Search Results for: blog would you pay your teen not to get pregnant

Babies Having Babies

I had just crossed the threshold into teenhood when CBS ran a Schoolbreak Special called:  “Babies Having Babies.”  It was directed by Martin Sheen and starred my idol Lori Loughlin and Jill “The Love Boat” Whelan as pregnant teens who meet up at a group counseling session. The show was one of my first introductions to the relatively unknown world of teenage motherhood and a far cry from today’s mega-hyped MTV reality TV hits “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.” Critics have long claimed that both series glamourize teen pregnancy and encourage young girls to procreate outside of marriage.  Meanwhile, … Continue reading →

Unless You Are a Guy You Can Get Pregnant

Seven. That’s how many years it took before my kid asked the question. You know; the one that begins with “How” and ends with “do mommies get pregnant?” Before getting married and giving birth, I wondered how and when I would discuss the birds and the bees with my children. Well, I found out the when: July 2012. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite figure out the “how.” Sadly, I was not prepared to get into the nitty-gritty reproductive details with my second grader, so I mumbled something about God being in charge of giving the gift of life, blah, blah, blah, … Continue reading →

Monkey See, Monkey Do

If you ask Dr. Drew, MTV’s hit shows “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom” work better than condoms when it comes to deterring high school students from becoming parents long before they are ready. Of course, the good doc is employed by MTV as host of the aforementioned shows’ reunion episodes, so he could be towing the company line. Still, there is no denying the popularity of “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.” The series has made rock stars out of its teen mothers and it’s no surprise that some claim “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom” actually encourage girls … Continue reading →

Questionable Prom Favor

If you consider not becoming a grandparent while your kid is still in high school a “favor,” then you may not be opposed to the parting gift being handed out to some Brooklyn teens attending prom. According to reports, students at Bedford-Stuyvesant Preparatory High School in Brooklyn, New York, will be offered a unique party favor upon leaving prom next month – a free condom. The school’s principal, Darryl Rascoe, told the New York Daily News that hundreds of condoms will be made available to students on the night of the big dance. “This is necessary,” Rascoe told the newspaper. … Continue reading →

Revenge of the Lysol Moms

Have you heard about the moms who took cleaning to a whole new level? According to reports, two Colorado moms are being accused of spraying Lysol on teens they saw dirty dancing at a local high school prom. Clearly, the mothers didn’t read the back of the Lysol can very well; otherwise they would have realized that the disinfectant spray kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria on commonly touched, hard, non-porous surfaces. C’mon, everyone knows even the toughest skinned teens are pretty porous. The moms should have used Clorox. I’m kidding. And by kidding, I mean rocking a mean smirk … Continue reading →

Avoiding Teen Pregnancy

Does location play a role in whether or not your teenager will make you a grandparent long before you’re ready? According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), you may consider moving to the following states if you don’t want your baby giving birth to a baby while she is still in her teens: New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. According to the CDC, those states have the lowest rates of teenage pregnancy in the entire country. The states with the highest rate of pregnant teenagers include Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico and Mississippi. … Continue reading →

Thinking Twice About Teen Moms

“There’s nothing more dangerous than a woman with a child.” I love that. If you are a mom in any capacity–biological, step, adoptive, or otherwise–that quote is likely to resonate with you in ways that are hard to articulate. Incredibly, the words were uttered by a mom of just three months, who just happens to be… 18 years old. Who says all teen moms are like the ones portrayed on MTV? Sarah McKinley is turning the teen mom stereotype on its head, thanks in large part to the courage she showed on New Year’s Eve. Courage and quick thinking which … Continue reading →

Less Money, Fewer Babies

While MTV and Dr. Drew would love to take credit for the dip in teen pregnancies, experts believe the poor economy is the reason fewer babies are being born in the United States. According to a government report released yesterday, there’s been a major dip in the number of teens and females in their early 20s giving birth. In fact, the federal study found that pregnancy among young women has fallen to the lowest rates since record-keeping began in the 1940s. The startling statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has financial experts crediting the slumping economy … Continue reading →

“Teen Mom” Star Avoids Jail

… for now. Proving that you don’t have to reach the age of maturity to become a parent, MTV “Teen Mom” star Amber Portwood is back in the headlines following her arrest for beating on her baby daddy Gary Shirley. The reality TV starlet pleaded guilty earlier this week to two counts of felony domestic battery and showed her two-year-old daughter why she shouldn’t follow in her mama’s footsteps. Thursday’s plea signified a major change in Portwood’s original argument that she was 100 percent innocent. In December, the 21-year-old mother went public decrying her arrest for assaulting Shirley, her on-again, … Continue reading →

Mommy Manicures

When was the last time you received a manicure? A real manicure. Not streaks of Plum Passion painted on by your 5-year-old. I’m talking about the real deal; professional nail treatment courtesy of a hired hand. I’m pretty sure the last time I paid someone to push back my cuticles and buff my nails was the day before I got married. That was more than eight years ago. I remember thinking how nice it would be to enjoy a day at the spa following the birth of our daughter. That was more than six years ago. Back then I would … Continue reading →