In "The Sled" chapter, the author recalls a memory from their childhood when they were outside in the snow with their parents, Derick and Jill, following the strict courtship rules. While they engaged in discussions about potential wedding venues, they couldn't help but notice that others were watching them. What struck them most was the surprising sweetness and joy in their mother's voice during this interaction. Despite having followed their mother's rules for 23 years, they couldn't help but notice Derick's apparent confusion about whom their mother was addressing. Eventually, Derick left to ensure they weren't breaking any rules. This experience serves as a reflection of the author's lifelong sense of confusion while growing up in the Duggar family, a confusion that outsiders like cameramen, journalists, and strangers observed. It also hints at the bewilderment they felt when Derick proposed, preventing them from seeing their own life from an outsider's perspective.
