Teen Pregnancy, Hollywood Style

I just have one comment to add. Everybody makes mistakes.Everybody's doing it, if you say you're not, or you didn't, you're lying. Most people are just lucky. And I myself am a mother in the WIC program and I have to say four gallons of milk a month barely scratches the surface when it comes to raising and feeding children. I work at Wal-Mart, it's MY tax money that's paying for it, and I don't feel the least bit sorry for it. I'm a full time mom and I work to support my child. They're taking the money out of my check so they can help me put it back. in.

THE BIG PROBLEM IS THE STORES THAT SELL CONDOMS. IN MY AREA YOU HAVE TO BE 18 TO BUY CONDOMS. I DON'T SEE A LAW THAT YOU HAVE TO BE 18 BUT ALL THE STORES HAVE THAT RULE. BUT THE AVG AGE FOR FIRST TIME IS 16&17 THAT TO ME DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

YOU PEOPLE WRITE TOO MUCH! IF JAMIE LYNN HAD A BABY THATS HER PROBLEM!!WORRY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR KIDS! COME ON PEOPLE ITS NOT THAT HARD!!! WORRY ABOUT THE DECISIONS YOU AND YOUR KIDS ARE MAKING..NOT THE CHOICE JAMIE LYNN MADE!!

This is rediculous I think.
I mean..this whole thing is about how the media isn't talking about protection and all the consequences of unprotected sex, including pregnancy...
But what about parents? I mean really, the media doesn't care about the readers or whatever. They just want to put something out there, whether a movie or a tv show or a story about a pregnant teen...they just want to make money. Teen pregnancy is what's happening, so it makes sense that they make something highlighting that. So get off the 'media is corrupting the kids, they aren't giving the whole story' kick.
Instead of complaining, why don't YOU PARENTS give your kids the whole story? Tell them what the shows and movies aren't telling them.

Reading this story tells me is all your telling kids is "I know your gonna have sex so here, have a condom.' Maybe stressing everyday the consiquences of sex period! Ok so maybe we did it when we was young and got away with it. Lucky me! The point is, they don't need to do it. I have no problem talking to my daughters about sex. I got one going into high school this year and every chance I get I tell her about the peer pressure she will be up against for everything from drugs to sex. Probably the hardest time of her life. Not that it won't happen but I keep her involved in everything I can afford to take up most her time and she works even at the ripe ole age of 14. So instead of tossing her condoms or the pill we are keeping her busy in hopes she will see her future is at stake and boys can put and end to that if you get pregnant because now her life is no longer hers but now belongs to her child. And if you think a condom is gonna save you from STD's your fooling yourself.

The problem with "Juno" and the glamorization of Jamie Lynn Spears is that, like this article says, the downside of pregnancy and motherhood are never mentioned. I am 17 years old and have already made the decision to save myself for marriage. While this decision is not practical for all teenage girls, society and our culture as a whole needs to push other options for teenagers who feel like waiting for a comitted relationship is not for them. The downsides of motherhood and pregnancy are rarely dealt with and although they may be unpleasant and sometimes hard to think about, they ARE real. Motherhood is a wonderful thing, I'm sure, but I can say with confidence that NO 17 year old girl is prepared to be a mother, no matter how mature or worldly-wise she may be. Teens AND parents make the common mistake of believing your grown up enough and can handle yourself at 16, 17 years old. While this is true with some things, its NEVER true with pregnancy or motherhood. It's a nice thought to be able to believe that maybe you can beat the odds as a pregnant teenager- stay in school, stay with the baby's father, etc, by why are stats, stats? Because most people don't, and its time to face facts. The mistake is many girls think they are ready or that they can handle it. The fact is, whether we'd like to admit it or not, we're still kids. We're still kids that still need guidance ourselves- how are we to raise children? Its time that parents, not all but many, stand up and realize they're kids still need guidance. Teenage BOYS too, because often a guy's role in matters like this is reduced to nothing, and its just as much HIS fault thats shes pregnant as it is HERS. If society refuses to offer smart choices or good advice about birth control and pregnancy, then its a parent's responsiblity to fill in the gaps.

The problem with "Juno" and the glamorization of Jamie Lynn Spears is that, like this article says, the downside of pregnancy and motherhood are never mentioned. I am 17 years old and have already made the decision to save myself for marriage. While this decision is not practical for all teenage girls, society and our culture as a whole needs to push other options for teenagers who feel like waiting for a comitted relationship is not for them. The downsides of motherhood and pregnancy are rarely dealt with and although they may be unpleasant and sometimes hard to think about, they ARE real. Motherhood is a wonderful thing, I'm sure, but I can say with confidence that NO 17 year old girl is prepared to be a mother, no matter how mature or worldly-wise she may be. Teens AND parents make the common mistake of believing your grown up enough and can handle yourself at 16, 17 years old. While this is true with some things, its NEVER true with pregnancy or motherhood. It's a nice thought to be able to believe that maybe you can beat the odds as a pregnant teenager- stay in school, stay with the baby's father, etc, by why are stats, stats? Because most people don't, and its time to face facts. The mistake is many girls think they are ready or that they can handle it. The fact is, whether we'd like to admit it or not, we're still kids. We're still kids that still need guidance ourselves- how are we to raise children? Its time that parents, not all but many, stand up and realize they're kids still need guidance. Teenage BOYS too, because often a guy's role in matters like this is reduced to nothing, and its just as much HIS fault thats shes pregnant as it is HERS. If society refuses to offer smart choices or good advice about birth control and pregnancy, then its a parent's responsiblity to fill in the gaps.

