16 and Pregnant - Page 7

[Fruitful4Him]

Thanks for the reminder...I am watching it right....now.

[MommaMoo]

I was really taken with this young couple. I liked them a lot. The episode was so sad, with all the pain Nicole's mom had experienced, and how Tyler hadn't been in school for FOUR FREAKING YEARS! And he was only 16! Double Yikes! I got the idea that all of the folks in this episode were good people who've had a lot of hard times in life. Tyler's mom didn't come off looking stellar (loved the scene when she's puffing on a cigarette while bitterly complaining about Tyler smoking & becoming a teen dad) but she knows all too well the difficult path her son is on and is understandably upset about it. She loves her kid. Tyler was a charming and adorable kid in a lot of ways, but he also seems quite mouthy and a difficult kid to raise.
The fact that these kids were having sex with no protection whatsoever just shows how aimless they are, with no future (realistic) goals. I am really rooting for them the most. I know what it's like to be young, from a messed up family with only one parent, and with no role model. They are just so incredibly young and not ready for parenthood, but they also come across as loving parents.
Woa...I think I've written enough! I just related to this couple in a few ways. Tyler also reminded me a bit of a guy I fell madly in love with in my younger days. I'm looking forward to seeing Nicole and Tyler on "Teen Mom."

[maddymama]

I thought this episode was very intriguing..... like pps have mentioned. I thought Tyler was great with his little sisters, and a great and caring dad, but I was worried about the lack of schooling/motivation. I thought Nicole was a good mom, and I liked that they showed her bfing in the hospital.
Tyler's mom made me sad, especially with her negative attitude during the shower. I'm glad she came around later in the hospital/episode.
I *did* however think that N and T went out alot and left the baby with grandparents alot... and bounced around alot. Hopefully they are staying home more now and have settled down to a more stable living arrangement. Unlike many girls this season, I hope we follow these guys in Teen Mom
~maddymama

[lilmom]

I was really intrigued by this couple too..Like pp's have said, Tyler was charming but at the same time the way he talked to his mother..well, I could really see where his mom was coming from on alot of it. He struck me as more of a "kid" than Nicole did. Also, I felt like his mom was speaking out of love when she said they needed to quit moving around all the time, and going out all the time. Even the stepdad seemed like his concern was genuine. And Nicole handled it really well, while Tyler seemed alot more upset.

There was a look in Nicole's eyes at the end that made me so sad..that look of realization of the loss of her youth I guess..or maybe realization that it was going to be such an uphill battle.

I really am rooting for these two and hope they both will be able to get back in school, and make a life for themselves and their child.

[Pepper44]

Tyler seemed like such a kid to me, like he had no clue what real life (bills, etc.) would be like and it was all fun and games to him still. At the same time he clearly was light years beyond some of the other fathers on this season when it came to being hands on with the whole baby care thing. I think once he matures a little he'll be a great father! I hope they pick somewhere to live and stop moving around, too.

At one point, when they were leaving his mom's house, was the baby's car seat facing forward? It really looked like it was, but surely their parents would have said something to them.

[KMK_Mama]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

At one point, when they were leaving his mom's house, was the baby's car seat facing forward? It really looked like it was, but surely their parents would have said something to them.

I thought so too.

[Sweetmama26]

I don't know something about this episode really bothered me and I can't quite put my finger on it

[Ellen Griswold]

Originally Posted by Sweetmama26

I don't know something about this episode really bothered me and I can't quite put my finger on it

I felt like there was more to this story than what we were told. The kid was expelled at 13 and then just did nothing about schooling? Something just doesn't seem right about that. And the goals about becoming a professional skateboarder....well, I don't want to squish anybody's dream, but that was just ridiculous. And I didn't understand the popping around to all the houses. Was this just a way a saying that they were homeless, because that's what it felt like to me.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by Sweetmama26

I don't know something about this episode really bothered me and I can't quite put my finger on it

I'm with you on that one. I think it's the combination of the dad sleeping all day and not being in school. The grandma who was caring for him who seemed quite nice, but was allowing this behavior. His dreams of being a chef/professional skate boarder. The bouncing around from house to house and milking childcare as long as they could and then moving on. It was just kind of odd. I do hope we get to see what happens to them in the next year though.

[Pepper44]

I agree, I thought those same things were strange. Why did one family member not step up and set up living arrangements at their home? It was almost like they didn't care enough to give Tyler and Nichole firm guidance even though Tyler and Nichole obviously needed it.

I thought the the school part was especially odd--is there not some law against him just being out of school at age 13? I know in my state the drop-out age is 16 with parental consent. I can't imagine that in Florida it's 13 years old, is it? I also doubt anyone was going through the trouble of registering him as a homeschooler to get out of it or something...

