Duggar surprise?

[princessmom29]

They have done none of this on their own. They have done none of this outside the carefully selected circle of approved people they may speak to.
If you honestly believe those girls could take those cell phones and get in a car and drive to the mall and socialize with whoever they please, go get a pizza with a boy not chosen by her father you are very mis informed.

Of course they aren't chained to the washing machine! if they were how would the cooking get done? or the beds changed, or the babies changed and feed? or the floors cleaned!

You can go all over the world and still be completely isolated if you are never allowed to be with anyone outside your immediate family and few chosen family approved acquaintances.

you hit the nai lon the head. They are totally isolated.

To the poster who mentioned Jill and college, according to what I have heard her parents say, they are allowing that because with no medical insurance, they think it could be a useful skill FOR THE FAMILY, not so she can have a career. They always talk about it in the context of how useful it will be to have a nurse in the family. I don't think the ever intend to let her work outside the home.

 

[dansamy]

you hit the nai lon the head. They are totally isolated.

To the poster who mentioned Jill and college, according to what I have heard her parents say, they are allowing that because with no medical insurance, they think it could be a useful skill FOR THE FAMILY, not so she can have a career. They always talk about it in the context of how useful it will be to have a nurse in the family. I don't think the ever intend to let her work outside the home.

As a nurse, I can tell you I learned how to pass boards in nursing school. I learned how to be a nurse on my first nursing job. All the nursing school in the world won't translate to practical real-word skills without some hands-on nursing experience to back it up.

 

[princessmom29]

As a nurse, I can tell you I learned how to pass boards in nursing school. I learned how to be a nurse on my first nursing job. All the nursing school in the world won't translate to practical real-word skills without some hands-on nursing experience to back it up.

Yes, you are right, but we are talking about the people that beleive that dinosaurs and humans coexisted, the earth is only 40,000 years old and the entire population of the world will fit into Jacksonville. I doubt they have thought that far ahead.

 

[Coconut36]

you hit the nai lon the head. They are totally isolated.

To the poster who mentioned Jill and college, according to what I have heard her parents say, they are allowing that because with no medical insurance, they think it could be a useful skill FOR THE FAMILY, not so she can have a career. They always talk about it in the context of how useful it will be to have a nurse in the family. I don't think the ever intend to let her work outside the home.

That is really disturbing to me. It's one thing to think "hey it's nice we can ask her questions" but to basically allow it only to serve the family is icky..it sounds like they have no intention of allowing her an actual life outside the family at all despite going to school/getting an education outside their thumb.

 

[princessmom29]

That is really disturbing to me. It's one thing to think "hey it's nice we can ask her questions" but to basically allow it only to serve the family is icky..it sounds like they have no intention of allowing her an actual life outside the family at all despite going to school/getting an education outside their thumb.

I don't think she is getting an education outside thier thumb. I am pretty sure she is doing most of it online, the same way Anna got her "degree" from some online bible college.

 

[Eeyore98]

And bruised his little ego.lol And i forgot about they-er he really believed because Michelle can't think for herself-that you give away a piece of you heart when you date others. what kind of bull is that? I wasn't giving my heart away for each guy I dated.

It's a common fundamentalist trope that comes from a book called "I Kissed Dating Goodbye". And of course, it's total crap. But at least they haven't gone for the even more horrendous metaphor I've heard come out of similar circles - the idea that once you date someone (no matter how innocent it is), you are a "used lollipop".

The girls in this family have traveled outside the country, have done mission work in other countries, and are certified first responders and volunteer firefighters.

It's not like they are chained to the washing machine

They seem to have friends and aquaintences everywhere, cell phones, and driver liscences. So it's not like they could not leave if they wished to. They don't seem in a huge hurry to marry, and at least one of them is doing some sort of college (Jill, who wants to go into nursing).

I'm just not seeing where they are forced to be domestic servants and married off to Dad-chosen suitors. They also don't seem isolated, given their extensive travel, and having other people in their home (the tlc people).

I don't think it's reasonable to suggest that these girls must be happy with their lives just because they haven't left.

You can say the same about women caught in the grip of the FLDS - they also have cell phones and cars and the like. But in both cases, you are drastically underestimating the effects of psychological influence. When someone has been ingrained in a belief system her whole life, even if she wants something more, she has to battle the belief that more is "wrong", and set herself against the family that has been her entire world.

It is a huge uphill battle, and most do NOT make it, especially once they have children of their own, or have to care for a child from very early on as if it was their own.

A book that demonstrates this perfectly is "Stolen Innocence" by Elissa Wall, which tells the story of her eventual escape from the FLDS community in Hildale, Utah. She was absolutely miserable for years. Yet, if she had ended up having kids, she never would have left. "Luckily" in her case, she was Rh negative and kept miscarrying (their community is taught to fear outsiders and thus most don't go to the doctor). Even without kids to stay behind for, she didn't leave until Warren Jeffs basically threatened to kill her.

People can put up with a lot of misery if the alternative is leaving behind a child that they love.

 

[Coconut36]

I don't think she is getting an education outside thier thumb. I am pretty sure she is doing most of it online, the same way Anna got her "degree" from some online bible college.

Aaaah...that explains a lot. I was puzzled they would let her attend school as that would mean she would meet all kinds of people. Obviously at some point she is going to have to do some hands on work..wonder if they think she will be married and having babies and "get over it" by then or they are even able to think that far ahead.

