The Seewalds family started a blog [MERGED]

[nst]

Who is Stevel Maxwell?

and what is this company that Ben started?

Don't tell me that Jimbob rented him an apartment? since he left his nest

[16strong]

Who is Stevel Maxwell?

and what is this company that Ben started?

Don't tell me that Jimbob rented him an apartment? since he left his nest

Stevel Maxwell is Steve Maxwell's evil alter ego. Oh wait...

[Phoenix]

Geez. Seewald Senior might just as well have subtitled that blog post "A Treatise to Affect the Pursuit and Acquisition of a Duggar Vagina." :roll:

This sounds like a direct public challenge to JB (not wise) followed by whining about his son's blue balls and how unfair that is. After reading this I wonder if not all is well with the courtship and this op-ed piece is preparing the ground for Ben to beat a retreat without looking like a man scorned. :shrug:

[redhotmess]

I think Ben's dad has a more realistic approach and I applaud the way he expressed this opinion. Not that I think JB cares a rats ass what anyone thinks.

[Hooligan]

I have been lurking for a few weeks but have not posted before. I have a theory about the Blog Post.

I think it was directed to Jimboob. I think that the comment about a young man not being as "wise or mature at 20 as at 45" was completely direct. I think that the "unwise" refers to Ben's rants on social media. Ben said basically what they all believe. BUT, Jimboob is pretty careful about the Duggar brand. The last thing he wants is a Duck Dynasty style meltdown. Not with all the courting and wedding specials coming up.

And I think Daddy Dugger is making Ben jump through hoops, ones that are actually fairly reasonable (crazy courting rituals not withstanding) like you know getting a decent job and or some kind of trade.

Enter the Seewalds with perhaps some aspirations of their own. They got a paycheck for the couple of episodes they were in and they probably want more. Plus the possible wedding special. He has everything to gain from wanting the Dugger-Seawald wedding sooner than later. He may also see that there might be a spin-off for one of the Dugger girls that might be lost if the courtship goes on too long.

Or am I just too cynical?

[BMGO_4]

I'm amazed he actually said the thing about 'giving pieces of your heart' away. I mean, that's been said word-for-word numerous times on the Duggar's show. It's hard to imagine he's not aware of that considering his son is courting Jessa, which really makes it seem like he's specifically calling them out. "There is also the idea that if a young man or woman has romantic feelings for someone that they are giving a little piece of their heart to them. If it turns out they don’t marry that particular person then there will be less of their heart for their spouse. While there is evidence that this is true in a sexual relationship it is absurd to think it is true of mere romantic feelings. There is no basis for this in Scripture. Parents can guilt their children to death over these feelings which are unavoidable."

I agree!

[BrownieMomma]

The Seewalds make good points.

IMO, the culture at large prolongs adolescence. One way is by schooling - we keep our "children" in school until they are 18 and we consider them "children" when the truth is that they could be treated more as young adults in the making rather than as children.

One of my kids was in counseling last year. The counselor told me the new age of end of adolescence is now 28. Since then, I have noted quite a few references to this and I think there is a lot of truth to it.

Also, the employment climate seems to not support young people being able to make a living at a rather young age.

Then, fundies go even more zealous with all this courtship and giving away pieces of your heart. JimBob irritated me to no end during one episode when he alluded to Michelle's prior, well I don't even know if Michelle had dated other boys or what but apparently she must have given some small sliver of her heart away, and how he had a problem with that.

To which my response is, grow up Jim Bob. Stop thinking about it. Stop inviting that problem into your marriage. It's ridiculous to think that the common experience is that everyone is only going to love or care for or have feelings for just one person in their lifetime. Even if you start courting at 14, marry at 18, your spouse could die by 30 and then you have a very long life ahead of you.

I do agree with whoever posted that the Seewalds seem to be laying some track for the termination of the Benessa courtship.

There's never a perfect time to have a baby. There's probably never a perfect time to get married either. Of course you want to maximize your child's opportunity for a marriage that endures and does not end in divorce. There's a lot to be said for avoiding sexual relationships until marriage but to avoid everything until some mysterious perfect time - well, that time will probably never come.

