Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Jana's Favorite Place

This weekend, Jana visited one of her favorite places with younger brother Jeremiah Duggar. Can you guess where they went? The hardware store, otherwise known as Lowe's Home Improvement! With the supplies that she bought, Jana built shelves and did some painting.

Millennials--otherwise know as Generation Y--are often referred to as Generation DIY. Jana and the other Duggar siblings have embraced the DIY culture in a big way. Are you a do-it-yourself person?

Jana Duggar
Jana Duggar

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and BatesFamilyBlog.com).

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

131 comments:

  1. I like a good trip to the hardware store or lumber yard. There is nothing like building something yourself, just can't buy that kind of satisfaction. One of the many reasons why I chose the woodworking trade.

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  2. I've never heard of Millennials referred to as a do-it-yourself generation! This is the generation that has food and groceries and anything else Amazon has to offer delivered directly to their doors - by drone, if they could. My millennial neighbors hire people to clean their houses and cut their grass and take care of their pools. They don't seem interested in anything but having parties and jogging with the dog and taking vacations! I think Baby Boomers are the do-it-yourself'ers, after being raised by the Depression Era kids who HAD to do things themselves. Many of those kids went into the military and learned even more DIY skills there. Their children, Baby Boomers, had Wood Shop and Home Ec in school and learned DIY skills around the house by watching their parents. All Millennials seem to know how to do is pick up the cell phone and text someone to come help. Jana and the Duggars might be an exception, but take a look around at the other 99% of their generation. Where technology can be used to make things easier and you can pay someone to do the work, they use it!

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    1. I agree wholeheartedly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    2. But who are they texting to come help them? Probably not Baby Boomers, probably it's more of those same lazy millennials! And also, Baby Boomers aren't the ones making up the military nowadays. They served their terms, now it's the younger generation, and they are doing a pretty fine job serving, if I do say so.
      Gee, I know some millennials are helpless and tech-addicted and even lazy, but some older people like to pretend ALL millennials are that way. Like every generation before them, there are some bad apples, but there are also many holding paying jobs, learning new skills, serving in the military, and volunteering for good causes.

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    3. 9:11, I couldn’t agree more! My husband and I are ashamed to be in the same category as our millennial peers. We never want to claim the classification because of how LAZY and how far to the left they all seem to be! They seem to think they are “owed” something just for being alive. It’s terrible! I would NEVER have guessed that we are the DIY generation. I live in South Florida so perhaps the middle states did a better job at raising their millennial children to be more interested in DIY projects because I can tell you the people around here hire people to do EVERYTHING!

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    4. @ 4:19 Everyone they text to come do the work is older and established in a service career. Baby boomers are still working, too.

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    5. What's so bad about hiring people? We can afford it and the professionals get certain jobs done much more efficiently (and better) than we can. My husband works long hours and it's nice not to be overwhelmed by the to do list. We also value our neighborhood businesses and are happy to help keep them running. I use a grocery pick up service, and I used that extra hour on other things. All these negative generalizations are too bad.

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    6. I have also not heard of this (sadly my) generation called anything but lazy good for nothing entitled brats and with good reason. I know the millennial generation loves to watch DIY shows, but I can count the number of my college graduate friends who can change a tire on one hand, let alone build anything that would last longer than Ikea furniture. I know I'm not alone as a millennial working a trade or doing things themselves / "DIY", but its rare to run into someone at my local lumber yard any younger than 55-60.

      On another note, I was talking to a fellow woodworker at the lumber yard yesterday afternoon, a very nice man about 65, he asked me about how my generation is going to be perceived in the future by what we leave behind. His grand daddy's work is in antique shops and homes standing as strong as it did when it was new. My honest response was hopefully very little is left, but I'll do my part to show that at least a few of us did things the right way.

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    7. @9:11, A very ill-informed post! In every generation, there are those who are slackers and those you work hard. In every generation, there are those that are into DIY and those who are not. And, in every generation, there are those in the older one that forget that their generation was not perfect. I REMEMBER!!

      I am in my late 60s and I DO NOT sing the praises of my fellow boomers. We are responsible for the mess the world finds itself today, with global climate change. I know many boomers who whine and complain. They think they are hard down. We should hang our heads in shame.

