Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Recap: Double Dating Duggars & Another Courtship?

19 Kids and Counting "Double Dating Duggars"
  • Jessa, who has been in a courtship with Ben Seewald for a few weeks, curls her hair (click here to watch our Duggar hair tutorial) for a double-date with Ben and her parents.
  • "We've noticed that her head is kind of in the clouds," says Michelle of Jessa.
  • While playing mini-golf, Jim Bob asks the new couple about the boundaries they have set for their courtship and possible engagement. They have decided to give each other side hugs to say hello and goodbye and while posing for pictures.
  • Ben and Jessa plan to wait a while before they start holding hands. Like Josh and Anna, they have decided to save their first kiss for their wedding day.
  • Jessa rocks the mini-golf course, but Ben doesn't do as well.  "Let's just say I don't think Ben has played much mini-golf in his life," says Jessa. Team Jim Bob/Michelle ends up beating Team Ben/Jessa.
  • Jim Bob says it's important for his kids to see how much Mom and Dad love each other. "Michelle and I love to kiss. We love to hug. And we do that in front of our kids."
  • Meanwhile, Jill takes her buddy team (Joy-Anna, James, and Jennifer) to Harps to buy ingredients for homemade dill pickles, a Duggar family favorite.
  • Michelle says Jill does an excellent job at bringing together the different personalities of those on her buddy team. "You've got Joy who has blossomed into this young lady," says Michelle. "She's always looking out for other people," adds Jill. "My Jenny, she's very serious," says Michelle. "Plus she's a deep thinker." And then there's James, who puts all his energy into everything he does.
  • "Our buddy groups kind of grew out of a need," says Michelle. She and Jim Bob found it challenging to get everyone out the door, so they created groups of four or five kids and appointed an older child as the leader.
  • In Washington D.C., Anna and the kids take on the challenge of assembling a playhouse.
  • "Michael is two, and he is full of energy," says Anna. "Mackynzie is my big helper. She knows that she is the firstborn and that her little brothers are looking up to her."
19 Kids and Counting "Another Courtship?"
  • Jill calls her parents down to the living room so she can Skype with Derick Dillard, who is in Nepal doing mission work.  "Jill talks about Derick quite often," says Jana. "He comes up in about every conversation."
  • In D.C., Anna shows viewers what it's like to homeschool four-year-old Mackynzie while keeping track of two-year-old Michael and infant Marcus. "Sometimes you just have to breathe and step back," says Anna.
  • "This isn't even fun," complains Mackynzie while drawing the letter "E." Mackynzie enjoys learning but is a perfectionist and gets upset when she can't figure things out.
  • Jeremiah, the Duggar family chess champ, teaches his mom how to play. Michelle enjoys her time with her son but has trouble remembering the rules. "Who made up this game?" jokes Michelle. "I guarantee you a man made this game up."
  • "We had a lot of fun together," says Jeremiah.
  • While Jim Bob and Michelle are gone, the kids plan a surprise for their parents as a final hurrah before the older ones start going their separate ways. Joy-Anna suggests a dinner theater, and everyone else agrees.
  • Joy takes the little ones up to the girls' room and tries to teach them a song, but getting them to cooperate isn't easy. She threatens to call Jana.
  • Jill heads to her parent' room for a serious conversation. "I think I'm in love with someone I've never met," she tells them. Jill asks her mom and dad if she can visit him in Katmandu, Nepal. Jim Bob agrees and starts to make plans for he and Jill to fly across the world.

47 comments:

  1. You forgot to link the click here button to the hair tutorial.
    Also, I think you meant that Jessa said she doesn't think there's anything wrong with not holding hands.

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  2. Yeah, Jessa doesn't think there's anything wrong with holding hands,but she doesn't want to hold Ben's hand. What's up with that? This is a guy you're supposed to be looking at marriage with. Good luck to you, Ben.

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  3. We all know how much Jim bob and Michelle love to kiss, but did he really need to kiss her and then ask if it turned her on? And it is really necessary for Jill, who is in her twenties, to have her parents chaperone her while she is skyping with Derick? These parents don't seem to trust their children and adult daughters very much. Just because they feel they went too far before they married doesn't mean their daughters will. There comes a time when you have to let your kids make their own decisions and hold themselves accountable for their own actions.

