Pregnancy and Heroin...hmmmm?
I was watching an evening talk show and the panel was discussing whether or not the "teen mom" shows entice teens to think that if they get pregnant, they will be on TV. The one guest argued that the teen mom shows actually prevent teen pregnancy, whereas the other guest said that these shows are exactly the reason why teens are getting pregnant these days...huh?
The "for" guest said that when the teens were surveyed after watching a "16 and Pregnant," 85% said that the show did NOT glamorize teen pregnancy, and only 15% of the teens said that the show "sort of" glamorized pregnancy. The guest said that these shows depict the teens pregnant, then in labor, then the delivery and the struggles of raising a baby, many times, alone and broke. She stated that many parents do not know how to start these teen pregnancy conversations, and these shows "help" the parents talk to their kids about pregnancy....huh?
The "against" guest said that teens are watching these shows and then believe that "if I get myself pregnant, I will end up on the cover of People magazine, and get my own reality show on MTV." She said that these shows are making teens believe that they to can be famous for being famous....really?
I'm thinking no? But then again, I do not feel that I have "at risk" teens at home searching to be noticed...wait, that would be because of parenting. And I don't think my kids are watching MTV and these teen shows without me piping in saying "can you imagine how tough it is for those kids? Look at all the drama in their lives, all their friends are having fun and going to college while they get to fight with their baby daddy."...ok, wait, that means I am being a parent again?...hmmm...
I'm thinking that these shows have NOTHING to do with teen pregnancy. I am thinking that if you haven't had "THE TALK" with your kids by the time they can find "16 and Pregnant" on MTV, you've lost 'em anyway. If you haven't had a discussion with your child by the time they are in 6th grade about pregnancy and the ramifications of such, and you are leaving it up to "16 and Pregnant" or society to teach your kids that being a teen mom is a nightmare, you're asking for it.
These shows are not propelling teens to get pregnant any more than "Black Hawk Down" is making me want to join the military...although, it sure would make me NOT want to join? So maybe there is the point? Is it a matter of the discussion AND the show? Is it a matter of parenting so if they do "find" these shows, the kids will then watch them with the proper perspective?
I have seen TV shows about Addiction and Drugs and they scare the crap out of me. Each time I watch one I thank God that I never got messed up with drugs. I could barely quit smoking, I'm saying Heroin is a bit more of a problem! So as I watch these drug shows, they REINFORCE my original pre-programmed way of thinking. They RE-EMPHASIZE what I know to be true...DRUGS RUIN YOUR LIFE...
Just as if my kids stumble upon "16 and Pregnant," it re-emphasizes, TEEN PREGNANCY IS A NIGHTMARE! They have an idea, because of what I have instilled in them. Then, if they see these shows, it is cemented in their brain. They think, "mom was right, teen pregnancy is the worst." Not, "gee, their baby really loves them...I think I will have a baby to."
Please understand, I know kids get pregnant by accident all the time, it happens. What I am talking about is the kid that GOES OUT and PLANS on getting pregnant. There is a different mentality there about pregnancy and the life that surrounds teen pregnancy.
I do not leave life up to my kids' unformed, scattered, mushy, teen mind to figure out. I haven't left drugs, and pregnancy and sex and money and spending and eating fast food and God up to them. I have mentored and led and discussed with them where I stand so that they aren't flailing around wondering "gee, is teen pregnancy and Heroin a good idea or a bad one? hmmmm...." I and did this BEFORE puberty hit and before they think "mom's a moron, let's not listen to her....let's have sex!"
We need to talk to our kids about all this stuff while they still think we are amazing and geniuses! We need to get to them BEFORE they meander over to MTV or their friend's house. We need to let them know about it all because if we don't, we are leaving their brains to the school, friends, society, the Internet and MTV. And the last time I checked, I don't want any of those people raising my kids...
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The "for" guest said that when the teens were surveyed after watching a "16 and Pregnant," 85% said that the show did NOT glamorize teen pregnancy, and only 15% of the teens said that the show "sort of" glamorized pregnancy. The guest said that these shows depict the teens pregnant, then in labor, then the delivery and the struggles of raising a baby, many times, alone and broke. She stated that many parents do not know how to start these teen pregnancy conversations, and these shows "help" the parents talk to their kids about pregnancy....huh?
The "against" guest said that teens are watching these shows and then believe that "if I get myself pregnant, I will end up on the cover of People magazine, and get my own reality show on MTV." She said that these shows are making teens believe that they to can be famous for being famous....really?
I'm thinking no? But then again, I do not feel that I have "at risk" teens at home searching to be noticed...wait, that would be because of parenting. And I don't think my kids are watching MTV and these teen shows without me piping in saying "can you imagine how tough it is for those kids? Look at all the drama in their lives, all their friends are having fun and going to college while they get to fight with their baby daddy."...ok, wait, that means I am being a parent again?...hmmm...
I'm thinking that these shows have NOTHING to do with teen pregnancy. I am thinking that if you haven't had "THE TALK" with your kids by the time they can find "16 and Pregnant" on MTV, you've lost 'em anyway. If you haven't had a discussion with your child by the time they are in 6th grade about pregnancy and the ramifications of such, and you are leaving it up to "16 and Pregnant" or society to teach your kids that being a teen mom is a nightmare, you're asking for it.
These shows are not propelling teens to get pregnant any more than "Black Hawk Down" is making me want to join the military...although, it sure would make me NOT want to join? So maybe there is the point? Is it a matter of the discussion AND the show? Is it a matter of parenting so if they do "find" these shows, the kids will then watch them with the proper perspective?
I have seen TV shows about Addiction and Drugs and they scare the crap out of me. Each time I watch one I thank God that I never got messed up with drugs. I could barely quit smoking, I'm saying Heroin is a bit more of a problem! So as I watch these drug shows, they REINFORCE my original pre-programmed way of thinking. They RE-EMPHASIZE what I know to be true...DRUGS RUIN YOUR LIFE...
Just as if my kids stumble upon "16 and Pregnant," it re-emphasizes, TEEN PREGNANCY IS A NIGHTMARE! They have an idea, because of what I have instilled in them. Then, if they see these shows, it is cemented in their brain. They think, "mom was right, teen pregnancy is the worst." Not, "gee, their baby really loves them...I think I will have a baby to."
Please understand, I know kids get pregnant by accident all the time, it happens. What I am talking about is the kid that GOES OUT and PLANS on getting pregnant. There is a different mentality there about pregnancy and the life that surrounds teen pregnancy.
I do not leave life up to my kids' unformed, scattered, mushy, teen mind to figure out. I haven't left drugs, and pregnancy and sex and money and spending and eating fast food and God up to them. I have mentored and led and discussed with them where I stand so that they aren't flailing around wondering "gee, is teen pregnancy and Heroin a good idea or a bad one? hmmmm...." I and did this BEFORE puberty hit and before they think "mom's a moron, let's not listen to her....let's have sex!"
We need to talk to our kids about all this stuff while they still think we are amazing and geniuses! We need to get to them BEFORE they meander over to MTV or their friend's house. We need to let them know about it all because if we don't, we are leaving their brains to the school, friends, society, the Internet and MTV. And the last time I checked, I don't want any of those people raising my kids...
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