Tuesday, July 7, 2020

'Duggars in Quarantine' Recap

Counting On "Duggars in Quarantine"
  • As the show opens, the Duggars are discussing how they have been impacted during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Arkansas is still open, while California is closing down.
  • “I tend to become an optimist by nature anyways, but there are times when even I can think about and start to worry about all the things that are going wrong and could go wrong,” says Ben. Jessa is already very familiar with grocery pickup, but the time slots are so limited that she sometimes has to go to the store.
  • “I have literally gained five pounds,” admits Jessa, as she discusses buying ice cream as a comfort food when other items are not available. “It’s not even funny.” Ben is in his final six weeks of school, and it has been difficult for him to have to study at home rather than at coffee shops.
  • The grocery store limits have been especially challenging for Jim Bob and Michelle and the kids still at home. “I’m finding that I have to order like every three days, and we you can’t always get your order in, so we just are doing without certain things and trying to make it work,” says Michelle. Ben, who helps with the teaching, has been video chatting with the kids during schooltime. Arkansas is encouraging residents to limit their gatherings to 10 people, but Jim Bob and Michelle say there are 13 or 14 still living under their roof. They are doing a lot of sanitizing.
  • “We’ve realized that most of the world doesn’t homeschool, but now they are,” says Michelle. “And we can identify with those challenges. It isn’t easy. There’s a lot of effort and patience that goes into that.”
  • Jim Bob adds a little comic relief: “It’s been a very interesting time in our nation, and I think families are spending more time together. Husbands and wives are spending more time together. Probably people are getting on each other’s nerves after a while.”
  • In Los Angeles, the Vuolos have been quarantined for a month. They spend a lot of time in the backyard and on walks around the neighborhood. Jeremy is still studying at home, so it’s challenging for Jinger to keep Felicity from disturbing him. Meanwhile, John and Abbie are busy building a garden outside their mobile home while Grace sleeps in her bassinet.
  • At the big house, Jana does an art lesson with the four youngest girls in her glass greenhouse. Josie covers her entire paper with blue paint. “Josie, I think…I’m gonna just go ahead and say you’re done, okay?” says Jana. She asks Josie to go wash her hands.
  • Later, everyone gathers for a virtual family fun night. Jim Bob and Michelle moderate trivia questions, both about the family and random other topics. “I’m pretty generous with the points,” admits Jim Bob.
  • “I am pretty particular when it comes to keeping points,” says Joy. “And my dad’s like, ‘Everybody’s a winner.’ And I’m like, ‘No, not everybody’s a winner.’”

152 comments:

  1. I'm so excited the show is back with new episodes! I'm really looking forward to it as well as to the content here.

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  2. Wow. Why did Jana have to be harsh on Josie over her painting skills?? No one is perfect!!

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    1. Josie wasn't following directions. Jana was calm about it, not angry sounding.

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    2. If Jana is like that when the cameras are rolling, I wonder what happens when they're off camera. Jana needs to tone it down.

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    3. I agree. She was making her own version of the art. There’s no need to he so uptight about it.

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    4. Jana wasn't harsh,she was disciplining Josie,if she hadn't we would be reading comments about how Jana was letting a kid walk all over her,it seems to me Josie was making a mess to get extra attention,but that's expected from kids,and Jessa is just as strict with her kids,Michelle has been a good example to her daughters,I remember an episode where she told Josie the world doesn't revolve around her,it was needed,it's easy to spoil children,there are times you just need to be strict.

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    5. Jana seems like a very angry woman. Josie was experimenting with the medium! She should be commended for coming up with something original.

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    6. I got the distinct feeling that Jana didn't want to be there or teach art or be filmed.

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    7. Jana was doing a class, and it was about painting, and they tried to limit the paint due to limited shopping back then. Josie is not 2 or even 4, she is 10 years old. She could perfectly understand that.

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    8. Guys, please, we shouldn't be judging… you may have done the same thing… who knows! We all can get frustrated!

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    9. Just the fact that we have to discuss this scene is proof that this show has jumped the shark.

