Jinger Vuolo Praises Mom for Helping at Nearly All Her 37 Grandkids’ Births: “She’s Fully Committed” to “Serve” Her Family

Michelle Duggar is on a mission to personally welcome each one of her and husband Jim Bob Duggar’s grandchildren into the world and she’s managed to (almost) do so, despite nearly 40 babies being born into the ever-growing Duggar family over the last 16 years. 

On Tuesday’s episode of The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast, Michelle and Jim Bob’s daughter Jinger Vuolo revealed that her mom has been present for nearly all of her grandchildren’s births, including all three of Jinger and husband Jeremy Vuolo’s children. 

Jinger and Jeremy both praised Michelle for being so committed to helping her kids (and their partners) during the post-partum period.

“I think that she’s only missed two [births], but each of ours she’s been there,” Jinger said, referring to daughters Felicity and Evangeline, as well as son Finn, whom Jinger gave birth to last month. 

“Finn is grandbaby No. 37 for my parents,” Jinger continued. “And that is insane to think about.” 

As fans may remember, Michelle and Jim Bob’s eldest son legally challenged son Josh Duggar (who is currently imprisoned) and wife Anna welcomed the first Duggar grandkid, Mackynzie, in 2009. Michelle and Jim Bob became grandparents while still welcoming children of their own, as Anna’s was pregnant with Mackynzie at the same time that Michelle was pregnant with daughter Josie, who was also born in 2009. 

In the years that followed, Michelle and Jim Bob became grandparents to 36 more children for a total of 37– a number set to increase by at least two this year, as son Jeremiah Duggar and wife Hannah are due to welcome their third child this spring and daughter Jessa Seewald and husband Ben announced last month that they are expecting Baby No. 6.  

Despite the Duggar family tree constantly growing, Jeremy commended his mother-in-law this week for not only being present for the births of nearly all of her grandchildren, but also for being there to support her own children before and after their new addition arrives.

“She came a week before [our kids’ births], she stayed a week-and-a-half after and she’s fully committed,” Jeremy said. “So she comes and serves. She’s like, taking everything off of your plate every morning. I mean, she wakes up before any of us.

“It’s really sweet,” he continued, before admitting to listeners that he was “getting emotional” over Michelle’s support. 

Fans of the Duggar family’s former TLC shows, 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On, may remember Michelle and Jim Bob implementing a “buddy system” with their own children. With this “buddy system,” the older female siblings– sisters Jill, Jinger, Jessa and Jana– were each assigned a “team” of younger siblings (aka “buddies”) that they were in charge of caring for, thus alleviating Michelle and Jim Bob from doing much of the actual parenting responsibilities for their 19 children. 

Michelle has even admitted in her books as well as in multiple interviews that she typically weaned each of her babies from nursing at around five months, at which point the baby was then assigned to a buddy group and Michelle and Jim Bob would get, um, “cracking” on making the next Duggar “blessing.” 

Despite Michelle seemingly having a very hands-off approach with her own children, Jinger revealed on her podcast this week that she “probably would’ve been way more stressed out” if Michelle hadn’t been by her side when she welcomed Finn last month. 

“There’s something so comforting about having my mom next to me through this season and she has such a way of keeping me calm and reminding me that this is a normal process of life that God has created,” Jinger said. “Even without saying it, it’s just her demeanor. She’s so calm, so chill, so prayerful and considerate.” 

Back in 2020, Michelle– who at the time, had just 17 grandchildren– spoke to Us Weekly about the difference between being a mom and being a grandmother, revealing to the outlet that the latter allowed her to “enjoy the fun” without “all the responsibility.” 

“My kids joke and say, ‘You’re in grandma mode,’ and I am. I really am!” Michelle said. “ … I heard people tell me for years, ‘You’re going to love these grandkids,’ and it’s the best. It’s amazing because you get to enjoy the fun, but not all the responsibility of packing the diaper bag and remembering all the details that you need to do. 

“It’s wonderful,” she continued. “It really is. It’s the best thing ever. I love having these grandkids.”