      The young people I know are hard working as well as political and environmentally sensitive. Many are struggling to make a living, a struggle that my generation (the spoiled boomers) did not have to go through. (I never had to look for a job; it just fell into my lap but the young people I know had to go through hoops to just get their foot in the door.) Many hold down multiple jobs so OF COURSE they use Amazon to buy what they need. So many of them can only dream of owning their own homes now; house prices are beyond their reach. They are using public transit more and are forgoing the luxury of car ownership. None of this two cars per family.

      Oh and yes, many are in DIY. It is actually skipping the generation; going back to the war generation. The young women have re-discovered knitting, sewing.. They are cooking, from scratch, not using those 'time saving' over-processed foods the boomers are so fond of. Those who are fortunate enough to buy a home (usually much smaller than their parents' first home) are buying 'fix-it-uppers' in urban neighborhoods, close to their jobs. So yes, they are into DIY. Others have to live in postage-sized apartments where there is not enough room to do any DIY projects.

      And, on top of all that, there are millennials are holding down VERY RESPONSIBLE positions. They are doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, engineers, accountants.. Their jobs are not 9 to 5, come home and forget it. They are reachable 24/7 by their bosses.

      So please, enough of this "trashing" of the younger generation. If it is ANYTHING wrong with them, it is OUR fault. We raised them. And before you knock young people, trying walking in their shoes first.

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    8. Yeah, isn't it so terrible that millenials value efficiency, and choose to hire people to tackle tasks that would take much longer to accomplish on their own, and in doing so support their local businesses? *eyeroll*

      I am an older millennial who hires someone to deep clean my house every two weeks. It gives me time to focus on taking care of my baby, handling my household finances and logistics, keeping up with laundry and dishes, as well as too-often-overlooked self care. I still am constantly working (aside from exercise, showers, and typing this on the toilet...) And the person I hire is happy to have the business! Don't call me lazy!

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    9. Are you joking? I have never known a single millenial to have cleaning services and the stuff you're saying, and I'm a CRNA with affluent friends. Maybe you are thinking of 35-50 year olds? The ones to buy homes larger than their bank accounts allow, spend more then their means, and play golf all day???

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    10. I don't think it's fair to use such a broad brush when describing an entire generation. I'm a boomer but I know some wonderfully ambitious, hard working millenials. Yes, they may have a different outlook on life but I appreciate the fact that many aren't so focused on material possessions. It's refreshing to me. All you millenials on this blog, just ignore all the hateful comments!

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    11. @10:22 My mother did all that AND took care of the kids, without paying anyone to do it. "Efficiency" for a lot of Millennials comes across as "needing more time to have coffee, take a yoga class, watch Netflix, play video games, and post selfies."

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    12. 10:01, you own the internet! I’m also a Boomer and I’m sick of the trashing and bad mouthing of an entire generation. What I see from many millennials is they aren’t as materialistic as generations before them and, more importantly, they care deeply about our planet and social justice. I guess this is what someone meant by saying they are moving further to the left. Praise God they are trying to fix the mess we’ve left them! We should stop putting down an entire group of people while extolling our own “virtues”.

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    13. @3:02 Huh? And did you ever ask how exhausted your mother was? She did not have any time to get exercise or have some "alone time" which is so important for mental and just general health. Many women of my generation(boomers)are extremely overweight; they are not use to exercise and just taking some time to de-stress. A stressed mother is NOT a good mother.

      Getting some help to clean the house is NOT being lazy. It does not mean that the woman is spending her time watching Netflix (a boomer thing, actually) or playing video games (that is not a big deal anymore). It gives the parents more time to ACTUALLY spend with their child, to interact with the child. Being a slave is not something to be proud of. But making sure you have quality time with your child is the right thing to do.

      Your comment about video games dates you. Video games are no longer popular. It is now board games which help keep cognitive abilities sharp, something boomers should adopted to keep our aging brains sharp.

      And guess who designed/created the first video games? So, enough of this generation bashing.

      The Millennials I know are hard working, multi-talented young people. They take their responsibilities seriously and that includes limiting the number of children they have based on their fiscal resources and time constraints.

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    14. @Texas.. Change a tire? Why know that if you do not have a car. I am a boomer and I have never had to do that.

      And are you able to do the work your college educated friends can do?

      I am glad that you are in a trade you enjoy but that does not mean that you are better than or more accomplished then your age peers who are not into DIY, at this time in their lives. If you asked that 65 year old man, what he was doing when he was 20 or 30, that would be an eye opener. We were NOT into DIY when we were young.

      You should have asked that 65 year old man about the mess us boomers have left the world in. Young people may not be into "fancy possessions" as much as the previous generations and honestly that is a good thing.

