, most of the criticism of Jill’s parenting skills has to do with her decision to homeschool her kids. Many have pointed to Jill’s kids’ lack of verbal and mathematical skills as evidence that she’s not up to the task. And the problem, these people claim, is not only that Jill has no experience as a teacher, but also that she’s relying on seriously flawed methods and materials. The Duggars homeschool curriculum has been heavily criticized in the past, largely due to a leaked lesson plan which teaches children sexual assault victims are often to blame for their assailants’ crimes. But that’s not the only reason that the Duggars’ methods have drawn criticism. Like her siblings, Jill relies on materials from the Institute for Basic Life Principles, a highly controversial organization founded by disgraced sex offender Bill Gothard . The curriculum relies on  “the teachings of Jesus Christ” to teach homeschooled children the basics in “linguistics, law, history, science, and medicine.” Nothing like a 2,000-year-old book to help your kids stay up-to-date on science! We kid, but perhaps if Jill’s kids appeared to be up to speed, her followers would be more accepting of her controversial methods. As it is, she may want to brace herself for more criticism. View Slideshow: Jill Duggar & Derick Dillard: Here’s Why Fans Think They’re Getting Divorced

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Jill Duggar: Is She Even Qualified to Homeschool Her Kids?!

Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson: Our Miscarriage Brought Us Closer Together

Last week, Lauren Swanson revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage in the autumn of 2018. In addition to speaking about that loss on Counting On , she and Josiah are opening up in a new interview. Together, the married couple explains why they decided to share their heartbreak with the world. “I wasn’t feeling well,” Lauren explains on the new season of Counting On . This took place in October of last year. “I was cramping really, really bad,” Lauren adds. “Which was quite strange because I normally don’t.” “I was thinking maybe I had something that had gluten in it,” she shares. “That’s what I was thinking.” “Well, it was late at night and I went to use the restroom and right there was the baby,” Lauren laments. “Gone.” Speaking to Fox News , Lauren explains why she and Josiah decided to inform fans of the experience. “It was definitely something I was questioning myself whether I should share our miscarriage,” Lauren admits. “But you know a lot of people go through this,” she notes. “And a lot of people face it in silence.” “And I just wanted to bring hope to a lot of people that go through this,” Lauren expresses. She explains that she wants others who have lost a pregnancy to know “That they’re not alone.” Josiah chimes in, explaining that he and his young wife are aware that “A lot of women go through this.”  “A doctor was sharing with us that one out of every five pregnancies ends up in miscarriage,” Josiah remarks. “And so,” he says. “It’s a very common thing with it being the first trimester most of them.” Notably, most miscarriages can easily go unnoticed because they happen so early. They’re dismissed as a late period and odd cramps. “A lot of women don’t share it,” Josiah remarks. “And they keep it in.” “Our doctor really encouraged us [to speak out],” Josiah reveals. “That helps with the healing.” “It really has drawn us closer together,” Josiah expresses. “… It’s not just a honeymoon for the rest of your life,” he tells Fox News. “There’s definitely going to be hard times.” “And hard times are a part of real life,” Josiah affirms. “It’s not just all happiness. …” “Going through that together really has drawn me closer to Lauren,” he admits. “And,” Josiah gushes. “I love her even more now than the day I married her.” It was on Instagram that Lauren first shared the difficult family update. “Many of yall don’t know this, but a couple of months ago we found out we were expecting,” Lauren wrote. “However, soon after we miscarried.” “At first, we kind of wanted to just stay quiet about the news,” she continued. “But knew that since everyone is anticipating for us to announce that were having a baby,” Lauren said. She continued: “We felt like it was time that we told everyone that our first and only baby is in heaven.” Lauren then notes how painful, as we here at THG have noted in the past, it can be for parents who miscarry to be asked when they’ll be pregnant. “It is hard to hear when people asks us if we are expecting, when we only recently lost our baby,” she admitted. Lauren wrote: “You can imagine it was devastating to the both of us.” “Our expectations of setting up a baby room, hearing the heart beat, feeling the baby’s first kick in mommys tummy,” she expressed. Her words continue: “holding our little one and getting to to see our precious baby were – Shattered.” “Gone,” Lauren lamented. “Right before our eyes.” “Even though our sweet child is no longer with us,” she wrote. “It is such a comfort to know that one day we will get to see our baby in Heaven!” “To the ones who have gone through this, I know your pain,” Lauren affirmed at the time. “It’s real and terrible,” she wrote. “I just want you to know you don’t have to suffer in pain alone. It is not your fault.” “We greatly appreciate your prayers as we go through this hard time!” she concluded. While one doesn’t usually think of the Duggar family as the best folks to speak out on what’s primarily a women’s issue, they spoke very well. Lauren and Josiah are grieving. So many couples have experienced a similar loss. Not everyone grieves in the same way, but it’s good for them to know that they are not alone. View Slideshow: 33 Stars Who Have Suffered a Miscarriage

