Cotton-Pickin’ Days

Ha! The ignorant little girl thinks that taking care of her brothers will adequately prepare her for taking care of her own child? I’m willing to bet she can’t even support herself financially. Oh well, since she’s dropped out of school for fighting, I guess she’ll just have to find a job where her brute strength will come in handy.

It is shocking, but don’t despair. Having a baby at 12 is common in much of the world and I assume most of those poor women cope as long as they have extended family support.

I read a report on the girl — the UK’s former youngest mum — who gave birth at 13 when she turned 21. She and her son were doing remarkably well considering what they had both gone through. Just because life doesn’t unfold the way we plan, doesn’t mean that positives don’t happen.

I think that quote says it all:

“I can give up smoking at any time, but I don’t find it affects my pregnancy.”

echomyst: I hope she’ll apply herself in a productive manner for the sake of her child.

Kate: Thanks for the reminder, Kate. I’m just not so sure that young girls in developed countries like the UK are so resourceful. I don’t have much faith in her family support either.

Am?lie: You probably heard me screaming earlier today when I read this story.

The girl?s mother, 34, who has five other children, said that she was proud of her daughter. She said: ?I?m not ashamed of my daughter for what she?s done ? in fact, I?m proud of her for keeping her baby.”

Uhhh… I guess that about says it all doesn’t it?

That is sad. Very sad.

this is crazy!!!

and her mum is equally crazy to think that her girl is brave to want to keep the baby! Does the girl even knows anything about parenting?!

so much responsibilities to it!

river2sea72: Yup. Now we know where all the craziness comes from.

Abigail: Totally.

smallbully: Tell me about it! I thought my head was going to explode.

Nanette Milne, the Conservative health spokesman in the Scottish Parliament, said: “I hope that this will draw attention to failings that have allowed such a young girl to go on a night out, get drunk, get pregnant, yet seemingly be ignorant about the risks and consequences.”

And that’s really the issue. Things like this ought to be telling us we need to do better at getting our children educated properly -before- they hit puberty. Every time I hear someone say they don’t want their kids to be taught about sex, I cringe. They need to know. They need to know that -one time- is all it takes. They need to know that it doesn’t take intercourse either. They need to know about STDs. They need to know it isn’t trivial.

As for this particular young woman, (biologically regardless of physical age, she IS a woman, no matter how weird that seems), what she needs is to have people provide her with education- about health, about parenting, about job skills, so that she can be a great mom. No mother, unless proven unfit to parent, should ever be pressured into giving away their baby. That is a cruel thing to do to someone. Love and desire to parent matter a lot more than fancy schools and a closet full of clothes. er, got a little rant-ish there… best stop typing now

Deb: You’re completely right. Aside from the sex and pregnancy bit, this young woman clearly doesn’t have a clue about how to live a healthy life. The drinking and smoking at such a young age shows that she’s got absolutely no guidance or the wrong kind of guidance in her life. Everyone makes mistakes but the number she’s made without anyone there to stop her is just too much.

Love and desire to parent matter a lot more than fancy schools and a closet full of clothes.

Have you been reading my mind? Was planning to post about schooling today.