Now, we seem to view parenting like a competitive sport- like a baby is a gold medal, and only the BEST deserve one. There’s also the attitude that all children deserve perfect childhoods, and that if you cannot guarantee a perfect childhood, you shouldn’t have kids.
Yeah, right. How is a perfect childhood going to prepare a person for the realities of adult life? I think it’s the parents’ job to help a child through the rough spots in life, so that they’ll know how to deal with hard times when they’re out on their own.

I hope Jamie-Lynn finds the strength to make the choice that is best for her and her child, and not be bothered over judgmental people getting their panties in a bundle about her. I hope the same for Britney.

Also this whole a child would be better with a couple thing is starting to get under my skin HARDCORE.
I believe a person has the right to decide what is best for their child, but it’s not always best for a child to be raised by a couple instead of their biological mother JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE A COUPLE! That’s another myth that needs to die. It’s not healthy for the child or the mother and I hate that.
Also, no more demonizing and canonizing birthmothers. It’s not helpful at all.

I don’t, however, feel sorry for her. Big distinction. I don’t think that bringing a child into the world is something that a woman needs to have people pity her over.

And of course, I wish her the best.

Anyway whatever Ms Spears’ decision is, I am glad that she chose life.

I’m glad she is parenting. She obviously has the financial resources to do so, she has a mother that seems to support this, she has a boyfriend that if he doesn’t end up in jail seems to support this, and can hire help if she feels she needs it. She is in a very lucky position indeed.

I think it would be silly for her to place just because she was sixteen. I know sixteen year olds who turned out to be great parents. She’ll probably never face one of the biggest drawbacks of being a teen mother which is poverty.

I also don’t want to see adoption further “glamorized” in the media or made out to be a selfless decision which is what would happen if she placed her baby for adoption. I honestly think the only people that would be raising a stink would be the ones in the adoption reform circles. The media would love it, she’d be on the front page of People talking about her “brave” and “self-less” decision and I might throw up into my cheerios.

I do wish she hadn’t gotten pregnant because it is sending VERY mixed messages to young girls. My twelve year old cousin has been talking about becoming a mom since she was ten. She seriously wants to be a mom, like now, and I was talking to her on the phone about this, and she was all excited because “Zoe 101″ can do it, why can’t she. Her fans can’t see all the advantages that she has, and I fear that such a young girl, from such a tabloid friendly family, successfully teen parenting is going to send some mixed messages to kids whose parents don’t interact with them enough on sexual issues anyways.

But I do wish her luck. I hope that she makes a wonderful parent and I’m thankful that she didn’t have a public abortion and that she is choosing to parent.

Privacy would do the whole family a world of good.