After speculations of ‘Jill & Jessa: Counting On’ being renewed by TLC for a second season, the reality series has helped renew fans’ interest to pick up copies of ‘Growing Up Duggar.’
Previously released in 2014, the book now includes the latest updates on “never-before-shared stories of courtship and marriage from Jill Duggar-Dillard, Jessa Duggar-Seewald, Derick Dillard, and Ben Seewald,” as reported on the Duggar Family Blog.
The family’s official blog itself published a number of excerpts from the Duggar book, many of which are narratives that viewers may be familiar with, after being featured on ’19 Kids & Counting’ as well as ‘Jill & Jessa: Counting On.’ These include Jill’s statement of how she and husband Derick first came across each other.
“As Derick said, he and my dad had a prayer-partner relationship for about a year and a half,” the reality star shared. “My dad was impressed with Derick, and his confidence made me feel more secure about getting to know Derick better. My dad said we might have a lot in common, and suggested that we start texting.”
In addition, the ‘Growing Up Duggar’ offers an update about Derick’s dating history. As both Jill and Jessa’s husbands were requested to participate in updating the book, Derick admitted that her wife was not his first girlfriend.
Baby Israel’s dad confessed that he dated several girls before meeting his future wife. Upon meeting Jill, Derick agreed to follow Jim Bob Duggar’s rules for courting his daughter.
“I had had a couple of girlfriends before meeting Jill, and chaperoning was new to me,” he revealed. “But just because I had handled relationships one way in the past didn’t mean I couldn’t do it differently going forward.”
Meanwhile, Jinger Duggar is courting Jeremy Vuolo, a pastor and former professional soccer player, hence her father’s courtship rules are also expected to come up once more on future ‘Jill & Jessa: Counting On’ episodes.
Until a couple is engaged, Jill and Jinger’s dad believes it is not necessary to hold hands. Exchange of text messages is also checked by both Jim Bob and wife Michelle while the first kiss should be shared on the wedding day itself.
As for Jill, she chose Derick to be her first and last partner as the family believes that a person gives away “pieces” of their heart when dating more than one individual. It then becomes impossible for him or her to offer a “whole heart” to their future spouse.
Critics of such courtship rules have not been few. News media outlet The Washington Post called out the Duggars for the clan’s extreme views on dating and relationships.
Jim Bob and Michelle view such courtship rules as a means to protect their daughters from having “missing heart pieces.” It also remains crucial for the family's patriarch to help come up with the decision as to who his children should marry.
Official announcements are yet to be made for a second season of TLC’s ‘Jill & Jessa: Counting On.'