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    15. @ April 5, 9:47 AM:
      The knowledge of changing a tire is considered rudimentary, it is simply an example of the larger issue at hand which is that my generation has hardly any life skills if any at all.

      I hardly think I'm better than anyone, my post had nothing to do with grandstanding in any capacity. On your questions on whether or not I can do the work my college educated buddies can, some of it yes, others of course not. However, around a two thirds of my college educated friends are unemployed for one of two reasons. One their field is over saturated with others that have the same degree that they can't find work within their specialty. Two they have degrees which are not useful to anyone anywhere, such as gender studies.

      Every generation makes a mess and screws quite a lot up for the next generation. And I absolutely blame the parents to a certain extent here. Though at 30 I can't blame anyone but the individual, they are grown people who have nearly unlimited access to information, a whole lot of them just choose to stay in their little Marxist bubbles and ignore it.

      As far as being into "Fancy Possessions" lets be real here, its my generation who is head over heels in love with socialism and raising wages so they can get more stuff. They want fancy things, look at the phones they buy, the $15 alvacado toast they eat for breakfast and the $8 cups of coffee. Trust me, they want good quality things, they are just too broke from bad choices and covered in unnecessary college dept to buy any of it.

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    16. Dear older people who keep complaining about millennials, your generation raised us. You gave us the participation trophies (which, by the way, we totally make fun of). Try being a millennial teacher telling a gen x parent that their kid is underperforming or disrespectful...

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    17. Uhm, I know people (and families) who play both video games and board games pretty avidly. They like to read and enjoy music as well. Not sure what that has to do with being a millennial or a boomer, though.

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    18. In hiring people, yes, you sometimes need to hired certified people to do things like an electrician for example for safety and making sure the project is done right with codes and such. But to hire people simply because you are too lazy to do it yourself or you think it's beneath you to do the work is a whole nother thing and many millinials act entitled like that. Hiring lawn service because they are too lazy to push a mower or think it's hired hand work or calling ride service because they are too lazy to drive or work to buy their own car or hire cleaning help because they are lazy or think cleaning a toilet is beneath them for examples.

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    19. 9:47 The mess the Boomers have left the world in? That's the generation who marched against war, marched for civil rights, marched for women's rights, and celebrated the first Earth Day. I'd say Boomers fixed more than Millennials have or ever will.

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    20. @4:19 Your "fixes" didn't last long.

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    21. Let's just all admit that one generation isn't better or worse than the next. People have had the same issues since God created us, and it's silly to say that Boomers wrecked the world, or that everything was great until millenials came along. There have ALWAYS been lazy people, deceitful people, those who take advantage of others, those who murder others. . .the list goes on. And there always WILL be those people, until Jesus comes again. It has little to do with what year everyone was born.

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    22. @9:11 and all of that mind-set: We are to train up our children in the way they should go. The millennials are the newly trained up ones. Who's at fault? Who pampered them? I'm proud of my millennials. Hard working young people, starting their families. Oldest son helped build his own house and his wife teaches the next generation. All my kids are creative and are ready to lend a hand. My elderly father is getting ready to move close and we will ALL be helping him. They helped with my mother when she was on hospice at her home.

      And it's not just my children. I an an RN working midnights at a local hospital. I work with several millennials who are either techs or new RNs. They not only work their tails off but several have side jobs.

      So if you know lazy ones please look to their upbringing .

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    23. @7:07 And who undid them??

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    24. 7:07 you can't blame boomers if those after them are trying to turn all those gains around.

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    25. Where I live, you really don't have to learn to change a tire. You have the Auto Club for that.

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  3. I don’t have time to do DIY projects. I work full time and study at night

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  4. I do wish that I would have been taught skills like this when I was younger, but I would be afraid to use skill saws now since I am older.

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    1. Nothing is stopping you from learning now. You can take adult education classes and they will teach you to use a skill saw and other power tools properly.

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    2. It is never to late to learn! Don't let fear hold you back. Just learn proper usage and safety before using them yourself.

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    3. There comes an age where you no longer trust your eyesight and your hands around sharp things. Where your body says it doesn't want to carry lumber. Where you can't lift or bend over tools to use them. Where all this is better left to the younger ones. Everyone will get to that age if they're lucky, even Jana.

