Alyssa and John 8: Four Daughters, a New House, and a Pool

[MomJeans]

Alyssa did her usual church outfit photos today. It was the baby's blessing day, and her dress appears to be identical to the older girls.

I assume this is a young mom thing? I'm an old mom, and I've never had the slightest desire to wear the same dress as my daughter.  But at my age, I think it would look ridiculous. Plus I think her older brothers would die of embarrassment.  

Anyway, my favorite is the last picture where they are all standing in the bushes for a picture.  I can't imagine telling my kids "this will look good on Instagram, go stand in the middle of the bushes!"

[AussieKrissy]

41 minutes ago, MomJeans said:

Alyssa did her usual church outfit photos today. It was the baby's blessing day, and her dress appears to be identical to the older girls.

I assume this is a young mom thing? I'm an old mom, and I've never had the slightest desire to wear the same dress as my daughter.  But at my age, I think it would look ridiculous. Plus I think her older brothers would die of embarrassment.  

Anyway, my favorite is the last picture where they are all standing in the bushes for a picture.  I can't imagine telling my kids "this will look good on Instagram, go stand in the middle of the bushes!"

I’m in my forties and my daughter is five we have a matching cardigan that I love to put us both in. I would wear matching dresses if I could. Lol but I would also matchy matchy my kids if I had more than one. My kid hates dresses so I would be shit out of luck most times anyway. That was an odd photo it was like they fell off the path and decided to stand in the garden. 

[Melissa1977]

1 hour ago, MomJeans said:

assume this is a young mom thing? I'm an old mom, and I've never had the slightest desire to wear the same dress as my daughter.  But at my age, I think it would look ridiculous. Plus I think her older brothers would die of embarrassment

The same dress for mama and daughter was a trend back in the late 70's - early 80's. I think it's back now. I find it cute if the kids are little, but I agree that it may look a bit too much. I prefer matching, but with different clothes. 

[VineHeart137]

7 hours ago, MomJeans said:

Alyssa did her usual church outfit photos today. It was the baby's blessing day, and her dress appears to be identical to the older girls.

I assume this is a young mom thing? I'm an old mom, and I've never had the slightest desire to wear the same dress as my daughter.  But at my age, I think it would look ridiculous. Plus I think her older brothers would die of embarrassment.  

Anyway, my favorite is the last picture where they are all standing in the bushes for a picture.  I can't imagine telling my kids "this will look good on Instagram, go stand in the middle of the bushes!"

I wore matching dresses with my daughters this past Mother's Day for the first time ever. ? They are under the age of 6. Not something I plan to do regularly but I thought it was fun for a special occasion lol.

[OHFL2009]

8 hours ago, MomJeans said:

Anyway, my favorite is the last picture where they are all standing in the bushes for a picture.  I can't imagine telling my kids "this will look good on Instagram, go stand in the middle of the bushes!"

I live a couple hours from Alyssa and my first thought was "I wonder how many snakes are in those bushes?!" 

[Lgirlrocks]

Alyssa would be so much happier if she sent her kids to school. I wish Jill would talk to her about it. I know she won’t do that but she should. She would enjoy her kids more and they may enjoy school. I hated being home schooled and begged to be sent to school. I would have been so bored to watch videos all day. 

[SassyPants]

 Don’t know if I’ve already made this comment, but after seeing recently that 6 YO Carson just graduated from 1st grade...I think fundies rush school for a few reasons: 1) the program is so basic, anyone could do it quickly and pass. 2) much of it is rote memorization (lowest form of learning) and copy work. 3) faster they get out, the more they can help at home. 

[rebeccawriter01]

11 hours ago, MomJeans said:

Alyssa did her usual church outfit photos today. It was the baby's blessing day, and her dress appears to be identical to the older girls.

I assume this is a young mom thing? I'm an old mom, and I've never had the slightest desire to wear the same dress as my daughter.  But at my age, I think it would look ridiculous. Plus I think her older brothers would die of embarrassment.  

Anyway, my favorite is the last picture where they are all standing in the bushes for a picture.  I can't imagine telling my kids "this will look good on Instagram, go stand in the middle of the bushes!"

I wouldn't want to wear the same dress as my daughters. I don't even dress them alike. However, a neighbor of ours takes the cake on that. She wears the same dress as her daughters (4 of them). The dogs have outfits that match the dresses. Her husband and son have ties that match the dresses. I'm waiting on any one of them to rebel. 