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    10. Jana does NOT seem like an angry woman at all! July 9 at 7:01 pm clearly you haven't seen an angry person in action before. Josie was not listening to direction. Josie isn't a toddler anymore; she is a tweenager now, and is perfectly capable of following direction.

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    11. Josie was not experimenting With the medium or making her own art version. Josie had attitude, pure and simple!!! Isn’t she a little old to be doing that kind of messing around.

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    12. That whole thing was not something cameras should have captured. Doesn't this family have any desire for privacy? Don't they realize how they're making themselves look when things like that air? Is a paycheck really worth it all? Don't they have enough money to live on by now? They need to leave the girls and their attitudes off the air, for their own sake.

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    13. I think since it was an art class lesson a child should follow instructions that the instructor gives them. If a child thinks that it's ok to do whatever they want, anyway they want then as the adult instructor you are pretty much obligated to tell them to do it the way they were told or leave the class. If you don't get on them for not following directions then what happens if all the other children see that and just start doing things however they want to do them? Nope you follow directions or you leave is how I would do it.

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  3. When did Abbie start calling John (John Boy)? He's a married man not a boy.

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    1. I noticed it too. It comes across as kind of a bizarre way to address a grown man who is your husband, IMHO.

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    2. It's better than calling him "sugar muffin". lol

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    3. She doesn't mean it literally. 🙄

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    4. 1. She’s said it before. 2. Are you also as vocally opposed to the one million times the adult women are referred to as “girls?”

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    5. I've heard her say it on TV many times. Referring to The Waltons TV show. Cute pet name!

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    6. 1:24 I think she uses it affectionately. I think it comes as a tribute to John Boy from the Waltons.

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    7. After watching Walton's reruns. lol

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    8. It's a pet name... a lot of couples have them for each other. It's not the first time she's called him that.

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    9. @11:24-I think it’s just a cute nick name for him...a head nod to John Boy Walton!

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    10. I think she just says it as a joke sometimes. I think maybe she's making a reference to the character John-Boy Walton on the old series, the Waltons, but who knows. Either way, I just took it as a lighthearted thing and nothing to be too serious about.

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    11. I think she is referring to John Boy Walton. I think its cute.

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    12. John Boy was a character in a TV show long ago. We called my cousin that for a while as a cute teasing name.

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    13. Have you ever watched the Waltons? It's a term of endearment. Adults also call each other "baby," haven't you heard?

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    14. Ever hear of the Waltons?

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    15. She's called him that for a long time

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    16. Yes we're aware he's a man. It's an affectionate nickname between husband and wife. Lighten up.

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    17. What are those little snacks Josie was handing out in quarantine episode?

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    18. It is totally a John-boy Walton reference. At least she doesn’t over-use it as a nickname. Did anyone besides me got a little tired of Jinger and “Babe.”

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  4. The first show on July 7th was a 2-hour show. The first part was Duggars in Quarantine. Then the 2nd part was showing Jinger and Jeremy moving and driving to CA, also Joy and Austin talking about losing their baby. John and Abbie's baby gender reveal. Ben shaving his beard and kids not recognizing him. Joe and Kendra working on a new baby car seat. It was a lot of pre-quarantine footage of the events that happened a long time ago. Like Jinger and Jeremy moved last June. Kendra was 30 weeks pregnant, while Addison is now 8 months old. Still interesting to watch though.

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  5. Dear Samuel: I hope that you are having, a fantastic 3rd Birthday!!!!

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  6. I really like Jana´s glass greenhouse. It is a great place for an art lesson. But I have to admit, that I didn´t like the way Jana treated Josie. Josie is now ten (or eleven?)years old, she was born much too early. Her art work should not be compared to one of her sisters. She really tried to do her best...maybe she doesn´t like painting or this is the best she can do at the moment. Probably Jana was stressed by the corona situation (like a lot of other people all around the wourld), but this was really no good example of homeschooling Josie.

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    1. Some children have little or no ability with painting. Josie may be one of them. I agree there was no reason for Jana to be so impatient with her.

