Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald’s engagement was the big Duggar family news recently, and now Seewald’s parents have talked about the relationship in an interview.
His mother Guinn, 40, and father Michael, 39, said that Ben has matured a lot lately. Seewald is the oldest of seven children. His family lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where Seewald, 19, is a sophomore in college majoring in political science.
“He is mature and always has been,” Michael told People magazine. “We have tried to treat him like an adult growing up. He did kid things, but with adulthood in view. He has had that his whole life.”
“I was the same age as Ben when I was going through the same thing,” Michael added. “For me, it helped to mature me. A committed relationship does a lot to mature a young man. It does make them grow up a little bit. I can see that happening to Ben already.”
In the Duggar family, courting couples cannot be together alone--they need a chaperone. The Seewald’s agree with this method.
Seewald said earlier this year that he and Jessa found out that Jessa’s older sister Jill and her now-husband Derick Dillard were bribing the younger Duggar children with Skittles to get them to chaperone them on dates. The courting also means that Jessa and Ben won’t kiss until they’re married.
“There is nothing in the Bible that says ’thou shalt court,' ” Guinn said. “But we have raised our kids to know that someone else’s heart is like a treasure, and you want to be careful with that other person and treat them with great respect. There is no perfect pattern. Treat other people as a gift. Honor God and your relationship.”
The parents also shared their thoughts on Jessa as a person.
“She is very strong,” Guinn said. “She is very intelligent. She has a lot to offer to a conversation. She has great ideas – I have enjoyed getting to know her.”
Michael added: “She is exactly who we would want our son to have a relationship with.”
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