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  4. Just as expected from this family. No questions on TV about life's ambitions to Ben or Jessa. Just questions about physical contact. No advice on TV about marriage. Just advice about physical contact. Same ole, same ole. Some parts downright R rated.

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  5. Hi
    I'm trying to figure out this courting thing.
    There's no hand holding but side hugs are ok?
    Why isn't hand holding ok but side hugs are?

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    1. That is my question too. I don't understand how holding hands isn't ok but hugging when their bodies are touching is

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  6. Jill is what, 23? And she can't talk to a boy on a computer who is thousands of miles away without her parents being in the room? Did I just see that?

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  7. It is going to be a real hoot to watch when this next batch of boys is responsible for the buddy team of the "younger girls."

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  8. HI Guys

    I'm wondering if you know which homeschool program Anna uses? I'd love to know :)

    Blessings

    Jodie

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  9. I think it is so generous of you ladies to recap the whole show for those fans who can't watch, that's a lot of typing. I love the part where James said that Joy was groovy, lol lol. It was s sure nice to see Anna and the family,can't wait until next week.Bless you everyone. Sincerely, Natalie

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  10. Jeremiah is so handsome, all the boys are beautiful. I have never seen a family look so different and yet so alike . Maybe you ladies can get pictures of them when they all were at the same age.Maybe when they were all 2,5,8,11,14,16. That would be so fun to see.

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  11. I wish my BF would go fishing so I can watch my recorded new episodes! He's an ass towards the show so I get up at 5 am to watch while he sleeps! Not this morning tho, he got up early n screwed up my TV viewing!! Not happy!

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  12. I missed the show last night is their away I can watch it ?

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  13. Jim Bob shocked me when he asked Michelle "does that turn you on"? Wow!

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  14. I love the way you Michelle have raised your kids! It's so nice to see a family that has God as their main focus and doesn't allow influences around them to cloud their vision. You two have done an amazing job!

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  15. Thanks so much for the recap! Hope the episode is posted online soon!

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  16. Just started watching this family show. I will try to watch it as often as i can. Yes I did enjoy it!

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  17. I have a 13 yr old daughter and i think it is great what you two do with the courtship.it keeps things simple.edu to go on your hole family they all seem great!

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  18. I have a daughter i think it is great what you do about courtship.it stops alot of trouble.you family seems great and you two have done such a great job .

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  19. When will this be on YouTube?!

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  20. I was embarrassed by Jim Bob's immature behavior on the double date episode. This is not being a good role model in my opinion.

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  21. "Ben and Jessa plan to wait a while before they start holding hands. Like Josh and Anna, they have decided to save their first kiss for their wedding day." Hopefully they wait for their wedding day to start holding hands too. All the intense hand holding doesn't seem proper, the girls seem to get more into it than the guys too, maybe they are defrauding the guys.

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  22. ok Love the courtship episode. The little ones are so cute.

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  23. JimBob and Michelle should remember their humble beginnings, because the attitude projected by the Duggar family now is based on their present wealth and status which they have gained from a lifetime of hard work and blessings. It appears to me that Ben is getting treated like he is less than by some of the Duggar family members. The publicized ribbing Ben is going through is coming from the proud siblings of Jessa and those are Duggar children who are acting entitled to more than their Mom and Dad started with. Even JimBob seems to be mocking and putting Ben down sometimes, such as his comment about making Ben wait years and go into the military first before becoming engaged to Jessa. JimBob was not treated that way when he proposed to Michelle. JimBob had no special qualifications at the time he was dating Michelle. Early on JimBob was just a used car sales man and pregnant Michelle minded the used car shop while he worked a second job. JimBob and Michelle never seemed to be under the intense scrutiny of their siblings then and their siblings are not involved in their lives now, except Amy's mother occasionally and a few visits for Michelle's family like a reunion. Ben is on a similar footing to what JimBob was on when he proposed to Michelle yet he is portrayed as an Archie type character presuming to express his love for a Veronica Lodge type character. Done told.

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  24. Ok have to say this. Jim Bob in Double Dating Duggars had me laughing all day today. My gosh some of his antics were a bit uncomfortable to watch, but as I thought about it from the perspective of Jessa and Ben they were hilarious. Just think if you were seeing this from your mom and Dad.