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Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson: Our Miscarriage Brought Us Closer Together

Josiah Duggar to Lauren Swanson: I Don’t Deserve You

Josiah Duggar is just so in love with Lauren Swanson. And he wants the whole world to know it, especially in light of some heartbreaking news the couple shared last week about their attempt to start a family. Indeed, just days after revealing that Swanson had suffered a miscarriage in October, Josiah wrote the following in honor of a certain romantic holiday promoted by Hallmark and other companies: “Happy Valentine’s Day baby! “I wish I was better at expressing how much you mean to me. I don’t deserve you, you are the world to me. I cannot imagine life without you. I feel so honored to be your husband. “Thank you for choosing me! I love you.” Pretty darn sweet and sentimental, right? Even more so when you consider that Duggar penned this as a caption to a photo of himself and Lauren on their wedding day. The couple got married in late June in Arkansas. It was presumed at the time that they’d announce a pregnancy shortly afterward, with numerous celebrity gossip sources out there wondering whether Swanson was expecting. As it tragically turns out, the answer at one point was yes: She was pregnant. But Swanson then lost the baby. She and Josiah confirmed the awful news on last Monday’s season premiere of Counting On. “It really was a hard time for our family going through this right after we got married,” he said on air, adding: “And all the dreams of getting to see our little one and hold it in our hands dashed before our eyes.” Swanson started to feel sick as she and her husband were preparing to go away for a friend’s wedding. She initially thought the cramping and stomach pain was due to some kind of dietary problem… but then she learned otherwise. “It was late at night and I went to the restroom, and right there was the baby. Gone. I couldn’t believe it, and I was hoping it wasn’t true,” Swanson told fans and viewers on this return episode of the TLC program. So very sad. We cannot imagine going through such a thing. Thankfully, however, Duggar and Swanson’s bond remains strong, as evidenced by this Valentine’s Day message. And they also have the support of their loved ones to get them through this challenging time in their marriage. “We love you so much and look forward to meeting your little one when we get to heaven!” Anna Duggar, who suffered her own miscarriage, told the pair on Instagram. John David Duggar Abbie Grace Burnett echoed this sentiment, writing on their own account: “[We] will continue to pray for you both!” Same here. Perhaps Lauren and Josiah can take solace in knowing that the following stars have sadly also suffered through a miscarriage: View Slideshow: 33 Stars Who Have Suffered a Miscarriage

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Josiah Duggar to Lauren Swanson: I Don’t Deserve You

Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson Reveal Miscarriage, Share Pain from "Worst Day" of Their Lives

Just four months after their wedding, and just hours before their return to television on a new season of Counting On , Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson have shared some very sad news with their fans. It’s almost the saddest news they could possibly share. The news is this: Lauren suffered a miscarriage in October. “A couple months ago, we found out that we were expecting, but suddenly thereafter, we lost our baby,” Swanson explains in a clip released Monday morning from tonight’s Counting On premiere. Adds Josiah in this sneak peek: “It really was a hard time for our family going through this right after we got married. And all the dreams of getting to see our little one and hold it in our hands dashed before our eyes.” We can’t imagine anything more devastating. And we appreciate the couple being so candid about such a difficult topic. “Lauren and I were actually preparing for a trip to go to a friend’s wedding over the weekend. She started feeling really sick and started noticing some different things,” Josiah expounds on the premiere. Lauren, for her part, thought it was a dietary problem at first. “I wasn’t feeling well,” she says. “I was cramping really, really bad, which was quite strange because I normally don’t. I was thinking I had something with gluten in it.” She then discovered the tragic truth, continuing as follows while retelling this story: “It was late at night and I went to the restroom, and right there was the baby. Gone. I couldn’t believe it, and I was hoping it wasn’t true.” Fans have been speculating about Swanson’s status for months, which makes this even more poignant — and which also ought to serve as a reminder. You really should never ask a woman if she’s expecting or wonder when she might be in some public forum. Because you simplynever know what someone is going through. The couple, meanwhile, got married on June 30, 2018 at John Brown University Cathedral of the Ozarks in Siloam Springs, Arkansas; only seven months or so after they started courting. But things often move quickly in the romance department for members of this family. Said Josiah in a statement last March: “Lauren and I are engaged! This is an exciting big step in our lives and the whole thing was very meaningful. “The place where I proposed to Lauren is the exact spot where her parents were engaged. There’s a lot of family history on this property making it a special place for Lauren.” TLC actually aired footage of the proposal , too. Fast forward just a few months after this question-popping and Lauren and Josiah shared their first kiss. Not just as husband and wife, but their first kiss EVER, as depicted below: View Slideshow: Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson Wedding Pics: See Their First Kiss… EVER! This past Thursday, the couple uploaded a sweet snapshot of them smiling and kissing in Orlando, making it evident to followers that they’re trying their best to move on from this tragedy. “How did I ever get someone as special as you,” wrote Duggar as a caption to the image. As for what else fans can expect from the new season of Counting On? Click right here to find out: Counting On Season 4 Trailer Teases Major Duggar Announcement

