16 and Pregnant on MTV

So I watched this show today on MTV and I got really irritated with the way the adults on the show were dealing with the girl's pregnancy.  If you want to watch a video of the show and/or get the rundown, check here:

http://www.stayteen.org/16-and-pregnant

The episode in question is Christinna (Season 2 | Episode 16).

So I'm gonna break this down.

The way the adults around these kids dealt with this whole thing was UTTER AND COMPLETE CRAP.  I mean, I'm not there, but first off Christinna's mom up and heads back to upstate New York and leaves her daughter in Alabama, pregnant, with only her new VERY young husband and his VERY idiotic, disrespectful, and unsupportive family to help them out.  So here are Christinna and Isaiah, and here's the thing: they are BOTH trying to figure out what's best for their child and making a lot of sacrifices in the process.

Okay, so ruminate on that for a minute.  

But they're both young, and they're both frustrated, and they're both trying to figure out what the right direction is.  FOR THEIR CHILD.

So I'm noticing something about these two already... they're BETTER PARENTS than the ONES THEY WERE RAISED BY.

Have you noticed that?  Grandma is all about what SHE wants for her grandson.  She doesn't even bother to ask what HE wants, or what HE needs, or what HE thinks is best for HIS life.  And the thing is, HE'S the one who's going to have to pay the consequences for his actions, NOT HER.  So she needs to back the hell off and let him make his own decisions, because frankly, he's making better ones than SHE is.  If you watch the episode, you'll see how he cares for his wife and his young child.  He makes one major mistake throughout the episode that is, honestly, understandable and forgivable given the situation.  It's pressure-fraught.  He does something selfish.  Why does he do the selfish thing?  Because he feels like nobody cares about what he wants and what he needs, so he splurges and does something stupid.

Here's a cluebat... you're 18 years old bro.  You get to make fuckups like that.

Meanwhile baby-momma is being hard on herself because she "got pregnant" (yeah, 'cause we all do THAT on purpose) and she had to quit school.  And her best friend from high school just keeps telling her how hard it would be to raise a kid and go to school.  And I'm gonna give the friend a huge break, because she's young too.  But here's the thing.

Yeah, it's hard.  But Christinna can do it. She just strikes me as a REALLY strong girl.  And I think she's capable.

Anyway, so while I was watching this show something popped up on the screen that was all "go discuss this episode!" so I went to the site that popped up and... it was a FREAKING STUDY GUIDE.  Are you SERIOUS????  I was looking for a blog with ACTUAL comments... but these people felt like because we're "dealing with teenagers", we can't let them actually TALK on the INTERNET.

Are. You. Fucking. Serious.

So I decided, I want to start a blog.  And I wanted to discuss this.  And I'm ridiculously protective, so I will battle off any freaky pedophile types who come looking for stalkables.  I know computer guys.  They do security things.  If this gets big enough to get on someone's map then we'll make sure it's protected.  But the world needs more adults who give enough of a damn to realize that just because a person is under 18, doesn't mean they don't have any goddamned sense.

You see, I think that teenagers are human beings.  I know, crazy, right?  But if you're reading this then you either get that because you ARE a teenager, you get that because you KNOW teenagers, you get that because you and I are friends and we've TALKED about the issue... or you don't get that and you're about to get educated.

I realized recently that I'm twenty-eight which is, like, WAY old and stuff. ;)  So I'm NOT a teenager, and I get that.  I promise I'm not trying to be "all hip and cool" and whatnot.  But I just feel like someone needs to be out here.  Recognizing that kids are human beings. Because this website was all "you're a two year old.  Did you know that teen pregnancy is 100% preventable by NOT having sex????"  and it made me headdesk.

Dear MTV, did you know that teenagers HAVE THE SAME GODDAMNED HORMONES YOU DO????  Matter of fact, they're NEWER, and more CHAOTIC, and more DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.  So how about you GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE, and quit spouting this "Well if you didn't have sex then this wouldn't happen" BULLSHIT, and try SUPPORTING kids for a change?

You used to do that MTV.  *shakes head dismally* I'm disappointed in you.

So, um, whadda you guys think?

Much love,
Crystal