Although.. one good thing.. it does delay these young women from having oodles and oodles of babies.

[BMGO_4]

He met Steve Maxwell.

Imagine him and Steve! That would be a fundie show down that I would gladly pay to see. Maybe he could get Steve to free his hoarded daughters!

[BMGO_4]

I think Ben's dad has a more realistic approach and I applaud the way he expressed this opinion. Not that I think JB cares a rats ass what anyone thinks.

I do think he articulated himself quite well.

[It'sFunToRun]

I think Ben's dad has a more realistic approach and I applaud the way he expressed this opinion. Not that I think JB cares a rats *** what anyone thinks.

If he wanted JB to read something, he would have written him a letter. I'm not sure JimBob is on the internet enough to find that, and I'm not sure Ben's dad expects him to be either.

I think the post is defending Ben marrying young against the heathen culture that says marriage should be done late twenties at earliest.

[BeccaGrim]

Ben's been in a lot of social media trouble lately. I'm wondering if Jim Bob halted the engagement process over that? The whole don't expect a boy at 20 to know what you know in your 40s thing.

[Letgo]

The Seewalds make good points.

IMO, the culture at large prolongs adolescence. One way is by schooling - we keep our "children" in school until they are 18 and we consider them "children" when the truth is that they could be treated more as young adults in the making rather than as children.

One of my kids was in counseling last year. The counselor told me the new age of end of adolescence is now 28. Since then, I have noted quite a few references to this and I think there is a lot of truth to it.

Also, the employment climate seems to not support young people being able to make a living at a rather young age.

Then, fundies go even more zealous with all this courtship and giving away pieces of your heart. JimBob irritated me to no end during one episode when he alluded to Michelle's prior, well I don't even know if Michelle had dated other boys or what but apparently she must have given some small sliver of her heart away, and how he had a problem with that.

To which my response is, grow up Jim Bob. Stop thinking about it. Stop inviting that problem into your marriage. It's ridiculous to think that the common experience is that everyone is only going to love or care for or have feelings for just one person in their lifetime. Even if you start courting at 14, marry at 18, your spouse could die by 30 and then you have a very long life ahead of you.

I do agree with whoever posted that the Seewalds seem to be laying some track for the termination of the Benessa courtship.

There's never a perfect time to have a baby. There's probably never a perfect time to get married either. Of course you want to maximize your child's opportunity for a marriage that endures and does not end in divorce. There's a lot to be said for avoiding sexual relationships until marriage but to avoid everything until some mysterious perfect time - well, that time will probably never come.

Although.. one good thing.. it does delay these young women from having oodles and oodles of babies.

28?! I had to look up that one. Sure enough, I found age 28 mentioned, along with 25-lots for age 25. I really do think that part of this is society's encouragement of and/or excusing certain behaviors.

I am not a big fan of young marriages, but I am also not a big fan of dating or engagement for years on end, IF they couple says they want to be married. If you say you want to be married, do it. Who really needs a five+ year engagement? Of course, these people are not fundies.

I can't see anything wrong with Jessa and Ben waiting-they have only been together about a year. Since he is so young and in college, how would he support Jessa? She certainly won't get a job. Can't see what other choice they have other than waiting. Because of this, I am not so sure this blog entry was directed at JB. I think Mr. Seewald must know lots of young people who don't marry. There are certainly quite a few discussed here, including a number in their thirties. Maybe this was for Steve Maxwell!

[not.diligent.enough]

Does Jessa have any kind of job? Or training to do ANYTHING? I know that woman are supposed to be baby factories after they are married, but is there any reason she couldn't be doing something now? I know that she is busy being a house slave, I am just curious. Jana was supposedly studying to be a Doula, I have friends who are Doulas and they didn't study for years. Who knows what will happen with Jill now, my guess is that she isn't working. I just wonder why Jessa and Jinger have never done ANYTHING.. Or did they do College Plus? I don't remember. Sorry this was kind of off topic, I am just curious why Ben has to get his shit together when Jessa is much older and probably spends most of her time in front of a mirror.