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    2. Jana is probably unconsciously frustrated by a multitude of factors, primarily being a grown woman who has never left her parents’ home.

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    3. Well, now you see their true colors, don’t you!? Where do you think Jana learned that stern, rigid demeanor?

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    4. I agree that I was a little surprised that they added that little detail to their show, but I will admit that I can totally relate to any feelings of frustration! I'm not saying Jana was, maybe she was just getting done with everyone. But as the oldest sister of 6, I completely relate to moments of frustration and impatience with siblings even older then 10 or 11! And yes, we home school and I often help! I love my siblings more then anything else but there are times (never mind about coronavirus!!) when I want to pull my hair out! But we work together and love each other and that makes up for the rough moments!

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    5. I understood it that Jana had asked Josie to thin her paint and Josie wouldn't do so and argued with her. It was supposed to be a lesson, but I don't think Jana was actually putting down her ability, just her obedience. Maybe I misunderstood.

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    6. So I haven't seen the episode yet, but it says above that Josie covered her whole paper in blue paint. Sounds like she could have just been wasting paint? Or not following instructions? You say not to compare her artwork with her sisters, but it doesn't sound like she was even trying.

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    7. How does a 10 yr. old kid "waste" paint provided as a prop for filming a TV segment? I'm sure there were several more paint kits and more supplies waiting in the wings to insure that the filming could be done completely. Production crews have all this stuff ready and extras on standby. I worked theater in my younger days - it's standard to have multiples of what you need for a scene, especially if it was something being used up in that scene or if something could go wrong and you'd need more. It's not like Josie's was the last blue paint in the world.

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    8. I think it could be also that they could not go easily to stores, to refill the paint, because of the virus. So Jana came up with an idea of painting style that used less paint. And Josie was just using all the paint.

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    9. How do you waste paint? You can buy more.

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    10. Having to buy more is a waste of money

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    11. If you think this virus has stopped the Duggars from going to stores, then you don't follow the Duggars enough. Their favorite craft store was one of the last to close, and finally had to be ordered to close. It made the news. There would have been no problem getting more paint in person or online.

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    12. Josie used enough water color paint for several paintings. As others have written, water color paint is meant to be diluted. Josie was using it as if it was acrylic paint.
      Her paper was already completely covered with paint when she went for even more and that's Jana asked her to leave the table. Josie later explained that she wanted a painting where you could see the brush strokes, however, water colors doesn't work that way. It just gets wetter and sloppier. Others were trying to tell her this and she wouldn't listen. She's at an age where she can learn how to use different types of paints and doesn't need to be babied or overly catered to.

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    13. 1:29 PM: when coronavirus started and kids were sent home to homeschool, all school supplies, and art supplies too! were like swept from the shelves! That's one thing. The other thing, going shopping was like crazy experience, you have to stand in line to enter the store, avoid people, be scared what if someone around you has the virus. And shopping online deliveries were weeks behind. So that's why maybe they could not go buy more at the moment?

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    14. You can buy more of almost everything… that doesn't mean you need too. Also sometimes kids need to be disciplined, and we don't know Josie like Jana does so we shouldn't judge…
      I'm sure we've all had frustrating moments where we've done things like what Jana did.

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    15. "How do you waste paint? You can buy more." HUH????????

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    16. 3:15, I doubt reality shows work the same way as theater crews, but wasting is wasting. Having more isn't the point.

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    17. Congrats Duggars, we now have Wastegate.

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  7. Can you imagine a large family like this with toilet paper runs low or out and being hard to find in stores?!?! It would be tough to stock up if you can only purchase 1 package in the store. That wouldn't go very far with so many people!!!!

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    1. Maybe they can buy used and save the difference.

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    2. Especially if it's just 2 adults in the family, and one has to stay with the kids, like in Jessa's situation! Ask mom and dad to go shopping too, and adult siblings!

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    3. They have to take a couple of people shopping, have two separate carts and line up at two separate check outs.

