16 and preg.

[Berryluv]

Anyone watching 16 and preg? I'm cringing every time she picks up the baby.

 

[lyra]

I think I've watched every episode of 16 and pregnant and Teen Mom. My girls roll their eyes at me. They're 23 and 20. There are no happy endings in these shows. I hope that point gets across. The boys *always* leave the girls, but for 2 cases I think. It's horrible to watch what these girls go through. I wonder if teen girls actually get anything positive out of the shows?

 

[mtjoya]

I do. It's so annoying. I don't feel bad because they know. The information is out there. They laugh when they mention how they got pregnant in the first place. Like, Hehe, We only used a condom twice. So annoying.

 

[swingirl]

I wonder if teen girls actually get anything positive out of the shows?

The "stars" get paid for every episode.

 

[Sizzle]

I do. It's so annoying. I don't feel bad because they know. The information is out there. They laugh when they mention how they got pregnant in the first place. Like, Hehe, We only used a condom twice. So annoying.

I was a teen mom and I did not want your sympathy during that time. These girls are young and there's all kind of information about there, but when you are 16-20 more often then not, you don't see it that way. If you're so judgemental on the situation, why on earth would you watch it?

 

[AGBF]

I don't watch television, so I almost never even know what is on television unless someone tells me. (One example of a show I had hoped to see, although I wasn't able to do so, because I learned of it on Pricescope, was "Sister Wives".)

My daughter's best friend got pregnant when she was 16 or 17. She was dating more than one boy/man at the time she got pregnant. She claimed to know who the father was and, at 17, moved in with him with no support from her family and gave birth to the baby. He will turn two in February. She is 18. She and the father of the the baby are married. They have a baby girl who is about five months old, too. He is an illegal alien, but working on becoming "legal". Her father works for the Border Patrol. Her husband has been physically violent to her. He has cheated on her. Right now he has confessed to cheating on her and said it won't happen again, that she and the children mean more to him than anyone else and they are doing well. Will it last? I wouldn't have given it this long! I do think they love each other, though. The guy works at two different fast food places with no benefits and comes home to her and the kids every night with his money. To me that shows he is not just in the relationship for what he can get out of it. She cooks and cleans and takes great care of two young children and always puts her husband before herself. Her ego strengths are enormous.

Do I think she should have dropped out of the tenth grade? No way! But she is a wonderful young woman.

Deb/AGBF

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I've watched every episode of 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. It's my MTV guilty pleasure.

When the shows first aired, MTV got a lot of criticism for "glamorizing" teen pregnancy. I disagree that any part of these girls' lives seem glamorous. Most are not able to finish high school, despite really wanting to. Most are in very bad relationships and most are trying to work in order to make ends meet. The combination of having a baby with a man who more often than not is a jerk, while trying to work and go to school? Not. Glamorous.

My mother had my sister at age 16. My sister had my niece at 16 and my niece had her son at 16. In fact, they all had 3 kids by the time they were 20, so teen pregnancy is a hot issue in my family. They were all with physically and emotionally abusive men. They all say that it was the worst time in their lives (my niece is still struggling very much), because they were terrified, completely alone and responsible for another person's life.

I'm not judgemental towards teen moms because while many of them were stupid about protection, accidents can happen. Most teens aren't abstinent--I know I had a long-term boyfriend in HS and cringe to think where I would be right now had my BC not worked.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

I enjoy that show, and teen mom, way too much I'll be watching it tonight on the internet since I don't have MTV.

 

[Steel]

I do. It's so annoying. I don't feel bad because they know. The information is out there. They laugh when they mention how they got pregnant in the first place. Like, Hehe, We only used a condom twice. So annoying.

I was a teen mom and I did not want your sympathy during that time. These girls are young and there's all kind of information about there, but when you are 16-20 more often then not, you don't see it that way. If you're so judgemental on the situation, why on earth would you watch it?

We have a similar show over here called something like underage and pregnant and I am glued to it. I won't presume to answer for mtjoya but I feel angry sometimes when I watch the show because I feel that 'some' (not all) of the girls don't understand the miracle of a baby. Exactly as you have said Sizzle - you don't have the same level of understanding and context in your teens that you do in later life. I watch it firstly because it has babies in it and I admit freely that I am obsessed and secondly because it is something I don't have experience of and to be able to watch these girls experiences broadens my own. Doesn't mean I condone their sometime reckless behaviours it doesn't mean anything - it is a show and we watch it and we form opinions.

