While perusing some of my favorite gossip sites (don’t judge!) online, I came across this picture on StraightfromtheA.com:
There is so much to say about this picture, I don’t even know where to start. Being that I was a teen mom myself when I had my son at age 18, I am very sensitive to teens who become moms too soon. I am not one of those who isn’t realistic enough to know that teens have sex, point blank period, and many times, the sex is unprotected. When one teen girl gets pregnant, it is cause for alarm, but when a group become pregnant at once, it’s a HUGE problem. HUGE!
The girls in this picture look proud that they are all pregnant together—proud enough to take a group picture of their exposed bellies. And according to the website from which this came from, this was sent via Twitpic to all of their followers. First we have “Amber Cole” and a video of an underage girl participating in oral sex on video for the world to see—now we have this. Do kids these days have no shame? There is nothing “pretty” about this picture at all.
I would love to hug these girls and let them know that in a few months, their lives will change and they are in for a rude awakening. The stats show that teen pregnancy is on the decline, but with pictures like these floating around, as well as pregnancy pacts, social media is bringing a whole new dimension to this problem.
Are you saddened by this picture as much as I am? And before you are quick to judge, please keep in mind these are children—our children. How do we reach them?
I saw this and it made me sick to my stomach. Yes, they look extremely proud. I am not saying that anyone should be ashamed of their children, no matter HOW they got here but… These you ladies have the same smug, proud look my friends and I had the day we all got our drivers licenses or diplomas! My heart hurts for this next generation. Somewhere we have really let them down. Maybe it’s the media, the music, the parenting (or lack their of) or maybe a combo of all of them. It’s just heartbreaking.
I am definitely saddened. Like you I would hug them all if I could. They are obviously misguided and misinformed. They are in for a tough time and have not clue. I truly feel there is a social need for more role models for girls like these. It my opinion they can’t be getting much guidance at home or they would not be so quick to take a picture like this.
I find this pick disheartening to say the least. I too was a teen mother. I had two by the time I was 19, and I was ashamed and embarrassed. I hardly thought it was an opportunity for a photo shoot. The key to reaching our young girls is to start young. As young as possible. My girls are 13 and 12 now, and I talk with them incessantly about sex, boys, relationships, respecting their bodies etc. We have to get it in their heads early that premature sex is nothing to be proud of. I believe these girls think that it is some sort of rite of passage that they must encounter so that they will be looked at as ‘grown’. I know this from working with the girls in my youth organization. So many girls nowadays think that sex is a sport and having a baby is an award. So sad but true.
This is so sad! I agree with the previous posters, it’s the look of satisfaction on their faces that kills me. I wish someone would photograph the faces of mothers at the child support office, the unemployment line, WIC office or even the abortion clinic-that’s a contrast to this look and trust it’s not smug or satisfactory. There is nothing funny or exciting about a pregnant teen. Children are certainly gifts from God however a teen pregnancy is nothing to celebrate. You can love the product (child) without celebrating the method. What else this shows is “hi, I’m a teen and I had unprotected sex.” I do not judge these ladies but I do shake my head in disapproval with a message- that there is MUCH work to do.
wow :*(
Very very sad. I am a 32 year old mother who had a child after two degrees, a business and a home purchased and I am OVERWHELMED. I also have a husband who is my partner and it makes me sad to see that people see pregnancy as “cute”. It is cute but not in this way. I wonder what more we can do??? Who is telling these kids that having babies is easy
Sad, very sad. I feel lost. I have no idea where to start when you see such baby faces smiling at themselves like they are in this picture.
Pray. That’s about all I can manage right now
While I agree a pact would be very bad. Maybe these girls are just trying to find a moment of happiness in their pregnancies together? While we understand that teenage parents have a very tough road in front of them, I think it’s hard to say that they should feel nothing but shame, remorse, guilt, or negative feelings all thru their pregnancy. That little baby inside needs love and happiness. Even if the baby was a mistake, planned or unplanned, it is not that child’s fault at all.
The picture may be a group of girls taking childbirth classes together also – granted it may be teen pregnancy still – but it may not have been a pact. They may just be people with something in common brought together.
Sorry – just had to make the glass half full for a bit 🙂
I had my kids young and it was HARD. I’m sad for them. They have signed up for the hardest job in the world. I really hope they are up for it.
This is tough. I don’t believe in these pregnancy pacts but I am pro-life. I am glad the girls are having the babies but I wish they hadn’t gotten pregnant. It is hard to know how to handle these things.
I agree that it is very sad. I despise the MTV shows like 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. People try to tell me that they are meant to show teens how difficult pregnancy is at a young age. However, many teens don’t think like that. Some see it as “Oh, I need to get pregnant, and then maybe I can be on TV and make lots of money!”
This photo does look like a pregnancy pact, as they all look to be at the same trimester and everything 🙁
I wasn’t a “teen” mom but I had my first child at 21 while I was entering my senior year of college. It was a difficult time for me and I can imagine that it’s even harder for those still in high school. I’ve seen parents shy away from the subject of sex and tell their kids not to do it. However, this is NOT the right approach. By the time kids are in high school (if not earlier) their hormones are raging. Their bodies are telling them they are ready. Instead of telling them not to do it, we should tell them about it. The truth!! Explain to them while their bodies are ready but their minds are not. We are not in the 1900’s when it was okay for women to start families in their teens. Teens should enjoy their youth and all that it has to offer. They can have children in the future. I also think they should be exposed to what’s it’s like to take care of a baby. Too bad home-ed is no longer a part of the school curriculum. I LOVE the idea of the kids taking care of those dolls that mimic real babies.
BTW…I LOVE the show 16 & Pregnant or Teen Mom. Why?? Well,it shows that most of the guys end up leaving the girls and moving on to someone who still has their “freedom.” It’s reality. Truth be told most adult men aren’t around to raise their kids so chances are slim that teen men will be around to raise their kids. Hell, most of the young boys on the show were raised by single mom’s themselvles. It also shows how life altering having a child is. Also, for those who do find themselves teen moms, it shows that it’s not the end of the world. Life is difficult but teen moms can still be successful if they work hard.
This is extremely disturbing…but I don’t think this is a pregnancy pact – this is just part of a growing acceptance to have unprotected sex (at a young age) with a mindset that ‘it won’t happen to me’ or the mindset that they don’t care if it happens to them. When I was in high school, there were only a couple of girls getting pregnant. The attitudes of the girls, their loved ones, and peers were very different. The attitude of the school was much different. The respect and knowledge of their bodies was different.
I do not judge anyone who chooses to do X,Y,Z with their body, BUT in my community…there are endless girls who are single parents where the father of their child is not with them and has multiple children with many different females….and this practice is becoming more and more acceptable. It turns my stomach. It angers me. It’s creating an ‘elephant in the room’ cycle that’s just getting swept under the rug. I am speaking on my own community…not making a widespread statement although many other places are experiencing the same trends. I’m also upset because of the neglect (and in some cases, abuse) that some young parents show their children because they were never mentally or financially able to take care of them in the first place.
Also, sexually transmitted diseases are running rampant – why is no one scared of that??????