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    4. Yeah, we almost ran out of toilet paper…

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    5. We know several large families (10 children) and they've spent their time in quarantine bragging all over YouTube about their huge "large family grocery hauls". Their hoarding was part of the reason their neighbors couldn't find any online, in the stores, or at Costco, making multiple trips at personal risk. Way to love your neighbor, people!

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    6. 12:42, maybe those large families' "large hauls" were a week's worth of groceries, not "hoarding." If you don't live in a family that size, it's hard to judge how much they actually need.

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    7. Anon 3:17 - very clever

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  8. I find it interesting that Jesse says she gained weight what with running around after 3 children! I have lost weight since I don't go to the grocery store as often, cool more and eat out less, and have a lot more time to exercise.

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    1. She said she snacked much more and ate junk food, to alleviate the stress. It's been very opposite for many people! Some found it to be much healthier lifestyle, some were very stressed and just emotionally ate.

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    2. Well, I gained weight because of stress eating in the first few months of Covid. All the fear and panic from news and social media did a number on me. Now I'm trying to dig out of that weight gain. Not fun.

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    3. I've gained a lot of weight while being at the toxic workplace with gossipy people and nasty management. I went to buffets, just to get some pleasure during the workday full of toxicity. When they told up to work from home, I was so happy. I lost eight and inches, look and feel like a normal person again. Jessa does not work and still gets stressed, but stress of watching own kids is nothing compared to nasty toxic people around in the workplaces.

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    4. Well from what I hear, most people have gained during the shut down. I don't know anyone who's lost. In fact, a dress shop owner here in the Los Angeles area told me women are wearing larger sizes, so she's had to adjust her stock.

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    5. 6:01 - I understand exactly what you are saying. I gained weight those first months, glued to the news, trying to make sense of the pandemic. Instead of fixing a healthy snack, I’d just grab a bowl of comfort snack food, like chips or something. I’m paying for it now.

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    6. While I do agree with Anonymous @4:22 that toxic co-workers and work environments are very stressful (Chronic stress), I have to disagree that it's worse than watching your own kids. I've heard a number of parents express joy/relief when their children start back to school each year because they can't handle their children being around the house for 2- 2 1/2 months over break...and the parents work, so they're not even around their children 8 hours a day during the break. LOL Many of them are glad to go to work to get away from their children it seems. Maybe it's because they're not used to having to deal with their children so much the other 9 months when they're in school? Personally, I've had really bad co-worker experiences and been a stay-at-home homeschooling mom both. They can both be stressful; each have a different kind of stress, in my opinion.

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    7. 12:51 Am: I think 4:22 PM meant that Jessa's job is to stay at home, and that she's been doing it since Spurgeon was born, and it's her family, she has a loving husband, her parents and siblings help. Pandemic changed her shopping routine, and like she is not going to visit parents, not going to the park. But her kids are very well behaved, she seems to organize them very well. She does not have stress of dealing with adults competing for similar position, or getting educated to improve her skills. Her "job" tasks are quite basic and not very demanding. Her "teammate" is her loving husband. Like, yes, it can be crazy if all 3 kids cry or if one kid gets sick or injured... but at the end of the day they are not going to backstab you like coworkers would.

      As for people who now are forced to stay at home with children, it's a different story, because for them their whole routines changed, and they did not choose being stay at home parents in the first place. Their kids also have all their little routines changed, they are not used to have parents around 24x7, and it makes it stressful for the kids as well. And they will let you know! LOL. Actually out of all people who suffer during the pandemic from different changes and who are healthy otherwise, that's probably the most suffering part of population - working parents who are now stuck with their kids at home. I know people who were going crazy because they had to sit with their kids and homeschool them this Spring.

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  9. I’m sorry I did not like that everything seemed to center on the big house !! They seem to treat the adult married kids as children. It just seemed so immature. I’m all for fun and games but this was nuts. I cringed watching!! I really loved watching Jinger, Jeremy and Lissy on their move adventure😍. Most of the show was not interesting at all. Please do a better job.... stop doing the same old things!!

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    1. I loved it and am glad they're back!!!!

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  10. Where is the second part of the recap? They had a two hour episode.