[ticklemegreen]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

I thought the the school part was especially odd--is there not some law against him just being out of school at age 13? I know in my state the drop-out age is 16 with parental consent. I can't imagine that in Florida it's 13 years old, is it? I also doubt anyone was going through the trouble of registering him as a homeschooler to get out of it or something...

It's the same in FL. You have to be at least 16 and have parental consent.

[MommaMoo]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

I agree, I thought those same things were strange. Why did one family member not step up and set up living arrangements at their home? It was almost like they didn't care enough to give Tyler and Nichole firm guidance even though Tyler and Nichole obviously needed it.

Hmmm...Seriously. It seemed like Tyler and Nicole were just left to their own devices. It looked like Tyler's mom just gave up on him completely and that Nicole's mom was more of a friend than a parent. It's hard to judge what's going on when you only see an hour of heavily edited film. There's some serious neglect going on when a kid can just stop going to school at age 13 and do whatever the he** he wants for years thereafter. It's nice that Nicole's mom was so supportive, but I would NOT be thrilled in any way whatsoever if my young daughter got pregnant by a boy in Tyler's position. He's a sweet guy with potential, but he's also an aimless dropout. This was a terribly depressing episode. I just don't want to see these kids and their baby end up impoverished and homeless.

[phathui5]

that Nicole's mom was more of a friend than a parent.

That's what I was thinking. She didn't seem to offer any guidance whatsoever, other than telling Nicole that she wasn't good enough with the baby yet.

[Fruitful4Him]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

I agree, I thought those same things were strange. Why did one family member not step up and set up living arrangements at their home? It was almost like they didn't care enough to give Tyler and Nichole firm guidance even though Tyler and Nichole obviously needed it.

I thought the the school part was especially odd--is there not some law against him just being out of school at age 13? I know in my state the drop-out age is 16 with parental consent. I can't imagine that in Florida it's 13 years old, is it? I also doubt anyone was going through the trouble of registering him as a homeschooler to get out of it or something...

I thought I heard on the show that he was expelled and hadn't been back since. This episode was depressing in its own way. Yes...they had support in many ways...but in other (VITAL) ways, there was some serious lacking of adult guidance despite ALL THESE ADULTS...who obviously had some real struggles of their own to endure in the past...perhaps never got past certain things and maybe stunted emotionally in some ways? I just feel sort of sad about the chances of success for this young couple. I couldn't help but think if you could combine the positive elements of all the episodes and give them all to one...maybe it would work, (mature teen, mature, loving parents of teen...financial stability and resources, etc) but it just seems like each of these teens have some serious obstacles in one way or another that will be very difficult to overcome, even with some serious ambition.

[MommaMoo]

Originally Posted by Fruitful4Him

I just feel sort of sad about the chances of success for this young couple. I couldn't help but think if you could combine the positive elements of all the episodes and give them all to one...maybe it would work, (mature teen, mature, loving parents of teen...financial stability and resources, etc) but it just seems like each of these teens have some serious obstacles in one way or another that will be very difficult to overcome, even with some serious ambition.

You know, this is why I have conflicting feelings about this show. I feel guilty about watching it, because the reason why these teens are on this show is to put on display what "screw-ups" (not my feeling) they are. I know that its intent is to show the harsh reality of teen pregnancy and to deter other kids from heading down the same path. I just don't want the dysfunctional lives of these kids being offered up as entertainment fodder. I think they are still KIDS, and not entirely equipped to make the momentous decision of whether or not to show their lives to the world. It's akin to descending into a shark pit-the lives of everyone appearing on the show are ripped apart. Farrah has been mercilessly ravaged and attacked, and while the girl definitely needed to spend more time caring for her daughter, it was also apparent that farrah was a victim of abuse and inept parenting by her own mother.
I feel sick and angry after some of these shows-especially the one of Nikkole and Josh. That boy is SERIOUSLY disturbed, and I don't know what his mother was thinking by allowing him to be on TV.
This show is about so much more than teen pregnancy. I find it fascinating to watch the family dynamics at play in each of these situations. I also feel as guilty about it as I would about trying to get a good look at a really bad car accident.