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Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson Reveal Miscarriage, Share Pain from "Worst Day" of Their Lives

Jill Duggar Responds to Pregnancy Speculation: Is She or Isn’t She?!?

Jill Duggar knows what you’re thinking. She knows what the Internet is saying about her at the moment. Could she be pregnant? Might she and husband Derick Dillard expecting a third baby? Based on a handful of recent photos in which Duggar is rocking a loose shirt, fans have been asking this question. What other reason could she possibly have for donning such an ensemble, right? With first son Israel turning four this year and second son Samuel having just turned two, the timing would seem to work out, wouldn’t it? Female members of the Duggar family often churn out children every couple years, so it’s not exactly far-fetched for folks to assume Jill may soon have an announcement to make along these blessed lines. As it turns out, she does … … but it’s not what you may have been hoping to hear from the veteran reality star.. Jill Duggar is not pregnant. Clearly aware that this rumor was floating around the Internet, she just shared the above snapshot on her Instagram Story, writing across the image: “Wind was blowing the back of my shirt lol.” In case you’re wondering, the mother of two is wearing a pair of skinny jeans here from her cousin Amy Duggar‘s new boutique, hence the additional caption of: “Wearing my new @3130clothing to church today.” By this point, Jill has likely learned to accept pregnancy chatter as the price she must pay for being famous. Heck, she recently shared a photograph of herself eating some gummy candy, writing in relation to it: “Anyone with me? I love gummies! #livesaversgummies and pretty much any other kind of gummie … not so much the sour ones tho.” Just from this reveal, loyal Duggar supporters believed Jill to be expecting because some of her sisters also craved this candy back when they were expecting. Naturally, of course, Jill turned out not to be pregnant that time, either. In somewhat related news, sadly, Lauren Swanson and Jill’s brother, Josiah, will confess tonight’s premiere of Counting On that they lost a child to a miscarriage in October . TLC shared a clip of the couple discussing this painful experience just a few hours ago. “A couple months ago, we found out that we were expecting, but suddenly thereafter, we lost our baby,” Lauren says in this scene, while Josiah added: “It really was a hard time for our family going through this right after we got married. “And all the dreams of getting to see our little one and hold it in our hands dashed before our eyes.” Our heart breaks for this couple. We wish them the best. View Slideshow: Jill Duggar & Derick Dillard Net Worth: Are They REALLY Broke?!

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Jill Duggar Responds to Pregnancy Speculation: Is She or Isn’t She?!?

The Duggars: Real Reason They Homeschool Their Kids REVEALED!

It would be a massive understatement to say that the Duggars are an unusual sort of family. The Duggars have always played by their own rules, which is one of the things that endears them to their viewers — who are typically, and somewhat ironically, big fans of both rules and end fiercely protected independence. It may seem that these two passions cannot easily co-exist, but it all has to do with who's making the rules. Like Jim Bob himself, Duggar fans tend to be evangelicals with a fierce patriarchal streak. They believe in divine authority and the authority of the male head of household, and while they tend to be big fans of both the military and the police, they're usually distrustful of the government. Which is a big reason that the Duggars and others like them choose to homeschool their children — but as we recently learned, it's just one of many. Take a look:     1. The Whole Brood Jim Bob and Michelle raised 19 children, and at least up to this point, all of them have been homeschooled. 2. The Student Body It’s an almost unfathomable task — and it begs the question: who would take on such a demanding job? 3. The School Marm At first, the educational duties fell entirely to Michelle Duggar. 4. Easing the Burden As Michelle’s eldest children reached their pre-teen years, however, they began to assist in homeschooling their younger siblings. 5. Taking Up the Mantel These days, as the eldest Duggar to remain unmarried and living at home, 29-year-old Jana assumes most of the workload. 6. Faithful Assistant Until recently, Jana was assisted in her efforts by longtime friend Laura DeMasie, who went so far as to move in with the Duggars in order to serve as a live-in teacher’s aide. View Slideshow

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The Duggars: Real Reason They Homeschool Their Kids REVEALED!