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  11. I felt Jana was being very mean to Josie and to answer how old Josie is, she's 10. Jana should be nicer to her. Art is meant as expression. It truly doesn't matter how it is done. It isn't the end of the world if it isn't up to your standards.

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    1. I agree with you!! 🙂

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    2. Art is an expression, yes, but it can also be an art lesson. If it was part of homeschooling, it could've been a lesson, and Josie was not having it.

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    3. If Jana discipline Josie is all y'all have to complain about then😂😂😂😂😂. There is anything to complain about got it

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    4. Josie was expressing herself alright. She was saying, “I don’t want to do this.” She is 10 years old for heaven’s sake! She is old enough to follow instructions. I wonder how a certified teacher in the public school would have handled it? I bet Josie would be doing it over or taking the F for a grade.

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    5. I actually have a very good perspective on life - Patricia. I don't really appreciate people who don't even know me to assume that I'm this self centered person. Also, it seems here that people just want to argue with each other. What happened to being kind to others?! Others agreed with me, but it seems like every time on both here and the Bates blog that people just want to argue with me. They also like to treat me like I don't know anything and I don't appreciate either. I'll no longer comment on either here or the Bates blog. My comments clearly aren't appreciated.

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  12. Loved the new episode, so happy they are back.I really did feel the absence of Jill, I really miss her. 😇

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  13. So very distressing that Jessa has gained 5 pounds and Ben can't study in coffee shops. I just can't imagine their pain.

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    1. Did they say it was distressing? Or were they just relating things that had changed as a result of lockdown?

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    2. HELLO, it IS distressing for woman to gain 5 pounds and for a man's routine to be disrupted. Cut them some slack. So negative.

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    3. Any time people have an unexpected change in routine, there's going to be some level of stress and some necessary adjustments to be made. Fact: It is stressful when you go from a fairly quiet study environment to a household with three small children. Fact: It's stressful when it's suddenly your responsibility to keep three littles quiet(er), so your spouse can study. May be Ben is like my husband and need sit to be fairly quiet to concentrate. I have way more practice blocking out "extra noise" (sometimes I do too well and don't hear my family talking to me though). While it does sound a tad spoiled to be able to just leave your spouse watching the kids while you head to the quiet of the coffee shop, I think they were just expressing one unexpected way this quarantine was impacting them. My introverted at-home MIL expressed frustration/irritation/annoyance that my very extroverted FIL was home all day, every day and "in her space" during quarantine. The two of them live in a 2 level 3 bedroom home with 2 living rooms and an office...and she wants a bigger house with more room. LOL

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    4. Haha... though in reality in the first weeks it was very crazy in stores, lack of everything, and I was really scared that some foods will just disappear. So Jessa probably was thinking the same, and she has 3 small kids who need to be fed. Like, what if they won't have enough food. And for small kids it's also diapers, other stuff. Or what if kids get sick. Or what is they get sick, or their parents. I don't know, first weeks very quite scary.

      Ben probably was going out, first to teach Duggar kids, then sit down and study somewhere on his own, like get a coffee, look out from the window... And now his routine was broken, he needs to study, and it's just a small room in the house where kids want to play with him.

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    5. 1:02 - You are so right! My routine changed since I had to just stay at home and work from home, like an amazing change, no driving in traffic, and so on. Like, it was a good change, but still in some way it was stressful. Like, I was concerned that I don't have any routine! LOL While of course there was some new pace of a day, but the brain tells you "no, it's not what we are used to". A person needs an adjustment to change regardless of what kind of change it is.

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  14. People are harsh with Jana. I’m sure she knows her sister well and what she is capable of. It’s just like when you know a child can color in the lines but they pick up a crayon and scribble all over the whole page. No reason to waste your time and supplies if they’re just gonna be a stinker.

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    1. Children should not be encouraged to color in the lines. Where is the creativity in that?

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    2. 6:57 - there is a difference between being creative and just scribble because you don’t want to do something. Josie was not being creative; she was just being belligerent. Don’t blame the teacher for the student’s misbehavior.

