16 and pregnant...

[sweetpea03]

I'm just curious to know about how many people watch this show. Do you watch 16 and pregnant? or do you watch teen mom? Do you think they accurately portray what it is like to be a teen mother? Also how old are you? I'm looking for people's views on these types of shows. Any opinions/input would be be appreciated. thanks.

[sweetpea03]

Statistics have a factual basis, otherwise they would not be used by the medical community or anyone else. There is a reason why they are used and they show the numbers of just how many teens get pregnant. Also, I'm not just stating what I think, I'm using examples and experiences of other young mothers. It's good to learn from other people's mistakes, and I've been doing that. After watching so many young mothers drop out of school, I realized it wasn't a good idea to get pregnant before graduating. Also throw in the statistical numbers to back that up and you have some strong evidence to prove that point. A lot of people think that they are the 'exception' and they are so different from everyone else. Though in reality, you are special, just like everybody else.

Just about everyone has had some sort of struggle, so to say that only so and so knows what it is like is pretty far from the truth. We have all had to deal with some sort of struggle or adversity. That doesn't mean that they are ready to handle more difficult situations though. You can claim that I 'probably wouldn't be able to handle it', but really you don't know if I can or if anyone else can. It's nice that you want to save people and defend anyone who is the underdog, but that doesn't always make it right to do. I respect your opinion, but don't agree with it.

[DellaKemp]

So its not twisted, let me clarify. She will have a hard time in the sence that every new mom has a hard time getting used to the demands a newborn brings. But I have no doubt that she will not have a hard time when it comes to providing and loving her child. She will have a hard time dealing with the fact that people like you who seem to think that everyone should wait till they are in the 20's and 30's to have babies will  throwing that in her face constantly. I should have claryfied what I meant. And I did not say all statistics were made up. I am just saying that a lot of them really don't have a factual basis. Take that statement however you want to. I really don't care. Call me a name like naive. Don't care that just shows me a little more of your make up. Reading some of your other post, you just seem engative and biased when it come to this topic.  I hope and pray that sh edoesn't have the hard time that you talk about cause well that would just be awesome although I still think that you will be on your soapbox about it.

Anyhoo. I am done talking about her. She will suceed. She will have a hard time the first few weeks getting on a schedule and whatnot with a newborn, but she will not struggle to do what she has to do to provide financially and emotionally for her family. Just cause you more than likely wouldn't be able to handle it doesn't mean that she will struggle.

And about not having sympathy for those girls, I mean for the girls that know that they can get get pregnant if they have sex and they purposely do while they are still living with mommy and daddy, and then want to ***** and complain that they dont have a social life anymore, sorry no sympathy for them, but the ones that they honestly did not have the education or it just happened, I feel for them a little.

[sweetpea03]

The statistics are made up?? sorry, but what would make you think that? Also, you just said yourself that you don't doubt she will have a hard time, yet said how do I know she will have a hard time. You really are not making any sense here. I know she will have a hard time as well, not only because of statistics, but because of what all other mothers on here have said, plus watching family and friends who have gone through this themselves.

[DellaKemp]

Question: How do you even know how hard it will be for her? You have no kids and dont' any right now and your basing your opinion off of others that are struggling which is fine. But how do you know she will have a hard time and regret the timing. You don't. Just like I don't know that she won't have a hard time. A lot of the statistics are made up. If she is anything like I think she is, she is going to make it have a ball raising her baby, because society's view and biased opinion is going to be the driving force in her quest to prove yall wrong. I have no doubt that she will have hard times, but I don't think for one second that she will regret her child or the timing considering she thought about this long and hard before making that decision.

