Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar just celebrated a major milestone in their marriage, but it may not have been acknowledged the way that they hoped it would. Their 40th anniversary was on July 21, but none of their adult children mentioned it on social media the way they have in the past. Even though it's totally possible there was a celebration for the couple that was kept offline, it does seem to signal a shift to see the day pass without so much as a post on Instagram Stories from their kids — especially their daughters.
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Jim Bob and Michelle's anniversary quietly passed.
Unsurprisingly, the couple didn't mention it themselves on their family's official Instagram account — it's been radio silent there for the past two years, with posting grinding to a halt when oldest son Josh Duggar was sentenced for his crimes involving child sexual assault material.
However, we have seen the family's grown children celebrate their families on holidays like Father's Day and Mother's Day, which is why their silence seems so unusual now.
Their children kept it business as usual online.
As The Hollywood Gossip pointed out, not a single post or mention was made of their parents' anniversary. In recent years, it seems like some of the Duggar daughters' relationships with Jim Bob and Michelle have been fractured (especially Jill), but it's impossible to know if they truly were snubbed or if they wanted to keep the milestone anniversary off of social media in general.
Years ago, it used to be a matter of routine for the kids to celebrate their parents on social media.
But given the family's scandals involving Josh, that kind of activity has truly slowed down.
This post from Jinger celebrated Jim Bob and Michelle's anniversary in 2017, when they hit 33 years of marriage. "I am so thankful for the marriage you all have exemplified to us kids throughout the years. Always seeking to build each other up & never to tear down," she wrote at the time.
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Their children seem to be distancing themselves.
Recently, oldest daughter Jana revealed that she's been moved out of her parents' house for years, instead living in a tiny house she renovated for herself.
Their other adult daughters seem to have carved out lives for themselves that have involved walking away from the cult-like religion they grew up in, the Institute in Basic Life Principles, which Jim Bob and Michelle are still a part of.
Things have certainly changed a lot since the Duggars were on reality TV.
It will be interesting to see if ultimately Jim Bob and Michelle decide to change with the times – or if their adult children continue distancing themselves. Maybe by the time they're celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, things will be totally different.