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    3. 6:57 - there is a difference between being creative and just scribble because you don’t want to do something. Josie was not being creative; she was just being belligerent. Don’t blame the teacher for the student’s misbehavior.

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  15. Two episodes aired last night, right? Where's the recap for the second one?

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  16. Josie was born so prematurely that she probably has special education needs. I think she would really benefit from the extra services and skilled attention that public school districts provide for students with special needs. She may have learning differences that her parents and Jana are not even aware of, but a trained educator would be. This is one situation where home education may not be the best choice.

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    1. Probably, may, maybe not. You honestly don't think that after 18 children Michelke can't tell the difference between what is special needs and what is not?

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    2. No she's not and she would benefit more at being taught at home because of the one on one. Besides she's not special needs at all

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    3. I'm sure the mom is on top of things!

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    4. Josie does not appear to have special needs. That’s no excuse for Josie to be that nasty about the assignment.

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  17. If that "art lesson" was an attempt market Jana, it wasn't very successful. She came across as impatient and unkind to her young sister.

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  18. That painting scene seemed quite serious and not like a fun time with big sister.

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    1. I think it was a lesson in a specific water color technique that Josie wasn't ready for. They were using tubed paste watercolor paint that you use only a tiny bit of paint mixed with a larger amount of water. Josie was using many times more paint than needed and didn't seem to understand the directions being given, rather than continually correct her Jana sent her on her way so the other girls could benefit from the lesson. Yes, Josie was born prematurely, that does not entitle her to no discipline.

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    2. Amen @8:41!! I totally agree!

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    3. Agree 8:41 pm. Even after Josie was told to use just a bit of paint with water she globbed on the paint.

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    4. Not excusing Josie, but sometimes in the power imbalance of being the youngest and having everyone tell you what to do (especially when parents are using an older sibling to parent), the younger child will often passive aggressively act out. When you're expected to honor your elder siblings all the time (Michelle's rules posted on the wall) and all of your siblings are free to "correct" you all the time, the imbalance of power gets a little old.

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  19. My parents and I really enjoyed the show. It was good seeing everyone. Family fun night was good to watch. The sad part was when Jana was being strict with Josie. Jana did say they could make it however they wanted. I thought they did well coping with the virus. We are really going to enjoy this season. Natasha B.

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    1. Just curious. Do you still live with your parents. Like Jana? Are there pros and cons?

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  20. Enjoyed most of the show. Could have done without the Vuolo's road trip. Found it boring and tedious. Jeremy was irresponsible in his Vegas flight to earth. Loved seeing all the individual families. The children are all so adorable.
    Joan,Marion and Marilyn

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    1. How was Jeremy irresponsible? This is a tourist attraction and many people do it everyday....no one has ever been injured.

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    2. How was Jeremy irresponsible? This is what normal people do on road trips...At least Jeremy and Jinger aren’t boring like the rest of the family...nothing wrong with a little adventure... Jeremy and Jinger you guys keep doing you and God Bless your beautiful little family🙏😍

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    3. I just wonder how much of this stuff the Duggars would actually do on their own, if there wasn't a TLC film crew needing footage and a contractual obligation to fulfill.

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  21. Happy birthday to Sam on July 8th!

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  22. Glad to see Counting On is back. I really enjoyed the parts with Jessa and Ben and family. Also liked seeing Jinger, Jeremy and Felicity. I wish Jill and Derick were still on the show, sad they are not. Not a fan of having Jim Bob and Michelle on the show, this is not 19 Kids and Counting. Eventhough I like Jana, her treatment of Josie was terrible. I think Josie did a great job on her artwork. Hopefully the show will focus more on the married couples, it would be great to get more in-depth looks into their lives. Maybe feature a couple, each week, no more family games, too boring.

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  23. I think Jana should have asked Josie about her unusual approach to the art project. It seems Josie had a plan to remove some of the paint to create her vision. This is an actual technique my own kids have been taught. Just because Josie did not want to draw flowers or plants did not make it necessary to make her leave the group. Jana was very unkind and not at all nurturing.