Kim Kardashian: I Hope Baby #4 Will Fix My Marriage!

Just a few weeks ago, Kim Kardashian confirmed that she's expecting her fourth child , and even teased the due date. On Thursday night, Kim spoke to Jimmy Fallon about her hopes and fears about having a fourth child. She even reveals why she believes that Baby #4 will change her family dynamic for the better. Kim Kardashian once again confirms that she is expecting Baby #4. She is excited for this baby boy, but the mother of three admits that she has concerns. “I was kind of stressing,” Kim Kardashian confesses.  “My house is so full,” she notes. Remember, they're not just a family of five. In addition to staff who help them out, their home is often full of cameras.  So what led her to take this leap? “I heard,” Kim shares. “That parents of four are the most enlightened and calm of all parents.” That is … genuinely hilarious. We don't doubt that she heard it, but it's bonkers. “I felt the huge change,” Kim says. “From 1 to 2 felt like from 1 to 20.” That's what everyone says, and yet people keep churning out second children. “That was harder than 2 to 3, for me,” she confesses. “I feel like four is going to be really even, though,” Kim says optimistically. “Right now,” she explains. “It’s like me with two always and Kanye just has one” “So he’s just like still living his life and I’m, ya know,” she says. Kim imagines that balancing their parenting duties with an additional child will even the scales. She also notes that North has inherited Kanye's ability to fall asleep quickly and anywhere. (Honestly, if you could put that kind of ability in a safe pill, you'd be richer than all of the Kardashians combined) “My 5-year-old daughter, North, and my 3-year-old son, Saint, are finally getting along,” Kim brags. Toddlers can be a lot to put up with, especially for a slightly older sibling who was perfectly content as an only child. “She needs to still get it together and warm up and be a little bit nicer,” Kim admits. “But I think she’s getting there.” “I saw glimmers of hope a week ago,” Kim adds. “She’s not harmful,” Kim clarifies. “She’s not hurting him or anything.” “She just doesn’t want boys in her room,” she concludes. That's fair. At best, there could be a correlation to explain the goofy claim that four kids make for more peaceful, enlightened parents. Parents who have enough money to support four children in our nightmare economy can also afford peace of mind. Alternatively, maybe they're more peaceful because they haven't slept properly in years and are just constantly dissociating. Also, obviously, having another child to fix your marriage — as Kim comes awfully close to suggesting — is a terrible idea. That said, maybe Kim is just joking about her reasoning. It's so difficult to tell with her. Fortunately, Kim and Kanye can afford to have as many children as they like. Or more, if they need to. That means physical space for the children, expensive gifts, nannies, additional security, healthcare, and a first-rate education. They can even afford gestational carriers so that they can safely have more babies. That was how Chicago was born, and she turned one year old just last month. In a world where millions of people are delaying having kids because they can't afford to become parents yet, being insanely wealthy has its perks.

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Kim Kardashian: I Hope Baby #4 Will Fix My Marriage!

John David Duggar Confirms: I Never Followed Courtship Rules Before Marriage

Back in November,  John David married Abbie Burnett in the sort of lavish, massively-attended ceremony that his family has become known for. On the surface, it looked just like all the other Duggar nuptials we've seen over the years. But the journey that led John David and Abbie to the altar was unlike anything Duggar fans had seen before. Many noticed that the couple didn't seem terribly concerned with the infamous Duggar courtship rules that prohibit just about any sort of physical contact prior to marriage. And now, John David and his new bride are confirming some long-standing rumors about their relationship. Take a look: 1. Rebels From the beginning of their relationship, it was rumored that John David and Abbie were none too concerned with his parents’ ridiculous courtship rules. 2. The Big Day John David and Abbie got married in a ceremony that looked just like the many Duggar weddings that came before it. 3. Breaking the Rules Fans were quick to notice, however, that John and Abbie’s courtship looked very different from anything they’d seen previously. 4. Touchy Subject Specifically, John and Abbie seemed to disregard the courtship rule that prohibits couples from engaging in any sort of physical contact before marriage. 5. Allow Us to Explain The Duggars are usually quite secretive about their famously strict code of conduct, particularly when it comes to matters of love and marriage. 6. Clearing the Air John David addressed the matter directly in a preview for the upcoming season of Counting On. View Slideshow

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John David Duggar Confirms: I Never Followed Courtship Rules Before Marriage

