Did Jessa Seewald just question her sister Joy-Anna Duggar for marrying too young? Fans of the "Counting On" reality TV show have yet to see Joy-Anna's wedding to Austin Forsyth on TLC, but the pair were married recently. Mrs. Forsyth was just 19 and the youngest of the "19 Kids and Counting" girls to tie the knot. Jessa seemed to imply that her sibling jumped the gun, which is ironic given the mom of two wed Ben Seewald when he was 19.
Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth courts young, marries quickly
Actually, all the "19 Kids and Counting" who are married did so at a young age. Jessa Seewald was 21 and started courting (the family's variation of dating) at 20. Her fiance Ben Seewald was 17 when he approached Jim Bob Duggar for her hand. The eldest Josh Duggar was 20 when he married Anna Duggar. Recently wed Jinger Duggar Vuolo was 22 when she wed Jeremy Vuolo on "Counting On." Jill Dillard was probably the oldest, marrying Derick Dillard at the tender age of 23.
Curious rules of Duggar courtship
So the point of courtship vs. the more worldly dating is to curtail premarital sex.
It's a hands-off engagement, chaperoned by Jim Bob or Michelle Duggar or one of the siblings. Ostensibly, the point is to prevent divorce as well. Couples are supposedly better prepared for marriage. But that's hard to fathom as the "19 Kids and Counting" are so young. The "Counting On" kids have short courtship periods too, which could have led to marriage problems with Josh and wife Anna Duggar
The John David and Jana Duggar conundrum
The accelerated courting process in the "Counting On" family makes it even more curious that the second and third of the "19 Kids and Counting" are still single. Reality television fans are anxious to see John-David Duggar, 27, and particularly his twin sister Jana Duggar courting.
With youngers, Jill, Jessa, Jinger and Joy-Anna Duggar wed and Joseph Duggar courting Kendra Caldwell, the unmarried elder kids seem even older. But maybe delaying is a good idea.
Did courtship fail with Josh Duggar?
If the point of a short courtship was to prevent burning in lust, it didn't seem to work with Josh Duggar. The eldest of the "19 Kids and Counting" married Anna Duggar in haste and now are repenting at leisure. At 15, Duggar admitted to incest and pedophilia, molesting little sisters and girls at church. By 29, the father of four has cheated, dated a stripper, committed cyber-adultery and identity theft on Ashley Madison, cheater and been in rehab for a porn and sex addiction. Was this linked to the fact that he courted and wed while still a minor?