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    1. I'm an artist and from my experience working with kids, trying to teach a 10 year old to paint flowers with water colors was a poor idea in the first place. I'm sure the whole thing was staged for the cameras anyway and by the time they were set up Josie was totally bored with it all.

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    2. I've taught some art over the years and we thought we'd give water coloring a go during our quarantine time at home. I can't say we enjoyed our watercolor flowers lessons (sunsets and simple landscapes were far more enjoyable and less stressful). I agree that this set-up was likely that, a set-up; something for TLC to film (like a lot of other things we've seen the Duggars do). Water coloring flowers isn't exactly a beginner level watercolor lesson, especially if any of your students (or the teacher) tend toward perfectionism or are easily frustrated. Jana could have done so many other age-appropriate, attention span-appropriate, fun options like color mixing, wet wash mixing, splatter techniques, gradient striping, etc. - more forgiving options that beginners can succeed at pretty easily. I also think that when a child doesn't follow directions, you need to ask them why and really listen to what they have to say. Maybe part of Josie acting out was that she didn't want to do the activity, but had to because TLC was there to film it or maybe her attention span was just shot by the time they started. I have to question how fair is it for the children that the parents want them to do certain things (like this activity) in order to be filmed for the show. How much is actually what the children want to do, how much of it is coaching by mom & dad, how much is mom & dad's expectations? Just my opinion.

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    3. How is that a poor idea? Water colors aren't THAT complicated.

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    4. Anon 1:27 hit the nail on the head. That segment was not genuine anything. Josie was not happy and Jana was not happy and the rest sat there mute like they didn't want to be there either but were afraid to say a word because it was being filmed. What a life!

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    5. I could tell that Johanna doesn’t like being grouped with the little girls.

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  24. Could you recap the La La Land episode? I haven’t been able to watch and it seems interesting. I heard it already aired.

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  25. I’m so sorry for your loss Ellie, praying for you ❤️

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    1. Thank you! I'm grateful for your support and prayers.

      Ellie

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    2. What happened?

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  26. I did not realize that Ben used to study in coffee shops... So he was like abandoning Jessa and all the kids and went to coffee shops? Nice. I thought he was studying in the evenings, when kids go to sleep. What is he studying actually?

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    1. I wonder why Ben wasn't using his local library as a place to study. I think it would be quieter, better supplied, and more conducive to studying. A library is usually cheaper than studying at a coffee house which has many temptations to buy food and drinks.

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    2. 4:34PM: Probably better to study in coffee shops, less distraction for Ben. And for Jessa, it would be like he was at school or work all day anyway, so no difference to her. Then he's free in the evenings for kids and her because his studying is mostly done.

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    3. Libraries here closed pretty early in the virus game. But I agree, coffee shops are not libraries and don't appreciate your taking up a table for hours on end to study.

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  27. It was funny to watch how Jeremy stopped at Roswell, NM, while Jinger was clueless what it was and what aliens were. Did they stop overnight in Vegas, by the way? I wonder which hotel they stayed at. Vegas is a wonderful city, and you don't have to gamble, you can just walk around, look at different hotels, fountains at Bellagio, Venetian hotel, they are all amazing inside.

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    Replies
    1. Show producers determine road trip stops. Similar to when the Duggars had their cross country trip to Disneyland and spray painted the cars (Cadillac Ranch in Texas). Most of what the couples do on trips are based on what they can get comped and which attractions are willing to be filmed.

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    2. Jinger wasn't clueless. I just watched this like an hour ago.

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  28. July 8th @ 8:48 really Duggars running low on toilet paper etc. bigger things to worry about in the world. God will provide. We learn to make do. Please alot of nig families out there other than the Duggars/Bates. Mary Mennonite

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    Replies
    1. Back then, a LOT of people were concerned about running out of toilet paper. Do you not remember that?

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    2. ?? Weren't they just telling us what life was like for them at that point? Of course there are bigger things to worry about, but that wasn't the point of the episode. They talked about many things that were their experience during quarantine. We know there are other bigger families, but that's not the point of this blog.