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    4. I'm 51 and although my mom & dad taught us many life skills growing up, I've enjoyed polishing and learning new ones over the last 34 years. A seriously gifted sewing friend was happy to pass on her knowledge and experience (and I discovered I enjoy machine sewing). I've learned to weave baskets, clean out stove pipes, drive a tractor, stack wood, run a wood splitter, teach, and draw (a new hobby I enjoy). In a few weeks, I'll be learning to paint outdoor buildings. When we retire, my husband and I are looking forward to taking some cooking classes together. We figure the more skills we can add to our tool chest, the more we can help someone else. Even if you think you may be unable to run power tools/ use manual tools or carry lumber, you can read to children during Library Storytime, volunteer as a greeter at your local hospital, you can visit nursing home patients and listen tot heir stories, or share your talents and skills with the next generation one on one or by teaching a class through your local Parks & Recreation or 4-H Club. Everyone has something to offer and learning new things keeps us all all young.

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  5. I think it’s great that Jana participates in DIY projects. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty and I’m surprised that despite the gender norms she was raised on, she likes to be the one mainly in charge on her projects. Way to go Jana!

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    1. From what I have seen Jana is the ideads woman and the project manager but she doesn't get her hands very dirty, she gets her brothers in for the real heavy dirty work, things might not be that easy if she didn't have them!

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  6. Jana puts her hair up to go to Lowe's but leaves it down when working on a project or cooking. I'd do it the other way around.

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    1. And? Sometimes I wear my hair up, sometimes it's down. It's something called personal preference.

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    2. I think their point is that cooking with your hair down can be unsanitary, and handling power tools like saws or drills with your hair down can be dangerous, so it would make more sense for her to wear her hair up during those activities than walking the aisle of a store.

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  7. Jana should get a paying job and a place of her own. She’s been an adult for many years now.

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    1. Jana is a tv star. That is her paying job.

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    2. Anon 8:35 Stop already LOL, you can't live on a reality show, sooner or later you have to move on and live a real life. Reality shows aren't meant to be a generational thing, it's only meant to be temporary. Actors in Hollywood make movies then have a real life, separate from the public. Reality shows if people stay too long never ends well.

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  8. I'm really impressed with all that Jana does, and I'm happy she has the freedom to do all of these projects, given that she could be tied down with less enjoyable household tasks, childcare, or homeschooling duties now that the rest of the older girls are gone. (Side note: I wonder how much the older boys chip in around the house these days?) I like that she's been able to join social media on her own, too. I do hope someday she finds the right guy, but he will definitely need to be the "right" one since I think she has acquired quite the independent streak (at least compared to her sisters) in this extra time she's had at home. Many men would be intimidated by a woman who can build things and execute projects like she can! It would be really interesting if she ever stepped out on her own, but I assume she's just saving money by living at home so she can do great things with it later. So much respect for how she's handled herself as the rest of her siblings have all left ahead of her. It can't be easy.

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    1. Later means when? At 85?

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    2. if she wants kids, she better get crackin!

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    3. And just maybe she doesn't want children of her own. She raised her siblings.

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    4. 11:09, she has said before that she does want kids, she just hasn’t met the right man.

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    5. Jana has plenty time for kids. She ain't even close to old! Age nuthin but a number anyhow. She could even adopt. Age don't matter older people can raise kids too. Lots end up raising their own granbabies because kids are too lazy to do it right. It's never too late to love.

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  9. I often feel there is absolutely nothing that this woman could not do when she puts her mind to things. She is articulate, creative, hard working & has great vision & planning skills, excellent organisational skills, & great at communicating ideas. Attributes that most top companies require in their executives. I also wonder if Michelle & Jim Bob are fully aware of how incredibly lucky they are to still have this impressive woman living at home. I watched John & Abbie’s wedding episode last night, & omg Jana impressed me so much with her skill at putting that wedding together. Her brothers all hold her in such high esteem too which is so nice to see. She looked stunning as a bridesmaid & glowed in her dress. I was also very touched with the little interview Josiah & Lauren gave about how they are coping after the loss of their baby. Lauren is another impressive young woman & her & Josiah are a lovely couple. Lauren actually brought a tear to my eye when she sang at the wedding, I had no idea she had such a lovely voice, & when Josiah looked a little nervous she looked at him with such love & encouragement it was heartening to see.

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    1. This is the point other readers are trying to make--that Jana is a woman, not a child and as such should have the freedom to come and go from the house as she wishes. It doesn't appear that she has this freedom. Either that, or she has been told that it is not safe out in the world by herself, which is untrue. Running to the store for coffee or for a tube of toothpaste is perfectly safe and should not cause so much anxiety that she is unwilling or unable to do this simple task on her own.