[Jackie3]

1 hour ago, Lgirlrocks said:

Alyssa would be so much happier if she sent her kids to school. I wish Jill would talk to her about it. I know she won’t do that but she should. She would enjoy her kids more and they may enjoy school. I hated being home schooled and begged to be sent to school. I would have been so bored to watch videos all day. 

I think her kids are bored. When she shows them "doing school," they are usually wriggling around in their chairs, wandering across the room, etc. Also, the way they are learning is so age-inappropriate. They should be doing hands-on things at 3, 4 and 6--exploring the world, learning to use scissors, learning to share, hold a pencil, paint, draw simple shapes, etc.

Even Allie should be doing mostly hands-on learning. When I think of my kids' first grade classroom, it was around 25% academics (done first thing in the morning when the kids were fresh) and 75% exploration, play, music, art, dramatics. Of course, the 75% had an academic focus, like making goods to sell at a "market" to learn math, but it was fun and engaging stuff.

The last thing they need is a two-hour video of a classroom where the teacher never hears them. 

[MomJeans]

I don't think there is any hope of Alyssa sending her kids to school. Taliban Dan ONLY believes in homeschooling.  I get the sense that Alyssa and John still very much follow his leadership, even though Alyssa has broken off from some of the things her own parents believe in.

Alyssa would have been a great elementary school "Room Mom."  And she would have really enjoyed it too. 

[Jackie3]

40 minutes ago, MomJeans said:

I don't think there is any hope of Alyssa sending her kids to school. Taliban Dan ONLY believes in homeschooling.  I get the sense that Alyssa and John still very much follow his leadership, even though Alyssa has broken off from some of the things her own parents believe in.

 

Just curious--has she ever mentioned Taliban Dan? How did she indicate they follow him? I've never seen him appear on her insta or youtube, and I've never heard her mention him. She's mentioned her MIL once or twice. I know she campaigns for him but that could just be a family loyalty thing.

Once, Alyssa said she "didn't know" if the kids would homeschool all the way through. So perhaps she does think for herself.

OTOH, John's job comes from his dad's business. So they might not want to rock the boat for that reason. I'm not sure if Dan is controlling to that extent. Homeschool my grandkids or no job?!

[G33kywife]

2 minutes ago, Jackie3 said:

I've never seen him appear on her insta or youtube, and I've never heard her mention him.

In a YT video a month or so ago, they said they keep trying to get his family to join for videos or pictures, but they prefer not to for now. One of them said something to the effect of eventually wearing them down. 

[MomJeans]

1 hour ago, Jackie3 said:

Just curious--has she ever mentioned Taliban Dan? How did she indicate they follow him? I've never seen him appear on her insta or youtube, and I've never heard her mention him. She's mentioned her MIL once or twice. I know she campaigns for him but that could just be a family loyalty thing.

Once, Alyssa said she "didn't know" if the kids would homeschool all the way through. So perhaps she does think for herself.

OTOH, John's job comes from his dad's business. So they might not want to rock the boat for that reason. I'm not sure if Dan is controlling to that extent. Homeschool my grandkids or no job?!

Just recently in one of their instagram Q&A's she said what a godly man Taliban Dan was.  With a lot of awe in her voice. (Recent enough that if you look through them, it had to be in the last 60 days.  Maybe even last 30).  There have been several other moments where she and John have voiced their admiration for his father.  Unfortunately, I can't pinpoint a time period on them, but if you just search her SM (look closer to election time is my guess, they usually have a picture up from attending one of his fundraisers). 

Their financial security appears tied to Dan as well.  Would he withdraw support if they put the kids in school?  He is unequivocally against sending Christian kids to brick and mortar schools. I've heard in him person going on and on how schools are part of Satan's way of infecting your children with socialist values, and that good Christian mothers need to fight for Jesus and homeschool their vulnerable children.  

Edited May 17, 2021 by MomJeans

[SassyPants]

Taliban Dan who was an engineering degree out of GA Tech, only believes in homeschooling.

The old “I got mine mentality.”

[MomJeans]

Actually, that just got me thinking.  Did any of his children get a four year college degree?  Not snarking, genuinely asking. 

Dan always lauds his EE degree.  (I've been to more than a few events where he spoke.) I assume at least one or two Webster scion went to college.  I know plenty of people that believe in homeschooling for K-12, but think certain colleges are fine.  I always assumed some of his kids went to college, but I don't know anything about them. 

[OHFL2009]

7 minutes ago, MomJeans said:

Actually, that just got me thinking.  Did any of his children get a four year college degree?  Not snarking, genuinely asking. 