May I add too, IMHO babies born to a young mother, perhaps too young (but is not for anybody but her to decide) can be as loved and cared as the baby of a mother who had the child 10-20 years later in her life. I doubt people are out to hit young mothers with a big stick, it is a consequence of their motherhood that they will mature, grow and become even more capable. But if they took precautions in their sex life, they wouldn't have to grow up so soon.

I find the second time mothers who are under 16 and say that #2 was planned, interesting.

 

[Maisie]

I watched an episode with my 17 year old daughter last night. I was so sad to see how little the girl wanted to be around her baby. She kept leaving the little guy with her mother so she could go out partying. I know she is young and needs some time to herself, but not every night. I don't think her mother is helping by being the full time carer. If she wants her daughter to do more with the baby she needs to take a step back. Not easy to do though.

My niece had her daughter at age 15. She lives with my sister and my niece goes to school full time. My sister is struggling to find the energy to look after the little one. But as a family they are pulling together to make it work. They don't want my niece to leave school. I think my sister has to be a little tough to make sure my niece does her share.

 

[Bleed Burnt Orange]

Anyone watching 16 and preg? I'm cringing every time she picks up the baby.

YES!! I know! I hope someone taught her how to pick up the baby, that is not a doll, after seeing that!

 

[mtjoya]

I want to make it clear that I didn't mean to offend anyone on here. I am referring that this show in particular have girls that are very immature and think it's funny when they re-tell their story. I am only speaking about the show. The girl there some for example like Janelle & that crazy girl that hit her baby's daddy, that's a perfect example on what I am talking about.

 

[dragonfly411]

I do find that the show tends to be a bit dramatic with girls who think their story is funny or entertaining, or girls who act like spoiled brats. I've met a few teen mothers who have fully stepped up, and worked hard to be loving mothers while getting an education and in some cases working as well. I DO think that perhaps the show picks the girls it does to highlight the negative sides of being a teen mother

 

[mtjoya]

dragonfly-This is what I am talking about. I feel like they treat their bebe like a cute lil doll to show off to their friends. I just had my first daughter and it's like HELLO! WAKE UP CALL! It's tough. It's sad that these kids made their choices and have to give up alot of things. My aunt had my cousin, whom I refer as a brother, at 15. My mom stepped up to the plate and basically raised him up til he was 18. He considers my mother as his and has resentment towards my aunt. I am just saying how some of these girls act so immature.

 

[Berryluv]

Anyone watching 16 and preg? I'm cringing every time she picks up the baby.

YES!! I know! I hope someone taught her how to pick up the baby, that is not a doll, after seeing that!

A cardboard box almost fell on the baby when she was out shopping for diapers. I kept gasping every time she picked her up. Someone on the crew should have intervened for the safety of the baby and not just kept filming. I believe some young mothers have the common sense to mother their babies despite their age but this just put into perspective how Ill equipped this one is.

 

[Bliss]

I agree, a lot of it is sad but some of those young moms...Wow, they are so emotionally mature and strong. I admire that because I can't even fathom going to school and raising an infant. And some of them are genuinely great moms, even at such a young age.

The teen girl from last night - I felt so bad for her because her boyfriend didn't seem to care about the baby. He propped a bottle on a blanket and fed his infant that way while she struggled to eat just so he could stuff his face with a burrito. I also found it touching how the 16 year old's mom wanted so badly for her to finish high school. She said out of all her 5 kids, not one ever did but she was the last hope. High school, not even college.

Some of these teens are bright so it saddens me that they will never get the opportunity to develop their gifts. Out of the last Teen Mom series, I think only 2 graduated even high school and that's only because they had major major support from their families. Many of the teen moms don't come from highly educated parents who have the means and drive to push them to graduate and go to college. Many of the families are just struggling to survive as it is. I feel like it's unfair for many of them because if they don't have family support, it's hard to escape poverty for many. Sigh. Still, many of them seem to be great moms and I hope they do succeed eventually.