If you watch Counting On online, you know that the Duggars follow a very specific – and very strict set of rules – when it comes to dating and relationships.
In fact, they don’t even use the word “dating.”
Duggar women and their suitors engage in “courting,” which they describe as “dating with a purpose.”
That purpose, of course, being marriage and the conception of a small army of offspring.
The latest Duggar to embark on this heavily regulated romantic journey is 19-year-old Joy-Anna, who is now courting Austin Forsyth, a longtime family friend.
Unfortunately, if she was hoping to enjoy a modicum of freedom and maybe even occasional alone time with her new beau, Joy-Anna picked a bad time to start courting.
You see, her older sister Jinger Duggar recently married Jeremy Vuolo, and the relationship was subject to a great deal of scrutiny early on, as the young couple seemed to flout the rules and conventions of courtship at every turn.
Now, patriarch Jim Bob Duggar is making it perfectly clear that Joy-Anna won’t be rebelling in a similar fashion:
That nervous-looking young man across from Jim Bob is Austin, who celebrated his 23rd birthday last night.
As you can see, Jim Bob and wife Michelle didn’t leave anything to chance, chaperoning the celebration themselves, instead of outsourcing the job to one of Joy-Anna’s older siblings.
The photo was posted on the Duggars’ official Facebook page, along with a caption reading:
“We had a great time going on our double date with you and Joy this weekend!
“We are loving the time we are getting to spend with you as you and Joy court, and we are so excited to see what the Lord has in-store for you and our sweet Joy!”
Obviously, any 23-year-old would love to spend his birthday with his girlfriend’s stern parents, discussing “what the Lord has in store” for his future, but we can’t help but think that Austin might have liked to be alone with Joy, and maybe even get in some hand-holding action.
Sadly, he came along at a time when the Duggars and their sex drives are under greater scrutiny than ever.
In fact, Jim Bob might be showing more of a reaction to Jinger’s courtship controversy than he did to the Josh Duggar sex scandals, which pretty much tells you all you need to know about the man.
