My guest blogger today is my co-editor, Cheryl Clemens:
OK parents, when was the last time there was a show on MTV that you looked forward to watching? Real World San Francisco? Yo MTV Raps? The Grind?
Well, as much as I can’t believe I’m saying these words, my 14-year-old daughter and I have had a standing date recently to watch “16 & Pregnant” every Thursday night at 10 on MTV.
I read this write-up about the series that ended with the line: “16 and Pregnant” is in a far more reputable, well-intended and potentially helpful realm, proving that good TV can materialize even where least expected.”
I decided to give it a try and was struck by two things: the honest portrayal of pregnancy, delivery and the first few months of parenthood, and the complete lack of preachiness or manufactured drama. My heart just ached for these girls (and some of the boys) as friends fade away, parents and partners become unsupportive and these new moms inevitably realize that their lives will never be the same.
After the first episode, I invited my 14-year-old, Luci, to watch with me. She watched with a mixture of fascination and horror as the story unfolded, and each commercial break was full of questions.
“Why would all her friends come over to get ready in front of her to go out on a Friday night and then leave her home with a baby? That’s so mean.”
“Why won’t her mom get up in the middle of the night to help feed the baby?”
“Why won’t her boyfriend change diapers?”
“If they don’t have any money for the baby, why would they spend everything they had on a new Playstation?”
The show has become a great platform to discuss sexuality and its consequences with my daughter. I think it’s great that she gets to see not just the cute little belly and the baby shower with all the giggly girlfriends, but also the struggle to stay in school, the exhaustion that dampens everything and the way a newborn can strain even a good relationship. It’s the big picture, and she’s been taking it in every week.
In producing the series, MTV partnered with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Viewing guidelines for each episode are available at www.stayteen.org, including commonly asked questions and answers.
So far the show has reached over 31 million viewers and is the no.1 watched cable show in its time period among females ages 12 to 34, according to an MTV press release. The show has already been renewed for a second season.
The next episode airs tonight at 10 p.m. on MTV. If you’re curious, take a look and see if it might be something you want to share with your teen.
If you do, let me know what you think.
As a mother of an 18 year old son who is sexually active, this show has been a platform for some great conversations between the two of us. Although he is headed for college in the fall, he has a steady girlfriend and the show has brought the reality of “what could happen”. The show has helped me realize that motherhood continues well after labor and childhood, it continues into college.
I’m with you, Beckie. They say teenagers (and even early 20s) have a hard time connecting actions and consequences. Well, this lays show lays it right out there. There’s supposed to be a reunion show later this month that catches up with all the couples and shows where they are now. I’m guessing the majority are no longer together but it will be interesting to see what has happened.