One of the reasons why the Duggars are so fascinating is because they didn't grow up like the majority of us. These days, millennial families are trying to figure out if they want kids at all or just want one or two — not 19. While Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar decided to leave their family planning up to their personal faith in God, they also lived a very strict Baptist life in accordance with several morality rules.
The Duggar children range in age. The oldest, Joshua — who has been kicked off the franchise due to allegations that he sexually abused multiple underage girls, including his sisters — is 35. The youngest, Josie, was born in 2009 and is currently 14 years old. Most of the younger kids haven't been focused on quite as much, probably because they're still living under Michelle and Jim Bob's rules.
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However, as the older children have grown and left the household, some of them have chosen to raise their own children in other ways. They've also made bold decisions without Jim Bob and Michelle's approval. As adults, that's their decision to make. But since they've been in the public eye for such a long time, fans can't help but notice when the Duggars have broken their own set rules.
1. Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell once traveled without a chaperone.
While she's now married to Joseph Duggar, Kendra Caldwell once went on a mission trip with her now-husband prior to them being official. While other adults would have been there, and it was a church event, this is usually something that Michelle and Jim Bob frown upon. Kendra and Joseph reportedly helped build a church building while they were there.
2. Jinger dyed her hair blonde.
Fan-favorite Jinger has broken the rules a few times. Now married and with a daughter, she recently moved to Los Angeles to help support her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, who's taking graduate classes and working as a pastor. Fans couldn't help notice that her hair looked a lot lighter after they made the move.
3. Jinger's husband started using Instagram to post ads.
He may not be a Duggar by blood, but since he married into the family, people are still keeping a close watch on Jeremy. In February, he posted a photo with the caption, "Heard so much about the amazing coffee at @endorffeine from my buddy @mattcoeler that I had to stop by while waiting for lunch at Howlin' Ray's." His fans weren't happy.
4. Jinger was also one of the first girls to wear pants.
It's hard to imagine winter without pants. But the Duggar girls grew up wearing only skirts and dresses. Jinger was one of the first to break the rules after getting married to Jeremy. Even though she still tends to wear dresses that are slightly more fashionable than the dresses of her youth, she's probably a lot warmer these days.
5. Jill bared her shoulders.
Jill Duggar got married to Derick Dillard back in 2014 — and like many of her Duggar siblings, the Jill and Derick shared their first kiss at the altar. But her dress had a small sleeve to it. Duggars don't believe in baring shoulders, which makes this tank-top style somewhat "scandalous."
6. Josiah Duggar broke up with his girlfriend.
You got that right — even breakups are a big deal in the Duggar family. Josiah and his then-girlfriend, Marjorie Jackson, broke up after 19 Kids and Counting was canceled due to the fallout regarding Josh Duggar. The decision didn't look great, as fans then felt like Marjorie may have been using Josiah for the chance to be on television. "Marjorie and I had a good time together," Josiah had said in a statement. "We were just trying to follow God's lead on everything." Josiah since went on to marry Lauren Swanson in 2018.
7. Jana isn't married.
Jim Bob and Michelle seem to be locked into the relationships that their kids form, and they have very strict rules about what their children can and can't do. So it's interesting to see that Jana, the oldest Duggar daughter, isn't pressured to settle down. "There can be that pressure, I guess," she admits. "I mean, everyone’s always giving their suggestions. Some will pressure in some ways. And I’m like, 'Y’all when the time comes…'"
8. Jessa had private conversations with her now-husband.
The Duggar kids grew up with little privacy. The phone calls and texts they shared were always monitored by their parents. That said, Jessa has admitted that prior to marriage, she snuck in a few phone calls to her now-husband Ben. It seems like a small scandal, but it still counts.
9. Jessa reportedly has cable.
As you may imagine, the media that the Duggar kids were able to see was very limited. They weren't allowed to have cable in the house. That's changed with Jessa's new household. In an Instagram post, she revealed that her son Spurgeon was glued to HGTV. Specifically, Fixer Upper.
10. Jill got her nose pierced.
This was one of the most shocking rules that were broken (aside from all of the unforgivable stuff that Josh has been accused of). In 2017, Jill debuted a nose piercing. "I’m shocked she got her nose pierced considering how conservative they are!" someone on Instagram commented.
11. Jinger waited to get pregnant.
It seems a little strange to heavily debate a woman's use of birth control or her overall fertility, but it's sadly something that's a hot topic when you're a Duggar. Jinger is the mom of baby Felicity, but she waited some time after marriage to try for kids. And, as of right now, Felicity is her one and only. Whether or not Jinger has more is up to her — not her parents.
12. Jana Duggar may have danced.
The Duggars take dancing seriously. In general, they're not fans of it, since they feel it may be sexual and get out of hand. At least, that's how Jim Bob and Michelle view it. Jana has admitted that she may have broken this rule once or twice growing up. "I think with any person you may have different views when you’re younger and things change when you get older and vice versa," she reportedly said.
13. Jill doesn't seem very close to her parents.
Unlike some of the other Duggar siblings, Jill seems to want to separate from her family — aside from an occasional visit with her sisters. Back in 2018, her husband, Derick, even mentioned that Jill wasn't welcome back to her family's house without specific permission from Jim Bob. He reportedly said on Instagram that there were no hard feelings, adding, "There are just more things we are aware of now. The truth will always set you free." Huh.
14. Jill's also been spotted wearing shorts.
As created by design, the shorts — which debuted on Instagram — reveal parts of her leg. Since she grew up very conservative, that's a big deal. Of course, Jill looks lovely in them and doesn't have to apologize to anyone for wearing clothes she feels comfortable in.
15. Joy-Anna hugged her now-husband after his proposal.
Hugs are also forbidden until marriage. That is, front hugs — side hugs are often OK. Joy-Anna broke the rule when she didn't realize she was being filmed after accepting the proposal of husband Austin Forsyth. "We’re humans and sometimes we don’t always abide perfectly by our rules," Austin reportedly said. "We try. That was a real hard try."
