Did Joseph Duggar just bust his dad's rules on courtship? And did mother Michelle Duggar egg Joe on? The "19 Kids and Counting" Duggar family blog certainly seems to suggest so. A series of engagement photos on Facebook showed the "Counting On" star and his girlfriend Kendra Caldwell in some very cozy poses. Mrs. D took great pleasure in sharing the non-Duggar pics. What's up with the reality television clan?
Joe Duggar, Kendra Caldwell get to second base
Joe Duggar and Kendra Caldwell posed in racy (for "Counting On") engagement photos. There's a lot of hand-holding and snuggling which in the good old days of "19 Kids and Counting" was verboten. In one shot, Kendra wraps her arms and possibly legs around Joe and squeezes him from behind. In other rather erotic images, the reality TV show celebrity kisses his bride-to-be's hands and snuggles into her.
What's the big deal about Duggars touching?
For most people the pictures would be innocent enough. But "19 Kids and Counting" Jim Bob Duggar and his wife preach ultra-conservative Christianity and no-touch dating (courting).
Anna and Josh Duggar, Jill and Derick Dillard, and Jessa and Ben Seewald were allowed only side hugs. Dates are chaperoned and parents insert themselves between couples. The parents are "Counting On" this to prevent immorality, premarital sex, unwed pregnancy and divorce.
Younger Duggars do 'marriage 2.0'?
Courtship is looking different with the younger "19 Kids and Counting." Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo did courting their way with frontal hugs and cuddling. She's also wearing pants instead of dresses and the Vuolos practice family planning. The "Counting On" Celebrities say they're opposed to birth control but want to hold off on having babies. Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth shared a bachelor party sleepover and posed in an unheard of lap-sitting picture.
Hands-off policy failed Josh Duggar?
In 2015, Josh Duggar shut down "19 Kids and Counting" with a major sex scandal. There were shocking admissions of adultery, cyber-cheating, incest and pedophilia. The soon-to-be dad of five cheated on wife Anna Duggar through perhaps all of her pregnancies. Jana Duggar stood by him and sisters Jinger and Joy-Anna, Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald are suing cops for naming them as his molestation victims. Josh stole two identities on Ashley Madison and went to rehab for sex and porn addictions. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have blamed everyone but themselves, but did their draconian rules create rather than prevent sexual problems? Are the younger kids showing looser morals or common sense?