It's my guilty pleasure, and I know I'm not alone.
The stories of Amber and Jenelle and all the other underage mothers on the MTV series "16 and Pregnant" (and the "spin off" series, "Teen Mom") are absolutely enthralling to me. It's an embarrassment to my husband, and maybe I should be ashamed to admit to this addiction.
I'm not sure why I find myself pulled in to what is--I know--truly bad television. Maybe it's because whenever I watch the show, I think about the woman who gave birth to me. Really, she wasn't a woman, she was a girl, although the circumstances of her life forced her to relinquish her childhood and grow up long before I'm sure she was really ready. She wasn't 16 when she got pregnant with me--the records I have show she was 17 when she conceived me, 18 when I was born. But the similarities are there; or at least, they are in my imagination.
I worry and wonder if she was an out-and-out train wreck, like Jenelle.
I hope she was more like Catelynn, who has more poise and strength at 17 than I have at 28.
I think about the choices I made as a teenager, and feel blessed that I don't have more in common with these girls.
I pray G will be smarter than they are and avoid the situations that led to these life-altering consequences. (I hope that C will be smarter, too; or, if that he finds himself on the "dad" side of this equation that he has more integrity than most of the boys on this show.)
This show unravels a slew of complicated emotions inside of me, and I think that's why I'm so addicted to it.
It's funny, I hear people talk about this show all the time & kind of feel like I am missing out on a major part of pop culture, and yet, I have never seen an episode.
But I do know many people who love watching it with you...
I can honestly say I've never seen it, but only because I know I'd be hooked, and I watch enough bad TV as it is! haha
That being said, I already have nightmares of this being even the slightest possibility in A's future, and she's not even 13 months old.
I'm so glad to have a daughter, but there is definitely some stress potential in being the mother of a little girl!
BTW - how are you doing? I was just thinking about you the other day and hoping you were continuing to feel well :)
That show is a train wreck. I no longer have cable which is a HUGE blessing in my TV life. But, right now, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, we watch old shows of Grey's Anatomy on Netflix so I guess that's my guilty pleasure. BUT, as soon as Bethenny Frankel's new show airs, I'll be glued to Hulu on my laptop. :) I love her.
Oh I totally watch the show, too! Other guilty pleasures include Desperate Housewives and The Bachelor.
Oh yeah, and Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.
I was a teen mom myself so I do find myself watching this show a lot, too... sadly.. I don't see my teen-mom self in any of the girls. I was one of the few fortunante that married my baby-daddy and we're now 10yrs in... 3 bio kids... 3 foster kids.. God's grace! We're actually happy.. go figure!
ooohhh Love Teen mom 2...I cried last week when Leah's twin had to go in for an MRI....to be so young and caring for a baby, never mind 2 and one of them having health issues.....I cannot imagine
I thank my lucky stars I made good choices cause I know at 16 I would have been a train wreck like Jenelle and Amber!!!
I also watch Jersey Shore, Holly's World, Kendra...all that crapola, passes time on the treadmill!
These shows to me were meant to show how hard it is to be in those shoes... at first I think it was doing that but now as I start seeing these girls on tabloid mags and in the news becoming famous for nothing and glorifying the situation ... I am sad so I stopped watching and supporting this mess... **I spell horrible... also I wish the best for the kids and hope their moms use the money wisely
P.S. Did my earlier comment sound insensitive? I hope not and I certainly didn't mean it to be. I just think taking a stressful and tough situation and sticking cameras in it is not a good idea.
I have never seen this show. Although I think it'd be an addictive train wreck. And I'm sure it'd make you feel like a better mother for the most part. I do feel bad for their children though. What a horrible way to be exploited. :(
Ya, I'm totally addicted to this show as well! I love it.
I assume you were adopted? I can't even imagine wondering about those things that go through your head! I'm sure it's interesting to watch how different all teen moms are and wonder what yours was like.
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF....!
Completely agree with you on this show. It can be quite the guilty pleasure. However, I only tend to watch it when my sister is watching it while I'm in the room. I have mixed feelings of this show being a good example of what to look out for, for reasons why you should wait until you're truly ready to have a baby with someone, or have sex, even. And then the feelings about whether this is a bad thing, for it might give young girls the idea of getting pregnant in hopes of becoming a reality star.
From my viewpoint as a 22 year old woman, I have no problem with it. Do I want my 17 year old sister watching it obsessively? Not really. But maybe that's just the protective side of me.
Completely agree with you on this show. It can be quite the guilty pleasure. However, I only tend to watch it when my sister is watching it while I'm in the room. I have mixed feelings of this show being a good example of what to look out for, for reasons why you should wait until you're truly ready to have a baby with someone, or have sex, even. And then the feelings about whether this is a bad thing, for it might give young girls the idea of getting pregnant in hopes of becoming a reality star.
From my viewpoint as a 22 year old woman, I have no problem with it. Do I want my 17 year old sister watching it obsessively? Not really. But maybe that's just the protective side of me.
I am also love Team Mom.
Cheryl- I cried last week too! I can't imagine how hard it would be to find out your child may have a disability.
During my pregnancy I became addicted to all of these 'guilty pleasure' shows and have now cut back and am trying to get the hubby to do the same as well. I don't want to have the tv on with my daughter around.
I am also a 16 and pregnant addict. Although lately in the school I am teaching thi is more common than I would ever like to think!
I've never seen that show, but I've heard a lot about it. It looks very interesting, which is why I don't need to get started watching it. That's all I need is to be addicted to another TV show. Most guilty pleasure? Kardashians. I hate to even type it out loud. Oh, the shame.
i am also addicted to these shows. i think the most amazing part to me is going through this as a kid. I had my daughter at 27 and am still tired and stressed some days. there is NO WAY i could have done it at 16