General Chat

I agree with Rosemary, there have ALWAYS been children born "out of wedlock".. I do think though that teenage pregnancy does seem to be on the increase at the moment. As most have said though - it does take two to tango so to speak.

sUCH A LOVELY REPLY JEAN hUGS rOSE

elaine but who pays for these mistakes we do.i feel for the girl if it happens once but twicexxxxx(:

I'm sorry but these days a baby is the ultimate accessory along with the Chavvie gear and the blink blink attitude. Still can't blame the girl, if her mother has never taught her to say no or given her instructions on how to keep her flaming legs shut she is obviously going to be continuiously breeding sprogs - just let the mother start complaining when she is left holding the baby and I would be very tempted to deliver a slap to the stupid cow. Phew that's better Lin

i DO FEEL THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE SO MUCH PUSHED AT THEM THAT PREVIOUS GENERATIONS NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH UNTIL THEY WERE OLDER. iT is a very different world

jean the difference was in those days they didn't have the benefit system to fall back onxxxxx(:

lmao - bling blink ? I think you mean bling bling lol

jan that is what i find is so wrong nowadays.not the family allowence but the whole benefit thing.not only can you get everything bought for you but you can even get a council house and not pay a penny towards it.i would like more children but we cannot afford to feed another mouth.but someone that can get pregnant time and time again will always get the financial helpxxxx(:

I think it's very unfair to basically say that any young person that has a baby is going to be a scrounger. My neice had a baby at 17 and yes, she's had to claim benefits sometimes, but the alternative isn't always easy - the cost of childcare is ridiculously high, and as a single mother (she wasn't single when she had the child, but was after a few years) she just could not afford to work. She has tried - she had various jobs, and is certainly NOT a scrounger. She's also a very good mother and has a second child now with her new boyfriend (who works to support them both as best he can).

i agree paul not all circumstances are the same.but you have to admit that the migority of teenage girls do think that the benefit system is like the porridge pot.endless financial securityxxxxx(:

Jean, I agree with what you are saying and I am well aware that getting pregnant outside marriage is just one of those things that can happen to any girl no matter what her backround. I think the difference is that our generation cared about what people thought of them when it happened. I bet you didn't just waltz in and announce that you were pregnant and I bet your mum didn't give interviews either ! Nowadays it seems to me that babies have become the latest 'must have' and I think that is sad that there are so many babies brought up by mothers that are little more than babies themselves. It's a hard job looking after a baby, they are smelly, noisy and inconvenient. You were lucky you obviously had great parents to help you and the continuing support of the baby's father. Unfortunately this isn't always the case today. On another point, aside from getting pregnant, don't these girls realise that sex without a condom leaves them at risk from Sexually Trasmitted Diseases ?? Lynda - I hear what you are saying too, it is about time these boys were treated in the same way as the girls when it comes to 'giving them a name'. They think that 'getting their end away' is a sign of growing up, being a 'man' and if they get a girl pregnant 'so what'? I know what I would like to call them !! Magsxx

Perhaps sex education should be stronger and start earlier incorporating life skills. I also think it shouldn't be taught at school but in a separate unit somewhere with people who can relate more to them and are more geared up to this kind of teaching . Maybe even have young Mums and Dad's come in and tell of their experiences , Midwives give talks and Social Services etc etc. It could help many who think they know or those that are afraid to ask . Parents can do their best however many teenagers turn their back on the advice given to them and do thier 'own thing'. Much happiness Debi

What's personality got to do with it - it does not override that fact that she is too young to take responsilibity of a young child and should think very carefully of the circumstances ie not a lot a freedom for a 15 year old who is in my mind still a child. I admit Tart is a bit strong - this word l would associate with a very different kind of woman sorry child but if she is not carefull a lot of boys in her area will start calling her one - Tart meaning fair game. Lin

Deborah - You've hit the nail on the head! SEX EDUCATION! When I was at school (3 years ago) there was virtually nothing. Sex education consisted of a biology lesson and that was it! Braintree (a couple of miles away) used to have the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe!!!! Compare this to places like Holland where sex education and teenage pregnancy are openly discussed and they have a very low rate of teenage pregnancies. I was always told that if I should ever fall pregnant my parents would support me 100% (my mother even said she'd help raise the child so I could continue my studies). I am now (almost) 22 and although I cannot wait to be a mother I am not financially or emotionally ready. becx

I personally think it's appaling that the mother didn't make sure the kid was adequately covered by contraception as she knew damn well the kid was sexually active!!

Why is the age of consent what it is? Or is this just another sop to the public, a Law without teeth. This child AND her boyfriend have chosen to ignore the law like so many others before her. And what is going to happen to them? She will get support from the Government at OUR expense and the boyfriend will get off scot free. Until they learn that there is a price to pay these situations will continue. Off my soapbox now.

Diana, the problem is that by all accounts the girl got herself intentionally pregnant. So what good is offering contraception ? You can't force the child to take the pill can you !

I seem to have opened up a can of worms........on one side we have the purists, and on the other the more easy going ones. the facts remain, with ALL the talk of All the money being put into sex education, where has it gone? If you younger people say you were never taught why not? As regard to lynda( I think) sayimg about the boys dont get called names.......why not? he has sex with an under age girl, if it were me or some of my generation, we would be hounded down like dogs as paedophiles......what difference does AGE make? They both should be prosecuted. him for the underage sex bit, and her for aiding and abetting......( it appears to have been her idea)

i agree it does take two to tango.if he was over 18 then yes procecute but if he is her age and she has consented then i feel that is wrong to blame one party and not the otherxxxxx(:

my father always told me i was concieved after a drunken fumble.nice to knowxxxxx(: