A Fine Line

 

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One of the most thoughtful reactions came from Melody Hobert-Mellecker, whom I spoke with for a subsequent story on teen pregnancy in the media. She is the mother of Meghan Mellecker, a 15-year-old teen parent (to 8-month-old Sophia.) In the days leading up to our interview, she had been reading through the comments on Newsweek.com, and, when we spoke, she mentioned how upsetting they were. She didn't quite get why hundreds of commenters were pouring their time into criticizing teen parents. "It's really hurtful to see grown adults attacking teenagers like that," she says. After helping her 15-year-old through a pregnancy and now as a parent, what she has come away with is this: "Yes, we would not choose for [teens] to get pregnant, we don't want them to get pregnant, they shouldn't be having sex and, yes, Jamie Lynn does make it look all too easy. But you know what, when has it ever stopped teens? She is not the first teenage girl to get pregnant, and she won't be the last. There are plenty of places that these people who are spending their time criticizing teen moms could spend their excess energy." She immediately sees one option: "Having an honest discussion about sex with their teens, instead of criticizing other kids."

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: toriesc84 @ 06/13/2009 10:50:45 PM

    thank you so much rbrignoni pepole need to stop being hateful to these girls an be supportive no teen girl gets pregnate because they think its cool it just happens an they choose to take care of there children stay srong girls its not as bad as there saying be a good mom an you will have good things come to you

  • Posted By: toriesc84 @ 06/13/2009 10:38:02 PM

    you know thats not true at 15 i did a good job with my son he is an amazing kid also my own mother said to me just the other day you were a better mother at 15 then most women are at 40 stop putting girls down for making choices that dont include killing there unborn babies the ones who choose to keep their babies are the brave ones

  • Posted By: toriesc84 @ 06/13/2009 10:29:24 PM

    you cannot say anything about a teen mom unless you have been one i was pregnate at 15 an now my son is an 8yr old strait a student an all around good kid a teen mom has all the resourses a older single mom has i asked for birth control my mom said no now i have a son it is only as hard as you make it for them they have a right to decide for themselfs an she should get to be happy about the new life growing inside them gods knows i had to smile when he kicked when none was looking im not saying every teen girl should have a baby but if it happens all you need to do is be there for them DONT JUDGE

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