Joy-Anna Duggar Apologizes For Encouraging Anorexic Fan to Lose Weight

Last week, Joy-Anna vaguely discussed her weight loss methods in a cryptic video that appeared on her Instagram page, In a video that was clearly intended to pique curiosity in the Optavia weight loss system, the mother of one revealed that she had shed all of her post-baby weight — but initially, she didn’t say how. Joy-Anna Duggar: I Lost My Baby Weight! As intended, the post quickly caught the attention of Duggar fans who are looking to lose a few pounds. “Excited to share about this! It’s been SOOO helpful for me,” Joy captioned the above video. “My health coach has lost 47lbs in 15 weeks and her husband has lost 40lbs in just 9 weeks!! If you’re ready to start or just have questions please email me your phone number and we’d love to talk with you!” One fan commented that she would love to lose weight, but must be “careful” in doing so due to past issues with anorexia. “Awesome! This is all clean and has probiotics built in!” Shortly thereafter, a third Instagram user posted a screenshot of what she claimed was a DM conversation with Joy, “Your comments responding to ladies with eating disorders on your Optavia video are very dangerous,” the person allegedly messaged Joy. The person added that Joy should be “aware that those of us with eating disorders SHOULD NOT be encouraged to lose weight by anybody but our own doctors.” To her credit, Joy promptly responded in apologetic fashion. “Thank you for your concern,” Joy wrote. “I did not mean at all to text the girl that has anorexia and I feel so bad, I tried to find the account so I could fix what I said.” From there, Joy explained that she had only the best intentions in encouraging fans to use the Optavia program. “As far as my health coach, once she gets on a call she tells each person to check with their GP before doing it,” she wrote. “Optavia is a great program and is recommended by lots of doctors. But I understand it is not good for all.” The Duggars are generally very careful when it comes to the products they choose to endorse on social media. In fact, they’re careful in social media in general, with Jim Bob and Michelle usually forbidding their children to start accounts until they’re grown and married. This incident is likely serving as a reminder of why they take such extreme precautions. View Slideshow: Joy-Anna Duggar Gives Birth to BIGGEST Duggar Baby After Traumatizing Labor

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Joy-Anna Duggar Apologizes For Encouraging Anorexic Fan to Lose Weight

Anna Duggar Stuns the Internet, Actually Claps Back at Troll

Anna Duggar said nothing in public at all against husband Josh Duggar after he admitted to both the molestation of his sisters and the affairs he carried on with random women he met online. But the former reality star has now made a statement in defense of a different relative. The typically shy and private mother of five clapped back at a hater on Instagram this week, causing nearly every user of this platform to do a double take in surprise. What was it that prompted Anna to finally speak out? The ex-19 Kids and Counting cast member simply had to respond to a commenter who, oddly enough, had something to say about her nephew’s toe. “What happened to his poor toe?” someone asked in response to a photo of Jessa Duggar’s son last week. “I never saw anything about that.” Replied Anna: “His toe is just fine! Spurgeon must have bent it while taking the picture.” Hey, we didn’t say it was an epic clapback by Anna. But you gotta start somewhere! Spurgeon, of course, is the son of Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald. He has a brother named Henry and he’ll soon have another sibling, as well. “We are overjoyed that God has blessed us with a baby, due late this Spring!” Duggar said this week , adding to various outlets: “From the day we found out we were expecting, we both guessed boy, and if our predictions are right then we already have a ton the clothing and accessories ready to pass down!” Jessa also made it clear in this statement that she’d be happy to have a girl as well. Jessa has also been known herself to step up any time an Internet trolls says something about her or a loved one. Just a few days before she told the world she was expecting, Jessa put some loser in his place after this loser trolled Jessa’s young nephew, Meredith, online. Back to Anna, however: She has scarcely been in the spotlight at all ever since the many scandals surrounding her awful husband went viral. Not that we can blame her one bit for wanting to lay low for pretty much the rest of her life. However, Anna and Josh did pose together in public last fall and have started to make their social media presence a little more widly known over the last several weeks. Anna almost always just shared pictures of her kids on her page, while Josh Duggar has thankfully remained silent across the board via that medium. There had been talk at some point about him making a reality show comeback, but we haven’t heard any of that chatter in a very long time. It does appear as though even that industry has certain lines one cannot cross if it wishes to remain relevant — and inappropriately touching one’s own siblings most definitely qualifies. View Slideshow: The Duggar Family Is Worth a TON of Money … And Here’s How They Earned It

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Anna Duggar Stuns the Internet, Actually Claps Back at Troll