Whether or not Jamie Lynn Spears is again with child remains to be seen, but the fact of the matter is that she gave birth to her daughter, Maddie Briann, at the ripe age of seventeen. Portrayed on magazines such as OK! holding her baby with a serene smile and the quotation, "Being a mom is the best feeling in the world!" just may give the wrong message to the millions of young mothers who are struggling with unwanted pregnancies.
The Reality of Teenage Pregnancy
According to Live Strong, the United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the world. Over 750,000 teen pregnancies occur annually. Expectant young mothers face an incomplete education, poor job skills, poverty, alcoholism, drug use, and the end of their childhood. Due to their lower rate of employment, they often end up on social assistance.
According to Wikipedia, teenage mothers are also less likely to stimulate their infants and provide them nurturing touch. Children of teenage mothers are more likely to be poor students and to become young parents themselves. Teenage mothers also go through more difficult births and suffer a higher rate of mortality during childbirth.
Teenage mothers also often have difficult relationships with men. Too often the father of their child has difficulty facing his new responsibilities as a father. If he does choose to remain in the relationship, the likelihood of the partnership lasting has very low odds.
Jamie Lynn Spear’s Lifestyle
Most teenage mothers do not have the comfort of knowing that they have a place to live, money in the bank, food on the table, and access to the best education for their child. Most teenage mothers do not have the best medical care available for them or their child. And not all mothers of teenage pregnant moms accept the pregnancy as easily as Jamie Lynn’s mother, Lynne Spears, had.
Jamie Lynn Spears surely does not represent the majority of teen mothers – and it can be dangerous for her to represent motherhood as a perfect, blessed event. While it surely is such for well-prepared parents, it is hardly ever so for the average teenage mom. Teenagers that have watched Jamie Lynn on her television show "Zoey 101" should not attempt to glamorize teenage pregnancy, or incorrectly assume that motherhood will be tireless, easy, and fun.
Teenagers would be wise to heed the warnings against having an early sexual relationship. Not only is it a physical and emotional milestone, it also requires a commitment to protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
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