[sweetpea03]

Yes, she is making the best of the situation, though she has no idea just how tough it will be once she is trying to balance going to school with a new born. There are reasons as to why so many people push women to wait to have children. To wait until they are out of school, to wait until they have a steady career(not just a job), etc. All of these things really help in the long run. The stability of having a career and making enough money to live comfortably is a good idea. Being out of school is also something to try to do because classes and having a newborn don't mix well(I'm in college and see this a lot). High numbers of new mothers drop out of school. Also she hasn't 'done it before' because she hasn't had children of her own before. Raising a sibling or family member is different from raising your own child, as not only I have said, but everyone else on here. I would rather tell someone it's going to be very difficult, then to down play it and say everything is going to be alright. It may very well end up being fine and things can be worked out, but statistically that tends to not happen. I'm just being realistic.  

Also, I have sympathy for any teen who gets pregnant. They miss out on so much in life because of one bad decision or bad mistake. Most do not know better and didn't get the sex education that they probably should get. That's why you see post after post on here about possible pregnancies, of wondering if pre-ejaculation has sperm in it or if you can get pregnant doing this or that. They sadly, really don't know how it all works. Others think it will be fun or that they can handle it and want a baby, then they get a rude awakening when reality sets in. It's not easy sailing for any young mother. With time, people get more stable and more money saved up. They can then better handle having a baby. Even if a person is mature enough to have a baby as a teen, I still would not advise her to go through with it. It's a lot easier to focus in school without a baby, it's also easier to get a career without a baby, etc. I've always said that part of maturity is putting yourself into favorable positions and not making yourself struggle. I feel bad for the ones who struggle through raising a child as a teen, because if they had waited just a few more years it would have been that much easier to do/handle.

[DellaKemp]

I know life challenges doesn't automatically make a person a great mom, but it can give them an advantage in how to handle the emotional and physical stress of raising a new baby.

A healthy debate is a form of healthy conflict. Conflict can be good. I know why I like conflict. Do I go out and try and find unhealthy conflict, no. Do I go out and try to find healthy conflict, no. But I will never back way from the healthy confilct. And yes there is such a thing. I have only been involved in healthy debates (conflicts).

"I jumped on her side". Um yeah I would say thats an accurate statement, because no one on this thread really backed her and made her feel like Wow, I have some genuine people on here that know my story and are happy for me that I made it and am making it and that I am pregnant with such a wonderful little blessing. Oh and the fact that do agree with her. She has said that this decision is not right for everyone her age, but it is for her. Yes, I do believe that teens should wait until they have a job, married and a stable environment before they decide to have a baby. You are right in that fact, but there are always exceptions to every rule or norm and she is one of them. She has a stable job, she is going to school to better that career choice she has made (and she knows how hard it will be rasing a kid while working and going to school cause um yeah she did it already), she said that she has a house, means of transportation, and an awesome fiance'. Why instead of constantly telling her its going to be hard and are you sure you can do this and that and do you really know what its going to be like cause I don't think you do, we sit back and realize that she has alot going for her and that all the reasons why you feel she should have waited, she has already accomplished the vast majority of those. Not every 19 year old is thinking, oh I want to experience college and partying (not saying that you do cause you said that you don't in a previous post), and want to be free and able to do whatever whenever. I know she doesn't think like that and I sure as hell didnt think like that at that age and still don't. I knew at 17 that my priorites went like this and they would never change: God, Family, Work, Fun, School. You may have the same priorities, but in a different order. That's awesome and that works for you. I do hope that you get everyting out of your college experience that you want and that you enjoy your 20's and rest of your life the way you want.

Yes, there are teens out there that think its so cute to have belly's and ababues and have no idea what they are about to get themselves into. Teen pregnancy is way tooo high now a days and its not really even teen pregnancy cause 11-12 year olds are having babies. Some of these kids that are having sex and get pregnant truly don't know anything about sex and all the consequense. Small percentage, but nonetheless, there are some that aren't educated. But the others that have no life expeirence and think mommy and daddy are going to help them and all that jazz, I have no sympathy for them cause they knew better. But there are some 18-19 yearolds that get married and have babies at that age because they have sat down and really thought about it. Give them some credit. Hiltonvslohan is one of those that thinks.  

I never said that you have never told her that you hope her realationship works out. What I said was from what I read on this thread, you have yet to genuinely congratulate her on having a baby.