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  25. Love the time that Michele spent with Jeremiah playing chess. She was really trying to concentrate on that game.

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  26. I am a firm believer in people should date and get to know one another by themselves not have the family involved because it is the couple dateing that have to live with one anothe not have mommy and daddy decide for them. when it is the couple that has to live with each other i would let my kids make that decision on that they are over 18

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  27. I missed the show is their away I can watch it ?

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  28. I LOVED the interaction between Jeremiah and Michelle, this was so touching. What a fine young man he is. Such a gentleman, warm, kind, intelligent and patient. This was such an unexpected treat. Just a little moment between mother and son. Rarely get to see moments like this one on one gem. Also got a kick out of the double date. Some of his antics made me blush a bit but Jim Bob really cracked me up too. He was clearly relaxed and enjoying himself and being himself - sort of letting loose - seemed to be having great fun. Jessa takes the teasing all in stride and Ben has been very well raised to be sure. He handles himself really well, he's in a rough spot being the first young man to court one of the Duggar daughters - he's a trailblazer to be sure. Appears to be a terrific young man and more mature than the average 19 year old.

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  29. I do not see where Anonymous 8 is coming from, Words used to describe Ben. Good guy, good heart, compassionate, handsome, spiritually focused. The fact that Ben is dating Jessa even with the age difference may actuallly reflect how non judgmental the Duggars are towards him. Especially, if you consider some of the comments made by others on this website regarding his age and job status.
    I can see why the Duggars have not opened this area of their lives before. Jessa and Bens relationship probably needed a little bit more time to marinate, but Ben seems up to the task.

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  30. @Anonymous

    Hi Anonymous 24,

    You can purchase the shows on iTunes or Amazon, and there is a reader who uploads most of them to YouTube.

    ~Lily and Ellie

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  31. Thanks, Lily and Ellis, for the recap. Eagerly awaiting the day when these episodes are on YouTube. Will John-David fly Mr. Duggar and Jill to Nepal, too? :-)
    --C.H. Duggar fan from Oklahoma

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  32. When will the last episode be available to watch online? We have also given up TV, much like the Duggars, but I am going through withdrawl of 19 Kids & Counting! We need an alternate way to watch these episodes, I can't get it on Comcast Online, Huluplus or Amazon Prime.

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  33. Why dosent one of the older dugger girls just say no to there parents???!! Why?? Dugger girls demand your parents do not go on dates with you. Michelle and jim bob look stupid for the things they do!!!

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  34. @Anonymous

    Hi Anonymous 32,

    Have you tried iTunes? The episodes are available for purchase on iTunes, as well as Amazon. There is also a reader who uploads them to YouTube, but this week's episodes aren't up yet.

    Hope you are able to find a way to watch! :)
    ~Lily and Ellie

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  35. Re Jessa's "we've been trained since birth" statement regarding physical boundaries with the opposite sex: Since they HAVE been indoctrinated with this lifestyle, JB and Michelle should have no problem allowing their adult children to spend one on one time with their beaus alone, yet in public view. Also, the duty of chaperones is nothing of what the Duggars are displaying. They are "in your face" calling attention to themselves, as if THEY are they ones dating the couple. The objective of chaperones are to remain close by, yet non intrusive to the couple. they should be sitting at another table, in the restaurant, maybe "around" the house when the couple are speaking on the phone, or in person, as to give the couple some privacy to speak freely with each other to get to know one another privately. This family leaves no room to breathe, and that's not being a chaperone. They do their children no favors by this.

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  36. @Vikki

    Thanks, Vikki. Glad it worked for you. We just want to encourage our other readers to be careful because sites like that are not always safe.

    ~Lily and Ellie

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  37. I hope you post the video like the last time. I can't watch it on TV where I live.

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  38. Hi will/ could someone upload this episode- Can't get it in Australia.

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  39. Jim Bob went over the line in his behavior on the double date. Period. There is far more to discuss about marriage and the world than the limits of physical contact during courtship, which is understood from the get go and needn't be discussed again. the purpose of courtship is to get to know one another very well without physical contact, so why does Jim Bob keep needling and teasing about it, and showing off in front of his daughter and Ben, how was that supposed to make them feel comfortable and closer to each other? Ben is exactly in the same position Jim Bob was when he dated Michelle, I am sure JimBob would not have appreciated this treatment from his father in law.

