If you watch Counting On online, you know that Jana Duggar is the oldest single Duggar female, and that’s a huge deal to pretty much everyone except Jana.
Despite the fact that the 27-year-old seems perfectly happy with her life (and has a twin brother who’s equally single), some fans are downright obsessed with Jana’s love life.
Jana courtship rumors are pretty much in constant circulation on social media, but they’ve been popping up with even greater frequency than usual recently.
Last week, it was rumored that Jana was courting Caleb Williams, a longtime friend with whom she was recently photographed.
The reports were quickly debunked, as it turns out that Jana’s not actually sleeping with (excuse us, “side-hugging”) every dude who pops up on her family’s Facebook page.
Shortly thereafter, sources claimed that Jana was courting Jacob Wilson, another family friend.
Again, it turned out these “sources” were just people who saw a photo on social media and jumped to conclusions.
The Duggars didn’t address these rumors directly, as is their M.O., but they did post some photos that seem to serve as a reminder that Jana is contentedly single.
That’s Jana tending to her garden, which apparently yielded quite a harvest.
(With more than a dozen mouths still to feed at the Duggar compound, we’re guessing Jana’s green thumb is greatly appreciated.)
Jim Bob and Michelle posted the pic to their official Facebook page this week, and like everything the Duggars do these days, it prompted immediate backlash.
Many who follow the Duggars closely believe that the Duggars put too much responsibility on Jana’s shoulders, and the pressure of helping to raise her many siblings is preventing her from starting a life of her own.
“Jana needs to get out from under her parents’ super control,” wrote one critic. “She doesn’t even know she’s being brainwashed.”
“I hope she at least has her own bedroom and some privacy some of the time. This young woman deserves some quiet private time to herself,” echoed another.
Others suggested that the show should focus more on Jana’s hobbies and homemaking abilities than her babysitting duties.
“I would have rather have seen footage of Jana making the garden than some of the tedious shopping with kids routines we keep getting shown.”
“Just be careful what happens in the garden after dark,” one fan suggestively commented.
And of course, there were some who ratcheted the criticism up to 11, with one writing:
“Or maybe they could start a new show where they teach boys to touch young girls and get away with it because they pray to their fake lord.”
For her part, Jana admits that it’s often difficult to be single in a family that places so much emphasis on marriage and raising children:
“I know how it feels to wait for ‘Prince Charming’ to come along. I’m still waiting,” she recently said.
“Waiting is not always easy. Especially in those times when all the married siblings are getting together and you can’t you’re not part of ‘that’ group.”
Hey, at least she has her garden.
Watch Counting On online to join the search for hints that Jana is secretly courting.