[Dandruff]

After reading this I wonder if not all is well with the courtship and this op-ed piece is preparing the ground for Ben to beat a retreat without looking like a man scorned. :shrug:

I also think things may not be well with the courtship, though I guess we'll know soon enough. If I was JB I'd be concerned about Ben's judgement in posting the Catholicism rant (as opposed to what it actually said). Alienating large groups of viewers and potential viewers can't be good for the family.

I'm not sure if Ben could beat a retreat though. Isn't it only the woman, or her father, who can break things off...or is that only once they're engaged?

[lascuba]

:clap: Someone finally said it. This passage is for you, Steve. :nenner:

On another note, I haven't realized before now just how much Ben looks like his mom. The resemblance to her in her wedding photo is uncanny.

Reading that part again, I think he's actually agreeing with Jim Bob on that one. The Duggars have made it clear that "pieces of their heart" = hymen, and they had no problem with Jill declaring her love for a man she'd never met or with Jessa and Ben exchanging "I love you"s. Jessa made it a point to say that saying I love you falls within the courtship rules. If anything, Seewald is talking about people who take the extreme courtship rules to their natural conclusion by not allowing any interaction at all between their children and potential partners, to protect their hearts.

ETA: Oops, for some reason I read "Steve" as "Jim Bob."

[mausi]

I'm sort of surprised Ben's bio didn't mention his courtship. Not that I think that means anything, but I just expected it at this point.

[Cassia]

Reading that part again, I think he's actually agreeing with Jim Bob on that one. The Duggars have made it clear that "pieces of their heart" = hymen, and they had no problem with Jill declaring her love for a man she'd never met or with Jessa and Ben exchanging "I love you"s. Jessa made it a point to say that saying I love you falls within the courtship rules. If anything, Seewald is talking about people who take the extreme courtship rules to their natural conclusion by not allowing any interaction at all between their children and potential partners, to protect their hearts.

ETA: Oops, for some reason I read "Steve" as "Jim Bob."

Is Jessa really stupid enough to think that exchanging an endless stream of "I Love You" is somehow safer for her heart than holding her boyfriend's hand?

The more I see of her on instagram the less I like her. From her Christian gun porn pout to her "fucking my boyfriend right now with my eyes" selfies, I've already had more than enough. I had to stop following Josh a long time ago because he used to make my blood boil; looks like Jessa managed to accomplish the same in a much shorter amount of time. I didn't think I could dislike a Duggar more than Smuggar...

[pineapple450]

I think the phrase "giving away pieces of your heart" is actually a ATI/general courtship phrase, not necessarily specific to the Duggars. This seems to be more of a rant at the entire courtship system rather than specifically at the Duggars, although I would guess that frustration with how long Ben's courtship is taking is the root of the problem. For the first time, he can't control everything that his son does, mostly because his son can't control what's happening either and just has to kiss up to the Duggars for an indefinite period of time. Also, he's probably feeling frustrated because generally, courtships are 3-6 months, engagement 3-6, and the entire process from declaring courtship (not counting "Special Friend" phase) should take no less than a year. And his son just got passed in the race-to-the-Duggar-vagina by Derrick. It's starting to look bad on him that his son can't seem to secure a courtship and win the father-in-law-to-be's approval. He as the father of the boy in the relationship has much less of a say than Boob does because he is not the one guarding the precious, precious, PRECIOUS, girl's heart/vagina.

