Jessa Seewald’s husband Ben stands accused of being a poor provider for his unemployed wife.
According to The Hollywood Gossip , some 19 Kids and Counting fans recently listed their complaints about Ben on Jessa Seewald’s Instagram page. The photo that triggered the negative response looked harmless enough — it simply showed Ben and Jessa enjoying ice cream cones with a few younger Duggars and family friend Tabitha Paine .
However, the post made some of Jessa’s followers question who was paying for the frozen treats.
“Hey Jessa, has Ben gotten a job yet?” one follower wrote. Another follower responded to the question by pointing out that Ben Seewald works for Jessa’s father, Jim Bob Duggar. However, the Seewald critic fired back, “Let me rephrase. Jessa, does Ben have a real job yet, outside of doing chores on the Duggar compound?”
Similar comments can be read on Ben’s Instagram page . One follower criticized Jessa and her husband for getting married too soon.
“Both parties should have a college degree, house in their name, a job that’s not fast food or servant job, before they get married,” the critic’s comment read.
Jim Bob let Ben Seewald move into a tiny, windowless guest house on the Duggar compound late last summer. The 19 Kids and Counting patriarch admits that he did this in hopes of speeding up Ben and Jessa’s courtship, but he also wanted to put his future son-in-law to work. During an August interview with People , Jim Bob talked about Ben Seewald’s big move .
“We have so many projects to do that we need help for – everything from construction projects to keeping the grass mowed to putting roof on a building, paperwork and things like that – and we asked him if he would be interested in moving up here so that Jessa and his relationship could be really accelerated.”
Some 19 Kids and Counting fans might think that Jessa Seewald’s husband is mooching off of the Duggars, but Jim Bob and Michelle are making the most out of Ben being on the family payroll — judging from the ice cream photo above, they are using him as another babysitter for their massive brood. Ben and Jessa only took three younger Duggars with them to Braum’s the night that photo was taken, but Michelle and live-in nanny Jana probably appreciated having fewer kids at home to look after for a few hours.
However, will Jessa Seewald’s husband be happy working for Jim Bob and being a babysitter forever?
According to Starcasm , Ben had a few “real” jobs before being hired by the Duggar family. He tried (and apparently failed) to start a windshield repair business, and he later worked as an insurance rep while taking online college courses. People reports that Ben Seewald is majoring in political science , so perhaps he’ll ask Jessa’s brother Josh to help him find a job someday (Josh is the Executive Director for the Family Research Council in Washington D.C.). Jessa’s hubby has also expressed an interest in becoming a missionary or pastor.
Right now, Jessa and Ben are living in Josh Duggar’s tiny old house (it’s a family-owned rental), and Ben might have to find a better-paying gig if he and Jessa want to get a larger place.
How long do you think Jessa Seewald’s husband will work for his father-in-law? Should he try to find a better job before he and Jessa start a family?
[Images via Instagram ]