Meet Josie Duggar's Parents, Jim And Michelle, Married In Their Teens, Gave Birth To Nineteen Kids

Jim Bob Duggar and his wife, Michelle, had their lives become the subject of the reality TV show, Counting On. And the reason was their huge brood of children. From 1988 to 2009, Jim and Michelle became parents numerous times and gave birth to nineteen children. Recently, the death hoax of their youngest child, Josie Duggar, made headlines. As the family is in the headlines again, here's everything to know about Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle, and where they are now. 

Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle tied the knot when they were 19 and 17 

Jim Bob Duggar has worn many hats apart from that of reality TV star. He is a licensed realtor and was also a Republican member of the House of Representatives, Arkansas. He tied the knot with Michelle Ruark in 1984. They were 19 and 17, respectively. Talking about their love story on the show, Michelle revealed that they met when Jim Bob visited her house as part of his church's Bible outreach. She was fifteen at the time. However, they got into a relationship a year later, after Michelle started working at his parents' frozen yoghurt shop. Michelle recalled Jim Bob asking her out and said:

"You came to the counter where I was standing by the cash register and introduced yourself. You were shy but very sweet! I really don't remember much about that conversation, except that you finally mustered up the courage to ask me if I would go to your junior-senior banquet with you!"

As both of them are devout Baptists, they later bonded over the Bible and would discuss it for hours. Michelle says that since that moment, their hearts have been knit together. She shared:

"From there, we believe our hearts were knit together. We graduated high school in May of 1984 and were married in July. I was 17 and Jim Bob was 19."

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Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar have nineteen kids, and Josie Duggar is the youngest 

Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar are parents to nineteen kids. After their marriage in 1984, they did not become parents right away. The couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Josh, in 1988. Since then, until 2009, they gave birth to eighteen more children. Ten sons and nine daughters. Out of their many children, there have been two pairs of twins. So, Michelle Duggar has been pregnant seventeen times in her lifetime. Interestingly, all of their children's names start with the letter J. Due to their faith, Jim Bob and Michelle said that they decided not to take birth control and let God control how many children they would be blessed with. 

The Duggar parents also homeschooled all of their children and limited their access to TV screens. Conversations around family values, modesty and religion were also a regular part of their Counting On show. Throughout the duration of the show, from 2008 to 2015, the Duggar parents welcomed two children, married off three and welcomed four grand-kids. Their youngest child, Josie, was born premature and had health complications. As an infant, she was kept in intensive care for six months, and her parents were also open about her medical issues. 

Do Josie Duggar's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle have good bonds with all their children? 

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar live in a huge compound with many homes. All of their children were only allowed to move out of the compound once they turned eighteen. Some of them did leave the compound, while some stayed. Speaking about the couple's bond with their children, a few of their kids are estranged from them. Jim Bob and Michelle have maintained distance from their eldest son, Josh, after he was arrested on serious charges of inappropriate behaviour with minors. 

Meanwhile, their daughter Jill and her husband, Derick, have cut ties with the former's parents, citing control issues. Jill has often stated that she had to seek therapy due to her family. However, now and then, Jill is still spotted interacting with her parents, though the bond remains strained. Their other daughter, Jinger, has also stated that she has moved away from her parents' conservative upbringing and stated to People that fear was a huge part of her childhood. Apart from their two daughters, Jim Bob's niece, Amy, known as 'Cousin Amy' in the show, has also become a critic of her uncle's lifestyle and family dynamics. 

What are your thoughts on Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar's family life? Let us know. 

Also Read: Meet Mitch McConnell's Wife, Elaine Chao, First Asian-American Woman In A Cabinet, A Powerful Leader

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