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  10. Can she come to my house?☺
    Actually I'm more of a DIY type myself. I've done a few projects using Dollar Tree products and some supplies from Lowes.

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    1. I love my Lowes! Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved the smell of lumber. Guess I'm a little weird, but Lowe's is one of my happy places! I love to wander the aisles-so many possibilities, not enough budget money! ;)

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  11. While we're on the subject of Jana, she just said that she has "courted or dated a few guys, but so far nothing has gone into a serious relationship."

    I thought that for the Duggars, dating was a no-no and that you give away those precious pieces of your heart if you do anything but court (date with a purpose) the man you ended up marrying. So here's another thing that needs to be explained - how it can be OK that Jana has "a few guys" in her past.

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    1. I'm not sure that she actually said she was in a "courtship" with anyone. I got the impression that she meant a few guys had showed some interest in her and she didn't want to become involved with them.

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    2. She might be referring to either relationships on more of a friendship level or she has officially courted but has not made the information public.

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    3. They actually don’t need to explain anything they don’t want to. They also refer to courtship as “dating with a purpose” so maybe that’s where the dates have come from. Josiah was in a courtship that didn’t end in marriage. Michelle has acknowledged this doesn’t always happen she said that with Jill before she met Derrick. Jana also might not want to make every detail of her life public, she what almost 30 now? She can do whatever she wants in regards to her love life.

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    4. You misunderstood,they sayd that although Jana has been approached by quite a few men none of them were the right one,which is understandable,he needs to be compatible in many ways,same religion similar personality and ofthe course she needs to be attracted to him back,it works both ways,she needs to be patient and keep herself busy,she will meet the right one eventually,here's hoping it won't be too long,she deserves a man who will make her feel a million dollars,because she's a special lady.

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    5. I read the same post 2:35PM, I think she said "Courted or Dated" to clarify for those who do not know what courting is. Not that she had both courted and dated. I could however be wrong, but that is how I interpreted Miss Jana's post.

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    6. I think by her saying “dated” she was just further explaining the idea of courtship for those who may not be familiar with the term. And I think none of those jnteravrions were official courtships but rather the “talking and getting to know you period” to decide if you want to be in a courtship or not. I am sure any communication was chaperoned.

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    7. No, Jana said she courted and dated several guys. She didn’t say she was approached by several guys.

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    8. Jana has said some men were interested in her but she didn't return their interest so she didn't date them. I don't see how going out on a date with someone means you "give away a piece of your heart". This "dating with a purpose" is a strange concept that I don't understand. IMO dating is a way to get to know someone better and that's all that is involved. It might lead to a relationship, it might not.

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    9. She said exactly what was stated above - "courted or dated." And the number was "a few," not one.

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    10. Why do so many talk as if she's a old maid? She is still young!!!!!!! I know women and men much older than she is who still have not found their partners in life. It is God's will whether to bring her a partner or not and when. Can't we just pray for her happiness and well being either way people?

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    11. I don't understand how so many here are quick to support the teenage Duggar marriages but then turn around and say that it's OK to be almost 30 and not married. Which is it?

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    12. I agree anon 8.38am. I know it’s their beliefs for women to get married as soon as they are old enough & ultimately their main aim in life is procreation. However not every woman is defined by a man, & just because jana has been born into this belief system does not mean that she adheres to it strictly. Maybe she actually likes being a single woman. She is very independent & it would take a very special guy to be of interest to jana. I was not married till I was 28 myself as I put career ahead of finding a partner. Jana is still a young vibrant woman & many women now do not marry until they are in their mid 30s, the Duggar girls are the exception to the average young woman in that they marry so young. Let’s all just be happy for this amazing young woman, whatever way her path in life is taking her.

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    13. Yes. I don't think that she ever got past what my daughter and her friends call "talking" (exploring whether you want to get into a serious dating relationship). IMO she seems a bit defensive about it, but that may be due to all the pressure to be "normal" and get married.

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    14. 7:27 -- Maybe some of us are in favor of a person deciding his/her own path, whether that means marrying earlier or later?

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    15. @8:37 If Jana had gotten married at 18 and Joy waited til 28, everyone still would have applauded it.

