Between Bristol Palin, Gloucester pregnancy pacts and several new shows on television, it seems teen pregnancy is all the rage these days.
A recent Reuters article shows that teen pregnancy did have an increase four years ago after being on the decline for much of the preceding decades. Obama has since cut funding to "abstinence only" education, shifting funds to pregnancy prevention education that include abstinence along with "medically accurate and age-appropriate" information.
But I think all a sex-ed class needs to do is steer their students away from shows like Glee and Secret Life of the American Teenager, both of which glamorize teen pregnancy and steer them back onto MTV's 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom.
Teen Mom, which comes back for a second season this month, does NOT glamorize teen pregnancy. I have almost never made it through a show without crying.
In fact, I find the show to be one of the most compelling, honest portrayals of parenthood on television today.
The moms -- Macy, Amber, Farah and Caitlyn -- struggle with all the things we struggle with -- lugging the diapers, juggling the work schedules, trying to have a social life, sleeping less, but they do it with less help from the fathers (in almost every case) and with less education than many of us older parents.
It is one of the most interesting and painful things on television and I dare those who call it "schlock" or "reality garbage" to tune in for the full season and see if you do not kind of fall in love (and also kind of dislike at times) these families.
With all the hype about teen pregnancy these days, this show should be required viewing for our nation's youth.
Have you seen the show? Are you glad it is coming back?
Image via MTV.com
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Comments 13
I have seen several of the shows - enough to get some insight into each of the young women. I agree the show seems to show the whole picture, and it's not pretty most of the time. The couple who actually made the decision to give up their baby are the most mature. The others struggle with various levels of teenage growing pains - and demonstrate that they really aren't ready to take on the responsibilities and make the sacrifices required to raise a child when you're barely out of childhood yourself. I'm not being harsh - I lived their experience more than 40 years ago. I married my baby's Dad, and she is a wonderful adult with 2 youngsters of her own now. If you've walked the walk, you know the realities ... our marriage lasted 13 years and may have made it if we'd had the support that's available these days. That stated, I have no regrets and my 2 daughters had good childhoods and 2 fully involved parents. Both waited to marry until they were past 30; both waited to have children until they were married a few years and ready for the responsibilities of a family. I'm proud of my girls, and I would not encourage a teen mom to give up her baby - I would encourage a teen to learn about sexual issues and birth control and to let her/him self have time to grow up and enjoy youth before taking on the parenting role.
@x-ac5to-girl I was a teen mom and I am slightly offended at your comment that the ones that choose to give up their babies are the most mature. In some cases this is true but in others its not. To call a teen mom immature because she wanted to keep her child is and unfair generalization. In my experience, more often than not, a descision to give up the baby was a selfish act because they didn't want to give up the playing around that teens do. Is that more or less selfish than keeping the baby and trying to raise it right? I'm not saying dont give the baby up for adoption, i'm just saying it depends on the situation.
@ OP I saw the show 16 and pregnant once, and while it is more of an accurate depiction, I couldn't stand watching it because the girls were so stupid. On the episode i watched, the girl was debating on whether or not to keep her baby, and she decided she wanted to because it wouldn't be that hard. Then after she had the baby she got upset that her mom wasn't helping more. I just couldn't get over how dumb she was thinking it would be easy. I was never that delusional. I knew having a baby at that age would be hard.
Addy’s mom- I think she was talking about on the show. Not in all cases. And if that were the case, I agree with her. However Macy was a damn good mom.. But Ryan was an idiot.
I agree that it’s a great show and does show SOME truths. But not all teen moms have that sort of drama!! I had Josiah at 18 (yeah, I wasn’t 16 maybe that’s where some of the difference comes from) and I’ve never had that much drama. So is it true for many moms, but I got disgusted at some of the drama….oh and car seat usage…. I don’t think any of the girls knew how to use a car seat correctly…
I am also offended, i to am a mother to be, she/ he will be born on my 16th birthday next year in march, i know its going to be hard and it was dumb of me to do what we did but i don't regret it, no matter how hard it is taking care of my baby i will love them and support them on everything, and because of my weird ass family i don't go to school, the state has no idea where i am cus i was dumped here, i am aware of how to do everything from fixing the car seat in to dealing with a but rash to picking the right toys that wont harm my child. not ALL teen moms suck at being a mother, Some are better than 28 and 32 year old moms, my mom was 14 when she had me, i loved her when i was small, but she turned around when i turned 13 and started going crazy, at 15 she forced me out of my family arms and into a creeps, her crazy self tries to control me and i didn't even live with her. To all the teen moms, i have respect for you, you kept your baby and your trying your hardest.
@Addys_Mom My comment about the maturity had ONLY to do with the girls in the shows I've seen and NOT about teen moms in general. I know first hand how much thought goes into the decision and how tough it can be - and it's easier these days than it was 40 years ago. FWIW, I did not give up my baby and I do understand the issues. I was 15 when my first daughter was born in 1967.
@mollymae09 - thanks for that. You're correct, and I agree with you on the drama bit as well.
@sky - your mother's treatment says it all. It's also probably a motivator to you to be a great mother. Best wishes to you - it's not impossible, it just takes hard work and lots of thought.
Okay this is a little bit late. But I've watched 16 & pregnant since the very fisrt season, right along with Teen Mom. And Sorry but IMO, giving up your child for adoption to me is the most selfish thing you could possibly do, that shows you shouldn't be having sex, and if you are having sex, wrap it up or use birth control, theres forms of it out there that you don't need a shot or take a pill every day IE: Mirena, or nuvaring. I was 16 when I was pregnant, now granted adoption did grow though my mind ALOT, just because I had some major downs in my life, and my way of getting over it was partying and drinking and drugs. But on my 17th birthday I felt my little girl kick in my stomach as I was checking my myspace and emailing my mom about how her grandbaby was doing that day. (I freaked when I felt her move lol, thought I had bugs on my stomach) But that is when I decided I was going to do this, I was going to give that life up, not only because I had to, but because I needed to. Honestly though Maci is the only one I really enjoy watching, how much more real can you get than taking your baby's father to court for child support and to court for custody? And moving out and breaking up with a boyfriend, AND ALL ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. But thats just my opinion. Adoption is selfish.