On Tuesday's "19 Kids and Counting" finale special, fans got to watch highlights of the Duggar family's monumental year, plus learn their courtship secrets.

The May 19 episode revealed the Duggar family courtships broken down by each couple. What is courtship? Dating with a purpose, according to the Duggar children.

"First you're friends, then you court, then you get engaged, then you get married, and then you're best friends," a Duggar child explained.

One important courtship ritual the Duggars' practice is asking fathers to court daughters. Ben Seewald and Derick Dillard asked Jim Bob Duggar permission to court his daughters. Once the courting begins, chaperones accompany the couple on dates. The older Duggar children and Jim Bob, along with his wife, Michelle Duggar, have acted as chaperone many times.

One big reveal was that text messages between courting couples are read by Jim Bob and Michelle. While that may horrify many young people, it's a normal practice in courtship to the Duggar brood.

Also in the season finale, fans learned that 21-year-old Jinger Duggar had difficulty seeing her older sister, Jessa, get married and leave the house to start her life as a wife and mother. Jessa and Jinger aren't just sisters; they are best friends. Jinger revealed in the finale special just how much she misses her big sister.


"It was super hard, just those moments right before Jessa got married realizing that our relationship was going to change," Jinger said. "That was a really tough time."

Michelle explained that despite the size of their family, when someone leaves the family home, there's a void.

"It definitely feels different here at home because whenever there's one that's not here there's that gap," she said. "We are such a close-knit family that you notice when one's not here."

It was an exciting year for the Duggar family. Fans can look forward to Jessa and Ben's first child, plus more family fun, in the next season of "19 Kids and Counting."