IMO, Ben jumped the gun waaaaay too soon with asking for the courship, and should have gotten himself ready before trying to take on the Boob. Afterall, Josh realized he wanted Anna, started his own business, and then approached her father (now that's how you get things done in fudie-land folks!). It would have probably been a good idea to look at what Boob taught his son to do when considering what to do when trying to woo one of the girls :snooty:

[It'sFunToRun]

Does Jessa have any kind of job? Or training to do ANYTHING? I know that woman are supposed to be baby factories after they are married, but is there any reason she couldn't be doing something now? I know that she is busy being a house slave, I am just curious. Jana was supposedly studying to be a Doula, I have friends who are Doulas and they didn't study for years. Who knows what will happen with Jill now, my guess is that she isn't working. I just wonder why Jessa and Jinger have never done ANYTHING.. Or did they do College Plus? I don't remember. Sorry this was kind of off topic, I am just curious why Ben has to get his shit together when Jessa is much older and probably spends most of her time in front of a mirror.

According to the Duggars (who are known for lying), Jessa did a lot of homeschooling, Jessa and Jinger do some prison ministry (when?), and Jinger learns photography from the TLC staff.

[It'sFunToRun]

Ben's dad has started a blog:

seewalds.com/

The first post is about how great it is to marry young

Well this is true:

oh shit:

Second post is about salvation. God is to be feared, and we are all vile sinners. Jesus is the only path to happiness.

No attempt to walk you through the sinners prayer like the Duggars because you know, calvinism.

on the seewalds.com/about page it says about Ben:

And has a little write up about the rest of them.

What does that mean? Does it mean that Calvinists don't attempt to convert people because the Lord already decided who will be saved and who won't? Because I'm pretty sure the Westboro Baptist Church is a weird offshoot of Calvinism and they sure don't keep quiet.

[lilith]

What does that mean? Does it mean that Calvinists don't attempt to convert people because the Lord already decided who will be saved and who won't? Because I'm pretty sure the Westboro Baptist Church is a weird offshoot of Calvinism and they sure don't keep quiet.

But they don't seek to convert either, and have actually knocked back converts. They just want us to know how mad god is.

Some Calvinists do evangelise though - I think they believe that even the elect need the opportunity to hear God's word and, being the elect, will receive it. I could be wrong about the reasoning.

[nst]

According to the Duggars (who are known for lying), Jessa did a lot of homeschooling, Jessa and Jinger do some prison ministry (when?), and Jinger learns photography from the TLC staff.

don't forget jinger and jessa's coffee making at Carmen's coffee house for a whole day

you made ROFL about her being in front of the mirror - it's so true HA

[silverspoons]

According to the Duggars (who are known for lying), Jessa did a lot of homeschooling, Jessa and Jinger do some prison ministry (when?), and Jinger learns photography from the TLC staff.

The prison ministry is with Pa Keller. ATI has a JTTH program at the prison system that Pa Keller has worked at for years. I think we have seen pictures of them visiting The Kellers twice in the last year and a half and doing the JTTH/prison ministry. I think Jessa and Jinger have nothing else to say. To the average viewer or fan, it sounds a lot better then what it is.

I can't imagine how boring life is for Jessa(until she found Ben) and Jinger. I know plenty of LDS young women that want to be SAHM and marry young. The difference is I don't know any that are sitting at home, some take some college classes, some work but none that I know are sitting home, even the ones waiting for a missionary to return and get married. I really feel bad for Jinger right now, what does she really do all day?

[Cassia]

The prison ministry is with Pa Keller. ATI has a JTTH program at the prison system that Pa Keller has worked at for years. I think we have seen pictures of them visiting The Kellers twice in the last year and a half and doing the JTTH/prison ministry. I think Jessa and Jinger have nothing else to say. To the average viewer or fan, it sounds a lot better then what it is.

I can't imagine how boring life is for Jessa(until she found Ben) and Jinger. I know plenty of LDS young women that want to be SAHM and marry young. The difference is I don't know any that are sitting at home, some take some college classes, some work but none that I know are sitting home, even the ones waiting for a missionary to return and get married. I really feel bad for Jinger right now, what does she really do all day?

What does Jinger do all day? That's easy - everything her mother doesn't.

In all honesty, I bet her days are very full - just not full in the same way as your average 20 year old who is in school or at work. I bet things have changed drastically for Jinger in the past year.

[lilith]

According to their book, Jinger "ministers" at a local juvenile detention centre as well as adult prisons in Florida with Mr Keller.