Inside Jill Duggar's Complicated Relationship With Her Parents
Jill Duggar's relationship with her parents is pretty complicated — the former 19 Kids And Counting star revealed that it had been years since she'd visited Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's house. "We haven't actually been over there in a while," Jill confessed during a fan Q&A on the Dillard Family YouTube channel. "Probably like a couple years, other than once ... to check the mail." What's behind Jill's problems with her parents?
It might be that Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, have called out Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar too often, causing a crack in the Duggar family unity that her parents like to present. "We're not on the best terms with some of my family," Jill revealed during an October 2020 Q&A on their YouTube channel. "We've had some disagreements, but we're working towards healing definitely and restoration, but we're having to kind of just take some time and heal." We are happy to hear that Jill is working toward healing, and it sounds like she is taking time to take care of herself.
But her statement about "distancing" from her family doesn't explain what is at the root of Jill's issues with her parents. Keep scrolling to learn why Jill keeps her distance from Jim Bob and Michelle.
Jill Duggar distance from her family is for her emotional health
It sounds like Jill Duggar Dillard is keeping her distance from her parents because it's healthy for her. In a March 21, 2021 fan Q&A on their YouTube channel, Jill said that in "this season of life, we have to prioritize our mental, emotional health." During the Q&A, Derick Dillard noted that there are "a lot of triggers" at Jill's childhood home. The March 2021 Q&A sheds light on the reasons for Jill's break with her parents.
Jill and her sisters were likely traumatized after their brother Josh Duggar molested them, but the horrific situation was made worse by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's attempts to minimize the damage done. The post-scandal interview the Duggars did with Megyn Kelly on Fox News showed the parents almost defending their son for molesting his sisters. Kelly's interview showed Jim Bob and Michelle in a different light, and they were widely criticized in the media. The FOX interview made the situation much worse and it was the final straw that made TLC cancel the show, 19 Kids and Counting, for good.
By keeping her distance, it appears Jill is making her emotional and mental health a priority.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual abuse, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit RAINN.org for additional resources.