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  12. I’ve not heard that millennials are considered the DIY generation. I wonder who decides these labels. There are fixer-uppers in every age group. My own parents were products of the Depression. Their generation had to make do by recycling what they had, which wasn’t much, and had to learn how to be their own handy- person. Those habits stayed with them their entire lives.

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    1. my mother is a boomer and still does DIYprojects

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  13. My husband and I, along with many of our friends and others in our extended family, are do-it-yourselfers in some capacity. Most of us are Baby Boomers who came by the DIY bug naturally from our parents. I know some millenials who'd have a hard time screwing in a light bulb. I have to chuckle over the stereotyping of different generations.

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    1. Funny, I think the most stereotyped generation is millenials!

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    2. 4:14, agreed, I also find it funny that the generation who raised the millennials are the ones complaining about them. Evidently they were terrible parents, let’s hope the millennials do a better job then them.

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    3. And I know baby boomers who also are clueless.

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    4. Here! Here! Good and not do good in every generation. Also, as people age and can afford it, I think it’s great to hire help. My husband is someone who can do anything, usually better than the pros, but as we have gotten older he hires people to paint or other projects. He is glad we can afford to keep the economy going. I still cook and do the house cleaning- just not as often😆

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    5. @ 9:38AM -

      What I find funny is that people here are always defending what the adult Duggar kids do by saying "they're married and out of the house so they can do what they want to do" when it comes to breaking the old Duggar "rules."

      The same thing is happening with millennials. Once they're out of the house, they don't do what their parents did or what their parents told them to do.

      You raise them the best you can but once they leave, you have little say over their behavior and habits. Just like what is said about Duggar kids and things like nose piercings or pants or shorts...

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    6. I think many of the commenters are missing the point that some were making: There's simply too much sterotyping of each generation, whether they're millenials, baby-boomers, Gen X or XYZ! You will find postive examples and not-so-great ones in every age group! Each generation carries with it perspectives gained from experience or from the previous generation that may, or may not, influence their decision-making and choices.

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  14. Jana is amazing!

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  15. Most people I know, irregardless of age, are into DIY. My Millennial children not only into DIY but they also have graduate degrees.

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  16. I really admire Jana! She's my fave of the Duggar girls. She's so multi-talented! She's a real inspiration to me!☺

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    1. I am not a Christian, but she is inspirational to me as well. Developing different talents, helping the people around you, keeping a positive attitude. I like it! S. from Holland.

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  17. I'm a DYI depending on what it is... and if itll be cheaper

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  18. This is an honest question: do the Duggar grown adults ever leave the house alone? If not, why not?

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    1. If they don't, it's a shame because they're supposed to be so mature and trustworthy. All that talk goes right out the window if the older kids always have to take a chaperone along in public.

      Is their area of Arkansas so scary that they need a security chaperone? If so, then I wonder who's got concealed carry permits. What's in Jana's bag there?

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    2. Well,think about it,if the are not allowed to court without shaperones how can they trust them to live on their own,they might decide to live a regular life like most people and mum and dad will never know,so no I don't think so.

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    3. From what I see it seems like they have to have an accountability partner with them at all times when outside of the house.

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    4. I'm talking about leaving the house to do an errand, get a cup of coffee, or just step away for a little while to enjoy some personal time. Even in this post, Jana is at the store with one of her brothers. What exactly do the Duggars think will happen if Jana goes to Lowe's by herself to buy a package of nails?

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    5. Perhaps it has to do with the conservative christian culture, in which I guess it is very normal to keep living at home. Although Jana's friend Laura did leave her parents home. So I guess it's just very normal for them to keep living at home if they want to and if that makes them happy. It might differ per family how much pressure the parents put on their children to keep living at home. S. from Holland.

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    6. 6:08, I don’t believe it’s a matter of “not being allowed”, they are adults. I think instead they are all aware that they are naturally tempted to go a little further when alone with a future spouse then if they have another set of eyes and a distraction with them. It’s more of a personal choice then a rule. I’ve been watching the Duggar’s since they first started their show and I never really got the feel that Jim Bob and Michelle “force” anything on the children,, they are just good parents that “guide” them very well.

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    7. Ok, I can sort of see why they have others with them while they're courting, but why can't they even take a walk alone at the age of 29? What do their parents think is going to happen while running errands? Everyone needs time to be alone once in a while.

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    8. I would not want to go out by myself if I was Jana
      She’s famous and there’s a lot of crazy people out there.

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    9. 7:12 NW Arkansas is not populated by a lot of crazy people.

