Jed and Katey Duggar love to travel, and they have said before that they want to share these experiences with their kids. They recently spent a week in Florida with other members of the Duggar family, which has become somewhat of a tradition. Instead of heading home after the beach vacation, they flew to Europe for an entire month. They were accompanied by Jim Bob Duggar, Michelle Duggar, Johannah Duggar, Jennifer Duggar, Jordyn Duggar, and Josie Duggar.
Traveling overseas with four children under the age of four is not for the faint of heart, and there were some challenges along the way, but the Duggars had a great time. Jed and Katey just uploaded the first of two travel vlogs to their YouTube page. Just for reference, Truett Duggar is three-and-a-half, Nora Duggar is two-and-a-half, and Elsie Duggar and Emma Duggar are almost one.
Why do I still get a feeling that trips like these are wasted on the Duggars? Those grandkids are too young to appreciate or remember. Jim Bob never did like being out of his comfort zone (Arkansas). The others were probably along as babysitters. I'll bet they ate at McDonald's a lot too. Some of the worst episodes on the show were those travel shows where the producers goaded the Duggars into doing things that would make them look like bad Americans abroad. It's a shame they never did get shown how to respect other cultures and learn something about the world. It was more like the Duggars interjected themselves into the other cultures, take it or leave it.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking that too, that it's not really worth it to do a trip like that with kids that little if you're doing it so they can have the experience. They won't remember it, certainly not the babies. If they were mine, I would've waited to do that kind of trip when they were at least 10.
Delete2:54. Everyone has their choice in life experiences, you may not desire to travel with your young children, but obviously this young couple finds much enjoyment. I remember when we took our 9 month old to Disneyland and some people commented why since she’d never remember it..our reply was how much joy it brought us. Now that she is all grown up the pictures of that first Disneyland outing has brought her much enjoyment. We have traveled the world as retirees, and I have no idea what you are talking about respecting different cultures, from the video it looks like they were enjoying it all and respecting it all as a tourist.
Delete@445 The trips on the show
Delete@4:45pm I agree! Jed & Katie love their little kiddos and love taking them on vacation. They got to enjoy extra family fun and togetherness by not having the daily chores and responsibilities of family life when Not on vacation. It was wonderful they had extra help and love and attention for the kids from Grama Lolly and Pops and their Aunties! Looked like They all had a Great time enjoying being together. Fun adventures and Sweet memories for them all!
Delete@4:45 You only have to go back to any of their travel episodes to see them trying to speak Spanish to people in Asia, trying to remove mud from the Dead Sea, making faces at local foods or refusing to even taste them, trying to annoy guards at Buckingham palace, asking strangers on the street what their religion was, and so on and so on. Not very respectful of other countries, and TLC allowed it plus thought it was worthy of airing.
Delete@4:45 A month in Europe is a long way to go and a lot to pay for some pictures of joy. I saw joy in my 9 month old when he was splashing in a baby pool in the back yard or playing with his toys in the living room.
Delete7:00. It’s your chose when and where you want to travel. Seems like Jed and Katie and extended family wanted to take this trip and thoroughly enjoyed it..good for them.
Deletei just booked a flight to Phoenix from Michigan - $600. They have 90K subscribers on their you tube channel - not that many for a good payment. What does Jed do for a living? How can you be gone for 5 weeks ? How is all of this being paid for? I don't get it. It's just a common sense question. Can someone help me out? The content is not interesting for being in Italy - fast food places and some road side playgrounds. They are with babies - sharing experiences of foreign travel with them -absurd!
Delete@7:23pm ABSOLUTELY!!! WELL SAID!!! They chose this trip and enjoyed it! Good for them!
DeleteThey obviously have the money to pay for it and obviously enjoyed themselves. I really don't care how they paid for it or how they chose to spend their time or what they chose to eat. It's none of my business, and I don't feel the need to get upset about their choices. I'm happy for them that they got to do this.
Delete@2:43pm I see it that way also! I am happy they all got to go together and have fun and relax and enjoy other countries!
DeleteI guess they needed built-in baby sitters...
ReplyDeleteAnd they’ve been eating at McDonald’s every day. Come on guys you’re in Italy, live a little!
ReplyDeleteI know, right? I cannot imagine going to Italy (which has some of the best food in the world) and eating at McDonald’s!
DeleteHaving visited many countries in Europe, including Greece, most of the time we chose the local food however we had no children with us.. I have to laugh …when we were on an excursion in Ireland and stopped at McDonald’s., it was the best fish fillet sandwich I ever had!
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ReplyDeleteIt's nonsense to say they want to give children the experience of traveling. They're far too young to remember anything about it.
8:15 I agree. Not sure what they're thinking, but it's not thinking straight. Responsible adults would have realized the kids were too young and waited until they were older. Immature adults need their wants filled right away and can't wait.
DeleteWell done the Duggar family. Hope you all had a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't "move" to Europe. What a ridiculous thing to suggest.