Okay, it's true that sex happens. I'm not in denial about that. I have a 9 year old daughter who will be a pre-teen before I know it and it scares me. We talk and we have a very open relationship, but the fact remains that when it comes right down to it the decision is hers. Will she here my voice in the back of her mind or will she be too caught up in the moment to hear it?  What infuriates me about Jamie Lynn Spears' situation and the reality program Baby Borrowers is that they are not true representations of  what teen parents experience.  The article in Okay Mag. on Jamie Lynn shows an amazing nursery filled with everything the baby could ever need and then some. NOT REALISTIC for most young moms. Baby Borrowers has set these teens up in beautiful dream homes that are fully furnished!!! Good God, give me a break! Is that the consequence of having sex before you're ready and getting pregnant? I truly hope that young people understand that they WILL NOT live happily ever after with their baby in a dream home in a cul-de-sac and magazines will not be lined up on their door step to take glamorous photos of them with their baby and boyfriend sharing their inexperienced advice on parenting. How ridiculous!

As for the young men out there who blame pregnancy on the young women and feel that they have no choices and abandon your child- I think you need to be told- You had choices 2 seconds before you entered the area. Take responsibility and use a condom. I have explained to my son that until you are married, that you do not trust any women who says she is on the pill. Always wear a condom or you will have a nice reminder at 2am in the morning letting you know they need you. All those parents who allow their sons to walk away from their grandchild and not take care of it. SHAME ON YOU!! No matter how we feel about either who our sons or daughters end up with- we need to stay out of their personal relationships. I feel we need to all see the bigger picture- the UNBORN CHILD that did not ask for the situation- YOUR blood relative! and keep negative comments to ourselves. Enjoy your grandchild and make their parents step up to the plate and be parents. If by chance you feel the baby is not your sons- then pay for a paternity test before you get attached. PART 2

I have always talked to my children about sex from a very young age and if they need protection, all they have to ask. My husband and I both agree that yes we would like our teenagers to wait, but we can't expect them to if we did not. In our explanation about birth control we talked to our children about responsibility. Of course my daughter( always with questions) did ask us when we thought it was appropriate to have a child? Our answer was CAN YOU FINANCIALLY SUPPORT YOURSELF? She answered no. Our next reply was, how can you support a child then? I think our society needs to stop blaming celebrities for the mistakes our children make. As parents we need to talk too and take responsibility for what our children know. Being involved in your child's life no matter what the child thinks, shows the child/teenager that someone is always watching. Also explaining to your child that whatever they are doing that they need to stop and think, could I do this around my parents? If not, then don't do it. It's the basics of right and wrong. PART !

I have always talked to my children about sex from a very young age and if they need protection, all they have to ask. My husband and I both agree that yes we would like our teenagers to wait, but we can't expect them to if we did not. In our explanation about birth control we talked to our children about responsibility. Of course my daughter( always with questions) did ask us when we thought it was appropriate to have a child? Our answer was CAN YOU FINANCIALLY SUPPORT YOURSELF? She answered no. Our next reply was, how can you support a child then? I think our society needs to stop blaming celebrities for the mistakes our children make. As parents we need to talk too and take responsibility for what our children know. Being involved in your child's life no matter what the child thinks, shows the child/teenager that someone is always watching. Also explaining to your child that whatever they are doing that they need to stop and think, could I do this around my parents? If not, then don't do it. It's the basics of right and wrong!

This is a very good topic and I wish parents would talk to their kids from an early age about teenage pregnancy and abstinence! My mother talked to both me and my sister from an early age (about the age of 10yrs old) on a regular basis about teenage pregnancy and the very harsh reality, which many educational programs seem to leave out! She preached abstinence but not in a religious way where we would have to wait until marriage. She said if we were going to be involved in adult activities we should be adult enough to respect ourselves and protect our bodies from these negative out comes.

She was very clear that getting pregnant does not make some one fall in-love with you and it definitely does not keep a guy interested because teenage pregnancy does not equal fair tail romance!!!

This is a very good topic and I wish parents would talk to their kids from an early age about teenage pregnancy and abstinence! My mother talked to both me and my sister from an early age (about the age of 10yrs old) on a regular basis about teenage pregnancy and the very harsh reality, which many educational programs seem to leave out! She preached abstinence but not in a religious way where we would have to wait until marriage. She said if we were going to be involved in adult activities we should be adult enough to respect ourselves and protect our bodies from these negative out comes.

She was very clear that getting pregnant does not make some one fall in-love with you and it definitely does not keep a guy interested because teenage pregnancy does not equal fair tail romance!!!

I am a new teen mother! i have a one month old son named conner. Its hard i will agree there, but when some one looks at me like im a slut or a whore just because im and 18 year old with a child it makes me mad because i sure as hell didn't sleep around! I unlike alot of teen moms know who the father of my child is, and we plan on getting married with in the next 3 years! Im still in school as a matter of fact when every one got out of school for the summer i started 5 online corses and plann on graduating in january of 09! then its off to college i go! i am a very determined person and i will raise my son to be a well rounded young man who respects women to the fullest!!!