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    10. Anon 7:12. Why should Jana be afraid to go out alone in the small community where she's lived all her life? I can't imagine why anyone there would want to attack her.

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    11. 10:02, it only takes one person, and I would not be at all shocked to learn that Jana has had stalkers.

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    12. Would you mess with any girl who has so many brothers, including one who was the local constable, and whose father is known by everyone in town, including all the local police officers? Noooo. She should be OK to shop by herself.

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    13. 7:02- The Duggars have said that they identify as independent Baptist. Within this affiliation are differing fundamentalist beliefs, one of them being that single adult daughters should remain at home under the "protection" of their fathers until they get married. Along with that, privacy is not considered to be a good thing as it can potentially lead to questionable or tempting activity. This could be why it appears that Jana is never alone, even when running errands, taking a walk, or why she still shares a bedroom with her younger sisters. It's a little more fuzzy when it comes to the the adult sons and how much freedom they have outside the house, although they, too, live at home until they get married and share common quarters. The Duggars have never openly addressed any of this, so it naturally leads to curiousity and questions. IMO, I don't think a person can grow emotionally and mature properly while remaining so dependent on others and never having experienced learning how to take care of yourself in your own space. I think it important for young women to take time to do this before they ever consider getting married. I applaud Jana for not being in a rush to settle down with a husband, but I think she should take the logical next step and move out on her own.

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    14. Anon 7.12. I would be seriously Worried to think jana could not go out to a diy store in broad daylight without the concern of being attacked. You say she is famous (she is a reality tv star not a Hollywood leading lady). Surely in a small Arkansas community where this woman has lived her whole life, no one is going to be bothered by her “fame”. You usually find even with very famous tv & movie stars, when they go back to where they grew up people don’t treat them as any different, it’s often the main reason they like going back to their home town. Jana has never left home she has always lived there so it’s even more likely no one would bat an eyelid at her shopping (if indeed anyone even recognised her). I don’t think at 29 jana needs her parents guiding her either, she is quite able in the middle of the day to go shopping to a diy store or go for coffee. As another poster said, everyone needs time to be alone, especially someone of jana’s age. There is being protective of your children & guiding them on the right path of life & then there is not allowing them to have an independent life at all. Jana is never alone to do anything. I loved living at home with my dad till he sadly passed away when I was 24, & I, like jana would probably have stayed living at home with him for much longer if I had been given the chance. However I think I may have felt somewhat restricted if I couldn’t even go to a shop in the middle of the day without a chaperone. We all love our children & want no harm to come to them, but restricting a woman of jana’s age to this degree is not healthy.

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    15. Fuzzy feret, I agree with you 100 percent and I am certain that 99 percent of the people that come to this blog agree with you. I would like to also add, that if parents put so much fear in their children about the world being this scary place and they should never go anywhere without someone with them, then they are setting their future adult child to live a life of restrictions and bondage and one where they will never take risks not even for personal success. This is why not one of the Duggar s left home without being on the arm of a spouse. Fear is a horrible crippling thing!!

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    16. I think Jim Bob trusts few people outside of his group of friends. If you're not part of that, he keeps his kids away. It's a shame to have to live like that, but that's this family's style.

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  19. I'd love to see her open some sort of business using her talents. She would do such a great job!

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  20. Jana is such an amazing woman, so many talents. She needs to get her own show, where she can do so many projects, to show her creativity and passion and to inspire others. It would be great for her to go out on her own at some point, she is an adult, marriage is not for everyone. Rock on Jana.

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    1. I would love for TLC or another network to have a show featuring the skills of Jana or perhaps Jana and her siblings. Perhaps when Joanna and Chip Gaines start their network, they could entertain this idea!

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    2. There's an awful lot of stiff competition for DIY shows. Jana may be ambitious and have a knack for decorating projects, but so do a gazillion other people, especially with the help of Pinterest. I think you're being unrealistic and overstating her talents just a wee bit.

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    3. It seems to me like everyone who watches a how to video online suddenly thinks they are a professional and can do their own show LOL Jana seems to have a knack for some things but that is far from being an educated professional or certified.

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  21. I am a one of those millennials lol. But am married, own my own house and have career. I enjoy diy if something is cheaper to make or I need something custom that I cannot otherwise find. I don't think millennials are lazy and the most important thing for us is to be practical with our time. Time is the most limited resource.

