What do you think of teen mums?

[teenmumandlovingit]

So, yeah, becoming pregnant was a mistake. A big mistake. I was pregnant at 18. I love my daughter Eliza and son Thomas, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Anyway, to cut it short - WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TEEN MUMS?

Nothing, actually.

Why?

Errr, nothing at all actually. It's not something I dwell on really, either way.

Why? You seem a little cross/ tense/ defensive?

What they ^ said.
I might judge an individual person's behaviour, but I wouldn't lump a whole group of people together, even if it were something I spent time thinking about.
You seem to be looking for a fight ?

IMEI teen mums generally tend to cope very well.

there are good mums and bad mums and great mums and awful mums. I try not to judge parents on their age but rather on their parenting and even then what you might see is just a snap-shot.

As a whole group, no general opinion.

Individuals? Well, it depends on what I see them doing (rather like parents of other ages).

That it must be the 'hard' way round to do things. I think it was far easier to go to Uni, sort out house, career, marriage, etc. before having children than having children then going to Uni, getting a mortgage, etc.

That they must be far more responsible than I was at 18/19. My biggest worry was how much money I had to go out with at the weekend as a student not the immense responsibility of caring for a child.

That they'll have grown up children (freedom!) in their 50s while mine will be in secondary or tertiary education.

Well, the same as any other mum really.

There are some good parents, irrespective of age.
And there are poor parents again irrespective of age.

Well teens are 13-19 so you can't generalise.

All I think of teen mums (and I was 20 when I got pregnant with DC1, so pretty close) is that it makes life that little bit harder for them. Harder to finish qualifications, harder to start a career, harder to have a social life.

Not a lot. At a push I think they've wasted years they won't get back but that's about it

What would you like us to think?

WHY ARE YOU ASKING?

O was a teen mum, I don't feel like I've wasted my life.

I not O*

I'm not sure who O is

What publication do you work for?

I was 18 when I was pregnant with dd. 20 with ds1.

I don't feel like I've wasted my life at all.

my mother was pregnant around 18, it's no big deal is it?

cressida why do you think teen mums have wasted their lives, just out of curiousity?

It's only a big deal if you make it one.

Most of us just get on with it.

I think being pregnant under 16 isn't a great idea. I wouldn't think of an 18/19 year old as a teen, I know they are but they are legally adults then.

Anyway what about the TEEN DADS?

What Tee said ^^.
And you need to learn subtlety.

I was 19, still a teenager.