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I recently finished a fun book – The Duggars: 20 and Counting. I’ll have to admit, I was a little worried at first. I thought it might just be a rehash of the Duggars’ TV specials and shows. But it was actually a very fun and quick read.

There are a lot of great stories in the book and in each chapter, they take the time to have one of the children answer some of the questions they get from viewers of their show.

One Q and A I found particularly interesting was this:

Question: “Seeing how you all dress so much alike, I’m wondering how the children in your family are allowed to express their individuality?”

Answer: (from Jessa Duggar, age 16) “We always laugh when a question like that comes in! As one of my sisters said, ‘Mom, when we go out to an event somewhere, we often see groups of teenagers who are all dressed alike – sometimes they’re all in black, or they’re all wearing jeans or the same kind of T-shirt.’ We’re just like them; all of us Duggars wear similar kinds of clothes. But instead of being influenced by peer pressure, we’re guided by our family’s standards of modesty and what we read in the Bible.”

This is so true! I was so happy to read this response. When I see my kids and their friends – they are all dressed very similarly – supposedly – expressing their creativity!

I was also impressed by Jim-Bob Duggar’s commitment to forgiveness. After being boung and gagged in his own garage after and armed robbery of his first car dealership, he chose to forgive the perpetraitor and bring him a bible at the jail.

In addition, they both relate about how to deal with anger when it pops up – because even the most well behaved children leave Dad’s tools to rust in the yard sometimes!

I loved reading their variety of stories, from how they accomplish things, to their most human moments. It’s easy to think of the Duggars’ as being super human in patience – and even money because of their TV shows. It’s nice to read how their lives really unfolded and to read how Michelle dealt with early frustration when she had seven children under the age of seven.

For anyone who is a fan of the Duggars; is curious or fascinated by them; or even angered by them; I highly recommend this quick read. It will give you a little more perspective – and respect – for their very interesting life!

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