It’s only been two weeks since we first learned that Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson are courting, but it seems the couple is already moving awfully fast.
Like, so fast his parents are probably about to spray them with a garden hose.
As you probably know, the Duggars follow a strict set of rules when it comes to the process of courting, which they describe as “datint with a purpose.”
That “purpose,” of course, is getting married and siring a small army of fundamentalist children.
As such, all forms of pre-marital hanky-panky are strictly prohibited.
But the Duggars don’t just forbid sexual intercourse.
No, they prohibit unmarried couples from engaging in just about any form of physical contact, including hand-holding and “front-hugging.”
(Courting couples are permitted to engage in brief “side-hugs,” which have been sanctioned by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, as they don’t involve any chest-to-chest or genital-to-genital contact. Seriously.)
For obvious reasons, the Duggars have had trouble enforcing these rules in the past.
For example, despite the fact that their dates were all chaperoned, Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth admitted to breaking courtship rules in the months leading up to their marriage.
We don’t know if that meant they simply held hands for too long, or dared to front-hug, or … went even further.
Whatever the case, “shotgun wedding” rumors began plaguing the Duggars shortly after Joy-Anna snnounced her pregnancy, and now it looks as though they have another courtship scandal on their hands.
Yes, it seems that just a few days after Josiah and Lauren confirmed their courtship, the couple was spotted violating the strict code of conduct set forth by his parents.
According to Radar Online, Josiah and Lauren have already been spotted, holding hands, hugging, and yes … even kissing.
The couple is currently on vacation in New Zealand, where Josiah’s family is doing a number of public appearances and speaking gigs.
At one point, the site reports, Josiah and Lauren visited a military monument with a tank that visitors are encouraged to climb into.
Lauren apparently had trouble dismounting, and Josiah grabbed her around the waist to help her down.
That may not sound like a big deal, but as far as Josiah’s parents are concerned, he might as well have climbed into the tank with her and made a baby.
Interestingly, Josiah is unique amongst the Duggars in that this isn’t his forct courtship.
Josiah courted Marjorie Jackson back in 2015.
The relationship ended under mysterious circumstances, and neither party has gone into detail about why they decided to call it quits.
So perhaps the rules are different for Josiah because he’s been down this road before.
We doubt it, but that might be how the 21-year-old is justifying his more hands-on approach to dating.
We’re guessing his parents aren’t thrilled, and Lauren’s familt–who is rumored to be just as conservative–probably isn’t too crazy about it, either.
Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.