ReplyDeleteI was confused by their video title too. How do you move somewhere for a month? That’s called a visit or a trip! Maybe click bait.
DeleteWow! My husband and I just took our 2 1/2 year old and 3 month old overseas for 2 weeks, and I agree it is not for the faint of heart! Glad they had family along to help out - we did as well, and I don't know how we would have managed without them!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip.. so nice the children could share this experience with grandma and grandpa and Aunties, great for all of them. Jed and Katie are the most chill parents ever, no wonder the children are so calm and chill. Not very many parents would be able to have so much fun with four children under four years old. Looking back I wish I could have been a more relaxed parent and not worry about them rolling around hotel floors. It was nice to see the beautiful scenery and the family sharing so many special moments.
ReplyDelete@10:19 I agree, such a nice trip! It’s nice to see the Duggars helping each other out and having fun together! Jed & Katie’s kids are Adorable!
DeleteThey had 6 extra adults to help. Did you think traveling for a month would be easy? No sympathy here.
ReplyDelete7:13 sounds like all enjoyed the experience and I heard no complaining in the video. The young parents expressed their gratitude to have the help, and grandparents and aunties looked like they enjoyed it all.
DeleteOne of the nice things about being a Duggar (or part of any big, close family) is the amount of help. They had two adults/near adults for each child on that trip. When my kids were little, I had literally no help and my parenting was such a different experience from other people I knew with big families. I know many people online have been judgmental of large families, but what a difference it makes to the second generation who have tons of built-in babysitters!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a large family, so I understand the pros and cons of the experience. Expecting anyone to be a "built in babysitter" can lead to boundary issues, conflicts and puts pressure on the younger siblings to fill that role when their older siblings start having families of their own.
DeleteWell, I guess I actually meant built-in babysitters as in a pool of people who you probably trust more, share values with, and who would be potentially interested in spending time with your children. I would much more happily pay my sibling to babysit than I would a stranger. I can see boundary issues if the expectation is free babysitting all the time, but if you have four sisters and if you ask if anyone is available for Friday night for pay, you’re in a much better position than having one or two comparative strangers to ask. For me, we had no family and I did not have good experiences with most babysitters, and if they were good, they were seldom available. I paid high wages for the best I could get, and stopped altogether as soon as I no longer had a child with a health crisis that required a lot of hospital and doctor visits I didn’t want to take my other children to.
DeleteWow. Bring your arents and sisters along when you travel and lte THEM babysit your kids.
ReplyDeleteIf your rewatch the video, you see will see that Jed and Katey were alone with their children. Parents and sisters were not with them the entire time. They flew over together and met up at different sites. They had separate camper vans too.
Delete@9:04pm I noticed that also! Jed & Katey got help sporadically. Which helped them out a lot, but I am sure Grama Lolli and Pops and the Aunties so enjoyed the times they were able to help out and love on the little Cutie Pies!
DeleteAs other posts have mentioned, it is so nice to have a big family when you are raising your children. I wish that I had that when my children were young. I think that I would have enjoyed them so much more, instead of being so stressed and overwhelmed all the time.
ReplyDelete9:28. Yes, I feel the same way. Now as a grandma I do whatever I can physically, emotionally and monetary to help the family out. One day it will be your turn to be the support to your family that you did not have.
DeleteThe Duggars are the videos I like the best. This video was a sort sequel to the early shows I was a big fan of. Great to see now!
ReplyDelete@11:38am I agree! They all get along and they love to help each other out and have fun together!
DeleteJed & Katie’s little ones are so Adorable and Sweet! I loved seeing Jim Bob, Michelle, Johanna, Jennifer, Jordon and Josie in the video.
A month long trip to Europe following a trip to Florida. These families are so very far removed from any average reality.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone were average then there would be no average. Somebody has to do things differently.
Delete@12:00am I like your logic!!! 👏👍
DeleteI wonder if they wore their MAGA hats while enjoying their European vacation.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly didn't do any sight-seeing. Or anything like the history no tours. Ate junk food and walked around.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice that the Duggar family chose to do this lovely trip together, obviously they have a close relationship and enjoy one another’s company, and going on vacations just strengthen the relationship. . Judging from a few negative comments it’s clear that some people aren’t travelers and don’t appreciate all the benefits of these life experiences and memories that will last a life time. The conclusion is everyone should do what they want with their life, save the money, share the money or whatever, enjoy your life. When the children were young we vacationed mostly in United States , Disneyland , Disneyworld, Grand Canyon, WashingtonDC, etc. after they were out of the house we had more time and money and have traveled the world. If you don’t have the money to travel take your kids to local museums, fairs, etc, we enjoyed those things as a family, and the children benefited from these life experiences. One life..enjoy it.
ReplyDelete@10:51am Absolutely, Perfectly said!
ReplyDelete@10:05am not 10:51 Your comment was Great!
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