 

[averill94]

Yes, you are right, but we are talking about the people that beleive that dinosaurs and humans coexisted, the earth is only 40,000 years old and the entire population of the world will fit into Jacksonville. I doubt they have thought that far ahead.

OMG so I did hear him right about Jacksonville!!!! In my head I kept picturing Jacksonville and then the WORLD population......

 

[herdtoDisney]

It's a common fundamentalist trope that comes from a book called "I Kissed Dating Goodbye". And of course, it's total crap. But at least they haven't gone for the even more horrendous metaphor I've heard come out of similar circles - the idea that once you date someone (no matter how innocent it is), you are a "used lollipop".




I don't think it's reasonable to suggest that these girls must be happy with their lives just because they haven't left.

You can say the same about women caught in the grip of the FLDS - they also have cell phones and cars and the like. But in both cases, you are drastically underestimating the effects of psychological influence. When someone has been ingrained in a belief system her whole life, even if she wants something more, she has to battle the belief that more is "wrong", and set herself against the family that has been her entire world.

It is a huge uphill battle, and most do NOT make it, especially once they have children of their own, or have to care for a child from very early on as if it was their own.

A book that demonstrates this perfectly is "Stolen Innocence" by Elissa Wall, which tells the story of her eventual escape from the FLDS community in Hildale, Utah. She was absolutely miserable for years. Yet, if she had ended up having kids, she never would have left. "Luckily" in her case, she was Rh negative and kept miscarrying (their community is taught to fear outsiders and thus most don't go to the doctor). Even without kids to stay behind for, she didn't leave until Warren Jeffs basically threatened to kill her.

People can put up with a lot of misery if the alternative is leaving behind a child that they love.

Wow, that is a pretty huge leap, comparing the Duggar girls situation to those of women in the FDLS, which was committing crimes against women and girls

Whether or not the Duggar girls will stay with their family or marry an ATI boy or go to college outside the home, or not, remains to be seen. But there is nothing to suggest that they are in a situation like the FDLS women.

I think the girls will be just fine. Probably, some of them will marry and have several children, and some will have a career and work, perhaps marrying later. Just like kids do from families that aren't the Duggars

 

[Sugardimples]

We've seen very little of oldest daughter Jana over the last year or so, with no explanation of her whereabouts. I think something is going on there.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is the college they are going to - online with a Personal advisor.

If someone is brought up as sheltered as they are and are told that their situation is what is normal and right, they don't have any basis to believe anything else. And, if they are unhappy in that kind of lifestyle, they would think they are the problem and the reason for unhappiness, not the lifestyle.

And for the poster who mentioned they have contact with the TLC people doing the filming, I am sure there is screening of who the family will allow to work with them and rules about the contact with the family members. If one of the TLC people does anything not allowed, they will not be back.

 

[disneyismyname]

We've seen very little of oldest daughter Jana over the last year or so, with no explanation of her whereabouts. I think something is going on there.

I was also thinking about that, watching this past season. I would also keep a look out for Jana and I rarely saw her. I thought she might of had a "courtship" thing going on and that's what the surprise was about. But...no...

 

[SueM in MN]

More about the college program.
http://duggarsblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/college-degrees-for-jana-and-john-david.html

The 'Life Advisor' helps the child look at what studies to pursue with emphasis on guidance from God and the parents. So, not much chance they will hear about anything that brings questions about what they have been brought up with.

 

[wendy46001]

More about the college program.
http://duggarsblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/college-degrees-for-jana-and-john-david.html

The 'Life Advisor' helps the child look at what studies to pursue with emphasis on guidance from God and the parents. So, not much chance they will hear about anything that brings questions about what they have been brought up with.

So i was clicking around that site, and while the Duggar’s are certainly getting paid for advertising that program, it seems like this isnt an accredited college just course work at could be submitted to a school. Is that correct?

 

[SaraJayne]

More about the college program.
http://duggarsblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/college-degrees-for-jana-and-john-david.html

The 'Life Advisor' helps the child look at what studies to pursue with emphasis on guidance from God and the parents. So, not much chance they will hear about anything that brings questions about what they have been brought up with.

So in other words, the decision is made for them what they will study.

 

[tlbwriter]

Guess I have to retract my thumbs-up for Jill being able to go to college.

 

[Hannathy]

So in other words, the decision is made for them what they will study.

Of course! Did anyone actually think otherwise?

 

[dansamy]

Just piping in about College Plus!: it's a guided course of study preparing the student to test for AP & CLEP credits to eliminate/reduce the general education requirements needed for the degree of choice. Depending on the school of choice, one-two years of coursework can be obtained through testing for credit.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Ok, this college program has the Duggars plastered all over their website?? Good grief, it's gets stranger and stranger. They are now controlling where their kids can go to college? And in fact, alot of these courses are online? I can't imagine telling my kids where they were going to go. I don't understand how this program even works...they claim you take online classes and then they "work with you" to transfer them to an accredited college? Why would a college accept non-accredited course work anyway?

This is going to sound snarky but it seems that this online college program is yet another way for the Duggars to make money off of their children. Did you all see how several of the older kids (as well as Jimbob and Michelle) are on it's website? And they're wearing the college programs t-shirts. Honestly, I find it interesting that JB and Michelle are sheltering their children yet they use them for profit?

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

Honestly, I find it interesting that JB and Michelle are sheltering their children yet they use them for profit?

And therein lies the hypocrisy, which is the root of my issues with this family.