MTV’s reality show “Sixteen and Pregnant” seemed like a train wreck to me from the word “Go.” Why would I want to watch a young girl go through the trials of teenage pregnancy, birth and motherhood? I could go take a ride on the city bus and have a front row seat to the naiveté and sometimes downright stupidity that often accompanies a child trying to be a parent. Why do Britney and Jaime Lynn Spears come to mind? (“We’re country, y’all!”)
Little did I know, though, that I would come to see the brilliance of “Sixteen and Pregnant,” and learn to appreciate my own role as a mother even more.
Each episode of the show chronicles the life of a teenage mom: from discussing what her life was like pre-pregnancy as a carefree school kid fooling around with her acne-faced manchild boyfriend, through her pregnancy, where she stops shopping at Forever 21 and misses the prom, to the birth of her baby and ultimately the decision she must make to parent the infant or put him or her in someone else’s care.
As I watched the drama unfold in each episode, my heart broke. While a tiny life came into the world, a teenage life ended, and a “mother” was born. Though I was a married woman when I had my children, I could relate to the feeling of helplessness of not knowing how to care for a newborn and of feeling like any identity I had pre-baby was forever lost. I grew thankful for the ten years of life, college and graduate degrees, a house, supportive family and a husband I had as a foundation for my new family. Sadly, the girls featured on the show often don’t even have a high school education or a driver’s license.
I suddenly got it, and as I dried my tears, my social conscience cheered. Upon watching “Sixteen and Pregnant,” any glamor or allure that might attract a teenager to become a mother dissipated faster than a Kenny Chesney/Renée Zellweger marriage. Genius, MTV, pure genius.
I’m almost willing to forgive the lack of music videos.
Comments
Amy
September 10th, 2009 - 6:08:46 AM
I was a teen mom, and it was not glamorous at all.. i hail shows that show it like it is.. some teens think- "oh well whats the big deal??" but it forces you to grow up faster than any other single life event out there.. someone is relying on you.. just in a time where you should be relying on other people. while i wouldnt trade my peanut for anything else- sometimes i wish it had happened later in life so i would have a better foundation for her..
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