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    3. 9:06 The focus of the show is entirely about the Duggar's experiences, which are pretty much engineered by the production staff, or the family makes it up as they go along. Their reactions to the pandemic were probably the most realistic things they've filmed of late. All I could think as I watched was, "Join the club!" Anyway, I think it's time for the family to end their show. There's really no point to it, other than to satisfy the curiosity of a few fans, and their kids deserve privacy.

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  29. I felt Austin words...I had 10week miscarriage this spring, not so far along as Joy, but it was heartbreaking because I had good previous scan when the heart was still beating. Anyway having a healthy toddler is definitely blessing. They are not called sunshine babies for nothing. I think having Gideon in their arms also helper. Even Jinger said about Felicity on instagram that she brings sunshine. She probably knows this term as well. Now both Joy and Jinger are expecting their rainbows, as I pray for my one to come hopefully as well.
    About Lauren, she is often criticized that she wasnt so far along with Asa. But being first time pregnant and losing the pregnancy no matter on what point, is incredibly shocking and painful. I did lose my very first pregnancy at 5 weeks as well and it was darkest time. Even the second miscarriage was later, the first ons had worse impact on me than the second one.

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  30. I wonder if the adults in this family, married or not, are tired of the games and competitions? Especially since the parents are so involved. Seems like they would have outgrown this type of thing by now.

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    1. I don't think ALL of them like these silly "competitions" but seem to be resigned to their fate.

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    2. they are not tired of the paychecks these games bring

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    3. Or maybe they just have fun being together.

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    4. If you've been raised that this is normal and you're expected to "willingly participate", it probably feels normal. Doesn't make it right or necessarily enjoyable and if all 19 children enjoy it, odds are good they've been pressured to enjoy it (not allowed to experience or express their true feelings).

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  31. Joy and I think alike!!! No, not everyone is a winner!!!

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  32. Oh my goodness... La La Land is the same footage as Quarantine ... minus the Quarantine and commercial parts .... TLC PLEASE STOP airing the same footage and saying it’s NEW. The only thing I loved and enjoyed seeing was Jinger and Jeremy and Lissy’s adventures in their road trip... everything else I fast forwarded

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  33. Not "everyone" gathered for that family fun night. Derick said he and Jill were not invited. They could have invited them to be there but edited them out, the way they did with Josh, who was there.

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    1. I'm not sure that Derrick WANTS to be there and play trivia games about the Duggar family. lol I'd give that one a miss myself.

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  34. I really enjoyed the show. I like seeing each couple individually.
    I did like learning about ways to improvise cleaning materials. I think the parents have a lot to share.

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    1. How is cutting paper towels in half and pouring bottled cleaner over them improvising? Hold a towel in one hand, the cleaner bottle in the other, and clean away without having to make a whole tub of messy drippy wet towels.

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    2. Well ... wouldn’t want to get my cleaning ways from the Duggar’s or Jessa.... they don’t clean very well!!

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    3. The Duggar women are terrible homemakers especially as they tout that as being a woman’s god-given role. I’m the primary breadwinner in my family and keep my home gleaming compared to the lazy Duggars. I cook circles around them too.

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  35. I am constantly encouraged by this family, and I was so excited to see that the show was back! It is good to see how they have been through all this pandemic craziness thus far.

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    Replies
    1. They only filmed their dealing with the quarantine at the very start of it, not recently. Frankly, the years have not found me encouraged by this family at all. IMO, most of the married and adult kids are way too dependent on their dad. It seems Jill and Jinger married men who are not willing to be under his authority or influence. There's a lot Derick has said that I don't agree with, but I admire him for finally speaking out about the dysfunction in this family.

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  36. The Duggars have a trivia game about themselves? Why? To make sure everyone is up to speed on the family lore?

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  37. Please don't blame TLC for stuff, it;s the Duggars choice for the show's repeat's etc.

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    Replies
    1. The Duggars get some say, but TLC signs the paychecks.

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  38. The Duggars run out of toilet and things really this is HARD on all! Lets worry about bigger things like covid19 spreading worse than before in some states.Wear a mask PLEASE! Respect others

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