    Courtship is a wonderful experience, and is not supposed to be a harsh experience. JimBob and Michelle have not understood that chaperones are not supposed to be intrusive. Sometimes the chaperones can be at a distance so that the couple can communicate and interact and get to know one another for the purpose of evaluating if this is a match for marriage to each other for life. They cannot do this with constant interruption and intrusion and mockery and teasing- when they are married they will alone with each other so they need to see how they get along with each other without little kids jumping on each other and parents teasing them constantly. And double dates is not supposed to be about "testing" the guy constantly. It is supposed to enjoyable for everyone.

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  40. What does the heart shaped black sign say in picture 19?

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  41. @Anonymous
    Reply to 35- I completely agree- They're giving the public a distorted idea of courting and chaperoning. As you said, the chaperones are not supposed to be dating the couple! The couple are getting to know each other for purpose of marriage, it is not for the amusement of chaperones, and the chaperones are not supposed to be intrusive. I hope people realize that courtship is actually really nice, not a negative experience of being on display and being tested and teased.

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  42. @Anonymous
    I finally realized why things with Duggar courtship rituals have gone so strangely. Any Orthodox Jew who watches this show can tell you that they are shaking their heads. When you grow up as these Duggar girls did, and Orthodox Jewish girls do, they KNOW from a young age there is NO TOUCHING while courting, so they just won't. When an Orthodox Jewish guy in a yarmulka comes to court a girl- the parents have to say absolutely nothing about not touching- it is understood, and if the rule is broken, it is over. But Jim Bob was not raised this way! Neither was Michelle, and so their guilt at whatever they did is clouding their understanding of what courtship and chaperoning means. Of course, the ultimate in not being alone wi each other is phone calls and messaging- no chaperones needed there, no eavesdroppers needed! Of course the couple can go on double dates sometimes, but as this is a courtship for purpose of MARRIAGE FOR LIFETIME, the couple needs to create a relationship based on mutual respect and heartfelt feelings with no touching, so many times they go to public places such as the zoo, the park, museums, the public is their chaperone, or chaperones can be at a distance- it is just so they have an understanding they are not completely alone yet they have some privacy to talk and interact in a chaste manner. Jim Bob and Michlle are way too intrusive, his comments and needling are really inappropriate, and I vary much doubt the relationship with Jessa and Ben can ever get to marriage this way, with all the intrusiveness, teasing and interruptions. I think that JB and Michelle are coming from a good hearted place, but have got this wrong- this couple was not brought up like them.

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  43. It really does bother me that they can't get to know someone of the opposite gender just as a friend instead of HAVING to have the intent of marriage all the time. It gets annoying. They have chaperones for EVERY SINGLE THING and have to be monitored on texting and skype. So then you get married and "Alright! NO CHAPERONES! You can actually kiss each other and touch their hand and even MORE. And there's no one there to watch you! That would be overwhelming if you ask me, having to be watched like little children for their every move and then your married and it's like, "leave and cleave! You're on your own! Bu-Bye!" I get annoyed by Jim Bob a lot. I love the show but he is so over the top at times. Poor Ben, if I were him I would be so annoyed by Jim Bob! He is teasing Ben a little too much. He's just her boyfriend. So having the stress of "a possible marriage here!" on you when you are early in a relationship I think would be hard. I just wish Jim Bob and Michelle would let up just a bit on their "chaperoning"

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  44. I really did not like that comment that Michelle made about "This is what you have to look forward to! But you can't do this yet!!!" I thought that was rude and if that were towards me I would have been upset. Him "helping" her [Michelle] putt was inappropriate and he knows it made Ben uncomfortable. If he could just lay off of "Michelle and I love to kiss" and "We like our children to know it" so good for you, but it gets annoying when you purposely tease the ones that aren't ALLOWED to do it yet.

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  45. It seems that Jessa is always kind of making fun of Ben a lot regarding emotions or romance. She doesnt seem mature enough or ready for marriage. Eventuslly those little jabs at him will cause issues. Jill and Derrick seem in love and edifying of one anothet. I know it only shows me to see little bits here and there so I hope Jessa does a little better with communication and relationships.

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