Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard Talked About ‘Protecting’ Their Kids From Sexual Abuse
Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard have taken center stage for Duggar fans, as they stepped away from Counting On and the rest of the Duggar family. They recently spoke about how they’re choosing to raise their kids. It seems the couple’s willing to get vocal with their sons about sex, and they even mentioned how they’ll help “protect” their kids from sexual abuse. And it may be because of what happened with Jill’s brother, Josh Duggar, in the past.
Why is Josh Duggar not on ‘Counting On’?
Josh Duggar is the oldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s children, and he has a legacy steeped in controversy. While he was a staple on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, abuse allegations came to light in 2015. According to the allegations, Josh molested a number of young girls, a few of whom are his sisters.
The police report notes the events initially occurred in 2002. Josh initially sought help from his family, though it didn’t end there. Reportedly, more abuse occurred in 2006. Finally, the news broke about a decade later, costing Josh his spot on TLC’s Counting On. While his wife, Anna Duggar, occasionally appears on the show, he does not.
Jill is one of the sisters directly affected by Josh’s abuse. She seems to have moved on from the event, as have the other sisters. But Joy-Anna Duggar once noted that while she forgives Josh, she still lost trust. “I have forgiven him and I feel that, but the trust is not there,” she explained in 2016.
Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard spoke about ‘protecting’ their kids from abuse
Jill and Derick have taken a massive step away from the other Duggars. At the end of 2019, Derick explained to a fan via Instagram that he and Jill need permission from Jim Bob before attending family events. Not only that, but Jill also talked about attending therapy and how that’s been helpful in moving forward with her life.
More recently, Jill and Derick spoke to Us Weekly about talking to their kids about sex. “Derick and I had different perspectives coming into marriage about, ‘How do we want to talk about sex to our kids? What language do we want them to use? What do we want them to know about?'” Jill noted. “We’re learning as we go. … We definitely want our kids also to have the ability to protect themselves also, so that’s another aspect of it. Knowledge is power.”
“I think it can help with protecting your kids, too,” Derick added. He then noted that he learned the “anatomical names” for body parts growing up instead of a “code name,” which he thinks “can protect against abuse.” With code names, “whenever kids talk about things, then people might not know what they’re talking about,” he added.
Is Jill Duggar still on ‘Counting On’?
So, is Jill still on Counting On? It seems she and Derick took a permanent step back. While they’re still active on social media and YouTube, they’re no longer featured on the show by choice. This has also been difficult for the other Duggars to come to terms with.
“We left the show three years ago now because, basically, our family goals that we had for ourselves didn’t align with what we found out … we ended up finding out that we didn’t have as much control over our lives as it related to the show,” Jill explained in a YouTube video.
There’s a chance the two could still appear on reality TV in the future, though. Derick explained he’d consider an offer if it fit in his and Jill’s terms. We’ll have to wait and see what they decide.
How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
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