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  22. Jana is so handy. She is special and so beautiful, too.
    Joan,Marion and Marilyn

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  23. Jana you are amazing, and so talented! I bet you have the skills to build your own house by now. :-)

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  24. She looks cute with her hair up. She rarely wears it up, from what I see. Home improvement store could be a good place for her to meet a guy into same thing she is.

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  25. I like to paint around the house, so I like to go to Lowe's and pick out the paint...Jane

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    1. I like their Valspar paint. I've gone to Lowe's all by myself many times and never had any issues with it. I can't imagine why Jana needs an escort to go there.

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    2. 8:48 ------- it is possible she just wanted company or needed help carrying or loading what was purchased

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    3. I don't think unmarried women in their family go anywhere alone. Does anyone know if the married women go places alone?

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    4. Anon 12:13 I don't think ANY of them go anywhere "all by themselves". The married ones seem joined at the hip or something.

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    5. 12:13, I know Jinger does sometimes and I would assume Jessa does if she has a babysitter.

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    6. Anon 12:13. Jinger is allowed to run errands on her own. But she's married to Jeremy and gets to wear jeans too. I don't think the others have that much freedom.

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    7. Jill gets to go places on her own, like law school.

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    8. Jinger is married and therefore no longer needs to be able to validate her purity to a potential suitor. This is why married women can run errands unchaperoned.

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  26. I must be missing something here. I've shopped at Lowe's for many years and it never occurred to me to have someone take pictures of me buying supplies for my projects or plants for my yard.

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    1. LOL! I thought the exact same thing!

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  27. She is a woman of many talents. I think its wonderful that she is so involved with her siblings and in the planning of projects. It seems being close to family is her greatest joy. That being said, I am disappointed to learn that she still sleeps in a room with her younger sisters. She is a 29 year old woman and should be treated as such.

    I know in the past she has stated that she "enjoys it." But there comes a time when you need to accept the fact that you are an adult - almost 30.

    Since Kendra and Joe are moving, I think Jana should fix up the guest house to be her own. And I truly believe Jim Bob and Michelle should persuade her to do so.

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    1. Why is it any of your business where JANA CHOOSES to sleep? Wow...

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    2. Even if Jana would long for some space of her own and some privacy, I think part of her would be lonely in that space. She's always been around tons of people, activity, and noise-I think she'd likely miss it.

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  28. I think something big is going on with the family because we have not heard any new news for awhile.

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    1. Something big? They seem busy going places, having birthdays, working on projects. I'm not sure what you want from them.

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  29. I understand dating with a purpose but I wonder if that
    Could be a detriment for lack of a better word.
    A guy might not want to date someone who is immediately thinking marriage and children, especially someone her age and knowing about her family.He could just want to take a nice young lady to dinner and enjoy her company.

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    1. Yes. The trouble with dating Jana is that you have to date some of her relatives too. Most men her age aren't into that sort of group date.

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    2. I think Jana is in an awkward situation. The combination of her family's "dating rules" along with her fans' desire for her to marry tends to drive men away. At least three men (including Tim Tebow) have felt the need to announce on social media they were NOT dating Jana. I wish her well but I'm not sure if any man wants do deal with both JB and the rumor mill.

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    3. Their system has worked several times already. It provides a clear distinction between single or in a headed for marriage situation. If a man can't search his heart and face up to people respectfully then that is better for Jana. She does not get led down the garden path to a Luke warm mess of no real intentions towards her. Jana is not missing out on 'dating' she has plenty of people to do fun things with. If the right guy comes along it will all be extra special for the couple. In a way you are asking her to just settle for some guy who would be willing to hang out with. That is exactly what I understand she does not want to get herself into. Love suffers long, maybe her man will come along yet.

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    4. 5:06- Courtships, or even arranged marriages, can work out sometimes. Is it better that dating? That is strictly a matter of opinion. I dated before I was married. I didn't start seeing someone with the intent of marriage. I simply wanted to better get to know the person, which is the purpose of dating. If it led to something serious, great. (I've been married to the same man for 30 years.) Sure, sometimes you can be let down or even get your heart broken, but you learn from your experiences and hopefully gain some resilience. There are no guartantees in this life, even for the Duggars as we know. I don't think Anna knew Josh well at all before she married him. BTW, Jana is a smart woman. If some guy was "lukewarm" and not really into her, she'd figure it out and move on. You learn from every person you meet.

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    5. @5:06 Then how do you explain Jana recently saying that she has "dated" some guys?

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