Baby 101

I had my oldest daughter when I was two months shy of my 15th birthday. It was very difficult going to my single mother telling her that her oldest child was having a child. There's nothing to glorify by having a baby at a young age, especially when you haven't finished being raised by your own parent. Everyone's situation and circumstances are different. I am a black female, oldest of 4 children (2 girls, 1 boy), dad was more interested in selling/using drugs and other women, had a great mother who loved God and her children (worked 12 hours a day, still does). I continued school and graduated with my diploma (guitting was not an option). I've always wanted to help teen boys and girls learn about the consequences of their actions and behaviors, but I've never been the position financially (I do speak to the kids and teens I met through my children). Jamie Lynn can take this opportunity to educate other teens if she likes, if not that's her decision. She owes no one anything. The ugly truth is she's not going to be the first or the last child/teen to get pregnant. This issue is a large bigger than this young lady and everyone knows it. Just be grateful that she can afford to actually tend to the babies needs. I could go on and on about the trials and test she, myself, and others in this situation have to face (time and space won't allow it). I needed to feel loved by a male, he was my first and it was my first experience and I got pregnant. THE FIRST TIME...GO FIGURE!! Everyone has a story: some want love, attention, money, the feeling that they have control, etc. sjumoke@hotmail.com

Personally, I don't think it glamorizes it, but I do think it was a poor format. If you have a child, and that's what they are, that finds this scene glamorous, then someone needs to evaluate the way that said child is parented. My child's friends have all discussed her, and most of them feel sorry for her. I think it's in poor taste, but look what the media did to her sister not to mention what she did to herself.

The 17 year-old girls that I have known to have babies, STRUGGLED to afford diapers and necessities for the baby and did not lead the glamorous life portrayed by the magazine (perfectly coiffed hair,nails, clothing etc). Most are tired, financially poor, and trying to hang on to the life they had before baby. Life for a teen raising a baby wasn't by any means "picture perfect." The magazine could do something beneficial for society (espcially for teens) by writing the reality and truth of teen pregnancies.

Glamorize the next Brittany? I know their parents are disfunctional. I have 3 daughters and I'm sick of hearing how this Freshman is pregnet or this year an 8th grader. For Ok to make this a cover story is just has sickaning has Nick allowing her show to continue. Are there any adult parents left in this world who actual want to parent? Oh, and just so that you won't ask my daughters are 20, 17 ,and 7 and I'm not a Grandfather.

16 is adult??? 17 is adult?? Wow where the hell do you live? So you are saying if a 16 year old is a adult it would be ok for say a 28 year old to have sex with them?

"She's seen things that happened to Britney and really learned the lessons so when it came to her own story, or her own image or her own press, she made really smart choices."

Looks like she made a real "smart" choice in getting knocked up and then deciding to keep the baby. There are so many health issues involved in having a baby in your teens. The fact that she did this and then decided to publicize it the way she did, it makes me sad. I absolutely think that teenagers today want to get pregnant if only to feel that unconditional love that comes from being a parent that many teenagers feel they aren't getting from the people that are supposed to love them that way -- their own parents. This story just makes the situation worse when it comes to romanticizing teen pregnancies -- regardless of what the editor of OK says, Jamie Lynn did not have a "unique" experience. In fact, it's pretty darn common and so is she.

Ok! Magazine, shame on you! Your pictures of Jamie Lynn protraying what a wonderful life its is to be a teen mom are disgusting. I was a mom at 17 and let me tell you in the real world I was not able to afford to dress my baby in designer outfits and the nursery. The reality is after you find out your pregnant most guys will leave you. You will end up taking care of this babay alone. Pinhing your pennies to aford diapers not pretty things for your nursery. I hope nobody else will ever drop a dime on your magazine.

You know, I don't think it glamorizes it. But honestly, she is a celebrity. And if someone's child son or daughter finds this that impressionable, then there's alot to be said for that child's parenting. Personally, I know alot of teen girls (friend's of my sons) and we have discussed this, they feel sorry for her.

OK! in upper left. Spears below it holding her baby. It's OK! to have a baby when you're 16.
Trashy cover, Trashy family.

And we wonder why our country is suffering. No remorse No education No direction. Its not their fault its ours for glamourizing this. We are the ones buying and reading this trailer trash soap opera. Whats wrong with these parents?? obviously they have sold their parental responsability for selfish motives. Get a grip.

Eventually, the "Wow!", "Isn't she beautiful?!", and complete novelty is going to wear out for Jamie Lynn and she's going to realize what being a mother really is. Its late nights with your children when they have a nightmare, cleaning up after them when they get sick, making sure that they understand the difference between right and wrong, showing them how to be responsible adults when they get older, and how to make the right decisions when it comes to their well-being. Hollywood and the paparazzi are glamourizing what everyone else considers a teenage mother. Granted, many young mothers don't like that term because it shows that they really are, in fact, babies having babies. My sister had a baby when she was Jamie Lynn's age and refused to take care of it once the novelty wore off and it wasn't a friend-attracter anymore. Honestly, someone needs to sit this girl down and let her know that she has a responsibility to this child for the rest of her life. There is no more hanging out with the girls when she wants, no more shopping sprees just for her and her little teen girlfriends, and no more sleep overs. There are late night bottle feedings, trips to the store for diapers and formula, and dreaming about a full night's sleep.