Dan always lauds his EE degree.  (I've been to more than a few events where he spoke.) I assume at least one or two Webster scion went to college.  I know plenty of people that believe in homeschooling for K-12, but think certain colleges are fine.  I always assumed some of his kids went to college, but I don't know anything about them. 

According to the Webster Air Conditioning website, Jordan has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, but it doesn't say from what school. Dan's listing mentions Georgia Tech by name, so I'm not sure if they left out Jordan's school intentionally or if they each wrote their own bio and he didn't think to include it. Brent's and John's bios on the website make no mention of education at all. Neither David nor either of the daughters are mentioned on the website; I assume the girls would be far less likely to have a real degree, but I don't know anything about David.

Edited May 17, 2021 by OHFL2009
Clarity

[Mama Mia]

5 hours ago, Jackie3 said:

I think her kids are bored. When she shows them "doing school," they are usually wriggling around in their chairs, wandering across the room, etc. Also, the way they are learning is so age-inappropriate. They should be doing hands-on things at 3, 4 and 6--exploring the world, learning to use scissors, learning to share, hold a pencil, paint, draw simple shapes, etc.

Even Allie should be doing mostly hands-on learning. When I think of my kids' first grade classroom, it was around 25% academics (done first thing in the morning when the kids were fresh) and 75% exploration, play, music, art, dramatics. Of course, the 75% had an academic focus, like making goods to sell at a "market" to learn math, but it was fun and engaging stuff.

The last thing they need is a two-hour video of a classroom where the teacher never hears them. 

Welcome to the last 14 months of k-12. 

[Jackie3]

4 hours ago, MomJeans said:

Just recently in one of their instagram Q&A's she said what a godly man Taliban Dan was.  With a lot of awe in her voice. (Recent enough that if you look through them, it had to be in the last 60 days.  Maybe even last 30).  There have been several other moments where she and John have voiced their admiration for his father.  Unfortunately, I can't pinpoint a time period on them, but if you just search her SM (look closer to election time is my guess, they usually have a picture up from attending one of his fundraisers). 

Their financial security appears tied to Dan as well.  Would he withdraw support if they put the kids in school?  He is unequivocally against sending Christian kids to brick and mortar schools. I've heard in him person going on and on how schools are part of Satan's way of infecting your children with socialist values, and that good Christian mothers need to fight for Jesus and homeschool their vulnerable children.  

Well, in that case, it does seem unlikely that the kids will attend school anytime soon!

[JermajestyDuggar]

1 hour ago, Mama Mia said:

Welcome to the last 14 months of k-12. 

Yep. Having to homeschool my kindergarten and 2nd grader this year made me realize even more how poorly these fundies are educating their children. 

[justmy2cents]

I thank the stars above that my daughter’s school was in person all school year. She hated learning from home the last 3 months of school last year. 

[AussieKrissy]

9 hours ago, rebeccawriter01 said:

I wouldn't want to wear the same dress as my daughters. I don't even dress them alike. However, a neighbor of ours takes the cake on that. She wears the same dress as her daughters (4 of them). The dogs have outfits that match the dresses. Her husband and son have ties that match the dresses. I'm waiting on any one of them to rebel. 

So sad I would do this too. Not every day as I’m so not that organised. But definitely once in awhile. Lol. I would LOVE it ba ha ha ha and yes I am well aware how weird it is and no fucks are given. Lucky for my kid I can’t organise a shag in a brothel with a fist full of fifties, as the old coarse saying goes. 

[JermajestyDuggar]

My mom used to make my sister and me matching dresses when we were young. We hated it. My mom might color coordinate for pictures with us. But she never matched dresses with us. What hilarious is that my 6 year old son would LOVE it if he and I matched one day. 

[justmy2cents]

My daughter and I never wore matching outfits, which can be cute sometimes but we have worn the same colors which I didn't do deliberately.  

[Baxter]

I've never worn a matching outfit to my daughter. But she's just turning 2 and with covid we really haven't been out very much. My sister has an almost 3 year old girl and we like to get then matching dresses for Christmas and sometimes other occasions. I imagine at some point they might not like that and we will sadly have to stop. 

I have in the past occasionally dressed my son similarly to my husband. Although honestly I don't think my husband would have noticed if u hadn't pointed it out to him. 

[Expectopatronus]

My sister and I have matched our kids and I coordinated with my daughter for Christmas and New Years. I love some of the matching mother daughter dresses Dillards sells but they are waaaaaay out of my price range, especially with shipping and duties.