PHOTOSJoseph Duggar & Wife Kendra Detail Their Marriage Struggles — 'It Was Kind Of Hard'
Oct. 25 2019, Updated 5:20 p.m. ET
Joseph Duggar and his wife Kendra Caldwell got super honest about the hardships they faced during their first year of marriage. On the season premiere of Counting On, Jim Bob and Michelle challenged their married children to a date night competition and had them answer candid questions about their initial expectations versus the reality of married life.
Joseph, 24, read a letter to Kendra, 21, on their date that was from his parents. “We, Jim Bob and Michelle, often say that expectations ruin relationships. Looking back did you go into your marriage with any expectations? If so, what were they and have they been met? What expectations do you have now?” the letter said.
“I think I had expectations that I would be able to make all the meals the first year of our marriage and that I would be able to clean the house and go with you to work,” Kendra revealed. “We had a lot of things planned out like I would go to work with him every day, we’d make meals every night.”
Joseph nodded in agreement and said, “I think that was something that I expected more, but you didn’t know that you’d be pregnant the first nine months of our marriage and that you were going to be so sick for so long.”
The couple began courting in March 2017 and tied the knot on September 8, 2017. Kendra got pregnant within their first month of marriage and they welcomed their first child, Garret, on December 18, 2018.
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“We were so blessed to have Garret right away and we wouldn’t change that but it definitely did add a different dynamic to our marriage,” Kendra continued. “For me, it was kind of hard because I felt like I don’t feel like I’m a good wife. But you were really gracious and really sweet and understanding.”
She added, “My expectation now is that we do more meals and clean the house more often. Now that the baby’s older it’s a lot easier to do that. And I’ve been able to work some with you lately and that’s been really fun.”
“We’re able to work as a team now than we first got married I feel like. We kind of know what we expect out of each other,” Joseph said. “Divide and conquer.”
Due to a delay in filming Counting On and the time that it airs, the couple’s expectations have probably changed once more. Kendra announced in April that she and Joe were expecting another baby. The couple later revealed they’re having a girl who is due in November.
What do you think about Kendra and Joe’s confession about their first year of marriage? Let us know in the comments below!
