I am at home on vacation and happened to catch the episode of Bringing Home Baby with Nataly, the 20 year old mother. To those of us who are parents of teens, trying to make them understand that having a baby is not a fun thing to do, this show just taken us 10,000 steps backwards. Here are just some of the things I find disturbing: the mother giving her daughter a gold necklace to "reward" her for her hard work, the fact that the girl is nursing the baby while sitting on her bed with Spongebob Squarepants sheets, the 9 year old neighbor who likes to watch Nataly breastfeed because it makes her "want to have a baby", Nataly claiming that the baby's father is not necessary or important to have around. There's probably more, but I had to shut it off. Who screens these shows? I understand they're trying to cover a wide population of different race and socioeconomic status, but it is NEVER a good thing to be 20, have no way to support a baby (I guess that could be a sequel where she is shown applying for public assistance), with an unknown father. Jeez! I'm sticking to Animal Planet - !!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: mod_ivy,
I understand where you are coming from with especially with the spongebob sheets.However this is the 20th.century and not the 50's when an unmarried mother was looked down upon.Nataly is a young woman and not a 15year old teen.Not every one comes from your cookie cutter life,would it have been better if she had an abortion or give up her child because the baby father is not around?Many women have raised kids without fathers and all turned out well.All she is telling is her experience as a single mom.Also nothing wrong with her mom rewarding her for her hard work during pregnancy and labour,im guessing you are not a mom yourself.Stop being so judgemental.
I think her parents were in the end supportive and Nataly is very lucky to have the support that some young women dont get. I do think she made it sound easier than it really is. Not having a dad around for the child is not going to be a walk in the park and you do need a good dad around. I am glad she decided to keep the baby and go on. Pre-marital sex is more of a concern to me than anything.
Im rather upset that you are considering her a teen..if she is 20 yrs old she is an ADULT. In this life time going on right now. its now more common to see a single young mother rather than married. And Just because you get pregnant by someone does not mean you get married to them!.
And yes I do know... I am pregnant,im 20 years old and married!
I personally have to disagree with this being a bad show. As a 21 year old single mother it's nice to finally see someone not married for 4 years on this show. It's so frustrating sometimes that the world of pregnancy media is geared toward married women having children in the ultimate situation. The hardest part is I know this isn't how the world is. I know I'm not the only single mother out there but, it sure feels like it when every birthing class, video, and magazine article is geared towards me and my absent partner. This is not how I wanted to start my child's life but I refuse to have an abortion or give up my baby. I think that should be something that's respected not looked down on. I am an adult after all and so was Nataly.
As a 19 year old mother, I understand all views on this episode. For me, being a mom is extremely hard (and I have a husband!) so I do think teenagers need to understand the challenges of motherhood to prevent pregnancy when they're not ready, but at the same time, if it does come to that point, I think young mothers need assurance that they can do it and even with the difficulties, life's going to be okay...I don't think that many teen mothers try to get pregant, and as a teenager, I would know that not very many women are going to want to be pregnant because of shows like this! The main point teenagers need to receive is just education on protection against STDs and pregnancy, because whether you like it or not- the majority of people are having pre-marital sex now a days, and the ages are only getting younger...
when i saw the subject of this group i was hoping to look for encouragement, im a soon to be mom at 20. The father of my child doesnt want to be around. And im okay with that! Im a full time worker and full time student trying to get enough done before this baby comes along, its hard but its only making me stronger. And if your looking down at a mother who is 20 and plans to raise the baby, than you must believe in abortions huh? Maybe we should be looking down on you!
I think there should be shows of teenage mothers,because the porpuse of the show is to be educational and show the reality of motherhood regardless of the age or gender. I was a teenage mother and it was very challenging and difficult, but rewarding at the same time. I had my daughter when I was 16 and at that time when I meet someone young that had kids and was doing good, it was inspirational to me because belive me when you are 16 and a single mother you need inspiration in your life. (sorry about the gramatical errors...english is not my first language)
My concerns would be the same if the mother was 45 years old. Nataly and her mother need a baby care class. This newborn was sleeping on a pillow in his crib (?), mom states that they need to put some oil on the car seat clasp. The only one who seemed to have any common sense was the young neighbor girl. The cartoon character sheets on Nataly's bed also threw me for a loop, really, cartoon characters? decorating a teenagers room?
