Newsflash: Teen Pregnancy is Not Glamorous
Teenagers need their parents to be open and honest about sex since Hollywood spreads fairy tales.
I was reading the news online this morning and I came across an article about teenage girls in Massachusetts allegedly planning to become pregnant on purpose. It seems that when the girls went into the clinic for pregnancy tests they were elated to be pregnant and disappointed when they found out that they were not expecting a child.
What is going on here? How can 16 and 17 year old girls even fathom the huge responsibility, expense and time that it takes to successfully raise a child?
Where is the glamour in teenage single parenting?
Where on earth are the parents of these girls? Where have they been for the first 16 years of their lives? Haven’t they informed their daughters that having a baby is tough under the best of circumstances?
I had my first child after I graduated from college, had a career and owned a home. It still was not easy and I was not a single parent.
I was fully prepared for the trials of parenting and yet I was totally surprised at how time-consuming at all hours of the day taking care of a cranky or sick baby could be. There are nights in the life of every parent when you just don’t sleep and you can forget having a social life. After a baby you don’t have a social life at all for a while.
As a twenty-something mom I did not miss the social life that I would have missed at sixteen.
We have to teach our teenagers that they cannot believe Hollywood’s version of teen pregnancy as in the movie “Juno.” The movie “Juno” glamorizes something that never will be glamorous and that is teen pregnancy. The story that is told in this movie is one big fat lie.
Jaime Lynn Spears, as I write this article is just about to embark on the biggest realization of her young life. The realization is that having a baby at sixteen is not glamorous, no matter how rich you may be. Real life teenage pregnancy does not mimic the movies and it never will.
It is appalling to think that parents are not talking to their teens about the unlimited
negatives of being a teenage parent. Statistics show that teenage parents more than likely
will drop out of school and never achieve all that their childless teenage peers achieve.
What about birth control? “Just say no” died a long time ago. We have to educate our teenagers on the importance of using birth control, we are not cavemen.
Teens are having sex and will continue to do so. Let’s educate them about ways to prevent pregnancy, STD and the other challenges of a sexual relationship.
Most of all, we need to quit walking around like ostriches with our heads buried in the sand. Teen pregnancy is out there and we need to talk about it.
Liked it
User Comments
Glynis
On June 22, 2008 at 11:54 am
No matter how many times girls are told, nature takes a hold, a sad fact of life and human nature. I have seen the most unlikely of girls give birth. What annoys me about the UK is that the pregnant teenager no longer has to struggle, my daughter asked the local government if they could help her finance her rent for 3 months until her job became full time, she offered to pay back the money, they told her sadly she was not entitled but if she got pregnant they could house her and give her money!! Morals? forget them!
If they can get all this why worry,pregnancy is a benefit not a hinderance. Great article.
Maggie
On June 23, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Thank you for this enlightening article. I agree 100% that teenage girls need to be open and honest with their parents, no matter how much it may hurt, we as parents need to be there for them.
Sherri
On June 23, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I truly appreciate this article and thanks for being refreshingly candid about a chronic problem in our society.
GG
On June 23, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Sex is going to happen and we must educate about how to prevent unwanted pregnancy and diseases.
satendar tyagi
On June 28, 2008 at 1:14 am
I truly appreciate,agree and support.Sex is unavoidable, So why
not get prepared mentally.
Viliux27
On June 30, 2008 at 2:41 am
This is true, and its happening, but an article can not stop this. There should be a new law. Even though there is a law no sexual relationship until 18 none teens listen to this. I think this needs to be a bit more strict.
GG
On June 30, 2008 at 11:55 am
An article can start things moving in a better direction. But “a law” is not the answer. The article stresses the importance of educating teens about the downfalls of having sex unprepared. A “law” is not going to do this.
katie
On July 18, 2008 at 1:18 am
Actually, teens who get pregnant are more likely to finish school.
Really, f you’re going to get pregnant as a teen, it’s a new age. I’m not advocating it, but it happens.
If we’re going to call it an accident, isn’t a child the best accident that can happen? A new life?
And I agree with GG. A law? What laws oculd there be? Punishing girls who get pregnant, guys who impregnate them?
Why dont we let the government be the government and let parents PARENT.
Kat
On July 18, 2008 at 1:27 am
Teenagers are not ready to be parents and its time that parents of teenagers parent and educate about birth control.
Sue
On July 18, 2008 at 1:28 am
The government has to step in when parents are not doing their job as teenage pregnancy then becomes society’s burden.
HA
On July 18, 2008 at 1:33 am
Teenagers are more likely to finish what middle school? There are programs out there to assist single teen moms with babies at home so they can finish high school, but statistically this is not the norm. You have a child at 16 years of age and you are very lucky to finish high school and you can forget the whole college experience. You will be scraping the bottom of the bowl for the rest of your life struggling to stay afloat and probably on government assistance.
This is the reality and this is what our teens need to her-THE TRUTH!
Dawn
On July 18, 2008 at 1:35 am
The guys are never going to have to accept any responsibility and it is the woman’s decision!
Until men have babies it must be a woman’s choice.
Sandy
On July 18, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Babies having babies is not acceptable. Parents have to parent!!
Janine
On July 19, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Girls need strong father role models in the home. Sadly, they are disappearing from our society. There are many reasons for this shocking pregnancy trend but absent fathers don’t help the situation.
Diana
On October 3, 2008 at 6:18 pm
16 yrs ago I became a teenage mother.I came from a normal middle class family. My parents were great role models, and I was aware of birth control ect..None of it could be blamed on anyone but myself and my partner.Sadly, he turned into a statistic. A so called dead beat dad. My life turned out rather well. I am happily married, a mother of four. I am not what usually happens! I am lucky to have had the support of a loving family, and a great husband. Many girls really do (as I did)think that their boy friend will be around pleeaassee do not belive them!I really wish the world would stop blaming tv ,upbringing, ect. These girls are aware, but I wish they would stop being fooled!
Alexa
On March 16, 2009 at 11:24 am
i had sex
you're the best!
On March 24, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Your pieces are truly timeless!
Post Comment