Over the weekend, Americans celebrated mothers of all kinds – the good, the bad, and the deeply problematic.
So perhaps it should come as no surprise that one of reality TV’s most controversial moms had her social media followers in an uproar thanks to a divisive remark she posted online.
Fans of her famous family love to criticize Jill Duggar’s parenting, and to be fair, she gives them a lot of ammo.
And yesterday was no exception, as Jill attracted negative attention with some bizarre observations about her own upbringing and the ways in which it’s influenced her relationship with her two sons …
Jill’s Brood
Jill has two sons by husband Derick Dillard. In recent months, the Dillards have emerged as controversial figures, even by the lofty standards of the Duggar clan.
Mom Drama
Jill is frequently criticized for her parenting decisions, such as when she opted to walk two miles with her sons in order to eat at Chik-Fil-A.
Not Backing Down
But in true Duggar fashion, Jill and Derick have refused to shy away from controversy, and in fact, they seem to be embracing all of the negative attention.
More Time Than Ever
These days, the Dillards are both unemployed, as Derick has been fired from Counting On, and Jill quit the show in a gesture of solidarity. As a result, the couple has no source of income, but more time than ever to devote to their kids.
Controversal Methods
And of course, Jill is sticking with the same controversial approaches to parenting that made her parents such contentious figures.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
And it seems that when she’s faced with a parenting quandary, Jill takes her cues from the woman who raised her.
Stirring the Pot
Yesterday, Jill celebrated the holiday by paying tribute to her own mother – and by commenting on her parenting methods in a way that had fans in an uproar.
Michelle On Her Mind
“My momma taught me the importance of instilling scripture into the hearts and minds of your young children,” Jill wrote on her personal website yesterday.
Biblical Babies
“I recently started teaching Israel some Bible verses and I was amazed at how quickly he picked up on them!” she continued.
Homeschool For Israel
“Even when I was looking at homeschooling curriculum (yes, Israel just turned three but I’m just excited!), I was reminded of all the fun things my mom did with us kids to help make learning fun!” Jill went on.
The Michelle Method
“I was reminded of all the fun things my mom did with us kids to help make learning fun! It seems like no matter what I’m doing (cooking, gardening, singing, organizing, etc.), I am reminded in some way of my mom!” Jill wrote.
Loving Tribute
Obviously, Jill is quite taken with her mother’s method of raising children. And even the harshest critics of the Duggars’ parenting methods would probably be just fine with that – were it not for all that talk of homeschooling.
The Tradition Continues
Jill and her siblings were homeschooled, and she clearly has every intention of carrying on the tradition with her own kids. And it sounds as though she’s planning to work from the same curriculum she was raised with.
The Teachings of the IBLP
The curriculum that Jill’s parents worked with comes courtesy of the Institute for Basic Life Principles – a controversial organization founded by disgraced minister Bill Gothard.
A Troubling Legacy
These days, Gothard is in hiding after being accused of sexual assault by dozens of former employees, but surprisingly, his teachings live on through families like the Duggars.
Blaming the Victims
Among the more troubling teachings of the IBLP is the belief that victims of sexual assault are often to blame for their aggressors’ crimes. Jill and Jessa Duggar likely had their heads filled with such nonsense after they were molested by their brother, Josh Duggar.
Maligned Michelle
So it’s not hard to see why Duggar fans might be concerned by the fact that Jill stated she intends to follow in her mother’s footsteps when it comes to homeschooling her kids. But Jill won’t be backing down anytime soon…
Jill’s Lessons
“She is always there for us and loves her husband and children unconditionally. And most importantly, I learn from her that to be a Christian mom … doesn’t mean you’ve got it all figured out, but just that you have a relationship with, and daily communicate with the one who does have it all figured out, Jesus Christ!” Jill wrote about Michelle yesterday.
A Big Shout-Out
“My mom teaches me so much about this!” Jill concluded. Yes, it seems that within the Duggar clan, the more things change, the more they stay the same.