The Baby Borrowers fights teen pregnancy

I think this show is a great idea. I hope it has a positive effect.

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This show is a good idea. Somebody needs to give these teens a wake-up call.

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I agree. I hope parents and teens watch together.

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I have to disagree on one point: From the articles I've seen, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" plans to show teens the struggles and hardships that a teenage pregnancy can bring in a very realistic manner. Most importantly, the consequences of teen sex. The main character is pregnant after her first time! I think it actually looks very parent/teen friendly in terms of education and provoking discussion.

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My 12 yo daughter watched it w/ us- a good age for her to recognize that there are consequences for our actions. She knows how much work little ones are already though as we have 3 boys ages 3 and under! I know that I won't be volunteering any of my babies for the show though! Yikes!

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i had my baby boy at the age of 14 and hes now 16months and its not easy at all but i wouldnt go and change having him hes my world. i watch this show and it reminds me of when i became a mom had no idea what i had got my self into and how hard it was going to be.

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I think this is a great way to show teenagers to wait to have sex and become parents!!! If i would of only knew this when i was 14 i probably would of waited to have sex. I think this is a great show

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According to
Sexual Risk, and protective factors, a publication on the National Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy website, these are important protective factors, but the National Campaign acknowledges that these factors are ones that community organizations can do little about. These are the factors that come up first in a statistical analysis of teenage pregnancy.

Attachment to and involvement with family--bio-parents married, family connectedness, supervision, education and income
peers who delay sexual activity
faith community that promotes delaying sex until after marriage
school -- clubs, athletics, success.

I would suggest that if you really wish to help your own child avoid teenage pregnancy that you do have some influence on some of these factors. Although you may already be divorced, and have little education and a low income, you can still do things that increase family connectedness. Here are some suggestions.

Look through family photos. With supplies you already have on hand, (markers, paper, glue) begin an effort at scrapbooking. You may not produce an archival quality scrapbook page, but you will produce a feeling of family connectedness.

Go for a walk together.

Play at the park (softball, basketball, tag, catch).

Check out two copies of the same book from the library and read together.

Sing together.

Go on a sketching expedition. Paper and pencil are the only supplies you need.

Write a letter (snail-mail) to a family member who does not live in your household.

Play a board game or a card game.

Watch a classic TV show together.

Go to a community activity together.

Take a self-defense class together.

go to church together

get together with your child's friends and their families -- have a potluck dinner on Sunday, or Wednesday, or whenever.

Brain-storm together about other things you can do together. If you increase your time together doing things that are fun and interesting, just by 30 min a day or even just by an hour a week, you will be doing something very profound.

Please post your ideas for increasing family connectedness here.

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This show helps teens have kids. They are sleeping together every night. I can believe people are O.K. with that.

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I just wanna say that I am a teenager and I think this was the best show. I look up to those teen couples and respect them more then anything. Morgan did things a single mother would have to do and she proved she could do it. This show was a big reality check for lots of teens and I really appriciated NBC making the show.

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I'm watching the follow up episode right now and I can't believe what I'm hearing. Once again America is blaming Hollywood for their children's poor choices. I'm pretty sure teen pregnancy has been around long before the "Spears" pregnancy. It's also funny that people see Juno as a movie glorifying teen pregnancy. I saw the movie. I don't know anyone who thinks having to decide whether your baby lives or dies is fun. I think it showed what is really happening in our country. Parents need to wake up and get involved in their children's lives. So many of them think if they ignore it, it isn't happening. As far as the show goes, I think it is a great idea. Yes, it is a small amount of time, but it seemed like the kids got a taste of what to expect. It obviously worked because all of the couples have decided to wait to have children. I hope it has affected other teens just by watching their experiences.

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I've read a few comments saying the show is helping teens have kids because the teens on the show are sleeping together every night. I couldn't disagree more. The show was set up to let them live life as a married couple with kids. The typical married couple sleeps together. If these kids want to have sex they will. They don't need a common bed to do it. It also shows them how little alone time they have. If you watch the follow up show, you see that it was too much for them to handle. It wasn't just the kids. The couples have all broken up. Letting them sleep together showed them the commitment they would have to each other if they were married. Being together every day and every night is a lot of work. They didn't get that time away at night to miss each other. The excitement was gone. It worked!

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