Jamie Lynn, maybe you should NOT follow your sister's example and STOP HAVING BABIES!

Lets start at the beginning. First, Teens are confused in their lives to begin with. They want to have the best feeling in the world. The teens years are when people are finding themselves and their place. They have the boyfriend and then finally decide to play house. They want something to fill the void and someone to love them unconditionally. Then reality kicks in. She misses her teen years and the fun she could behaving. The boyfriend wants his freedom to do "guy" things and not be teased because he's changing diapers and being spit on by baby formula. Now, enters the money part. Paying for diapers, formula, clothing, etc. She may have to fight him for child support (which can take forever to get) and she will not go anywhere and if she does its to a minimum wage paying job. Then, it's the grandparents who end up raising or help raising the baby. Instead of OK! showing Spears and her cushy little life, why don't they interview every day girls and what they go through if they want to do an article on teen pregnancy? I'm not saying ALL situations are like this but a majority of them are and that is the reality. This article actually is in bad taste giving the illusion that everything always turns out great. How many adult readers are actually buying the mag to read the article and how many are teens? Look at the situation where the school found out 14 girls all had a pact to have babies. This came out at the same time Spears announced she was knocked up. What ever happened to glamorizing the girl that has or is going to college, getting married when she had established herself and then having children? Why don't they do an article on a girl like that?

WAKE UP PARENTS YOUR TEENS ARE HAVING SEX WHILE YOUR SLEEPING! QUICK GET THE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS OUT!

Why should we glamourize the next Brittany. I have 3 daughters this is outragous. I'm sick of the it's OK to have babys at 16 even 14 attitude. Ok and Nick go straight to H.

Personally, the magazine doesn't surprise me but also, the only reason she's being publicised is because she's a Nickelodeon star. The issue of teen pregnancy didn't start with her an nor will it end with her. There are hundreds of teens younger than 16 getting pregnant everyday but you don't see them on the news or on the front cover of a magazine. That issue alone needs to be raised. I myself was pregnant at 14 and had my first child at 15 then turned around and had another child at 17. Thank the Lord above that I can say I still completed college, have an outstanding career and both of my children are in college doing well with no children or criminal background and I raised them both by myself. The issue goes beyond teens becoming pregnant and taking care of them. The issue is why are teens becoming pregnant and giving them the tools to take care of them. There is always a cause to the effect. For "RICH" people, the cause maybe different for "POOR" people but again, there is more than just the --- Oooohhhh, we were alone and he started touching me and I started feeling funny in my body and then my pants dropped. There is a level of mental and physical self-control that children must learn while they are very, very young. There must be learned discipline in the home that reap consequences if you don't follow. They cannot go through life allowing their feelings and emotions control their decisions. They also must learn that when "I the MOM says" you cannot have boyfriends or sex, That is EXACTLY, what I mean. No if's, and's or but's. No my children were not allowed to do much besides go to school, participate in christian activities and do chores but the result for me in my experience worked out to their benefit. I was mean, strict and had a no nonesense attitude but I also listen to them and talked to them on a daily basis about school, friends, their feelings and although I had the final say so regarding what and what not they could do, I always was open to their opinions and desires. I took time out of my extrememly schedule to spend hours with my kids daily. I gave them hugs, boost their self-esteem and made them feel loved for who they are and not for what others say about them. This is what children need so they can grow up strong and secure in who they are without thinking they have to validate or prove themselves to anyone.

I had a baby at the age of 22, and for me the balancing act of work, raising a new baby, maintaining a healthy balance for my marriage...it was overwhelming! I can not imagine being 17 and having to deal with the same level of emotions and decision making, with much less life and maturity under your belt. I think it is sad that kids now a days think that having a baby is "fun"...it is a privelege to be able to raise and support your own children, and if you can't do it to the fullest (financially and emotionally), then you shouldn't. I now have a beautiful 4 year old girl and am scared to death what this teenage pregnancy epidemic will look like when she turns 16. Jamie Lynn made a mistake and will now have to deal with that for the rest of her life...fortunately, if she grows up and realizes what a wonderful opportunity she has, 2 years from now it can be a life changing, success story rather than a sad, teenage pregnany saga.

As a teen mother myself (I am now in my 30's) I support teen moms as much as possible. However, glamourizing it is not the way to go. I don't want to see some young girl getting pregnant because Zoey said it was the best feeling in the world. I saw the cover of OK! at the grocery store and my first reaction to the cover and the quote on it was "Oh****" There is a delicate balance to be made here. I think it is the greatest feeling in the world too and I can't imagine my life with out my son, but I wouldn't and don't broadcast the fact that I was 16 when I had him to the world.

I think that there is something very troubling with the Spears family in general and if they would spend more time working on the family issues as a whole, and less time exploding the family and new baby for money, they could regain some of the respect they have lost in the public eye. No one can say, that they want there 12yr old daughter, niece, cousin, etc..., idolizing Britney or Jamie Lynn at this point, unless money is all you care about. If Jamie Lynn would use this situation to talk and teach young girls about other options they have like birth control and abstinence, she could complete change this situation around for her.