Kendra Duggar: Her Life as a 20-Year-Old Mother

Even though Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are done having babies, Joseph and Kendra have just started, and they might follow in the footsteps of the “19 Kids and Counting” stars.

Kendra, born on August 11, 1998, is the eldest daughter of Paul and Christina Caldwell. Just like Joseph, Kendra comes from a large family as she has seven siblings so far.

We are very happy that our little family will welcome a new addition later this year. Children really are a blessing from God!” they wrote.

TAKING THEIR TIME TO START A RELATIONSHIP

Unlike most people might think, Joseph and Kendra met each other in 2012, several years before they started courting. Since the Caldwells and the Duggars are often involved in the same activities due to their religious beliefs, the couple met each other at church.

One of the episodes of “Counting On” showed how Joseph and Kendra started courting. Joe wanted to surprise his partner, so he took her to a car auction, just like he had done many times before.

After that, they went to the house where he was born next to Jana and James Duggar and Lauren (Kendra's sister) and Paul Caldwell. Once they were there, Joseph asked Kendra if she wanted to enter a courtship, she said yes, and he gave her a ring.

SAYING “YES” TO COURTING

Before popping the question, Joseph explained to the cameras why he chose to take Kendra to the house he was born:

“It’ll show her where I started my life and then maybe we’ll be able to start a new portion of life with her there.”

In another video shared by TLC on March 9, 2017, Joseph and Kendra officially announced their courtship. He revealed that they had been known each other for five years but started talking for “close to six months.”

GETTING SURPRISED AT JOY AND AUSTIN’S WEDDING

Even though they took their time to start a relationship, things have been moving quite fast after that as Kendra and Joseph got engaged on May 26, 2017, at the wedding reception of Austin and Joy-Anna Forsyth.

Instead of throwing the bouquet, as most brides do, Joy just gave it to Kendra who looked happy yet confused. Quickly, Joseph kneeled, showed her a ring and asked her to marry him. She said yes.

In an interview with People, Joseph admitted to being nervous, but he was not afraid of getting a “no” because she had been telling him, “I’m just waiting on you.”

Kendra also shared her thoughts on the proposal:

“I’m so happy and so shocked. There’s so many words I want to say, but just shocked. I had absolutely no idea. He had the ring in his pocket so when I went to go help myself and grab mints out of his pocket, he grabbed at his pocket and I pulled my hand away. But then I quickly forgot about it.”

GETTING MARRIED AND HAVING A CHILD SOON LATER

On September 8, 2017, they tied the knot at First Baptist Church in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

The members of both families took essential roles in the wedding as Joseph’s brothers were his groomsmen (Josiah was his best man) and his sisters were Kendra’s bridesmaids. The bride’s sister, Lauren, acted as her maid of honor.

Joseph and Kendra Duggar didn’t wait long before welcoming their first child to the world. On December 2017, the couple announced on the family website that they were expecting a child.

On June 8, 2018, exactly 39 weeks after saying “I do,” Kendra gave birth to Garrett David Duggar, who weighed seven pounds, eight ounces, and was 20.5 inches long.

BREAKING THE STRICTEST COURTING RULE?

Although most people were thrilled about the new member of the family, some others started wondering if Joe and Kendra had broken the rules and had premarital sex, considering that a baby is born generally after 40 weeks.

However, In Touch Weekly pointed out that it was possible for the Duggars to plan the weddings based on the bride’s menstrual and fertility cycle, so they get pregnant right on the wedding night.

HAVING A SECOND CHILD

On April 11, 2019, fans got surprised with a publication shared on Joe and Kendra Duggar Instagram. The photo showed the couple and Garrett holding a golden balloon that read “baby.” For the caption, they asked their followers to go to their blog, wherein they revealed that they were expecting another baby.

“We are ready to double the fun at our house! Being parents has already proven to be a greater joy than we had hoped or imagined. We love getting to parent together and are loving every moment and milestone. We are very happy that our little family will welcome a new addition later this year. Children really are a blessing from God!” they wrote.

In June this year, Joe and Kendra revealed the gender of their upcoming child, who is due in November, to Us Weekly exclusively.

“Even though we come from large families, there is nothing like having your own children. We are so thrilled that a little girl will be joining our family! Garrett is going to be such a great big brother,” they pointed out.

PEOPLE FEELING SORRY FOR KENDRA

While baby news in the Duggar family is always welcomed, some of the couple’s followers admitted to feeling sorry for her and this new pregnancy, especially when they consider how old Kendra Duggar is.

At 20, she is already the wife of a member of one of the most famous families in the US, has a one-year-old son, and is expecting a second baby. It’s only natural that people believe that it is too much too soon for Kendra.

“I feel so sad for Kendra. Kendra is still very much a child herself. The idea of her being a mother to two young children so close in age has me worried for physical and mental health,” wrote one user on Instagram.

Thankfully, several followers have shared their support with the family, saying that nobody has the right to judge them merely based on how many or how quick they have babies.

At the moment, the couple is doing their best to raise their child living close to Tontitown, Arkansas, where most members of the Duggar family are currently located.