16 and Pregnant

[carrier76]

Has anyone been watching this on MTV?

I thought this last episode, with the couple that gives their daughter up for adoption, was particularly well done. I couldn't believe the stupidity of Catelynn's Methmom and Tyler's Prison Dad Butch who wanted these two kids to raise their baby. How dumb can you be? It was amazing that the 16 year olds were more mature and thoughtful than their parents.

I've really enjoyed this show, even though it's made me TERRIFIED about giving birth.

[kostgard]

I specifically refused to watch this because it felt like more of the fetishization (is that even a word?) of teen pregnancy in this country.

But for whatever reason, I saw that episode with Catelynn and Tyler, and I was struck my how mature and generally awesome those two were, and how much their parents suck.

First of all, what a crappy situation they are in - his dad was in prison for 10 years (his mom seems like she might be okay), Catelynn's father is no where in the picture and her mother clearly has methface. AND MethMom and PrisonDad married each other. Making Catelynn and Tyler step-siblings. Awkward.

But I was so struck by how they had that tough decision to give their child up for adoption, they did it for all the right reasons (they knew that they had crappy homes and they simply could not give their child a good life) and they stuck to their guns even when their parents were being unsupportive toddlers. That must be so hard when your dad is telling you to "man up" and keep the baby and your mom is crying and throwing temper tantrums and refusing to speak to you and messing with your head by buying baby clothes and cribs and putting them in your room. God those parents suck.

Those two kids made me wish that I were a millionaire so I could pay for them to go to college far, far away and they would never have to return home.

[Deleted]

Loved this series. I still have not seen the finale (Catelynn and Tyler) but I thought the series was pretty well-done. It definitely did not glamorize becoming a teen mom. I know a few teen moms (well, they are nowhere near being teens anymore!) and I think it showed the (occasional) ups and (for more frequent) downs that come with the territory. I agree, kostgard. I wish I could have taken SO many of these kids under my wing. It was often really hard to watch what these *children* were dealing with.

[soul]

Good show. I can wait to see the reunion.

[Baby Fish Mouth]

I avoided this show until I saw this last episode was about adoption, so I tuned in. WOW. I was crying through the whole thing. Catelynn and Tyler made a mature, selfless decision. They deserve a lot of kudos. I hope once they're 18 they can go to college and get far far away from their parents.

I can only imagine what those adoptive parents were going through, sitting in the waiting room for five hours before they met the baby. It must have been agonizing wondering if they would change their minds.

[carrier76]

I forgot about Catelynn's methmom buying all that baby stuff. That's just CRUEL. Why would you encourage your 16 year old kid to try to raise a baby he/she can't afford/support/etc., ESPECIALLY given the life that you "provided" for your kid?? I hated both of those parents. Couldn't believe methmom didn't sign off on the adoption.

Catelynn and Tyler were pretty awesome; I couldn't believe they were so level-headed about it.

[cyclonevkc]

I also saw this episode and was absolutely horrified by their "parents" - it made me love my supportive, intelligent, drug-free parents even more.

I think I must be getting wussier with age, because the sappy bracelets that the adoptive mom gave to the girl made me all misty-eyed. Damn it.

[carrier76]

Oh I was weepy throughout a lot of it, especially when Tyler was all teary-eyed about it.

[kostgard]

Couldn't believe methmom didn't sign off on the adoption.

God, seriously! They had to do the exchange out on the street since they couldn't do it at the hospital without MethMom signing off on it. God I hope those kids can get away from their parents.

The bracelet exchange got me all misty-eyed too. And I was so impressed with Tyler in the delivery room - he was up on all the terminology and all that. The kid did his homework.

[bitca]

What was the bracelet exchange? Didn't see the ep, but it sounds so sweet. What awesome, thoughtful kids.