[Pepper44]

Originally Posted by MommaMoo

You know, this is why I have conflicting feelings about this show. I feel guilty about watching it, because the reason why these teens are on this show is to put on display what "screw-ups" (not my feeling) they are. I know that its intent is to show the harsh reality of teen pregnancy and to deter other kids from heading down the same path. I just don't want the dysfunctional lives of these kids being offered up as entertainment fodder. I think they are still KIDS, and not entirely equipped to make the momentous decision of whether or not to show their lives to the world. It's akin to descending into a shark pit-the lives of everyone appearing on the show are ripped apart. Farrah has been mercilessly ravaged and attacked, and while the girl definitely needed to spend more time caring for her daughter, it was also apparent that farrah was a victim of abuse and inept parenting by her own mother.
I feel sick and angry after some of these shows-especially the one of Nikkole and Josh. That boy is SERIOUSLY disturbed, and I don't know what his mother was thinking by allowing him to be on TV.
This show is about so much more than teen pregnancy. I find it fascinating to watch the family dynamics at play in each of these situations. I also feel as guilty about it as I would about trying to get a good look at a really bad car accident.

I've felt the same way when watching it. I always wonder how they got on the show. I can't imagine being pregnant as a young teenager and then saying to my parents, "Oh by the way I also want to show this part of our lives to the world via MTV! Doesn't that sound like a great idea mom?"

What rational parent would say yes to their child being on TV at such a vulnerable, stressful time? Or want to have their own struggles as the parent of a pregnant teen edited and shown to the world...yikes. I wonder about how that decision came about for each episode.

By the way, I also thought they said Tyler got expelled...but doesn't that mean you still have to have an alternate form of schooling in place? Like reform school or something? I wonder what he did to get expelled!

[MommaMoo]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

I've felt the same way when watching it. I always wonder how they got on the show. I can't imagine being pregnant as a young teenager and then saying to my parents, "Oh by the way I also want to show this part of our lives to the world via MTV! Doesn't that sound like a great idea mom?"

What rational parent would say yes to their child being on TV at such a vulnerable, stressful time? Or want to have their own struggles as the parent of a pregnant teen edited and shown to the world...yikes. I wonder about how that decision came about for each episode.

I know how at least one family ended up on the show. Unfortunately, I don't have a source for it because I can't remember where I read it, but Lori's mom talked Lori into doing the show. Lori didn't want to do it. Seriously, I am just repulsed by Lori's mom. Her behavior on the show was bad enough, but to push your daughter to expose herself to a worldwide audience? Thankfully, the viewing audience was quite sympathetic to Lori's plight, so she wasn't ripped apart like other girls have been. But her mom HAD to know that it was a possibility. That is so disgusting.

[lilmom]

Originally Posted by MommaMoo

You know, this is why I have conflicting feelings about this show. I feel guilty about watching it, because the reason why these teens are on this show is to put on display what "screw-ups" (not my feeling) they are. I know that its intent is to show the harsh reality of teen pregnancy and to deter other kids from heading down the same path. I just don't want the dysfunctional lives of these kids being offered up as entertainment fodder. I think they are still KIDS, and not entirely equipped to make the momentous decision of whether or not to show their lives to the world. It's akin to descending into a shark pit-the lives of everyone appearing on the show are ripped apart. Farrah has been mercilessly ravaged and attacked, and while the girl definitely needed to spend more time caring for her daughter, it was also apparent that farrah was a victim of abuse and inept parenting by her own mother.
I feel sick and angry after some of these shows-especially the one of Nikkole and Josh. That boy is SERIOUSLY disturbed, and I don't know what his mother was thinking by allowing him to be on TV.
This show is about so much more than teen pregnancy. I find it fascinating to watch the family dynamics at play in each of these situations. I also feel as guilty about it as I would about trying to get a good look at a really bad car accident.

YES! I feel this way too. I have this huge guilt about watching, and then I keep watching. And I feel really sad after each show...so I'm not sure why I keep coming back to it. I get depressed about the families. And I wholeheartedly agree with you about Farrah..poor girl.

All that said..I didn't think Tyler and Nicole were truly homeless. It seemed like there just were no hard and fast rules for them wherever they went. It hadn't even occurred to me that there were probably laws being broken regarding Tyler being out of school since 13. I am curious what we didn't see, and at the same time, I don't know if I would want to see more. It might just be too much. Sigh.

[bnhmama]

What did everyone think of the latest episode with Leah?

I felt sooooooo bad for Corey. I feel bad for Leah, too, but she seemed so immature about it all. It seemed like she just wanted someone to take care of her and babies. I'm glad they both took care of their girls but I got the feeling that she'd really just like for someone to do it for her. Compared to most of the other Dads on this show, Corey seemed great. He got up in the night, seemed really supportive, etc. It was nice to see a Dad involved to that extent.

I also thought Leah's mom seemed really steady about it all. It was so emotional watching her comfort Leah at the end.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I want to sign them up for counseling. I feel like this couple totally has a chance to work things out and both be there for their daughters. It was nice to finally be impressed with a guy on the show.